High torque and near silence all wrapped into one solid package.
KTM, a well known Austrian manufacturer of motorcycles, brought to market what was arguably one of the first battery powered dirt-bikes to be released by a powerhouse manufacturer, known as the Freeride E back in 2011. Fast forward to 2021 and KTM has up’d the game releasing a new and improved electric dirt bike, the Freeride E-XC. This all electric dirt bike from KTM has many of the same features that made their gas counterparts known worldwide. Starting with a proven frame design that has benefited from years of testing and tweaking on the global motorcross circuit to the WP suspension components this dirt bike brings top notch quality to the market. Some may be skeptical of the battery-operated motor, but let’s not get too mired in those details because the torque generated by electric motors is staggering and will make you wonder why this is just now becoming a thing.
How does this electric KTM dirt bike compare to gas dirt bikes?
At first glance, I doubt most people would recognize the Freeride is lacking a combustion engine as much of the bike shares identical curb appeal with its gas counterparts. The bike is stated to provide a 2 hour run time, which we must keep in check by saying this is all dependent on how the rider manages the throttle. I would also add terrain will be a factor in run time as well, so we must defer to the old term YMMV (your mileage may vary). The bike is set up to offer 3 modes of operation just like the mapping switch you may be familiar with on the gas powered bikes:
1 – Economy – lowest torque/power = least battery consumption
2 – Standard – middle torque/power = moderate battery consumption
3 – Advanced – highest torque/power = most battery consumption
Rather than working thru multiple gears and sometimes learning the hard way you incorrectly judged the appropriate gear as you ascend a hill, the Freeride simplifies the rider experience.
The Freeride is said to have a top speed of 50 mph, which can be altered if the gearing is swapped out. I would believe KTM has done a lot of research to find the sweet spot with power to battery consumption ratio to balance out the performance most riders are looking for.
Why should I consider the KTM E-XC?
A couple of things to consider with this bike in that you no longer have a clutch to modulate the power that is commonly required in technical terrain. The throttle response on this bike is instant, so as soon as you lean into it the bike responds with full power right away. Conversely not having to deal with a clutch can be a blessing for some riders as it removes the element of killing the engine if your throttle and clutch work are not in sync. I would add this bike is capable of something no gas powered bike is and that’s being able to creep thru terrain at very slow speeds. This could also allow new riders to advance their confidence at a much quicker pace. Just imagine having this much fun all while ditching the gas, oil, clutches and zero need for a leg pumping kickstart!!!
What is the battery set up for the KTM E-XC?
The KTM charging system requires a proprietary 220V station (seen above) to charge the lithium-ion batteries that are also proprietary to KTM. It’s worth noting KTM does offer additional battery packs although they carry a hefty price tag of $3,500.
Expected charging times:
Full charge = 110 minutes
3/4 charge = 75 minutes
There has been some discussion amongst manufacturers to develop swappable battery packs making things a little easier on the operator. If you consider a future application whereby a charging station located in proximity to a local track or trail housing multiple battery packs could allow an operator to simply trade out the depleted battery for a fresh battery you can begin to understand the value in this forward line of thinking.
Final thoughts on the KTM Freeride E-XC
KTM has certainly delivered what I believe to be a quality dirt bike and as a current owner of a KTM 350 XCF-W, I look forward to riding the Freeride soon to see firsthand just how awesome this machine is. As with all new electric technology there are and will continue to be limitations into the foreseeable future, but engineers and marketers with conviction to the electrification movement are working to bridge this gap everyday. With an MSRP of $10,499 this might be a hard pill to swallow when you are clearly paying a premium for the battery technology vs. the gas counterpart. Who said having fun was cheap?!?
Be sure to join us in the CO Forum to discuss more of the application and electric technology related to the KTM Freeride E-XC.