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/1485886
black socks pulled up and an open-face helmet with clear wrap-around glasses. This was the standard-issue uniform of the day, and I somehow missed the memo… instead wearing brick orange pants, a full-length jersey and full-face helmet. I suppose I was dressed for downhill-style riding. And why wouldn't I be? This is the global launch for an elite eMTB, taking place near the proving grounds of the infamous Red Bull Rampage. Of course I'm wearing full protection! Confident as I was in my choice, I couldn't help but feel out of place. As the only motorcy- cle journalist among the moun- tain-bike crowd, worried about keeping the pace with this pack of gazelles, and now also realiz- ing that I was "that girl." The one who showed up at the motocross track wearing adventure gear. Welp, nothing to be done about it at this point. I hopped up on the pedals and we headed out into the Utah desert behind the pack of ultra-fit cardio-machines, just praying that I could keep up. At least they wouldn't see my tongue hanging out. Now this particular model we were riding is embargoed until January 17, so you'll just have to sit on the edge of your saddles until I can tell you about it. But what I can tell you is that mod- ern eMTB machines, in general, have some serious juice packed behind their pedals. Get crank- ing and you're covering ground twice as steep, and thrice as fast. When you really get flowing on a good trail (and there is no shortage of those in southwest Utah), the experience quickly becomes very moto-ey. In this case it was very reminiscent of whipping through the desert on my KX250X. While the pedaling part is chal- lenging for me, I find the techni- cal aspect very similar to the off-road dirt bike experience, and therefore pure fun. Some of the descents we dropped down were pretty technical—rock faces with some chunky step downs—which H ave you ever shown up to an event only to realize you're dressed all wrong? A quick glance around and you're immediately re-reading the invite in your mind, wondering how you managed to show up looking like a total goofball. I had that mo- ment at a Halloween "costume contest" two years ago, in which I was somehow the only one in costume, and most recently at an eMTB intro in St. George, Utah. Black knee-length shorts, knee pad sleeves underneath, P98 CN III CROSS RUTTED BY JEAN TURNER ODD ONE OUT? Beautiful as it is treacherous. This terrain merits full protection in my book, with or without a throttle.