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[Adventure]

I love electric motorcycles.  I rode the 2016 Zero FXS and loved it.  Rode the 2017 DSR and it was fun.  I've always wanted an electric dirt bike since KTM announced their FreeRide E.  It took a few years but they're finally here!
I jumped on the chance to reserve mine

Things I wish I knew before putting a deposit down.

Even though KTM listed it as street legal on the US website, it was taken down.  This was  a cut and copy mistake from their main site.  They did not go through the hoops to make them US street legal (not a deal breaker)
These are "play" or "toy" bikes for big kids or skinny adults.  You will not race these in any class except against other FreeRide E  (not a deal breaker)

These are meant for a slim rider...
The slim forks and soft rear spring along with the very small brakes make this thing only set up for 100-170 lb riders.
I'm a hefty 250 and I had asked this question a week before I picked it up, was told my weight shouldn't be a problem...
had I known I wouldn't have ordered one.  Now I need to re-spring the bike for my weight... not too big of an issue, just wanted more info up front.

The charger is the euro version with a US L6-20 plug adapter.
My dealer charged theirs on 2 legs of a 3 phase running at 208volts.
I was told I could setup a 2 pole 250v which is single phase 220 like you'd have the breakers for your dryer/electric stove.
...
I had an electrician install the breaker and L6-20 receptacle 3 foot away from the box in my garage.  Unfortunately my charger gives an error code 13 to check cables at every attempt. (retries after 15 seconds of un plugged)  I followed all the KTM guidance.
I've connected to my other known good appliance breakers and bought replacement receptacles + 600v wiring and still cannot get the charger to connect.
Charger gets power but throws code 13 (check cables) every time.

Now at the shop I saw the bike was already charged and had 1.2 miles on it.  We went through all the how to's and such to operate and charge.  We tested my charger on another bike on their 3 phase and it worked.  We did not test it on my bike or on a single phase 220. 

I rode the bike for 30 minutes at the shop and dealer had to do the 1st service and check or errors on the battery.  They said it had an error they couldn't translate but said I should be good to go anyway...

When I got home I drained the rest of the battery with a quick ride like KTM expressed and found out my charger basically doesn't see the bike.

I've been left with a paperweight since last Saturday.  I'll be returning to the shop tomorrow to see if I can get a resolution. 

I'll be returning to this thread to update, incase someone runs into similar issues.

[odedmaz]

Very interesting. Please keep us updated.

Sent from my XT1585 using Tapatalk

[Richard230]

Isn't it fun to be an early adopter?      At least you have a large, well funded and established company behind your product.  And one that is likely very motivated to do whatever is necessary to get your FreeRide E working properly.  Unlike my early adopter experience with my 2009 Electric Motorsport GPR-S.  When its charger failed, it caught fire and melted down in my garage with only 300 miles on the clock. 

[Ireek]

Sorry to hear about your troubles, I'm sure KTM will get it sorted but man, it really sucks having a new bike that can't be ridden.  When I saw availability on this bike, I almost was willing to make a 1,000+ mile round trip to buy one since no dealers in my area were gonna carry it, can you imagine if I had bought it and had to go back to the dealer the same week for repairs, not good, not good at all... 

[Richard230]

A similar situation with BMW would likely result in BMW's 3-year free breakdown recovery plan picking up the bike and returning it to your dealer for repairs.  Perhaps KTM has the same sort of service.

When my 2012 Zero S was recalled for the "glitch" Zero picked up the bike from my home, took it to their factory located about 70 miles away, fixed the problem, rode it around over the weekend and returned it to me the following Monday. Now that was service - of the type they don't provide anymore.   

[rayivers]

Sorry to hear about these problems.  I'm sure KTM will get them sorted out quickly, but that's not much help to you right now.

240VAC line derivations are quite different in the USA and Europe.  The shop charger connection worked OK because it used 'floating' Euro-type AC from two supply phases, but the new 240 outlet in your house is supplying the standard USA center-tapped 240VAC which the KTM Euro-spec charger diagnostics won't like at all.  A properly-sized 240VAC line isolation transformer between the new outlet & charger input should fix this problem.

Ray

[odedmaz]

For me the major deal breaker is the fact that the bike is not street legal. These machines can not be used for the occasional trip to the grocery, or on road sections between riding areas.

The brakes and suspension can be setup for your dimensions. These are high quality components.

Sent from my XT1585 using Tapatalk

[Marshm]

I lower and soften pretty much every dirt bike I buy, so the suspension sounds like a real positive to me. 
Sounds like rayivers might know something about the charging issue, with a solution. 
I am curious what KTM intended the bike to use to charge.  Maybe KTM required the 3 phase method, that's why the shop was doing that and it worked.  So you tried to charge it differently and it didn't work.  I guess that's not exactly KTM's fault, although 3 phase is not very practical to be available in housing areas, so if that was KTM's intent they made a really stupid decision there.  They should have had the charging issue all figured out.  I am surprised KTM would make such a massive oversight.  Lets do the analysis to determine if the bikes will be popular in the USA, well I guess not too popular if people cannot charge them. 
The dealer failed in their Electric motorcycle training if they sent you home with a charging plan that they did not test to make sure it actually worked.  I sort of expect crappy service from dealers though, that's the standard I have experienced.  So the dealer being stupid doesn't surprise me as much. 
For the street legal issue, wouldn't it need to have all that typical dual sport stuff installed?  If it doesn't, then its not street legal.  Brake light, horn, high and low beam headlight (maybe requirement for a low beam that cannot be turned off by rider), mirrors (I think are not requirement but are usually installed) DOT tires, emissions, and whatever else I forgot.  I wish they sold a street legal version for sure.  If your state allows a conversion, I guess people can add that stuff.  I don't see a headlight though, so might have to be creative to get a 12V DC voltage source for a light.
Anyway, I have compassion for you.  That charging issue should not have happened, and was easily avoidable.  Looking on the bright side, the charging issue is not really how the bike runs and handles.  So once you get a batter charger that actually works, you might really like the bike.  It looks awesome, in the future try not to get it wet or dirty, just ride it around in your living room. 
Hey, it has a reflector on the fork.  That seems very odd for a dirt bike. 
 

[Adventure]

Thanks for everyone's replies and sharing ideas!!!

So the issue has been resolved with my charging woes. 

Turns out the diagnostic tool plug broke off a shard of plastic deep inside the battery charging port.  My FreeRide-E was checked out before I left the dealer and wasn't connected again until I made my trip home.  This kept the contacts from touching by mere millimeters.  Easy fix.



I have a new rear spring on order so I'm not bottoming out this suspension.
YouTube videos are being edited today.  Check out my channel soon:
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCOPL47sBytLukv8ZNrZQ7Rw

[Ireek]

Whew, this is good news, ride on:)

[Olav]

Where did you buy it?

[Adventure]

Solid Performance KTM

[RyErickson264]

Can you please upload a photo of your charger and outlet setup?
I have the Euro charger with G-type plug and trying to figure out how to charge here in the US.
Thanks in advance!

***

"  The charger is the euro version with a US L6-20 plug adapter.
My dealer charged theirs on 2 legs of a 3 phase running at 208volts.
I was told I could setup a 2 pole 250v which is single phase 220 like you'd have the breakers for your dryer/electric stove.
...
I had an electrician install the breaker and L6-20 receptacle 3 foot away from the box in my garage.  Unfortunately my charger gives an error code 13 to check cables at every attempt. (retries after 15 seconds of un plugged)  I followed all the KTM guidance.
I've connected to my other known good appliance breakers and bought replacement receptacles + 600v wiring and still cannot get the charger to connect.
Charger gets power but throws code 13 (check cables) every time.   "

[Fran K]

I bought a L6 female plug and 10 feet of yellow 12 gauge three conductor (perhaps 2 and a ground) and also a plug for the dryer socket.  No problem it works fine.  This is my avatar picture the wire goes in the window to the dryer socket, the charger is on the ground attached to the bike.  Avatars here are kind of tiny and no click on and get bigger feature seemed present.  Kind of strange the paperwork that comes with the bike says to only use 50 cycle but we have 60 cycle here in the US.

Later I repeated the procedure but this time used 40 feet of wire and what I call a motorhome plug.  It is like an electric stove with four pins so both 120 and 240 volt can be used.

One place I did install a L6 socket in an electric box with an appropriate sized breaker the others hopefully there is some circuit breaker in the bulbous thing in the input line with start button.  You will notice the charger really has only two terminals but after their adaptor which is a bit more than a foot long the L6 one has three terminals.

The instructions are to have the bike turned off, plug in the bike, plug in the charger, turn on the charger.  Do reverse when done.  I could go and take a picture but the text above should be sufficient.   Why so late after these bikes were imported asking the question?

I did not know either that the suspension and front fender are really modified components from the 80 or 85cc youth bikes.

Found a picture of all the stuff the bike came with when new and cropped out what is visible of the adapter, I have it taped to the input cord, never tested to see if the ground of the L6 actually connects to a pin or not.

[fstclyz]

Guys,
I'm looking at buying the 2020 Freeride E and trying to ensure charging options.  So it sounds like we can charge the bike via the KTM charger with several types of US 220-250v plugs, 3 prong and 4 prong on the other end, correct?  It sounds like most people add an L6-20R receptacle at home to match the KTM charger plug for home charging. 

I want to charge the bike with a 240v generator.  Has anyone successfully done this?  IMO we need to be able to charge this bike out on the rode with a generator.  I see most 240v gens have a L14-30R receptacle.  I have found an adapter that fits that receptacle and has the L6-20R on the other end for the KTM charger.  I'm hoping that works....?

Any advice would be appreciated.