If you love mountain biking, love a good downhill run, but have been wondering if you should try e-moto… read on! I’m not talking about an e-bike, but a 100% throttle-powered electric dirt bike.
Quick answer: You should definitely add an e-moto to your bike collection!
Why? They’re the perfect combo. Similar, complementing skills are needed, fitness will improve (for real, I’ll explain shortly), and even components on the electric dirt bike are what you’ll find on a good DH bicycle. And, it brings the thrill of a downhill run to 100% of the time. Think about it, wide-open throttle on an MX track, how many new skills will you master? You’ll have the best of everything!
Did I mention you’ll also go faster….
Our team here at GirtShift consists of not only hare scramblers and MX racers, but MTB champions and former bike shop employees as well, and we all agree that e-motos are an awesome complement to a bicycle rider’s skillset. Consider buying from our store when it comes time to buy your first e-moto. You’ll be supporting articles like this one, helping us introduce more and more people to the wonderful world of e-motos!
Why do you need an e-moto?
E-moto are way different from e-bikes. They’re not limited to 20ish mph when the motor cuts out like the pedal-assist bikes. They’re also different from gas-powered dirt bikes in that they’re lighter, quieter, and can be ridden in more places.
The skills you have on your mountain bike will be transferred across to e-moto, and you’ll build on them. The faster speed means you’ll be able to clear the jumps higher, and further, and pick up on new things – which will then be transferred back onto your mtb. Pretty cool!
Your cardio and strength will improve, much like what hybrid training achieves. By changing up your riding, your body will get stronger. And if anyone tells you you don’t get fit riding a bike with a motor, they don’t know what they’re talking about! (or only commute on their Vespa…) Have you seen the training schedule for the top AMA riders?
Oh yeah, they’re also faster…!
Where can I ride?
There are many awesome locations you can ride. Depending on the model of the e-moto, you can ride on the road. Otherwise, tracks and trails are the way to go – and much more fun, in my opinion!
However, if you do any Googling, you’ll see there’s a bit of hate towards electric dirt bikes riding on MTB-specific trails. And for good reasons – a handful of riders have been going up the downhill tracks (hmm.., it doesn’t take rocket science to figure out what will happen there…) but also, the chunky tires mixed with accelerating throttle will cut the tops of jumps made for MTB. I’m sure you’ve got your own story of encountering e-moto riders doing the wrong thing.
That aside, most MX tracks will welcome e-moto, and there are many trails around that allow e-moto. You can even ride on private property when it’s allowed – anywhere an unregistered gas-powered dirt bike can go.
To give you an idea, my schedule usually looks like weekdays – I take my DH bike to the hills that are 5 minutes away and fit in a few runs. On weekends, I head to the MX tracks or an enduro trail.
A more surprising question might be, “When can I ride?” With an e-moto, you can ride all the time! Since you will hardly make more noise than you would on a bicycle, you can hit your favorite night time riding spots without fear of waking the neighborhood.
There’s no derailleur? What does maintenance look like?
If you’re familiar with maintenance on your mountain bike, you’ll have no trouble maintaining an e-moto. On bikes like the Surron LBX, many of the components are from good-quality mountain bikes! In the world of lightweight e-motos, everything from brakes to tires to belts and grips tend to come from high-end MTB applications.
General maintenance front to rear is much the same:
- Check tire wear/pressure, and wheel bearings when needed
- Check brakes – pads, rotor, hydraulic lines – replace components as needed
- Forks: Clean, no leaks, correct setup
- There is no dropper post….
- There is no crank….
- Chain/sprockets: Check tension, lube
- Rear suspension: Correct setup
- No derailleur to maintain…
- Check rear brake and tire/wheel
You may have noticed I haven’t mentioned anything about the motor yet. That’s probably the biggest difference. The powertrain consists of a controller (the brain), the battery (power source), and the motor (power output). The only maintenance on the controller and motor is to ensure they aren’t damaged and connections haven’t come loose. Some models have a few checks specific to that motor but even those aren’t anything difficult.
As far as the battery goes, there is a little maintenance, but it’s all about prolonging the life of the battery. Don’t let the charge drop to zero, charge it after you ride and store it correctly if you’re not going to use it for a while.
Here is an article that dives into battery care:
If you’ve been doing your own MTB maintenance, you probably already have most of the tools needed to maintain an e-moto. If you normally take your MTB to the shop for general maintenance, you can do the same for your e-moto also. There are plenty of mechanics that specialize in e-moto.
What’s a good e-moto to start with?
Much like choosing your first mountain bike, there are many options! Some of the big-name brands that are really popular are:
- Surron: Many different size/power options
- Talaria: Many different size/power options
- E-Ride Pro: Mainly do higher powered e-moto, some different size options
- Stark Varg: Only one size currently, similar to a 450cc dirtbike.
If you want something that will complement your MTB, I would recommend checking out the E-Ride Pro. These are excellent right out of the box, will be perfect on the tracks with no upgrades necessary, and are higher powered. This is what you’ll need, especially if you’re already pretty good at DH mountain biking – you’ll find this will be a great fit.
What else do I need to think about?
As you’re aware with MTBing, it doesn’t stop at just the bike. Here is a list of what you’ll need to consider when you own an e-moto.
The gear
You’ll need slightly different gear from what you already have, although some of it could be used for both.
Helmet/Goggles
The most important part of your gear is the helmet – protect that head of yours! While the helmet for mountain biking is great for a mountain bike, it doesn’t meet the standards for e-moto if you were to ride on the road or compete in any e-moto races. Typically, faster speeds mean you need more protection.
Just like you ride your DH bike with glasses for any condition, you’ll want to look for goggles specific to dirtbike-style helmets. This is especially true if you plan on riding dirt trails.
Gloves
Specific to e-moto and dirt biking, the gloves allow plenty of movement while also offering protection where you need it. They are generally slightly thicker than gloves you’d choose for MTB, but have a look – your current pair may work fine.
Boots
I personally ride with motocross boots on all dirtbikes/e-moto. There is no way your foot will come out of these, no laces to get tangled, and offer excellent protection. If you have a pair of sturdy, flat-soled shoes, these could be OK. Be aware if you have the clip-in or clipless style of shoes, the pegs on the e-moto will cause damage to the system – you won’t find any cleats on e-moto bikes!
Other protective gear
Armor can be worn under your jersey and it’s always a good idea to protect yourself as much as possible. You might find your current jersey and pants will be sufficient, but it’s always a good idea to cover as much skin as possible with the higher speeds.
Where do you store your e-moto?
An e-moto is slightly larger than your MTB, so you may need to find a larger spot in your garage – especially if you’re adding to your bike collection! Keep in mind you’ll need to charge your e-moto, so a spot near a power point will come in handy.
How do you transport your e-moto?
Hopefully, you already own a pickup to transport your mountain bikes to the DH tracks already! If you do, you may only need to purchase a good-quality ramp and some tie-downs. If you don’t, there are plenty of other easy solutions to transporting your e-moto if you have a model you can’t ride on the street.
Some options are carriers that fit into your towbar, take a trailer, or ask a mate!
I’ve modded my MTB, can I do the same for an e-moto?
Yes! An electric dirt bike is made for modding! (That’s our opinion, anyway!) There are plenty of models that are awesome right from the box, but who doesn’t like personalizing their pride and joy?
Modding your e-moto is very similar to how you would upgrade components on your MTB. The only big difference is you have the option to upgrade the powertrain on your e-moto. Have a read of this article for some ideas to get you thinking:
Riders mod their e-moto for the same reasons as modding your MTB. Either just to look cool, or for practical reasons; make your electric dirt bike land big jumps, have better suspension, improve the ergos, make it ride better for your style. There is no limit, and once you start, you’ll get the modding bug!
Where can I get an e-moto?
If you live in the United States, the easiest way to own a brand new e-moto is to jump onto our store www.gritshift.com, and put your order in.
If you’re reading this from around the rest of the world, then head directly to the website of your chosen e-moto brand, and you’ll find a list of dealers local to your area.
Whatever e-moto you’ve chosen, we have the parts needed to get you on your modding journey. Welcome to our community and enjoy expanding your bike collection!
PS don’t forget to sign up for our newsletter community to be the first to know about new and exciting products, and get the latest tips and tricks.
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