Let’s get something out of the way right away… the Alta Redshift EXR is not a novelty toy. It’s not lacking in power. And, although it’s fun, it doesn’t feel “funny” as long as you understand the limitations. What is the EXR? It’s Alta’s street-legal electric enduro/dual-sport bike like the EX of 2018. A quick side by side comparison reveals some major upgrades that can only be performed by a company that’s this forward thinking and tech savvy.

Most impressive is the fact that they dropped the WP 4CS forks and moved to WP XPlor 48 forks, a decision based on rider feedback and popular opinion. That may not raise everyone’s eyebrows, but here are some other specs that should: The EXR is up 8 hp and 4 lb.-fts. of torque over the 2018 model as a result in increased battery density. Charging time is 25% faster (1.5 hours at 240v or 3 hours at 120v) on the EXR. With the biggest surprise being that the EXR lists for $500 less than the EX!

• Pavement and Dirt Riding/Performance

So, what’s it like to ride? The sound of laughter erupts from inside the helmet of every person that twists the throttle of one of these bikes for the first time. The feel is familiar but unlike anything you’ve ever felt. The linear pull of the electric motor from 0 to 70+ mph can only be described as… well “electric.” With four rider modes, I strongly suggest you stay in the first two modes (with One being the softest, and Four being “overclocked”) for at least the first 30 minutes. I did not do that and quickly wrote a check I couldn’t cash (as it happens, the Alta crashes very well, too!).

In the woods, the EXR has taken motorcycling down to its purest form. Twist and go. With no gears, no clutch, no RPMs to worry about and no chance of stalling out, the rider can focus on moving through the terrain in the most efficient manner, focusing on body positioning and line choice over what gear. I recognize this is not what the purists would call “motorcycling,” and that practicing without a clutch or a transmission will make lazier riders, but the future is going to be electric and one day clutches and gearboxes will be a thing of the past.

Speaking of the past, gas engines are tunable for traction often by starving them of fuel or retarding spark once every ignition cycle. The Alta tunes itself for traction at a rate of 5,000 Hz. Alta was a little vague (secretive) about this during our factory tour but that’s 5,000 times a second! The three founders of Alta Motors agreed over a whisky dinner on electric being the “future of fast,” but that all comes from the traction and tunable nature of electric motors. And remarkably, the 14-pound, three phase A/C electric motor can easily be palmed in one hand.
 

• Engine Performance

The motor looks unassuming until you realize it makes 42 lb-ft of torque from a dead stop and 50 hp once things get rolling. On the trails, I cannot picture running this bike in Mode 4. It’s just too fast, but not in a lose-all-the-rear-traction kind of way... more of a you’ll-be-going-too-fast-for-your-own-good kind of way.

People like to bring up battery weight when arguing against electric bikes and, yes, the Alta is a little heavy at 273 lbs. However, it feels like a 240 lbs., which is down from an equivalent bike around 450 lbs. just a few years ago. It carries its weight very low in the frame and the entire bike feels much lower than its 36.5-inch seat height. My best observation as to why this bike feels so low and unintimidating is the lack of a gas tank sloshing around, and no motor rumbling between your legs or forward mounted radiators gasping for air.
 

By the numbers the EXR competes really well against the 350cc four strokes. What I will take a stand on is that I would much rather have an EXR over a 250cc two-stroke when the going gets really tough. At a standstill it will lift the front end, in a really rocky situation it will move forward without the threat of stalling, tight uphill 180-degree switchbacks require no clutch feathering, and nothing tractors up steep inclines like a bike that’s always in the right gear and makes more torque than a bulldozer. It makes heroes out of us mere mortals.

Major service intervals? Well, they’re every 1,000 hours and all they consist of is having the engine coolant flushed and some data off/uploaded. For comparison that’s roughly the equivalent of 10 two-stroke top end rebuilds, and most likely four bottom ends, conservatively speaking. Or, think of it this way, you’d be buying a new gas-powered bike due to the engine cases failing before the Alta even needed its first service. To further emphasize the point, Alta even has a test mule with over 10,000 hours on it.

There are some very strong arguments for this bike. It’s always ready to go as long as it’s charged, and the cost difference between the EXR and a 450 four-stroke can be made up in maintenance costs in the first year. But obviously parts such as the wheel bearings, Brembo brake pads, chains and sprockets, and suspension components will need regular servicing.

Yes, the range is short if you’re comparing it to a motorcycle that runs on exploding liquid dinosaurs. You’ll get “up to” 60 miles in the city and 34 miles on the trails. Keep in mind that these estimates are based on riding trails so tight that it should take you four hours to cover 34 miles. After which you can have lunch and recharge in an hour and half.

So, who does this short range, street legal, trail-shredding machine make sense for? The top tier pro who wants a cross trainer could easily add one to his/her stable. On the other end of the spectrum sits the beginner enduro/dual-sport rider. where the EXR really shines. Not only for ease of use and the unintimidating nature of Mode 1, but with minimal maintenance and downtime. The new rider can focus on riding and riding well instead of worrying about oil changes, burnt clutches and valve adjustments. Let’s not forget that this bike can really grow with this rider all the way to Mode 4.

And, there are countless instances where this bike will make sense for all sorts of mid-level riders. Maybe you want to participate in hare scrambles. But fear the range issue? Well, drop out a lap early and leave having ridden in a race rather than staying at home (same for enduros). Or, hit the trails behind your home without annoying the neighbors. I can’t think of a better choice to teach someone how to ride off road while still having a fun bike for the streets, too. In the end, Alta has built one hell of a dual-sport bike as long as you make sure it makes sense for you. Is the future going to be electric? I hope so. MSRP: $12,495 AltaMotors.co

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