The Brisbane, California based Alta Motors designs and manufactured the most advanced electric motorcycles in the industry. Starting in 2010, the firm has come a long way in establishing itself building bikes that prove to be better off-roaders than the petrol-powered counterparts. Until now, their motorcycle line-up included a Supermoto (SM), an Enduro (EX) and a Motocross (MX) electric off-road bikes.

Now, the makers are stepping up their game and have launched a brand new motorcycle called the Redshift MXR. All their current bikes badly needed an upgrade from their 250cc equivalent electric motors that only did 42 horsepower and 120 foot-pounds of torque. Luckily, the chaps at Alta have done just that.

The 2018 Redshift MXR Motocross model ups the ante in all departments and adds a significant change with its electronics package and battery-motor combo. It boasts of more power, less weight, better recharge times, and better heat management to keep the competition in check.

2018 Alta Motors Redshift MXR

Specifications

• Make: Array
• Model: 2018 Alta Motors Redshift MXR
• Engine/Motor: Electric motor
• [do not use] Vehicle Model: Array

Pros

Cons

STYLING

Let’s be honest here. Styling and body lines have never been the core aspect of development for an enduro motorcycle manufacturer. Keeping the body slim and tight is all the goal the designers have, and this Redshift MXR is one. Having no lights or a number plate, this enduro will be strictly off the asphalt.

Sourced from a company called Acerbis, the body panels on the Redshift meets world-class standards in durability, quality, fit and finish. In all white, Alta has done a decent job of giving it some color with the brand’s Yellow-Orange-Red graphics that keep it looking fresh all times. High fenders, slim shrouds uni-body seats, the MXR checks all the boxes right.

The dash is all but an LCD digital instrumentation showing battery discharge specs, speed, and selected riding mode via a switch on the left side of the handlebar.

Overall Dimension

POWERTRAIN

The Redshift MXR’s motor is designed in-house to compete with any modern 350cc gasoline powered enduro motorcycle and is equipped with a 50 hp motor having 147 lb-ft of peak torque at zero rpm (a bump from the 42 hp and 120 lb-ft torque in the MX). The bike receives an upgraded R5.8 Battery Pack that delivers full-power range at cooler operating temperatures. The 14,000 high rev electric motor is, according to the company, “pound for pound one of the most powerful in motorsports”.

On the battery spec, the MXR will now include two off-board charging setup (2.7kW or 3.3kW) that will give a full charge in just 1.5 hours using the 240-volt rapid charger compared to the 2 hours in the MX model. However, it will take three hours using the 120-volt standard charger. The ECU can be tuned with four maps, just like before, including Eco, Sport, Performance, and Overclocked. Depending on which maps you use, the battery gives enough juice to go from 25 minutes on a full expert motocross riding to a decent 4 hours of riding in the woods.

The dust and waterproof designs make it maintenance-free, and the water-cooled casing makes it possible to operate even at high temperatures. The MXR requires no air filters, oil changes, or top end rebuilds, so you can spend less time wrenching on your bike and more time riding.

Engine Specification

CHASSIS

Alta’s liquid-cooled 14,000 RPM motor sits bang on the center and is purposefully designed to be located at the roll center of the bike. “This placement coupled with a very low counter-rotational mass allows for the lowest polar moment of inertia in motorcycling - drastically minimizing any gyroscopic impediment to handling.” Says Alta.

The outer motor casing, cooling circuit, as well as the transmission case for the gear reduction is all handled by the Redshift Bulkhead. It is also the main structural hub, connecting to the rear suspension, the airframe, the forged chassis, and the trellis skidframe. All of this coordinates with very specific strength, weight, and stiffness goals to produce the best-handling motocrosser ever made.

The suspension setup on the MXR also sees an upgrade with the stiffer WP 4CS being swapped with the higher spec WP AER suspension giving the bike significant weight savings and infinite tunability. The rear shock also gets upgraded with improved valves and linkage ultimately gaining better overall handling.

The Redshift MXR employs cast and machined Brembo calipers. Two piston 260mm rotor at the front and a single piston 220mm rotor at the rear, same as the MX model. The 21” and 19” Warp 9 Elite wheels get new rubber in the form of Dunlop Geomaxes.

Chassis Specifications

PRICE

Coming to the pricing of the 2018 MXR Motocross, the tag reads $11,995 MSRP. This is $1,500 more than the MX model.

COMPETITON

Cake Kalk

The brainchild of a Swedish Stefan Ytterborn, Cake intends “to speed up the journey towards a zero-emission society, while enhancing excitement and fun.” And their very first step is this Kalk electric off-roader that blurs the line between mountain bikes and motorcycles. It looks like a concept model since it is technically not legal to go on the roads. It gets no headlights, indicators nor any side mirrors or a number plate bracket.

These machines are strictly made to tread 50 miles of the off-beaten tracks in a full charge of the batteries under its belly. Maxing at 50 mph, the 2.6 kWh lithium-ion battery pack pumps out a maximum of 20 bhp and 30 lb-ft of max torque at zero rpm. Which is not a lot considering other electric enduro motorcycles coming into the scene but get this, the Kalk weighs in just at 154 lbs. That is lighter than any enduro motorcycle currently on the market.

An industrial standard 15kW IPM motor (interior permanent magnet) was customized in Europe specifically to run on the Kalk and is powered by a 51.8 Volt, 50Ah battery with an in-house designed engine mapping for a dynamic performance. Adjustable Ohlins USD at the front and TTX shocks at the rear with full adjustability. 24”aluminum hubs get laced with steel spokes with the rim wrapped with specially developed tires for durability and minimum trail wear.

Cake will be making a limited run of just 50 units of the Kalk and are available for pre-order on making a deposit of €1,000 ($1,250), and the bike will cost an eye-watering €14,000 ($17,500).

2018 KTM Freeride E-XC Enduro

With electric bikes starting to become en vogue these days, KTM was the first major league player offering one that provides new off-road motorcycle fun in one small package. This 2018 Freeride E-XC Enduro machine is KTM’s entry into a long-term commitment to e-mobility that boasts around 50% more energy onboard than the previous one.

The re-designed composite frame carries an all-new 18KW electric motor that acts as a supporting element to give the bike the right amount of stiffness and stability throughout the mountain course. The dust and waterproof designs make it maintenance-free, and the water-cooled casing makes it possible to operate even at high temperatures.

The electric motor itself is powered by the next-gen KTM Powerpack which hosts 360 lithium-ion cells that provide 50% more capacity of 3.9 kWh, enough for up to one and a half hours of pure riding fun. The bike also comes with three different riding modes: Economy, Enduro and Cross. Additionally, the 2018 model will also have energy regeneration by recuperating decelerating energy while braking back to the battery pack, extending the range significantly. The new battery will provide 70 % of its initial capacity even after 700 charge cycles.

All of this is handled by the high-powered Engine Control Unit (ECU) which is water cooled for instant usable power in all riding conditions. The rider is made aware of the bike’s operating conditions at all time with the easy-to-read display that provides speed, battery charge status, and power mode on the fly. Suspension duties are handled by new WP Xplor 43 upside-down fork system with enhanced sensitivity, and a new WP PDS Xplor shock absorber with improved progression and adjustment options.

VERDICT

With electric bikes starting to become in vogue these days, Alta was the first player offering one that provides off-road electric motorcycle fun in one small package. Their Redshift series revolutionized the electric enduro/dirt motorcycles with an agile, lightweight and noise-free motorcycle that broke the mold in the way enduro riding is being enjoyed these days. Perfect for the young riders who are just breaking into the enduro scene.

Having this Redshift MXR their flagship, Alta Motors have surpassed the majority of the players in this segment when it comes to providing the equipment bang for the buck. With being the most powerful of its competitors that also provides high-spec components, it is a surprise that Alta managed to price it lower than any of them.

Recently, Harley—Davidson announced that it made an equity investment in California-based Alta Motors where both the companies will benefit from sharing ideologies and infrastructure to work co-dependently to develop the next generation of electric vehicles. With Alta’s tech know-hows and Harley vast resources, the next generation of electric two-wheelers will definitely be the deal breakers the industry is looking for.