Whether you’re brand new to dirt biking or looking for a new bike, I want to show you what the best electric dirt bike is based on your size and budget.
In this article, I’ll show you what’s different about electric dirt bikes, why they may or may not be right for you, and then how to choose the right one to start on.
What is an electric dirt bike?
It’s simply a motorbike for riding off-road that’s powered by a battery and a motor, rather than a gas (combustion) engine.
Battery-powered vehicles have been around for many years, but a dirt bike powered by a battery hasn’t been powerful enough until the last 10 years or so.
Technology is still rapidly changing, making performance, reliability, and range better every few years, but is it good enough for you?
Keep reading to find out…
Gas vs electric dirt bike
The main difference is that a gas dirt bike has an engine that runs on fuel, makes an exhaust noise, and does not make linear power, while an electric dirt bike is powered by a battery, is quiet, and makes instant full-torque.
So, which one is best for you? It really depends on what your needs are.
Why is an electric dirt bike better?
One of the biggest problems with riding a dirt bike today is noise. We as riders don’t necessarily mind the noise, but other people and neighbors do, and that’s why public and private riding areas & tracks are getting shut down all over the world.
The biggest reason an electric dirt bike is better than a gas dirt bike is simply for the reason that it’s quiet. If people don’t hear you riding, they can’t complain, in theory.
The motor and chain still make some noise, so it’s not completely silent, but it’s much quieter than a typical dirt bike with a gas engine.
Electric also has the advantages of not dealing with gas or oil, as well as lower maintenance.
Why is a gas dirt bike better?
On the flip side, many of us don’t want to get rid of gas dirt bikes because they’re still fun and cool to ride. Why?
Gas dirt bikes are better than electric because they sound better, they make power differently, you get to use a clutch, and you can quickly refill them with gas.
Is an electric dirt bike safe?
Electric dirt bikes are just as safe as gas dirt bikes – but aren’t all dirt bikes dangerous?
Yes, but it can be just as safe as other sports if you learn the right way to ride. More on this later…
If you’re concerned about the batteries and their safety, you’re not alone…
When new battery technologies started coming out 10-20 years ago, there were a lot of fires, meltdowns, and explosions, whether it was due to malfunction or improper owner use.
Fortunately, that’s not a common problem today with the latest electric dirt bikes. Can there still be a problem? Yes, but it’s not as likely, and it probably won’t be as bad as you think.
Gas dirt bikes can still have problems because fuel is extremely flammable.
The most important thing is that you follow the manufacturer recommendations given in the OEM manual for your specific dirt bike for proper use and maintenance.
What brands/companies make an electric dirt bike?
The number of companies making electric dirt bikes is growing every year, and they’re improving more rapidly than gas dirt bikes.
These are the most popular electric dirt bike brands in 2024:
- KTM
- Zero
- Honda
- Electric Motion
- Segway
- Stark
- Alta*
- Sur Ron
- Razor
- TEV (Trinity Electric Vehicles)
*Discontinued
How much do electric dirt bikes cost?
Prices greatly vary, depending on the quality and size of the electric dirt bike you want to buy. You can spend as little as $300 on Amazon, or as much as $12,000+.
Here’s a list of the most popular electric dirt bikes and how much they cost:
- Honda CRF-E2 (kids bike) – $2950
- KTM SX-E 5 (kids bike) – $5199
- Segway Dirt Bike ebike X160 (teens & adults) – $2999
- Electric Motion Escape (adult bike) – $10,299
- Segway EBike X260 (adult bike) – $4999
- KTM Freeride E-XC (adult enduro bike) – $11,099 + freight
- Zero FX (adult dual sport bike) – $11,995
How much does an electric KTM cost?
The KTM SX-E kids electric dirt bike costs $5,199 new, and the Freeride E-XC electric dirt bike for adults/teens is $11,099 MSRP.
KTM has always been on the higher end for dirt bike prices, but that’s because they build motorcycles that are ready to race and don’t need to be modified much, if at all. Other brands have caught up in many ways, but KTM still has a slight edge in some areas, such as weight.
How fast does an electric dirt bike go?
It depends on which model electric dirt bike you get. Little kids models can go as slow as 2-3mph with a speed limiter, but an electric dirt bike for adults can go 60+ mph, with the Zero FX dual sport electric bike reaching 85 mph.
The power is more important than the top speed because the acceleration determines how easy it is to control.
For example:
Some electric dirt bikes have multiple power modes. In the lowest power mode, the power will be smooth, predictable, and forgiving, even if you’re a beginner. In the highest power mode, it’s going to feel much more abrupt and less forgiving, even if the top speed is the same.
How long does an electric dirt bike battery last?
There are a number of variables that affect how long the battery will last on a single ride.
If you need to know how many months or years it will last, it depends on the quality of the battery.
Cheap electric dirt bikes have low-quality batteries, so they might only last a few months before they lose range/capacity or the ability to hold a charge. You might get several years on the name-brand dirt bikes, but it’s hard to know for sure because there are not many out there yet.
As a general rule, the more you pay, the more reliable and longer-lasting the battery pack and the motor will be.
What about the battery range?
As for the number of miles or hours you’ll get on a single charge, that varies from bike to bike as well. For example, the Zero FX has a range of 46 miles if you ride in the city on the road.
Owners of the KTM Freeride E-XC reported that the battery lasts 1-3 hours of trail riding, depending on how you ride it. If you’re riding slower and using less throttle, it will last longer (40+ miles).
Are electric dirt bike batteries replaceable?
Depending on the bike you get, the battery may or may not be replaceable. Cheaper bikes are not made to replace the battery. Modern electric dirt bikes from name-brand companies have replaceable batteries, such as KTM, but they’re very expensive.
How to charge an electric dirt bike
Most dirt bikes will come with their own charger and you can plug them into a standard 110v outlet in your home or garage. There may be an upgraded charging unit or system as an accessory that will allow you to charge it faster.
To charge your electric dirt bike portably, you must have a generator (Amazon) or an electricity source, such as a plugin at a campsite.
How long does it take to recharge?
I compare the total time to recharge each bike in a chart later in this article, but the average time to fully charge an electric dirt bike is 2-4 hours.
Factors that affect the time to charge the battery are: battery size/capacity, what kind of charger you’re using, and how low of a charge it’s at before you start.
Can I ride an electric dirt bike on the road?
An off-road electric dirt bike cannot legally be ridden on the road or sidewalk. The only exception would be riding on gravel or town roads in rural or mountain towns that allow off-road vehicles.
On the other hand, an electric dual sport dirt bike can be ridden on the road because it’s registered and plated for the street.
What’s the best electric dirt bike?
Do you want an adult or kid size electric dirt bike? What’s your budget? Where are you going to ride it?
These are the most important questions to choose which is the best electric dirt bike for YOU.
Below I quickly outline what the top picks are based on your size and budget.
For adults
- KTM Freeride E-XC
- Zero FX
- Electric Motion Escape
- Segway X260
For teens
- Segway X160
For kids
- Honda CRF-E2
- KTM SX-E 5
- Razor MX350
Electric dirt bike for adults size & specs chart:
| KTM Freeride E-XC | Zero FX | Electric Motion Escape | Segway X260 | Stark Varg | |
| Seat Height | 35.8” (910mm) | 34.7” (881mm) | 33.5” (850mm) | 31.9” (810 mm) | 37”? |
| Weight | 245 lbs | 247 lbs | 183 lbs | 121 lbs | 242 lbs |
| Horsepower | 24 HP | 27 HP | 15 HP | 7 HP | 80 HP |
| Top Speed | 50 mph | 85 mph | 47 mph | 47 mph | 100+ mph |
| Range | 40 miles | 46 miles | 38 miles | 74 miles | Up to 6 hrs |
| Charge Time | 110 min. | 1.6-5.1 hrs | 3-4 hrs | 4 hrs | 1-2 hrs |
| Battery Replaceable? | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Price | $11,099 | $9,795 | $10,299 | $4,999 | $11,900* |
Is Yamaha making an electric dirt bike?
Yes, they already have a prototype in Europe. Yamaha, along with KTM and Honda have also agreed to make universal batteries for electric dirt bikes.
What does this mean? Simply that they all are working on making more electric dirt and want to cut production costs by being able to use the same type of battery in all three motorcycle brands.
Alta electric dirt bike – why didn’t it work?
The Alta Redshift was a bit early in the electric bike craze that started picking up a few years ago, but that’s not the only reason why it didn’t work.
Alta was a little too focused on one demographic – the hardcore motocross racer. The problem is that there isn’t a specific motocross class for electric bikes.
If they had a cheaper option for a casual rider and off-road enthusiast, Alta might have been able to survive and keep engineering their dirt bikes.
Stark Varg Electric dirt bike – will it work?
If you’ve paid any attention to electric dirt bikes in the past year, you’ll know that the Swedish company (Stark) unveiled their game-changing “Varg” model electric dirt bike.
Their claims are special because it’s supposed to be the most competitive dirt bike in every aspect as far as power, range, handling, and quick-charge time.
They have an audience (and pre-buyers), but it’s tough to tell whether it will be a long term success until they actually deliver bikes for at least a couple of years.
Trinity Electric Vehicles – Panthera Dirt & Supermoto Bikes
New to the sport of electric dirt bikes as well as Trinity Motor Vehicles with two upcoming model options. They have an off-road dirt bike for enduro riding, as well as a supermoto with 17″ full street wheels and tires.
![Trinity Panthera Electric Dirt Bike Best Electric Dirt Bike Based On Your Specific Needs [2024]](https://motocrosshideout.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Trinity-Panthera-Electric-Dirt-Bike.jpg)
![Trinity Panthera Electric Dirt Bike Best Electric Dirt Bike Based On Your Specific Needs [2024]](https://motocrosshideout.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/03/Trinity-Panthera-Electric-Dirt-Bike.jpg.webp)
What makes it unique? You get a 4-speed manual transmission with a clutch, which makes it as close to a gas dirt bike as possible – you just don’t have the same sound or fuel to deal with. Here’s a brief video posted from the German company’s youtube channel:
How to get started dirt bike when finances are tight
Are you new to dirt biking or just getting back into it but don’t have a lot of money? I want to give you a simple 5-step guide on how to choose the right bike and gear so that you save money without sacrificing safety. Click here to download your free guide.