For the longest time, electric motorcycles were seen as little more than toys—novelties that looked cool on paper but had no real place in the world of serious riding. If you showed up to the track with an electric dirt bike a few years ago, chances are you’d get a few skeptical looks, maybe even some laughs. But the joke didn’t last long.
Enter the Stark Varg. When it dropped, people thought it was just another gimmick. Then they rode it.
With 80 horsepower, instant torque, and a chassis built to rip, it started running circles around gas-powered bikes. Suddenly, the "toy" wasn’t so funny anymore. It was so good that instead of embracing the tech, the X Games flat-out banned electric motorcycles from competition. A move that, let’s be real, feels more like a step backward than forward. But hey, this is the world we live in.
Luckily, innovation doesn’t stop just because some folks are stuck in their ways. Case in point: Grizzlar, a German startup that's pushing the boundaries of electric off-road performance. While a lot of brands are focusing on outright power, Grizzlar is dialing in something just as crucial—efficiency, heat management, and accessibility. The EMX30, their first big project, is proof of that.
The EMX30 is a low-voltage electric motocross bike that still packs a serious punch. With a 30kW (about 40 hp) motor, it aims to slot into the MX1 and MX2 categories, competing against 250cc and 450cc dirt bikes. Its big selling points? A water-cooled system that prevents overheating, a swappable battery for minimal downtime, and a modular design that keeps costs lower for both racers and organizers. Essentially, it’s an electric MX bike built not just for performance but also for practicality—something that could make a huge difference as more tracks and race series look to adopt EVs.
But will it actually be able to go racing? That’s the big question. Right now, electric bikes still face a lot of pushback from traditional motorsports. There’s no denying their performance potential, but organizing bodies aren’t always quick to adapt. That said, it’s only a matter of time before resistance gives way to reality.
At the end of the day, no amount of bans or red tape can kill the enthusiasm of the moto community. People are going to build what they want to build. They’ll ride what they want to ride. And eventually, there’ll be so many electric dirt bikes on the market—and so many riders loving them—that racing organizations will have no choice but to welcome them with open arms. Until then, companies like Grizzlar are keeping the dream alive, one battery-powered berm shot at a time.
