Enduro for Everyone

“Nothing gets you out of your head like a motorbike.”

Les Coetzee of Airworx Racing Umhlali delivers the line with confidence as we make our way to the Glendale Off-Road Club (G.O.R.C.) for a highly anticipated electric dirt bike demo. Joining me were Ballito locals, Audrey Dippenaar and MJ Enrico, both newcomers to off-road motorcycling.

An Impi Hard Enduro silver-class competitor, Les describes enduro as the world’s most physically demanding sport. While engaging every muscle group, riders must constantly assess changing terrain, make split-second decisions and adjust their body position, while maintaining complete concentration. On technical trails, even a momentary lapse can end in a crash.

Then there’s the coordination required to operate a petrol bike. The clutch and gear lever are controlled by the left hand and foot, while the front and rear brakes are split between the right hand and foot; a daunting prospect for many beginners.

Enter electric dirt bikes. With no gears or clutch, less weight and lower running costs, they offer a more accessible way into the sport. They operate much like a scooter, with the right hand controlling the throttle and front brake and the left hand operating the rear brake. Riders can also adjust the power output to suit their skill level.

Some seasoned riders joke that enduro is “a grand sport” because every outing costs around a grand. Electric bikes, however, are considerably cheaper to run and maintain. With no engine oil, spark plugs, petrol filters or air filters to service, routine maintenance is minimal. 

The Electric Advantage

Our demo ride began on the RFN SX 15 Plus, an electric dirt bike with performance roughly comparable to a 150cc four-stroke petrol model, before we cautiously progressed to a KTM 250 EXC-W.

Because we stayed within the club grounds, jeans and sneakers were adequate, although full-face helmets were compulsory on the more powerful KTM.

The RFN’s high-pitched electric whir takes some getting used to, but it has one unexpected advantage: you can film your ride and speak normally without engine noise overwhelming the audio. They also won’t get the neighbours revved up if you decide to go cruising around the hood.

Audrey and MJ both agreed they felt safer and more confident on the RFN. Its lighter weight and the absence of gears made it easier to control, and picking it up off the ground required far less effort. That said, there is still something undeniably appealing about the sound, smell and vibration of a petrol-powered dirt bike.

One of the electric bike’s biggest strengths is its instant bottom-end power. Unlike a petrol engine, which must build revs before reaching its power band, an electric motor delivers maximum pulling power the moment the throttle is opened. This is most noticeable on steep, rocky climbs. If a rider loses momentum, a petrol bike demands careful clutch control and enough revs to avoid stalling, whereas an electric bike can pull away smoothly from a standstill with no clutch and no risk of stalling.

The RFN SX 15 Plus retails for about R92,000 – roughly half the price of the KTM – and offers a range of around 40km, more than enough for a recreational loop through the Glendale Valley.

For riders wanting even more performance, Les demonstrated the Stark Varg EX on the valley’s steep entry trail. Comparable to a 450cc four-stroke petrol bike, it delivers around 65km of range, just over 50% more than the RFN, but comes with a much steeper price tag of about R300,000.

By the end of the session, it was easy to see why electric dirt bikes are attracting attention. They deliver the thrill of off-road riding without much of the intimidation of a powerful petrol enduro bike. For anyone interested in the sport but lacking the confidence to tackle gears, clutch control or a heavy machine, they offer an enjoyable, confidence-building way to get started.

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Photo Credits:
Jacqueline Herbst
Orange KTM taken by MJ Enrico