Source: MotorcyclistOnline.com
The electric equivalent of 125cc of dirt fun: the Dust Moto Model_1 prototype. (Dust Moto/)Electric motorcycles and dirt bikes are having a moment (read our Best Electric Motorcycles 2024 article). Rising from the ashes of now-defunct Alta Motors, brands like Stark Varg and Zero are finding MX and dirt to be the perfect place to exploit LEV (Light Electric Vehicles) possibilities. That’s the fancy term for gobs of torque and no shifting.Dust Moto is joining the growing fray of LEV contenders. If its pitch to investors (and buyers) is any indication, the company is aiming to do more than just join said fray—it wants to be the No. 1 dirt bike brand, globally. Pitch language aside, its initial prototype and planned rollout is starkly at odds with recent entrepreneurial culture. It’s modest in scale and built on the idea of transparency.Early testing of the Dust Moto Model_1. (Dust Moto/)The 35.5-inch seat height sits atop a pro link suspension on the Dust Moto Model_1. (Dust Moto/)Motorcyclist got a chance to talk with Colin Godby, CEO and one of Dust Moto’s founders. He’s a self-described “guy who grew up racing in Baja” who was “really into mountain bikes and moto my whole life.” What’s the Dust Moto prototype Model_1, in a nutshell? According to Godby, “It’s kind of like the 125cc (dirt bike) of electric, but even lighter and better at cornering and it has torque.”The Model_1 prototype is a 90-percent-scale bike weighing 200 pounds with more torque than a traditional 250cc bike. The idea is not to replace ICE dirt bikes, but rather create new riders and riding occasions with a near-silent LEV capable of ripping dirt almost anywhere. Its size is meant to slot between larger pure MX offerings like the Stark Varg and smaller scrambler-type dirt bikes like Zero Motorcycles FX or FXE.The Model_1 is rated for 35 hp with 500 Nm of torque. It gets a swappable 3.5kWh battery with 19-inch front wheels and a choice of 18–19-inch rear. Said to be good for 60-plus mph, it weighs in at 201 pounds. It comes with 260mm (10.2 inches) of suspension travel in front and 275mm (10.8 inches) in back with a yet to be determined system. Rear suspension is a linkage-type. A 260mm front disc and 220mm rear disc stops things, brake calipers TBD as of press time.Look ma, no pipe. The Dust Moto Model_1 during testing. (Dust Moto/)Light, small, and nimble, the Dust Moto Model_1 should hit 60-plus mph. (Dust Moto/)Spec sheet aside, here’s where the modesty and transparency part comes in. Having already sold the first 50 with the Founders 50 program, it’s taking orders with the Dust First100 program. Put down a $500 deposit and you’ll get exclusive access to bike development, meetings, live updates, and demos. By releasing limited batches and encouraging participation in the process, customers can “help” with the design process.This transparency is aimed at building excitement. And trust. “If we can leverage that interest and engagement along the way, it benefits us more instead of being in ‘stealth mode,’” explains Godby.“Building in public” is seemingly designed with past LEV missteps and failures in mind. The late-2023 collapse of Sondors and recent bankruptcy of Swedish ebike maker Cake, among others, have provided tough lessons in the LEV space, both for entrepreneurs and consumers. Message boards like Vital MX amplify the hope and sometimes disappointment. Godby occasionally takes the bull by the horns, engaging in back-and-forth discussions about Dust Moto.“It’s fun to connect with those people and remove that layer of abstraction and say, ‘Hey, I’m a human trying to bring something cool to market and I appreciate your skepticism.’ You’ve got to earn their belief over time,” Godby says.The MSRP is $10,950 and summer 2025 is the date penciled in for the first 100 bikes delivered. Plus, you get 15 percent off the above MSRP, meaning you pay $9,300. Bike payments are $500 for 15 months, with a final $1,800 payment resulting in your bike shipped to you in the US or Canada.A claimed 201-pound weight means more air time for the Dust Moto Model_1. (Dust Moto/)More air time means more stunt time. Dust Moto Model_1 during testing. (Dust Moto/)Speaking of America and its fine neighbors, Dust Moto also checks another notable box—American made. While brands love to say “designed in America,” the Model_1 is designed, assembled, and tested in America. As with everything made under the sun, components and parts will come from a variety of places. But the manufacturing operations will be run from Detroit-based firms Bloom and Newlab. Motor City, indeed.“Other than Cobra making kids’ dirt bikes,” Godby says, “there’s no other American brand making electric dirt bikes, so hopefully that gets people excited.”Stay tuned for further updates and milestones.The Dust Moto Model_1, ready for its retouched, proper closeup. (Dust Moto/)
