Bonnell's Buzzing Broncos Hit the Dirt
Image Credit: Bonnell.
Word on the street – or should I say, the dusty trail – is that a spunky little upstart out of Austin, Texas, by the name of Bonnell is throwing their hat (and two very interesting-looking electric dirt bikes) into the off-road ring. These folks have been tinkering with electric mountain bikes, which, let's be honest, is a far cry from wrestling a muddy beast up a hill. But ambition is like a good cup of coffee – always welcome!
Bonnell has unveiled two contenders whose names are so straightforward that they're almost charmingly blunt. We've got the "805," which sounds more like an area code than a dirt-devouring machine, and the "902," which hints at something a tad more… serious.
Let's start with the 805. Bonnell is pitching this one as the "approachable" sibling, a friendly golden retriever of the electric dirt bike world. It's packing a respectable 40 horsepower, which is enough oomph to get you into a bit of trouble – in a fun way, of course. It also has a nifty 3.1-kilowatt-hour swappable battery. Swappable batteries, my friends, are like the electric vehicle equivalent of a quick refuel, minus the smelly fumes and questionable gas station snacks. The suspension, courtesy of Sirris forks, offers a generous 9.6 inches (that's 245 millimeters for you metric mavens) of travel, which should soak up those bumps and jumps like a sponge. Rolling on a 21-inch front wheel and an 18-inch rear, the 805 sounds like it'll be light and agile – perfect for those of us who fancy a bit of off-road frolics without necessarily aiming for X Games glory.
The 902. Ah, the 902. This one sounds like it means business. Bonnell says it's "entirely custom built," which is usually code for "prepare your wallets." Apparently, there are no off-the-shelf bits and bobs here. This bad boy churns out a healthy 62 horsepower, which is a decent step up from its more laid-back sibling. But it's the torque figure where things get properly bonkers: a staggering 664 pound-feet (that's 900 Newton-meters for our international friends!). That's the kind of twist that could probably turn a small planet.
Image Credit: Bonnell.
The 902 also boasts a taller stance, allowing for a plush 11.2 inches (285 millimeters) of travel both front and rear, thanks to a Sirris suspension setup specifically designed for this model. You even get a choice of battery packs: a larger 6.6-kWh swappable unit for longer adventures, or a lighter 4.6-kWh "Race pack" for when every ounce counts. For a bit of context, Bonnell themselves point out that the 902 has about 20 fewer ponies than the rather rapid $11,000 Stark Varg MX, but the torque is nearly neck and neck. Sounds like a recipe for some serious trail-blazing fun!
Both the 805 and the 902 are dripping with electronic wizardry. They both feature a handlebar-mounted screen that lets you toggle between "Precision," "Performance," and "Race" display modes. I guess the way your data is laid out is crucial when you're covered in mud and trying not to eat dirt. There's also a lap timer for all you competitive types. And a "Joy-con" controller on the handlebar! Now, as a seasoned journalist, I have to admit that conjures up images of slightly less muddy pursuits, but if it helps you navigate the on-screen menus and fiddle with the five customizable ride modes - that's fine by me. You can even access your ride stats with this little doohickey.
Image Credit: Bonnell.
There is even a trigger finger lever that can be set to activate regenerative braking (fancy way of saying it puts some energy back into the battery when you slow down) or simulate an electronic clutch. And for all you aspiring wheelie kings and traction control aficionados, a 6-axis IMU (Inertial Measurement Unit) enables rider aids like wheelie control and multi-mode traction control. Keeping the rubber side down is still a desirable outcome, even when you're trying to look cool.
The million-dollar question (or perhaps the eleven-thousand-dollar question, given the competition): how much will these electric steeds set you back? Bonnell is keeping mum on the exact figures for now, which is classic. But they're hinting that the 902 will likely be in the ballpark of the Stark Varg's $11,000 MSRP (though the US-bound EX version is a tad pricier at $12,900). The more "approachable" 805, they suggest, should come in a couple of grand south of that. In the grand scheme of high-performance off-road toys, it isn't entirely outrageous.
Image Credit: Bonnell.
I can't believe that Bonnell, the electric mountain bike dabbler, is taking a muddy leap into the dirt bike arena. With the 805 promising approachable fun and the 902 sounding like a torque-tastic trail monster, the electric off-road scene just got a couple more decent choices.
