⚙️ #1 Colorado Calling ⛰️

Last week the Dust Moto team took the opportunity to spend a couple days in Denver, Colorado with a small group of experienced motocross racing friends to get their feedback and insights on the state of racing and riding, the role of electric drive in the industry, and our upcoming bike designs.

If Dust is going to fill a void that has yet to be addressed, we knew we needed to start with the core market.

We met at IMI Motorsports Complex with the crew spanning 40 years from 18 to 58, including both male and female riders across a range of skillsets.

This was the first time that most of this crew had ridden electric. They experienced a small number of existing options from small Surrons to the full-sized KTM Freeride eXC, and others in between. Several gas bikes were included in the staging and lapping session for comparison.

The main goal of the trip was to discuss the Dust ride geometry, balance, and powertrain traits. The Dust team also explored the regional nuances of riding on the front range, from events, to riding locations, and bike setup and prep.

Most importantly, were the electric bikes any good?!

⚡ ️While opinions did range across the spectrum on some topics, the one thing that everyone was able to come together and agree on, *besides beer being the proper after-ride beverage*, was that electric will definitely play a role in the evolution of the sport - the smile factor when you hop on these bikes properly for the first time really seals it. ⚡️

To quote a regional pro-level rider "I expected not to like this, but holy shit that was fun!"

The discussion expanded into questions like hand vs foot brake? Why hasn’t electric cracked the core US moto audience yet? What is the most appealing silhouette?

On a deeper level, there were some great insights from this adventure …

1. No one is speaking to the moto industry and its rich community about what electric should be and how best to fit them in.
2. The value proposition for electric across the use cases of trail vs. play vs. pit vs. race is quite different, depending on owners. Their tastes determine the bikes they own.
3. The instant torque and light weight of electric motos create a unique dynamic riding experience that can win over even the most resistant riders.
4. Moto riders have particular tastes for bike aesthetics, and current electric offerings are missing the mark.
5. Many of the electric motos on the market aren't built with core moto use cases in mind. Important details like boot snags, knee gripping and bar position are areas that need improvement for current offerings.

The trip experience was energizing, and has the Dust Moto team pinned to bring our vision to life. Come join the ride.