A new breed of electric-powered off-road bikes are changing the way youngsters are getting into motorcycling, says Marc Potter.
For the first time ever, electric-powered off-road bikes are now a truly viable alternative to petrol power, with firms like Kuberg, OSET and Mecatechno coming into the UK and lighting the imaginations of children and adults.
It’s still a small market, but it’s one that is slowly changing the face of motorcycling in the UK and allows kids and parents to get into riding bikes for around £1000 or less.
But it’s not just the price which is driving this new breed, there are lots of positives with small off-road electric bikes over more traditional petrol-powered bikes.
For instance, you never have to worry about hot engine parts with little children, the bike’s power can be adjusted from a sedate walking pace to flat-out by the flick of a switch or screwdriver, and gone are the days of leaking fuel in the back of your car when taking it to a track. Manufacturers claim most electric motorcycles can be put upside down in the back of a car with no leakages. Perhaps the biggest advantage is there’s no noise pollution.