Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/1019648
2019 ALTA REDSHIFT EXR FIRST IMPRESSION P102 the sound of tires working their magic that puts you into a sort of riding zone. The Alta Redshift EXR isn't a lightweight motorcycle. With a claimed weight of 273 pounds, it's pushing 20 pounds heavier than a current KTM 500 EXC. But the weight-feel of the bike when riding is a lot different. There is nearly zero rotating mass inside the pow- erplant. The electric motor shaft and a gear reduction to the coun- tershaft sprocket is it. And that's centrally located so it's influence in the chassis balance is minimal. The bike can lean with control and fight through the turns way below it's weight class. This bike has a two-stroke handling feel with quick changes in direction done easily and effortlessly. Acceleration is where it's at. If you buy an electric motorcycle for one thing, it should be torque. And the torque that propels you forward with the Alta EXR is a great experi- ence. The throttle is easy to control so you can destroy your tire at will or creep along, it's pretty easy to have fun on the Alta. The front-end feel is pretty good. I'd like to spend more time setting up the sag and likely add- ing some spring to the fork for my weight, but I wasn't too concerned with the suspension and chassis getting out of control. In total, we rode about a 13- or 15-mile loop in the woods. A good warm-up to a great day, and the Alta seemed like it was working perfectly. That loop took a little more than half the battery accord- ing to the dash gauge. I wasn't taking it too easy on the bike, so this is probably a good indication of what someone could expect to do maybe twice on a charge. To be safe, I'd start with 25 miles of fast riding before I started pushing the limits. Is that enough? That's a loaded question. In the current competitive landscape, it doesn't compare to the gas-powered bikes in range. But how could it? In performance, with- out range in the equation, the Alta is seriously competitive. It produces ample power and handles well. After our lap and some photo sessions in the woods, we headed down-road to more traditional dual-sport terrain. Open roads, two-track, a big sand/gravel wash that reminded me of poaching gravel pits as a kid. Here, the Alta EXR was in its true element. Not as a race bike trying to line up at Anaheim, but as a perfect escape vehicle for an after-work rip to a riding area where a guy could rail some berms and practice hopping some logs. For this, it's perfect. Wish List After our short ride that day in the mountains, the only thing I can wish for is about twice the range. But I didn't run it out of battery so I'm not sure where that limit is yet. Maybe I'll get to steal one again. I sure hope so! CN Go ahead and hit the trails. No one will know that you're out there. That's a huge plus with the Alta.