Zoomi Life

Electric dirt bikes are hitting the mainstream with KTM, one of the leaders in race bikes, announcing their plans to roll one out in about two years. The bike’s current specs are pretty competitive, at 29.5 foot pounds of torque and lithium-ion batteries supplying about forty minutes of race-condition power.

The Austrian firm is working on the premise that electric bikes, being silent, will facilitate more closer-to-home racing for amateurs as well as the ability for arenas to proliferate, promoting the sport. Since the noise of these bikes (which are usually unmuffled, to limit choking) is their largest deterrent in urban and suburban environments, this makes sense.

KTM believes that the costs for these bikes will be in line or slightly above the pricing for their current line of race-ready enduro bikes.

From a rider’s perspective, the bikes will function basically the same way, with throttle and brake controls remaining unchanged. What will change is the noise level and the power response, since electric motors deliver power immediately on demand while petroleum-burning motors require a short “ramp up” time to provide the same torque. This means riders will have to adjust their skills to match, but the transition shouldn’t be too tough.

I think it’s likely most riders will find they enjoy the electric much more. Plus they’ll be much less likely to become prematurely deaf after years of exposure to their gas-powered enduros.

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