Electric dirt bikes have been one of the motorcycle industry’s most exciting stories over the last several years, in part because the technological shift just makes so much damn sense for the category.
Electric dirt bikes are far quieter and won’t choke you with intense exhaust fumes compared to their gas-powered counterparts. They’re also easier to ride because they don’t have a transmission and are plenty fun due to the near-instantaneous torque that makes electric vehicles, in general, so thrilling to drive.
As usual with innovative product categories, startups like Zero and Cake have helped blaze a trail that traditional bike makers are just starting to follow.
Bend, Oregon-based Dust Moto is a new startup entering the market that clearly understands the opportunity this transition presents for expanding the dirt bike market to a broader potential consumer base whose never considered owning any dirt bike before, let a lone an electric version.
The brand’s inaugural offering, the Model_1, doesn’t aim to compete against other flagship models as Tim Huber at HiConsumption notes. Instead, it’s scaled to 90% of the standover and 95% wheelbase size of full-sized bikes and features an automatic twist throttle. Its targeted weight is also right at 200 lbs. In Dust’s own words, the goal is to build “the ultimate play bike” that’s “built for the backyard tracks, freeride zones, and single track.”
Despite its more manageable sizing and intuitive controls, the bike’s 26-KW mid-mounted engine will still offer plenty of go, delivering 35hp of peak power and ~368 lb ft. of torque. It’s also powered by a 3.5kWh battery capable of providing between one to two hours of power, depending on how hard you push it. However, it’s easily swappable for extended driving sessions. And Dust is committed to building the bike in the U.S.
