Electric Dirt Bike Brands – Best Electric Motocross Bike & Trail Bike Brands [2023]
Electric motorcycles have been much slower to gain traction in the market compared to electric cars. The burgeoning industry has faced some challenges including getting enough energy onto a small frame, delivering the expected power and riding experience, range limitations, high production costs, and simply convincing riders to give them a try.
As the industry overcomes these challenges, electric bikes are quickly taking off with skyrocketing sales in the United States and a growing number of manufacturers offering electric models. Just over 2,000 electric motorcycles were sold in the U.S. in 2015 but almost 38,000 unit sales are projected for 2024!
One of the most exciting areas of growth for the e motorcycle is in the motocross and offroad sector. The electric motocross bike is still a fairly new concept and only going to get better and more affordable in the years to come, but there are several options now that are definitely worth riding.
The 2019 closure of Alta Motors, a California manufacturer well known for their award-winning electric Alta dirt bike, was a blow to e-dirt bike enthusiasts, but there are nearly one dozen electric dirt bike companies today and more on the way. Every year, the number of companies entering the industry grows. Many of them are startups developing new technology to maximize speed, performance, and range. Big names are also starting to enter the market on the heels of Harley-Davidson and its electric LiveWire motorcycle. Ducati said in 2019 it would soon start producing its first electric motorcycle then backed off, while Honda introduced the first electric Honda dirt bike in 2022, although it’s a kids dirt bike.
Before delving into the world of electric dirt bikes, remember that many are not street legal. Look for an electric dual sport motorcycle if you want something for commuting too.
Here’s a look at where the electric motorcycle is now with the best electric off road motorcycle brands making e dirt bikes and e motocross bikes.
Zero – Reputation Built on Its Electric Motocross Bike & Focused Exclusively on Electric Dirt Bikes
Zero Motorcycles is an American manufacturer focused entirely on electric dirt bike and motocross bike production. Founded in 2006 as Electricross, the company now produces several Zero electric motorcycle models. They even produce a line of electric motorcycles for military and police use.
The Zero FX is widely considered the best electric dirt bike and it’s had racing success. It’s won the production electric motorcycle class three years at Pikes Peak and it was the first production e-motorcycle to break the 12-minute mark. A Zero S SF6 was used to set a Bonneville Land Speed Record in 2012. Zero electric motorcycles have been used in races against gas bikes in supercross, flat-track, and supermoto.
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Zero electric motorcycle models include the following:
- Zero S (street bike) is a lightweight naked sport bike designed for in-city use. It starts at $11,195 with an average cost to fully charge of about $0.81. It can charge fully in 5 hours with a standard 120V wall socket and use electric car charge stations for rapid charging.
- Zero SR (street racing bike) which uses a newer battery and for faster charging and lower ownership costs with a 104 mph top speed and a starting price of $17,995
- Zero SR/S (sport touring motorcycle) with a combined range of 118 miles with the standard package and a top speed of 124 mph starting at $19,995.
- Zero SR/F (naked sport bike) starts at $21,495. It’s almost the same as the flagship SR/S model except it’s a naked sport bike without fairings or a windshield.
- Zero FXE starts at $11,795 and boasts an agile, lightweight design with an estimated range of 75 miles and a top speed of 85 mph
- Zero FXS (supermoto) has an incredibly lightweight design at only 251 lbs with a 37-mile range and 85 mph top speed. Riders love the precise handling and acceleration. It’s one of the most affordable Zero electric motorcycles and starts at $9,495.
- Zero DSR (dual sport racing) is the top of the line Zero electric dual sport motorcycle perfect for road and trail riding. It’s available with two specs based on the battery pack with a top speed of 102 mph and a range of 122 miles without the power pack. A standard 120V wall charge requires almost 10 hours, but the accessory chargers drop the charge time to 2.5 hours. The DSR dual sport racing bike starts at $15,695.
- Zero DS (dual sport) doesn’t try for the torque of the DSR. Instead, it’s meant to be used hard and charged quickly with a full charge possible in under 90 minutes with the accessory chargers. The tire grip and suspension travel with the Z-Force 75-5 AC motor give the bike enough power and control for even the most challenging off-road conditions. It starts at $11,195.
- Zero FX (motocross) qualifies as a dual sport but it’s primary an off-road bike. It’s often ranked as the best electric offroad bike and it’s the crown jewel of the Zero production ride. Starting at just $11,595 and weighing a mere 245 pounds, the Zero FX electric motorcycle can definitely handle city streets but it’s meant for trail riding above all else.
Cake – Practical, Highly Functional Electric Dirt Bikes
Cake is a Swedish electric motorcycle company founded in 2016 with a goal of creating light, clean, and quiet bikes that support a low-emission society. Their first bike, the Cake Kalk, was a lightweight, high torque off-road bike that won several awards. Soon, the Ösa was released with off-road capability and a utility platform that included a battery that doubled as an integrated powerstation. By 2020, Cake expanded into racing with the Kalk INK Race and Kalk OR Race.
The popular Cake Kalk OR Race reaches a top speed of 56 mph with an Öhlins suspension and over 200 lb-ft of torque to the rear wheel. It weighs just 165 pounds thanks to its practical design. The Kalk OR Race starts at $14,370 and it’s not street legal.
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Segway Dirt eBike – Affordable, Lightweight Electric Dirt Bike
While best known for its electric scooters, Segway has entered the electric dirt bike market with the Dirt eBike which debuted in 2020 with the Dirt eBike X160 and X260. The Dirt eBike promises a cross between mountain and dirt biking by borrowing technology from electric bicycles and delivering cheap electric dirt bikes with surprising power.
The X160 is the smaller of the two with a range of just 40 miles and a top speed of 31 mph. It’s meant for agility with a compact frame that makes maneuvering on twisty trails a breeze. The X260 has a top speed of 47 mph and a 75-mile range. Neither model is street legal.
The Segway Dirt eBike starts at just $4,500 for the X160 and $6,500 for the X260.
Electric KTM Freeride E-XC – Efficient & Reliable Electric Off Road Motorcycle from a Recognizable Brand
KTM is best known for its off-road motorcycles including its enduro, cross-country, and motocross lines. As one of the leading manufacturers of off-road motorcycles in the world, it’s no surprise that the electric KTM Freeride E-CX is one of the best electric dirt bikes you can get at this price point.
The Freeride E-XC is the latest generation of years of KTM electric motorcycles with incredibly dynamic, agile performance and massive torque. A full charge takes 110 minutes and the quick change KTM PowerPack means you can easily swap out a new battery in less than a minute. The electric KTM Freeride E-XC starts at $11,299.
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Sur-Ron – Four Models of the Sur-Ron Electric Bike for Lightweight, Affordable, & Fast Riding
Founded in 2014, Surron or Sur-Ron is a Chinese electric bike manufacturer known for its original e-dirt bike, the Light Bee, which has sold over 70,000 units globally. In the United States, Dian Inc. is the primary distributor of Surron electric motorcycles and launched operations in 2022.
There are now four Surron electric dirt bike models:
- Light Bee S
- Light Bee X
- Storm Bee
- Ultra Bee
The Sur-Ron X quickly gained attention for delivering a lightweight bike that’s fast and still affordable. It reaches a top speed of 48 mph, just shy of the fast-selling KTM Freeride which retails for twice the price. There are two power modes: eco mode gives you a range of up to 60 miles at 15 mph while sport mode gives you a range of up to 25 miles for aggressive trail runs and enduro circuits. You’d be hard-pressed to find another electric enduro bike at this price point that delivers anything approaching this speed, torque, and agility. The Sur-Ron Light Bee X starts at just $4,400 – a steal. (The Light Bee name, by the way, is a mistranslation of “firefly.”)
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There are two new models for 2023. The Sur Ron Storm Bee will arrive in the U.S. by February 2023, giving riders a full size electric dirt bike with improvements made to the popular Sur-Ron X. It’s possibly the most anticipated electric off road motorcycle for the past few years and will be a worthy challenger for the KTM Freeride E-XC and Zero FX. Starting at $8,500, the Sur-Ron Storm Bee has a liquid-cooled 22.5 kW mid-mounted motor and 520 lb-ft of torque and delivers a top speed of 68 mph. It includes three power modes plus regenerative braking and traction control.
The Surron Ultra Bee electric dirt bike delivers big upgrades to the small Surron model. It’s essentially a faster, larger Surron Light Bee X, bridging the gap between the Light Bee X and the Storm Bee.
Stark VARG – The World’s Fastest Electric Motocross Bike
Stark Future is a new Swedish electric dirt bike manufacturer that has debuted one of the most groundbreaking e-dirt bikes to date. The Stark Varg boasts extreme torque and power with the ability to keep up with and beat gas-powered bikes. Its 80 hp electric motor generates 20 more horses than even the strongest 450cc dirt bikes and it supports up to 100 customizable performance and power profiles ranging from 125cc two-stroke power to 650cc four-stroke power. It has a motocross frame nearly 50% lighter than the competition with up to 6 hours of riding time.
Getting your hands on this type of power and performance isn’t cheap – and there’s quite a wait. The Stark VARG price starts at $12,900 with a current estimated delivery date for new orders in mid-2024.
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Other Electric Dirt Bike Brands to Watch
The world of electric dirt bikes has expanded so much in the past five years, it’s hard to believe there are actually many more manufacturers now releasing electric dirt bikes. It seems there’s a new brand entering the market every month! Here are some other brands and e-dirt bike models to keep your eye on.
- Trevor DTRe Stella. Manufactured in Belgium but designed in California, the DTRe Stella is an electric flat track motorcycle and the first model launched by the electric motorcycle startup, Trevor Motorcycles.
- Kuberg. One of the top electric motorcycle brands in California and one of the first electric motorcycle manufacturers, Kuberg produces a range of electric dirt bikes designed for kids and adults with bikes that can be customized to fit your riding needs.
- Armotia. This Italian startup spent years developing the world’s first two-wheel drive electric motorcycle and offers two 2WD models. The Armotia Due R is an electric supermoto bike with 2WD and three riding modes. The Armotia Due X is the company’s first 2WD electric enduro motorcycle. Both feature a 5.1 kWh battery pack and smartphone dash.
- Electric Motion. This French electric motorcycle company launched in 2010 and introduced the EMSport in 2013, its first competition model. They now offer several lines including the ePure trails bike starting at $9,400 and the popular Electric Motion Escape R with max performance, range, and power starting at $11,700.
- Bultaco Brinco. Bultaco was known for its two-stroke motorcycles and trail bikes before it shut down in the 1980s. In 2014, Bultaco reemerged with its prototype electric bikes. The Bultaco Brinco is their flagship e-bike and bills itself as the first “moto-bike,” or a cross between a bicycle and a motorcycle, with independent pedals and a motor plus three riding modes.
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Are you ready to make the switch to an electric dirt bike? Once you get used to the differences over a gas-powered bike, you’ll love the low ownership costs, cheap and fast charging, and low maintenance requirements electric dirt bikes offer without sacrificing the joy of riding.
If you’re having an electric motorcycle shipped to you, Federal Motorcycle Transport can help. We have 30+ years of experience shipping motorcycles with reliable transport services, affordable rates, and tracking. We can assist with shipping to or from a dealership or private seller so you can be hitting the trails in no time!
Get started today with a fast, free motorcycle transport quote.