Sykeruns X7 electric dirt bike review: A lot of power for surprisingly little money

The mini electric dirt bike market has exploded over the last few years, with seemingly countless new brands offering everything from pint-sized electric pit bikes to surprisingly powerful off-road machines. The Sykeruns X7 falls somewhere in the middle, offering enough power to get into some serious trouble while keeping the price relatively approachable. I’ve spent some time now riding the X7, and while it certainly isn’t the most refined electric dirt bike I’ve tested, there’s enough to like about what you’re getting for the money. In fact, if you’re looking for a reasonably powerful electric dirt bike for recreational trail riding without spending several thousand dollars, this might be worth a closer look. Sykeruns X7: What are we working with here? The Sykeruns X7 is a compact electric dirt bike featuring a 5,500W peak-rated motor, which translates to around 7.4 horsepower. That’s quite a bit of power for a bike at this price point of $1,699, especially considering that many similarly priced electric two-wheelers are significantly less powerful. Oh, and for our readers, we’ve gotten you set up with a 20% discount. Just use code ELECTREK20 to drop the price down to an impressive $1,359! Sykeruns claims a top speed of 57 mph (92 km/h), though since this is an off-road only bike, you’ll rarely get the chance to put that claim to the test. I certainly didn’t, as I didn’t have a long enough and flat enough stretch of trail where I felt comfortable hitting nearly highway speeds on a low-cost e-moto. The battery is a 60V 27Ah pack, providing 1,620 Wh of capacity. Sykeruns claims up to 60 miles (96 km) of range, though as with virtually every electric dirt bike, your actual range will depend heavily on how aggressively you’re riding. Fast trail riding, steep climbs, and repeated hard acceleration can eat through battery capacity much more quickly than leisurely cruising. Suffice it to say that you’ll likely not see the 60 mile figure in real world scenarios, but that’s still a fairly large battery. The bike rolls on a 17-inch front wheel and 14-inch rear wheel, both wrapped in knobby off-road tires. Hydraulic disc brakes handle stopping duties, while an inverted suspension fork and rear monoshock help smooth out the bumps. At 143 lb (65 kg), the X7 isn’t exactly featherweight, but it’s also far from being a full-size electric motorcycle. How does the Sykeruns X7 actually ride? The first thing I was surprised about with the X7 is that it offers a pretty decent amount of performance for the money. There’s enough power here to have some real fun, and the bike doesn’t feel like one of those underpowered mini electric motorcycles that struggles once you get beyond casual neighborhood speeds. That said, I wouldn’t describe the acceleration as mind-blowing, either. We’re not talking about the kind of explosive power delivery you’d get from a high-end electric dirt bike costing several times as much. Instead, the X7 delivers a healthy amount of acceleration that feels appropriate for a recreational off-road machine. And let’s be real here, that’s probably what most people shopping in this budget category are looking for. The suspension is another area where the X7 earns a passing grade without necessarily winning any awards. The front fork and rear shock do their jobs, absorbing the bumps and ruts you’d expect to encounter on typical trails. It’s nothing I’d call plush, but I could see it doing light jumps with minimal air time. Would I want to take this thing to a motocross track and start launching it off massive jumps? Not particularly. The suspension doesn’t have the premium feel or sophisticated damping of more expensive machines. But for general trail riding, exploring dirt roads, and the occasional overlanding shenanigans, it’s perfectly serviceable. Not every electric dirt bike needs to be a competition-ready machine, and the X7 seems comfortable occupying that more recreational category. I was also pleasantly surprised by the tires, which seem well suited to the bike’s intended purpose. The knobby tread offers a reasonable amount of grip for off-road riding, and I didn’t find myself immediately wishing for a tire upgrade. The overall size is worth mentioning, too. This isn’t a particularly large electric dirt bike, but at my modest 5’7” (170 cm) height, I felt comfortable on it. The riding position didn’t feel overly cramped, and the bike was manageable enough that I didn’t feel like I was wrestling with an oversized machine. Taller riders might find it a bit more compact than they’d prefer, but for average-height riders, the proportions seem reasonable. If there’s one area where the X7 reminds you of its budget-friendly $1,699 price tag, it’s the overall level of refinement. Nothing about the bike struck me as particularly premium. The components, finishes, and general construction are more in line with what I’d expect from a relatively inexpensive electric dirt bike. But that’s not necessarily a criticism. There’s a difference between something feeling inexpensive and something feeling inadequate, and the X7 generally stays on the acceptable side of that line. The controls are straightforward, the digital display provides the basic information you need, and the overall package feels focused on delivering usable performance rather than impressing riders with fancy features. The grippy hydraulic brakes are also a welcome inclusion, especially considering the speeds this bike is capable of reaching. With a machine that can approach highway speeds, having proper motorcycle-style braking hardware is important. Of course, long-term durability is a separate question. Budget electric dirt bikes don’t always have the same track record, parts availability, or established dealer networks as the more recognizable motorcycle brands. That’s something worth considering before purchasing, particularly if you plan to ride hard or frequently. One important warning: This is NOT a street-legal e-bike One thing I appreciate about the Sykeruns X7 is that the company makes its intended use fairly clear. There’s a large red warning sticker on the bike explaining that it’s intended for off-road use only. That’s a good thing, especially in today’s market, where the lines between electric bicycles, electric dirt bikes, and electric motorcycles are becoming increasingly blurred, despite laws existing to keep these types of bikes out of the bike lane and off of public roads. The X7 is absolutely not an electric bicycle. It doesn’t have pedals, it produces several thousand watts of power, and it’s capable of speeds far beyond anything permitted under electric bicycle regulations. It’s an off-road electric motorcycle, plain and simple. Interestingly, though, Sykeruns has equipped the bike with features like a tail light and turn signals, which could potentially give some riders the wrong impression. Those are certainly useful features on a motorcycle, but they don’t magically make a vehicle street legal. Without the necessary certification, registration, and other road-use requirements, the X7 remains an off-road-only machine. I worry that some buyers might see those lights and assume they can ride the bike around town like a small electric motorcycle. That’s not the case, and it’s important to understand that distinction before buying one. Electrek’s Take After spending time with the Sykeruns X7, my biggest takeaway is that this is a reasonably capable electric dirt bike at a pretty compelling price. It’s not the best electric dirt bike I’ve ever ridden. The suspension is fairly basic, the build quality is unremarkable, and there’s nothing particularly groundbreaking about the design. But for $1,699 (or $1,359 if you use the code ELECTREK20 to take 20% off!), you’re getting a 5.5 kW peak-rated electric motorcycle with a sizable battery, proper off-road tires, hydraulic brakes, and enough performance to have some genuine fun on the trails. That’s not a bad deal. I wouldn’t say that the X7 here is trying to compete with more up-market electric dirt bikes from the likes of Juiced, Sur-Ron or Talaria on overall refinement, but they make this type of riding much more accessible. And that’s really where I think the X7 makes the most sense. If you’re an experienced dirt bike rider looking for a highly refined machine with excellent suspension and premium components, you’ll probably want to keep shopping. But if you’re someone who wants a fun electric dirt bike for exploring private property, cruising around trails where motorized riding is permitted, or just enjoying some recreational off-road riding without spending a fortune, the Sykeruns X7 offers a pretty reasonable package. It doesn’t need to be amazing at everything. At this price, being pretty good at most things is already an accomplishment. FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.