KTM Freeride confirmed for 2012
The Austrian motorcycle maker will launch its first electric dirt bike in 2012, outputting 30hp and 44Nm of torque
The all-new KTM Freeride electric motorcycle is expected to be released in 2012 according to reports from within the factory, and has been given a rumoured price of less than €10,000 (A$13,000 approx).
Expected to be officially launched at EICMA in November, the KTM Freeride will mark a turning point in the motorcycle market as the first electric motorcycle from a major manufacturer. In Europe, America and Asia there are several electric motorcycle offerings, mostly from start-up companies that may not have offered traditional internal combustion engined produced in the past.
In the Australian market Zero Motorcycles is the only company to sell a range of electric bikes at present and is likely to be the 2012 KTM Freeride's only competitor if the bike makes its way Down Under.
The likes of Honda, Suzuki, Yamaha, BMW, Kawasaki, even Harley-Davidson, will be watching closely how the market responds to the KTM Freeride, to see the public reaction to a bike priced at a relatively affordable level.
KTM says the Freeride will deliver power on par with a 125cc two-stroke dirt bike, and will motivated by a lithium-manganese battery pack with a 2.5kWh (kilowatt hours) capacity, and says it wants to get the dirt bike right before it tries its hand at an electric commuter bike.
Driven by a single speed gearbox, peak power output will be 30hp (22kW) and 44Nm of torque should give the bike plenty of poke, especially considering its lightweight construction. Underpinned by an aluminium and steel frame, the 2012 KTM Freeride is expected to tip the scales at less than 100kg, and will have a riding time of slightly more than 1 hour.
It's not yet clear whether KTM will offer different power versions of its electric bike, or whether there'll be an easy battery swap system for competition riding.
The finer details of the KTM Freeride, such as suspension and braking equipment, have not been confirmed either, but will play a big part in how the dirt bike community responds to the new model. KTM is planning to launch the bike at Milan motorcycle show, EICMA, along with another two electric concept bikes, heavy-duty motocross and urban savvy supermoto variants (see fourth image).
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