Motorcycles

Alta Motors flirts with road-legal electric Street Tracker

Alta Motors flirts with road-legal electric Street Tracker
The Street Tracker is an electric flat track concept bike that could soon transform to a very tasty commuter by Alta Motors
The Street Tracker is an electric flat track concept bike that could soon transform to a very tasty commuter by Alta Motors
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The Redshift MX is Alta Motors' flagship model
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The Redshift MX is Alta Motors' flagship model
The Alta Motors Redshift SM is the road-going version of the MX, with 17-inch wheels, road tires, and legal necessities like lights, indicators and such
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The Alta Motors Redshift SM is the road-going version of the MX, with 17-inch wheels, road tires, and legal necessities like lights, indicators and such
The Alta Pack is a very compact 5.8 kWh/350 V Li-ion battery housed in Alta Motors' proprietary home-built case, sporting IP67 waterproof certification, resistance to impacts and vibrations up to 20G, and a digital self-monitoring function, for a total weight of 30.8 kg (67.9 lb)
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The Alta Pack is a very compact 5.8 kWh/350 V Li-ion battery housed in Alta Motors' proprietary home-built case, sporting IP67 waterproof certification, resistance to impacts and vibrations up to 20G, and a digital self-monitoring function, for a total weight of 30.8 kg (67.9 lb)
The central part of every Alta Motors Redshift frame is the Bulkhead, housing the compact electric motor and the 3.5:1 reduction gear, as well as the liquid cooling circuitry of the motor and inverter
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The central part of every Alta Motors Redshift frame is the Bulkhead, housing the compact electric motor and the 3.5:1 reduction gear, as well as the liquid cooling circuitry of the motor and inverter
Alta Motors designed the Redshift frame with the lightweight and compact electric motor right on the roll center, resulting in an extremely light gyroscopic footprint to the bike's handling
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Alta Motors designed the Redshift frame with the lightweight and compact electric motor right on the roll center, resulting in an extremely light gyroscopic footprint to the bike's handling
The Street Tracker is an electric flat track concept bike that could soon transform to a very tasty commuter by Alta Motors
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The Street Tracker is an electric flat track concept bike that could soon transform to a very tasty commuter by Alta Motors
View gallery - 6 images

Just a few months since its first motorcycle, the Redshift, became available to the US market, Alta Motors is set to roll out a new concept model. Inspired by flat track machines, the Street Tracker is conceived as a road-legal battery-powered motorcycle built around the Redshift platform.

Californian startup Alta Motors spent six years setting up a production facility, organizing a dealer network, and developing its first model from the ground up ahead of its market launch in 2016. The Redshift is a lightweight electric off-road motorcycle available in a motocross (MX) and a street-legal supermoto (SM) version.

The American company builds the motorcycle's engine, frame and battery cases in-house, as well as all the electronic gear tasked with controlling the motor's 40 hp (29.8 kW) power and 122 lb-ft (165 Nm) torque output. These are complemented by equipment outsourced from industry leading brands, like WP suspensions and Brembo brakes.

The Redshift enjoyed a breakout debut year with a national-level EnduroCross race win in September, topping off an exciting racing season with the runner-up spot of the EnduroCross Vet class with seasoned rider Kurt Nicoll at the handlebars of the Redshift MX – then made more headlines last October with Josh Hill's first round win at the Red Bull Straight Rhythm event.

Alta Motors designed the Redshift frame with the lightweight and compact electric motor right on the roll center, resulting in an extremely light gyroscopic footprint to the bike's handling
Alta Motors designed the Redshift frame with the lightweight and compact electric motor right on the roll center, resulting in an extremely light gyroscopic footprint to the bike's handling

Now Alta Motors has announced it will unveil its new Street Tracker concept model during the closing weekend of the One Moto Show in Portland, USA, on February 10-12 .

With a single photo of the new bike released in its Facebook page, and in anticipation of the full specs' release, Alta Motors suggests that the Street Tracker will use the standard Redshift frame and engine combo. Although there are no specific production plans, Alta doesn't seem to shy away from the idea when replying to comments in its Facebook page.

Apparently, a warm reaction from its potential customer base should transform the Street Tracker concept to the third commercially available model in Alta Motors' lineup. While the company is admittedly trying to extend its dealer network to most major US cities, and plans to also expand overseas in 2017, a lightweight and powerful electric commuter with fashionably appropriate looks could be just the thing to add to its catalogue.

Source: Alta Motors

View gallery - 6 images
5 comments
5 comments
DavidRogerBrown
Looks like really well engineered machines with quality components. At 250 to 270 lbs curb weight with a massive 120lbs. of torque, they should be a blast. A 50 mile range (at best) and a $15 grand price tag being the limiting factors. A street legal enduro can't be far behind.
JimFox
FAR too complex. Use hub motor[s].Two-wheel drive? Dump all that legacy mechanical weight, add batteries.
keith14
What a hassle trying to get the batteries out to work on the nuts and bolts of the thing. 50mile range is not much use to anyone nowadays.
Drachen
Hub motors increase unsprung weight and usually are not as powerful. 2 motors is also going to be heavier than a single one and heavier still with associated wiring and an extra motor controller.
Nik
I find it intriguing, that, in conventional bikes, the engine was the massive part, and the fuel minimal in comparison. With electric bikes, the engine is minimal, and the fuel, [battery] is the massive part. The net result is a machine that weighs the same, but has about 1/8th of the range. I cannot detect the advantage.