RE: KTM Freeride E-SX: Review
Monday 3rd November 2014
This year seems to have been the year of the electric two-wheeler with first BMW and then Brammo and now KTM getting in on the act. However in typical KTM fashion, rather than simply dip a toe in the water, it has dived head first into the pool and is trying to start a whole new electric revolution. And you know what? PH2 reckons they might well be onto something...
Definitely cooler than BMW's electric scooterElectric avenues...
Electric vehicles are always going to split opinions. However PH2 reckons there are two very distinct avenues that electricity might well prove popular when it comes to two wheels. The first is inner-city transport, which BMW is targeting with its C Evolution scooter, and the second is off-road.
Like DH mountain biking, minus the pedallingE Parks
KTM is attempting to establish a series of 'E Parks' all over Europe and there are currently three planned for the UK. These are basically inner-city off-road tracks that can be either indoor or outdoor thanks to the fact they will be running electric Freerides. That's the great thing about electricity - you can stick an E Park next to a library and no one will ever complain. KTM's plan is to use these parks in much the same way as a kart track operates - you turn up, pay your money, and rent an electric bike. Obviously KTM won't actually be running the tracks itself, but it will certainly be trying its very best to make them happen. Having ridden the electric Freeride I'll be right at the front of the E Park queue. And I hate off-road riding!
XC version for trail riding, SX for electrified motoDespite effectively being a 125cc bike due to the way electric bikes are homologated, the Freeride makes a peak of 22hp with 31lb ft of torque from the word go, which is about the same as a petrol 250cc bike. However to riders who aren't that confident off road, the fact it weighs just 108kg is the major plus factor. After a while I found myself relaxing and actually really enjoying the off-road ride as due to the fact I was on a circuit I could learn the track and actually try new things out to boost my confidence.
Fresh from the 'will it work underwater' testMoney matters
The huge issues that always surround electric vehicles are cost and battery life, and the Freeride E is no exception. The bike costs £10,299 and the battery lasts about three quarters of an hour of moderate use, 15 minutes of real beasting. Obviously this basically rules it out of trail riding as you would get stuck in the middle of nowhere but for an E Park it doesn't matter. You can swap the battery on a Freeride in under a minute and it charges up in under an hour and a half, so this isn't an issue. As you are renting the bike the RRP isn't a problem and for the park organisers the great thing is that electric vehicles require virtually no maintenance, in fact the Freeride needs 155ml of oil every 50 hours in its motor, air in the tyres and the crash damage fixed when required - that's it! In the context of this, E Parks make a hell of a lot of sense and I really hope they take off. And, yes, in case you are wondering the Freeride E is 100 per cent waterproof and can actually be ridden underwater without your hair standing on end...
KTM Freeride E-SX: Review
If inner-city motocross tracks running silent electric KTMs are the future then PH2 is in!
Definitely cooler than BMW's electric scooter
Electric vehicles are always going to split opinions. However PH2 reckons there are two very distinct avenues that electricity might well prove popular when it comes to two wheels. The first is inner-city transport, which BMW is targeting with its C Evolution scooter, and the second is off-road.
Off-road riders have one huge issue - annoying ramblers. The noise and smell of a two-stroke motor is enough to send them into meltdown and even quieter four-strokes aren't exactly welcomed with open arms. Ramblers like to hear the birds sing and the access rights to green lanes have been drastically cut. Motocross tracks are also under fire in much the same way as race circuits for noise issues. So where can you ride your off-road bike? How about in a city centre?
Like DH mountain biking, minus the pedalling
KTM is attempting to establish a series of 'E Parks' all over Europe and there are currently three planned for the UK. These are basically inner-city off-road tracks that can be either indoor or outdoor thanks to the fact they will be running electric Freerides. That's the great thing about electricity - you can stick an E Park next to a library and no one will ever complain. KTM's plan is to use these parks in much the same way as a kart track operates - you turn up, pay your money, and rent an electric bike. Obviously KTM won't actually be running the tracks itself, but it will certainly be trying its very best to make them happen. Having ridden the electric Freeride I'll be right at the front of the E Park queue. And I hate off-road riding!
Like off-road, but much better!
When I see a rut I basically tense up which, I'm assured, isn't the way to approach them. But after spending a day on the Freeride my mind has been changed. KTM took us on a gentle trail ride, which I didn't really enjoy, and then to a motocross style track, which was bloody brilliant fun and is a fair indication about what an E Park will be like.
XC version for trail riding, SX for electrified moto
The Freeride was light enough to feel manageable and in the right hands (not mine) proved extremely effective off-road, meaning there was certainly scope for improvement. If you haven't tried off-road you won't believe how much physical effort it takes to get a bike around a dirt track and in about 15 minutes I was absolutely hanging. If the choice is going to the gym or an E Park to shed the muffin tops, I'd choose E Park every time. But that's not the only advantage of an E Park.
Fresh from the 'will it work underwater' test
The huge issues that always surround electric vehicles are cost and battery life, and the Freeride E is no exception. The bike costs £10,299 and the battery lasts about three quarters of an hour of moderate use, 15 minutes of real beasting. Obviously this basically rules it out of trail riding as you would get stuck in the middle of nowhere but for an E Park it doesn't matter. You can swap the battery on a Freeride in under a minute and it charges up in under an hour and a half, so this isn't an issue. As you are renting the bike the RRP isn't a problem and for the park organisers the great thing is that electric vehicles require virtually no maintenance, in fact the Freeride needs 155ml of oil every 50 hours in its motor, air in the tyres and the crash damage fixed when required - that's it! In the context of this, E Parks make a hell of a lot of sense and I really hope they take off. And, yes, in case you are wondering the Freeride E is 100 per cent waterproof and can actually be ridden underwater without your hair standing on end...
2015 KTM Freeride E-SX
Engine: Brushless permanent magnet synchronous water-cooled motor
Power (hp): 15@5,500rpm
Torque: 31lb ft
Top speed: 60mph (est)
Weight: 108kg (dry)
MPG: n/a
Price: £10,299
Discussion
MotorsportTom said:
So is it 15hp or 22hp?
Cradled in the same frame used by the petrol-powered Freeride 250 and 350, is an electric motor putting out 22hp. With 31ft.lb of torque from 0rpm, you have the same amount of poke as a Honda CBR500R, which uses a 471cc parallel-twin and requires an A2 licence to ride.
However, because of the complexities of EU tests, the Freeride E has managed to get a 'rated' power figure of 15hp, which means it's legally no different to a 125, and can be ridden by learners or those with a full A1 licence.
Agree about the silent = dangerous. Not ideal, but sooner rather than later I guess we will get laws so that these things make some kind of artificial noise while in a city.
That said, I'd find this
a lot more interesting than a dirt bike (which will suffer more under the weight of the batteries).
Not sure if they still plan on making it though.
That said, I'd find this
a lot more interesting than a dirt bike (which will suffer more under the weight of the batteries).
Not sure if they still plan on making it though.
RumpleFugly said:
Looks like fantastic fun and I love the idea of Urban trail parks.
It's descendants could be the savior of Green Laning in a few years as well.
Unfortunately these won't be the answer to rambler/off road confrontations as ramblers will object to anything - just ask horse or mountain bike riders.It's descendants could be the savior of Green Laning in a few years as well.
I think the future for these bikes are indoor all weather events, though the urban trail park idea sound fun - will just be the sound of the diesel ambulances then!
These E Parks sound like a great idea! After my first foray into Moto-X this year I'd love to give it a go again, and an inner-city location sounds amazing.
Not having to faff with a kickstart would significantly improve the experience too!!
You have a "loud pipes save lives" sticker don't you?
Not having to faff with a kickstart would significantly improve the experience too!!
soad said:
Inner-city and a silent bike = deadly combination. 
You have a "loud pipes save lives" sticker don't you?
Great idea. When can I have a go at a E-park? Where will they be?
I wonder what the "health and safety" implications are in the UK, though.
At one time you could rent jet-skis, but I've not seen any in the uk for years.
The excellent ATV Centre in Cornwall used to rent out Yamaha Banshee quads in the early 90s -When I went back in the mid 00's, it was all slow 125 rev n' go quads.... You could still get air over the jumps though, if you tried
I wonder what the "health and safety" implications are in the UK, though.
At one time you could rent jet-skis, but I've not seen any in the uk for years.
The excellent ATV Centre in Cornwall used to rent out Yamaha Banshee quads in the early 90s -When I went back in the mid 00's, it was all slow 125 rev n' go quads.... You could still get air over the jumps though, if you tried
Edited by MC Bodge on Monday 3rd November 16:23
The silent bikes are going to be a bigger problem than ever for greenlaning. As said already, the Bumblers will moan about anything that shares the green and pleasant land they think is solely theirs. However, the lanes I use are predominantly frequented by people who will move to one side once they hear the sound of a motorbike approaching, whether that be Bumblers, parents with children or dog walkers.
Also, who in their right mind is going to pay over 10 big ones for one of these??
Also, who in their right mind is going to pay over 10 big ones for one of these??
Fleegle said:
Also, who in their right mind is going to pay over 10 big ones for one of these??
the chap said:
The bike costs £10,299 and the battery lasts about three quarters of an hour of moderate use, 15 minutes of real beasting.
A part from riding round the local playground or park I cant think of where it could be used? I do get tired of people saying these bikes are silent. Having ridden 6 or so different electric bikes now I can tell you they are anything but, generally making anything from a tie-fighter style screech to a growl depending on their drive train.
Understand it's not to everyone's aural taste but they certainly aren't silent.
Price is a bit steep though; £11k for 2.6kWh doesn't compare well with other manufacturers.
But as with anything new, it will be early adopters and sponsored schemes that buy them up until the price inevitably falls.
Bloody brilliant idea.
A (covered or not) off-road park near a tube station would be my ideal form of exercise - way better than paying for the gym. If half the people using it were off-road numpties like me I can see it catching on. Leaves the 2-stroke committed crowd more space too.
A (covered or not) off-road park near a tube station would be my ideal form of exercise - way better than paying for the gym. If half the people using it were off-road numpties like me I can see it catching on. Leaves the 2-stroke committed crowd more space too.
RumpleFugly said:
I do get tired of people saying these bikes are silent. Having ridden 6 or so different electric bikes now I can tell you they are anything but, generally making anything from a tie-fighter style screech to a growl depending on their drive train.
The noise they make is more akin to a whine than a screech or growl and it is unlikely it will be heard from a distance through shrub and trees
Living out near the Surrey Hampshire borders every Sunday morning woken by the sound of screaming 2 strokes or wailing 4 strokes using the A3/A31/A331 for a pleasure ride but I have no issue with this, but I like the idea of an epark in the city where the numbers of residents are 10x where i live. I also know there is an electric kart track in central london great idea.
but the cost of these electric bikes are huge £10K+ i cannot see them selling well until the price drops to the cost of a 125/250cc machine, also can these be road registered? is this a legal requirement for greenlaning? and do they require insurance for off roading? as used in a public place.
but the cost of these electric bikes are huge £10K+ i cannot see them selling well until the price drops to the cost of a 125/250cc machine, also can these be road registered? is this a legal requirement for greenlaning? and do they require insurance for off roading? as used in a public place.
soad said:
Inner-city and a silent bike = deadly combination.
Fleegle said:
The silent bikes are going to be a bigger problem than ever for greenlaning.
Cyclists seem to do ok on silent bikes travling at the same sort of speeds. I don't see why being silent will make a huge diffrence. I certainly don't feel less safe on my bicycle at up to 20mph (and I'm not very fast) in the city than I do on my BMW at 20 or 30 (depending on traffic and speed limits).Gassing Station | Biker Banter | Top of Page | What's New | My Stuff