If the name Volcon is unfamiliar don’t worry…this is a start up electric powersports manufacturer that has established itself deep in the Heart of Texas. As the ol’ saying goes everything is bigger in Texas and Volcon has embraced this mantra by announcing the launch of a fat tire dirt bike called the Grunt.
Launching a fat tire dirt bike known as the Grunt appears to pay homage to a category of offroad motorcycles dating back to the 1970’s (Suzuiki RV90) and more recently an 80’s bike affectionately known as the Fat Cat by Honda. There’s only one minor detail that distinguishes this glory day revival….the power is all electric.
The Grunt will feature a 37kW (50hp equivalent) electric motor, sourced thru a strategic partnership with Linear Labs, boasting a whopping 75 ft/lbs of torque to get those oversized tires launching the bike down the trail. The initial performance reports claim the Grunt will be capable of reaching 60mph in a flat 6 seconds, which sounds reasonable for a bike with an estimated weight of 220lbs. It’s worth noting the electric motor and components are IP67 rated allowing the Grunt to operate submerged in water.
Although the bike is built with fairly rudimentary design with an exoskeleton frame tethered to a double shock front fork and a single coil shock in the rear that looks like it was the work of an advanced high school shop class the bike is said to have fairly robust capability. The seat looks like a repurpose from a Cafe Racer set up although that could be a welcome feature relative to the firmer saddles found on most offroad bikes.
The battery range for the Grunt is anticipated to clock in somewhere at the 100 mile market with a swappable battery design that could double the fun. I’ll interject some reason here in stating I don’t see much reason to demand more than 100 miles for a bike of this design. I think plenty of fun can be had on a single charge as this is not the next contestant for Baja. The battery pack is easily charged via a standard electrical outlet using a proprietary charging system. In just under 2 hours a battery pack is ready for use.
Volcon has also announced a pint sized version of the Grunt will be released to cater to the junior riders allowing the entire family to get in on the fun. The Runt is a modified frame to accommodate shorter riders and feature Parental Controls such as Geofencing and speed control to offer safe operation.
There is no doubt the Grunt will find a niche market of enthusiast that appreciate the stability and ridability of a bike with this design. I will predict this dirt bike is more approachable than its gas counterparts and may result in newfound riders that may have otherwise kept their distance.
I anticipate outdoors enthusiast that include hunters, fishermen and recreational ranchers will gravitate to this bike to fulfill specific duties as they pursue their hobbies. The Grunt will offer accessories to include mountable racks for carrying small loads as well as the ability to tow a small utility trailer. Production is said to begin in 2021 with an MSRP of $5,995 USD, sans options.
As a dirt bike and ATV enthusiast, I look forward to seeing the Grunt in the wild.