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[benswing]

I met a guy yesterday when I brought my Zero S to a car show and he said that he is interested in dirt racing and he is waiting for the Freeride E from KTM instead of going in on a Zero FX.  He has a track, but his neighbors don't like the noise... enter electric racing bikes. 

I asked him why he hadn't bought a Zero and his impression is that KTM has been making these kinds of bikes for years and he thinks they will offer a better product once they come out.  He also thought the first generation of Zero looked too much like a mountain bike and not enough like a track bike. 

I mentioned that Zero has been making electric motorcycles for several years while KTM is new to electric motors, which may give an advantage to Zero.  However, KTM has been around longer so they have more resources and experience making the non-electric part of the bike.

Has anyone heard about the KTM freeride actually being produced?  Or are they still "in development"?

[Richard230]

The last I heard KTM's new owner seemed to indicate that he thought electric motorcycles were not ready for prime time - at least not with respect for the type of volume production that KTM was looking for.  I don't believe that you are going to see the Freeride E in the U.S. any time soon.  Note that KTM has been developing and announcing several new small-displacement motorcycles lately, especially ones being manufactured in their India production facilities, but not a peep about the Freeride E.  If I was your friend and he wants to ride on his dirt track within the next year or two, I would go out and buy a Zero MX.  A Zero under your butt is worth two Freeride E's in a KTM dream.   

[protomech]

I think that report may have become confused in translation - there have been some conflicting reports on his intentions.

You can test ride the KTM Freeride E today, if you find yourself near Munderfing Austria:
http://www.ktm.com/gb/ridektm/ktm-e-cross-center.html

July 4 2013

In a matter of months the Freeride E will go into production and will be a versatile product. Something that can be ridden around a garden, welcomed by environmentalists and can still come alive on a motocross track.

“The bike can do about 30bhp, 42 newtons and can last between 30-90 minutes depending on the track and the rider. It charges up in 90 minutes and is 80% full after one hour,” explains Fischer. “We’ve had the new version of the Freeride for about two weeks now. It is liquid cooled and has better brakes. We can change settings here at the park to suit different riders and we have 10 bikes in total, 8 of which we make available at any one time. Most of the people who come here are new to off-road; it is a great way to start.”

http://blog.ktm.com/freeriding-at-ktms-local-track-2/


August 2 2013

That must mean the business plan behind the E-bike is sound…!

Yes and it is interesting. As a combustion-engine-based off-road motorcycle firm you are an ‘outsider’ in the community, as soon as you are offering the same product – that even looks the same – but with an electric engine everybody loves you. Hunters are calling us so they can use it to get into their woods! Austrian Ski resorts want to make a track in their summer season…it is becoming their business. There are other parks interested and we will collect the information and begin production on the Freeride E next year.

http://blog.ktm.com/exclusive-stefan-pierer-interview-part-two-2/

[Richard230]

Well that was interesting.  I hadn't seen those reports before, certainly they weren't mentioned in any magazines that I have read recently.  Thanks for the links. I guess someone changed their mind about the Freeride E again.   

[Lennard]

I also have mx track at my house and electric is the way to go over here in Europe because of neighbor complaints.

At the moment I am using a zero mx2010 but I also can't wait to get my hands on a Ktm freeride.

The zero is ok but is not really mx worthy, the suspension is way to small/soft.

The way i use the mx is ok for my because I only drive it an my private track as extra training and ride a husqvarna wr250 at the public tracks.

[pres68y]

..... If I was your friend and he wants to ride on his dirt track within the next year or two, I would go out and buy a Zero MX.  A Zero under your butt is worth two Freeride E's in a KTM dream.   

That's what we did last March. Got a Zero MX and spent about a month preparing it for dirt track (wheels, tires, suspension, etc). In April we first raced it to find out where we were on the setup. In May I got our first win on it at Perris SCFTA track. Got another class win in June @Perris and a couple of wins in July at Ventura County Raceway. They are all fairly short tracks (under 1/4 mile) so using just one (45lb) battery is sufficient for the event. The 'all-up' weight is 228lb with one battery and 273lb with two. An extra 45lb up top does not help handling so we just run one battery. If we can get it hooked up well exiting the corners it runs comparably with 450s -750s down the straightaways.

[JLF]

Awesome!  Can you please post a list of your mods and future mods?

[pres68y]

Awesome!  Can you please post a list of your mods and future mods?

Sure, I'd be happy to. However, it will take me a few days to collect and organize
the past information. (something I should do anyway)
For the future, I can only identify the objectives and a SWAG on how to get there.

Thanks for your interest in electric flat track.

[mark]

your friend is indeed wise. I would recommend under no circumstance touch the zero product. The MX has given me nothing but grief. Not to mention the appalling support for Zero. Or their glowingly fictitious data they supply about their products.

[jazclrint]

Last I knew the Freeride E was equivalent to their 85cc bike size wise with 125 power.  I don't think it would be able to hang with a 2012 Zero MX, much less the twice as powerful 2013 MX.  Comparing any these bikes to a long since outdated 2010 MX doesn't make since as it has changed every year since.

However, I am a streetrider.  But to me the first upgrade you want to do to any motorcycle you buy is suspension.  It seems to me stock suspension is almost never up to the task.  But I am 100kg, so that may have something to do with it.

[pres68y]

The MX has given me nothing but grief.

What year is your ZeroMX?

[Richard230]

Here is a ride review of the KTM Freeride E published by Motor Cycle News: 

http://www.motorcyclenews.com/mcn/news/newsresults/first-rides-tests/2013/december/dec2813-ktm-freeride-e-first-ride/_/R-EPI-142610

[NoiseBoy]

40 minutes of hard riding in max power mode? On a 2.1KWh battery?   That's a fairytale.

[Richard230]

40 minutes of hard riding in max power mode? On a 2.1KWh battery?   That's a fairytale.

That was my thought also.