Image Credit: Captain Electro.
There was a time when me arriving at a dirt track sounded like a small war had broken out in a tin factory. Gosh, I used to love the smell of two-stroke oil in the morning... It smells like irresponsible fun - and you know exactly what I'm talking about. But the world is changing; it is getting quieter. My lawnmower hums, my blender is louder than my car, and now, electric dirt bikes are sneaking up on us.
If you thought electric motorcycles were just for people who eat kale and worry about the carbon footprint of their socks, you clearly haven't been paying attention. The segment is exploding. It is the one corner of the EV world that is genuinely thriving, largely because twisting a throttle and instantly getting enough torque to rotate the earth slightly is undeniably hilarious. And just when we all thought the market was pretty busy, here comes NAVEE.
Image Credit: NAVEE.
Yes, NAVEE. The company usually responsible for those sensible electric scooters you see zipping around city centers has decided to trade pavement for mud. They've launched their first-ever dirt bike, the Storm X Pro, and at least on paper, it looks like a proper riot.
But before we get into the numbers - and I promise, I will try to make the math painless - let's talk about why this matters. Right this very moment, we are watching a proper brawl in the electric dirt bike sector. The likes of the high-end stuff like the Stark Varg, which costs more than my first three cars combined, are squaring off with a swarm of affordable, scrappy wannabees. The Storm X Pro jumped right in the middle of this mosh pit with a price tag of $4,999. Five grand for a whole lot of mischief? I'm listening...
Image Credit: NAVEE.
Let's peek under the proverbial hood. The Storm X Pro is powered by a mid-drive motor that delivers 17 kW, which in old money is about 23 horsepower. 23 ponies might not sound like a stampede, but electric horses are different. They are angry, instant horses. The torque figure is a shocking 368 pound-feet (500 Nm) - that's more twisting force than you get in a 2010 Mustang GT. And all that is channeled through a chain to a bike that weighs less than I do after a Thanksgiving dinner.
Speaking of weight, the whole package tips the scales at just 150 pounds. That is right in the sweet spot. It's heavy enough to not feel like a bicycle made of cheese, but light enough that when you inevitably drop it - and you will drop it - you can pick it up without needing a chiropractor on speed dial.
Image Credit: NAVEE.
The juice comes from a 72-volt, 40-amp-hour battery pack using Samsung 21700 cells. NAVEE claims this battery will charge from flat to full in about four hours. That's just enough time to wash the mud off your gear, have a sandwich, and make plans before heading back out.
As always, we must address the range, because manufacturer range estimates are usually written by people who believe in unicorns. NAVEE says you can get around 75 miles on a full charge. However, there is a catch the size of Texas. That range is calculated riding in Eco mode at 15.5 mph. I don't know anyone who rides a dirt bike at 15 mph unless they are being chased by a very slow bear or looking for a lost contact lens. In the real world, where throttles are twisted in anger, expect that range to drop. But even if you get a solid 50 miles of hard riding, that's plenty for a day on the trails.
Image Credit: NAVEE.
The chassis looks ready for a beating, too. It uses a high-strength steel tubular frame, which sounds reassuringly solid. The suspension setup is interesting. Up front, you have a fork offering 7.87 inches of travel. (The spec sheet had a hilarious typo saying 2 mm, which would be a very bumpy ride indeed, but we know better). The rear shock gives you 3.34 inches of travel. It's adjustable for high and low-speed compression, which means you can fiddle with knobs and pretend you know what you're doing until it feels right.
Stopping power - crucial when you are hurtling toward a tree - is handled by hydraulic discs, 220 mm at the front and 203 mm at the rear. The bike rolls on a proper 19-inch front and 18-inch rear wheel setup, which is standard dirt bike territory, meaning you have plenty of tire options when you shred the stock ones. For those who want to save a few bucks, there is a lower trim simply called the Storm X. It knocks the power down to 10 kW (13.4 hp) and the top speed to 53 mph, but keeps a similar range. Honestly, though, for the price difference, you want the Pro. You always want the Pro.
Image Credit: NAVEE.
The Storm X Pro is hitting a top speed of a smidgen over 59 mph. That is fast enough to make your eyes water if you forget your goggles, and certainly fast enough for tight trails. It's not trying to be a highway cruiser; it's trying to be a dirt-flinging fun machine. And what I really like about this bike is its simplicity. It's stripped back - no dashboard that looks like an iPad, no heated cup holders. A frame, a motor, and wheels. It's minimalist, like a modern art gallery, but with more mud.
At $4,999, NAVEE is throwing a punch at the likes of the SurRon Light Bee and the Talaria Komodo. It's cheaper than the premium Stark Varg and sits comfortably in that "I can afford this without selling a kidney" bracket. It offers an easy access point into a sport that is otherwise very expensive and mechanically complex. But is it going to replace your 450cc gas monster? Probably not yet. But for zipping around trails, annoying the wildlife quietly, and having a grin plastered on your face, it looks like a winner.
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