Recently in Austria, Alta
Motors snuck under the radar to introduce a new electric model and made history
in the process. At the beginning of the month, California-based Alta
Motors became the first electric motorcycle maker to participate in Austria's
Erzberg Rodeo enduro. In doing so, the company took advantage of the event to
launch the 2019 Redshift EXR under the radar. The new model didn’t remain
incognito very long, becoming the first electric motorcycle to ever qualify for
the grueling enduro event.
If it enjoys playing in the dirt, the Redshift
performs just as well on any road as a multi-terrain motorcycle. It is fitted
with a headlight and license-plate mount which makes it street legal for when
you need to get from one trail to the other. The EXR is powered by Alta’s new
R5.8 Lithium-ion 350 V battery pack with a capacity of 5.8 kWh, capable of
producing 50 hp and 42 lb-ft of torque. Charging is estimated to take between
1.5 and 3 hours depending on the type of charger used.
It also receives a set of front and rear Brembo
brakes mounted on a 21-inch wheel at the front and an 18-inch wheel at the
back. The frame is made from forged steel and aluminum, which makes the bike
ultra-light, and weighs in at 273 lb. The maker also banks on the motorcycle’s
silent powertrain to heighten the overall riding experience.
The race was meant to serve as a proof of the
model’s off-road capability, however things didn't go as planned. Lyndon
Poskitt's motorcycles, as well as a significant amount of equipment, was stolen
from the team at a rest stop in the UK. This meant that riders Ty Tremaine and
Poskitt had to share the two remaining EXRs, one of which was meant to be
Tremaine's backup.
Despite a rocky start to their first-time
attendance, the Alta Motors team qualified 43rd and 101th among 1,500
competitors on day one. Performances on the second day improved as Tremaine
finished in 35th place, leaping his way up the rankings. Unfortunately, the
promising rookie rider managed to make it into the top 20 on the last day but
he got lost in the woods and failed to make it to the battery swap point ran
out of power. This netted him a DNF.
Alta Motors' first time at the Erzberg Rodeo was
eventful to say the least, but the bike's performance has shown great promise.
We can only hope Alta will put all this experience to good use and finish what
they started in next year's event. The Redshift EXR is expected in dealers very
shortly, and pricing will start at US$ 12,495.
