The Electric Dirtbike Chronicles: VMoto's On-R and Off-R Dance into the Electric Two-Wheeler Ballet

Well, my dear petrolheads and electron-junkies, it seems that the world of buzzing electric two-wheelers has opened another chapter. I’ve spent the better part of my life, covered in engine grease and high on the fumes of gasoline. From roaring boats to cloud-kissing airplanes, you name it, I’ve written about it. But, you see, the electric trend is a bit like that fashionable neon tracksuit you regretted wearing in the '80s - flashy, attention-grabbing, and showing no signs of fading away!

VMoto, this electric newcomer with roots in China and Australia, has jumped off the city streets and into the rough-and-tumble world of off-road biking. And, by the looks of it, they seem to have done a pretty darn good job. 

You may know VMoto from their Super Soco brand - the urbanite’s zippy companion. However, this new venture is not into the local Starbucks parking lot, but the dusty trails and muddy tracks of the wilderness. Yes, I’m talking about the introduction of the On-R and Off-R models, making it super easy for folks like us to decide where they’d best belong. Simple, right? Hats off to the naming department for not keeping us in suspense!

So, for all you gritty, gravel aficionados, the On-R should be a hoot on those light gravel roads. Heck, if you're feeling mischievous, perhaps even an easy trail or two. Both bikes sit on an electric dirtbike platform with all the trimmings: long-travel suspension, wire-spoke wheels, and a physique slimmer than my chances of giving up coffee.

The On-R and Off-R come twinning in their own L1 and L3 specs. For the slowpokes among us, the L1 will zoom up to a law-abiding 28 mph. However, if you're feeling a tad more audacious, the L3 On-R goes up to 56 mph, while the Off-R pushes its limits to a scandalous 69 mph! Side note: remember, speed thrills but also kills. 

In the performance arena, we're looking at a mid-drive electric motor with a sizzling 5.3 horsepower, peaking at 11 horsepower. The battery? Either a 2.3 kWh or a 3.45 kWh unit. Now, if you're wondering how long it'd take you to whip up a sandwich while it charges, the answer is somewhere between 2.5 to 3.5 hours. The range, depending on how heavy your wrist is, falls between 42 to 65 miles.

For all the enthusiasts in Italy, these electric beasts have just been unveiled for approximately $7,511. Yes, a few more dollars and you could get yourself an old, battered car, but where’s the fun in that?

Before I go - if you happen to come across the marketing campaign for those two electric personal pocket rockets - a word of warning. I initially thought one of my kids played a rude prank on me but no - let's just say the marketing team behind the brand is either uber-cool and doesn't really care what the world thinks or have some deeply rooted misunderstandings with the company and decided to take them public. If you see the ad - turn the volume down before you hit the play - otherwise you're in for a shock of your life. You may say that's one way to attract attention… 

Now, if you’ll excuse me, I'm off to find some more electric gadgets to skeptically admire. Stay charged, dear readers!