Race ready electric dirtbike coming from KTM
Click above for high-res shots of the electric KTM dirtbike
We've seen electric dirtbikes before, but they've all been from small start-up manufacturers. You know that the technology is rapidly approaching mainstream when a huge company like KTM starts working on their own ebike. Using lithium ion batteries and an electric motor that produces 29.5 lb-ft of torque, the Austrian firm believes it can eke out about 40 minutes of hard riding under race conditions from its new electric machine. KTM is reportedly looking to introduce its Zero Emissions Motorcycle in as little as 24 months. The draw for electric off-road machines comes in part from their lack of emissions and sound, which conspire to keep many riders from enjoying their bikes close to home. What's more, an electric motorcycle can be recharged anywhere an outlet is available, meaning zero petroleum usage. For this reason, the Austrian government is helping to fund the development. KTM expects that its electric bike would cost just a bit more than its current race-ready enduro bikes.
Gallery: Electric KTM Enduro
[Source: Hell For Leather]
Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
Bill 7:11PM (10/21/2008)
"What's more, an electric motorcycle can be recharged anywhere an outlet is available, meaning zero petroleum usage"
That's great, except for the fact that many of these will be recharged from inefficient, noisy generators out in the woods where they're ridden!
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ivor 8:34AM (10/23/2008)
If that rider has just finished landing a jump, you know the family jewels are up somewhere around his stomach!
> That's great, except for the fact that many of these will be recharged from inefficient, noisy generators out in the woods where they're ridden!
How about in-city tracks with a battery swap stand? This really opens things up. Cross-country, trail riding in the boonies, and enduro events are going to need a lot more battery.
Not surprised KTM is the first out of the gate... they have a an eye for it. All I have to say to them is, make it light, and make it street legal!
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banzairx7 8:40AM (10/22/2008)
This bike seems to be missing one major component- Foot Pegs
Recharging from a generator will happen few and far between. Most people are going out for day trips when they go trail riding. The battery recharge time will most likely be several hours. Nobody is going to sit around for three hours in to wait for a recharge. If it's cheap enough, which it won't be, you'd bring along a spare battery.
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Bill E 7:03PM (10/22/2008)
Have any of you guys ever ridden a motorcycle?
He is doing a start, that's why he is over the bars and his feet are off the pegs. And if any of you have ridden a bike, you will know the pegs are located right behind the rider's boot in that pic. Electric transportation is the future, at least someone is paving the way.
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dave 7:56PM (10/22/2008)
I've got a Honda generator ~ and it is very quite. They will have to sell for way less than the gas powered models to get this program off the ground.
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Matthew Kolb 9:29AM (10/23/2008)
YES, YES, YESSSSSSSS!!! Fix the problems that Quantya and Zero couldn't accomplish! On board charger, faster top speed, and longer range!
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henry 2:31PM (10/31/2008)
All of you PUPPIES are e-co idiots!...electric is for sissy's and vaccuum cleaners. Real Dirt bikes were invented for real men to ride, not the ipod sidewalk seguay crowd. Gee ya think Ktm might have to worry that Harley will steal their techno idea & build a screamin' twin t-bolt for the Angels to terrorize the streets in LA with? How many stadium cross fans want to see their heros riding 'no-sound -sparkler bikes'? When they develop a nuke powered bike, then they can talk about real ridin' at WFO. THAT'S GREEN TECHNOLOGY! Go Fast or Stay Home!
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D 9:47AM (11/02/2008)
Dude... you are retarded. I ride a quantya now and I have 2 KTM MX bikes. An 08' 450 and an 08' 144sx. I will roast you on all of them Mr. moto is for Men. I was out at Milestone yesterday with my 450 and the electric and the lap times on the int. track are within 4 seconds of each other. I was up in Sacremento last weekend riding Riverfront and watching 2 pros on Quantyas making short order of all the 450s on the track. So check your ego at the door... because when you get passed by an ev on the track you won't be feeling so manly. Can you go over an 80' tripple step down? I didn't think so... but my Quantya does with me on it.
Stev-0 10:52PM (12/16/2008)
Like it or not, this is the future. the eco-crowd is gonna mandate it, when they stop you from burning wood in your own fire place, your dirt bike (snow machine, jet ski) is next. do the math its only a matter of time, I'm glad somebody is seriously going after this. Maybe we'll be able to ride more local. Support the Blue Ribbon Coalition!
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