Sunday, March 17th. I spent a total of four hours traveling – two hours there and two hours back – just to ride the new EM Escape X for a blissful twenty minutes. It was a spontaneous decision, completely unexpected after another late night exploring the offroad electric motorbike maze on Saturday.
I stumbled upon an opportunity to test ride the complete Electric Motion lineup, hosted by Eric Lejeune from Fun Ebikes. The event was held at Cherimont Adventure Way in Andenne (Belgium). When I arrived at the stunning castle grounds, I inquired about the testing possibilities and was directed towards a bike. Unfortunately, I couldn’t examine it closely as it was already covered in mud (oh yes, hello Belgian weather).
I was particularly interested in learning about the clutch and the three preset power modes. After receiving all information, I climbed onto the bike and immediately noticed the quality of its construction. These bikes were in a league of their own compared to other brands who claimed to have similar sizes of offroad e-bikes in their lineup.
Led by an experienced trial rider, I was invited to join a tour of the property. They didn’t inquire about my level of experience, and I chose not to disclose it either. Let’s just say I had taken a 10-year break from off-roading and was now at an average skill level. Needless to say, keeping up with the guide while getting used to the bike and its features proved challenging for me. Thankfully, the bike was designed perfectly for standing up, so I didn’t need any additional modifications in order to focus on balancing and steering through slippery single tracks, rocky terrain, and muddy waters. Hello rear foot brake! I’ve missed you! Hello clutch, I can just old-school pull you instead of that being the rear brake.
The first fail occurred pretty quickly, causing me to topple over. Luckily, the Escape X proved to be a strong and durable bike with reliable levers and other features. All I had to do was get both myself and the bike back up, hop on, and continue riding.
After completing the first part of the tour, my guide left me to continue on my own. I decided to stay on power level 1, as the terrain around the stunning castle built on a rock was quite technical. Despite experiencing a few more crashes, I was impressed with how durable the bike was; you don’t need to stock up on spare parts beforehand. The standard Michelin tires performed well, and the throttle control was excellent. The modifications made via phone were undoubtedly effective, as they seamlessly integrated with the bike itself. These are true bikes, not just toys.
My laughter echoed back at me, mingling with the chirping of the birds. There was no sound of a sputtering engine through the sky as I fell. It was a feeling of pure freedom, and I could definitely get used to it. I had the chance to test out the clutch while navigating a difficult hill, multiple times. “That’s absolutely wild.” As I approached the castle, I decided to test the other power levels on some simpler trails. It turns out, that thing rips! After 20 minutes of exploring and having fun, I chatted briefly with Eric Lejeune and the only word that came to mind was: fan-tas-tic!
This bike is perfect for anyone, including young individuals and women. In the past, some women may have been hesitant to ride because of the height of enduro bikes, but this bike opens up new possibilities for them. It’s also great for professional riders and those who just ride on the weekends.
Don’t ask me anything about battery charging time, power output, or other technical details. I was only interested in experiencing how the bike felt while riding it, so I could make comparisons with other e-bikes. Of all the bikes I’ve ridden in its size range, the machine feels unparalleled and superior. I’ve tried out most Surron models, the Talaria Sting, and even the larger Stark Varg with more powerful features, but none compare to this one in its size range.
Previous article(s) about Electric Motion’s “X” and “XR”:
