Cycle News 2018 Alta Redshift MXR FIRST TEST
Posted: Thu Mar 15, 2018 5:16 pm
Cycle News 2018 Alta Redshift MXR FIRST TEST
http://www.cyclenews.com/2018/03/articl ... irst-test/
Adding More Juice
More power, better suspension and a lower price tag, but can it replace your gas-powered bike?
Is the future of motocross going to be powered by batteries? If so, are we there yet? We got to spend a full day at the motocross track riding the 2018 Alta Redshift MXR to try to answer these questions.
As we reported in our first test of the 2017 Alta Redshift MX last year, we came away impressed with the design, build quality, and performance. You can read that story by clicking HERE. We also noted that electric powered cars have proven to be among the quickest production cars available, so the technology is there but it is challenging to squeeze that down to fit into a motorcycle.
On the track and trails, the 2017 Redshift MX had some advantages over a standard internal combustion-powered motorcycle. The lack of a shifter allows you to evenly weight both pegs and you don’t have to worry about being in the right gear or stalling the motor in tight and technical conditions. The motor is basically maintenance free with a 1000-hour maintenance cycle and you don’t need to clean air filters or change the oil. (You just might have to replace the chain and sprockets every now and then.) The lack of sound also opens a lot of riding options as the Alta can be ridden on a backyard track without your neighbors even knowing.
Photography by Kit Palmer
But we also noted a few negatives: The 2017 Redshift MX weighed in at 261 pounds, which is about 25-30 pound more than a current 250 four-stroke MX bike. The power decreased a little as soon as the battery dipped below 75%. The suspension was pretty soft and not up to aggressive motocross track riding. It took almost three hours to re-charge a completely depleted battery and perhaps the biggest negative was the $14,995 price tag.
The new Alta Redshift MXR gets better performance and longer battery life—not to mention a substantially smaller price tag.
Here we are just a year later, and Alta has made some huge gains on all those negatives. To start, the 2018 Redshift MX, which has just a few technical updates now has a retail price of just $10,495. That does not include the battery charger, which will cost $500 for the basic charger or $750 for a new version that will charge the Redshift MX a little quicker. (You’ll be glad you spent the extra $250 for the latest one.)
But the big news is the Redshift MXR, this new model gets a new battery and upgrades to the firmware and software that increases the horsepower from 40 to 50 at the rear wheel and that power now holds steady even as the battery discharges. It also gets the latest generation WP Shock and WP AER48 forks, which are now tuned for an aggressive Intermediate level motocross rider. Plus, more aggressive footpegs, an upgraded seat and dash mounting that allows for easier handlebar adjustment. The battery and air forks combined to shave seven pounds off the bike getting it down to 259 pounds. And that new battery will charge in about an hour and a half using the new charger if you have access to a 220 plug or generator.
http://www.cyclenews.com/2018/03/articl ... irst-test/
Adding More Juice
More power, better suspension and a lower price tag, but can it replace your gas-powered bike?
Is the future of motocross going to be powered by batteries? If so, are we there yet? We got to spend a full day at the motocross track riding the 2018 Alta Redshift MXR to try to answer these questions.
As we reported in our first test of the 2017 Alta Redshift MX last year, we came away impressed with the design, build quality, and performance. You can read that story by clicking HERE. We also noted that electric powered cars have proven to be among the quickest production cars available, so the technology is there but it is challenging to squeeze that down to fit into a motorcycle.
On the track and trails, the 2017 Redshift MX had some advantages over a standard internal combustion-powered motorcycle. The lack of a shifter allows you to evenly weight both pegs and you don’t have to worry about being in the right gear or stalling the motor in tight and technical conditions. The motor is basically maintenance free with a 1000-hour maintenance cycle and you don’t need to clean air filters or change the oil. (You just might have to replace the chain and sprockets every now and then.) The lack of sound also opens a lot of riding options as the Alta can be ridden on a backyard track without your neighbors even knowing.
Photography by Kit Palmer
But we also noted a few negatives: The 2017 Redshift MX weighed in at 261 pounds, which is about 25-30 pound more than a current 250 four-stroke MX bike. The power decreased a little as soon as the battery dipped below 75%. The suspension was pretty soft and not up to aggressive motocross track riding. It took almost three hours to re-charge a completely depleted battery and perhaps the biggest negative was the $14,995 price tag.
The new Alta Redshift MXR gets better performance and longer battery life—not to mention a substantially smaller price tag.
Here we are just a year later, and Alta has made some huge gains on all those negatives. To start, the 2018 Redshift MX, which has just a few technical updates now has a retail price of just $10,495. That does not include the battery charger, which will cost $500 for the basic charger or $750 for a new version that will charge the Redshift MX a little quicker. (You’ll be glad you spent the extra $250 for the latest one.)
But the big news is the Redshift MXR, this new model gets a new battery and upgrades to the firmware and software that increases the horsepower from 40 to 50 at the rear wheel and that power now holds steady even as the battery discharges. It also gets the latest generation WP Shock and WP AER48 forks, which are now tuned for an aggressive Intermediate level motocross rider. Plus, more aggressive footpegs, an upgraded seat and dash mounting that allows for easier handlebar adjustment. The battery and air forks combined to shave seven pounds off the bike getting it down to 259 pounds. And that new battery will charge in about an hour and a half using the new charger if you have access to a 220 plug or generator.