Another great review. I bought a 23 EM Race Pure on your recommendation. So glad I did! In one hour I can get a great practice session in my backyard/front street without bothering the neighbors. And it’s a good workout and fun to set up obstacles. . It’s already greatly improved my skill of getting over obstacles. The EM is very expensive but worth it to me considering all the extra riding. I recommend Trials Progression for good trials training advice. Thanks again Rich!
I've gotta say your video is spot on. I've had the Escape (which has a bigger battery) version now for two months and haven't even thought of touching my 450. In fact, I'm selling it because I have no use for it. All my riding is in very tight woods in the North East with brook crossings, logs, rocks galore and this thing lasts longer than I can on a woods ride. I did 3.5 hours of elevation, rocks and such and still had 30% battery left. It is so much fun. I'm now at the point where I'm counting how many times during my rides I have to dab the ground and looking for more challenging trials style obstacles. This is the best woods tool I've ever ridden. And all I have to do after riding is wash it off, which is much easier than a regular dirt bike, lube chain (check tension), check spokes and tires and plug it in for the next day. Ride it at least 3x a week. Love it.
I've had an Escape R for a bit over a year. It's really fantastic isn't it! I keep my gas bike around for long rides though. 25 miles of trail is about max for my Escape.
@@mitchrichardson744 Yep. Escape R is also the one I have. I actually haven't even used the clutch at all yet. I did buy the PRB lever. I didn't like the button at all, plus the lever allows you do modulate the regenerative braking so I actually use it more. Bike is awesome, and I'm glad you are enjoying your too!!
Just wanted to echo Rich on the easy practice opportunities this bike gives you. Plus with a clutch all the skills translate to your big gas bike perfectly. (if you ever want to get on the gas bike again)
Great review and I want one! Would make easier to practice around the neighborhood(hey it's an electric bike!). Hope they come out with a lower cost version.
Great machine, definitely a dream of many hard enduro enduro riders, but the price is not so affordable... I'm pretty sure the production cost is not higher than half of the cost of say ktm 300 exc, but retail price is the same 😢😢😢 Hopefully the price will go down once they get more common and less exotic :)
Hey Rich you do inspire me often! I have a question about the EM... can you wheelie it like a gas bike? I never see that done on electric machines. Just wondering if it has to do with electric bikes. I have a GasGas250 Trials bike and thinking of making the change just due to noise, and gas/oil maintenance and such.
Are you running the IRC trials tire on your EM? The Dunlops on my Scorpa have half a season left and I'm intrigued by the IRC vs the tradition Michelin and Dunlop. Do you have an opinion of the IRC tire compared to the others? Thanks. Great channel!
I was riding with a guy on an escape with the clutch on Sunday. We were riding technical muddy trails. He said the EM had great power down low but it would flatline and "bog out" at the top of a longer hill. I jumped on it and noticed that the throttle was much 'longer" than a gas throttle. So, your wrist had to physically twist more. I'm guessing there is a setting for that. Overall, cool bike.
@@maxdutyimports9848 That's good to hear. I have a trials (have had 3) and the throttle is way more snappy on the gas bike. I think these bikes are great for the intended purpose and the future is bright.
With an electric throttle and no gears, you want more twist in the throttle. If it had a short twist throttle with all that torque and no gears to spread out the power, you would whisky throttle more and get more arm pump.
Interesting! I started wearing pads on the electric as well. Felt like overkill for the full braces. But mostly because it's faster and easier so I rode more often. (like practicing in the yard or park)
I would love to get an electric trial bike. The amount of places I could ride with those would be amazing. I can only imagine ridding the electric motion at a local park or school.
This is true, but you still have to be respectful of other people when riding. I run into hikers all the time on tight trails and I don't go very fast because the trails are technical, and everyone I've met has been super friendly and curious about the bike. Most people can't even hear me coming. The bike does whine the more you get on it, but when going through technical stuff and soft on the throttle, you can barely hear it.
You are catching the vision. Electric really opens up the amount of territory you can ride. I practice in my local park at least once a week in the summer. But yes. Still need to be respectful.
@@easternyellowjacket276 as a trials bike I would just be sessioning obstacles like small walls rocks and the like. I ride slow if I know the trail is used by hikers too, you never want an accident like that to happen.
@@markbruzek2350 lots of Grey areas in the world. My backyard for example. No one is going to give me crap if I'm practicing on my electric. But if I'm on my noisy gas bike....?
The Varg would be teriffying and exhausting over technical terrain. All that huge immediate power that isn't spread out over 6 gears. Instead all that power comes from one fraction of a throttle twist. No clutch to moderate it? Your throttle arm would get arm pump so so bad. It's true enough when you compare ride my Cake OR then on my Escape R. Having a clutch just physically easier to do the technical. And less arm pump.
@@mitchrichardson744 couldn't this be mitigated with the relatively infinite amount of tuning you could do to the varg on the app? Still not a clutch but...
@@IRCTireUSAMoto thanks. I wear Sidi Crossfire enduro boots and love them, but can’t find Sidi trial boots in Australia. The Hebo are one of the cheapest trial boots offered, hence my question. I think I’ll go with Alpinestar or Forma.
I boight the EM as a training tool. I struggle with electric on steep climbs as there is no rotating flywheel mass. You have to be on throttle all the way and this thimg can get out of hand quick. That and it rolls backwards so easy. The EM has gotten me quite beat up.lately...kinda dangerous to my health.
I think you will be far better off with a gas powered machine. While electric may have some benefits like quiet practice sessions, there will be a disconnect without the sound inputs of the gas motor. With the electric it will be difficult if not near impossible to co-ordinate RPM/power input of electric to that of gas. If you want a trials bike for practice you will be miles ahead with gas power.
@@IRCTireUSAMoto Ok but still, you have exceptional riding skills so crossing over from one bike or power system to another is going to be much easier for you. I still believe most riders would have more difficulty making that crossover than they would riding a gas powered trials bike for practice.
