Bonnell launches 805 RX, a 56-hp electric dirt bike that can exceed 80 mph

Point the Bonnell 805 RX at a trail and the Austin, Texas, company says it can exceed 80 mph while keeping the ride quiet. Launched as Bonnell’s first e-Moto model, the mid-size electric dirt bike pairs a claimed 56 hp (42 kW) with a 3.9-kWh swappable battery.

That is a substantial package for a machine weighing 218 pounds (99 kg). Bonnell says the rear wheel receives 594 lb-ft (805 Nm) of torque, while the bike uses a forged aluminum frame, 21-inch front and 18-inch rear wheels, and 9.6 in (245 mm) of suspension travel at both ends. The company says it was designed in Austin by pro-level riders and assembled in Taiwan. Its team includes founder and CEO Matthew Wauters, one of EBMX’s founders, and lead engineer Cedric Heinrich.

Bonnell’s answer to electric torque is the Pulse Control System. It gives riders five customizable modes plus reverse, with adjustments for power delivery, traction control and regenerative braking. A programmable control system adds functions including boost, wheel-lift assistance and speed limiting, while an app offers further customization. The goal is to make software another tuning layer, not just a throttle connected to a motor.

The battery is the more practical departure. It sits beneath the seat and can be removed in roughly 30 seconds, so riders can bring additional packs to a home base or charging location instead of moving the whole motorcycle to an outlet. Bonnell says the standard battery should provide around three hours of trail riding; hard motocross-style use reduces that time considerably. A 1,500-W charger takes about 2 hours, and a 4.7-kWh Race Battery is planned as an upcoming option.

For trail riders, the concrete change is access to an adult-sized dirt-bike layout without depending entirely on charging in the middle of nowhere. The listed starting price is US$8,250, and the bike can use a quieter, lower-maintenance belt drive or an optional 520 chain conversion. The caveat is clear: speed, power, torque and riding-time figures are Bonnell’s claims, and the company says riding time varies with terrain and use.