For many people, dirt bikes look fun, but intimidating. They’re dangerously-fast, they’re loud, and should you wipe out on one, which is going to happen... well, that’s a lot of bike that could come crashing down on top of you. If you’re one of these people, you might be interested in the FX Mountain Moto. At 57 kg (125 lbs), it’s billed as the world’s lightest adult-sized dirt bike. It’s intended to bridge the gap between regular dirt bikes and mountain bicycles, combining the power of one with the agility of the other.
The FX has a 125cc 9-horsepower Honda-Jialing engine, available in auto or manual, that gets a reported 100mpg. While it’s mostly a motorcycle, it does have some mountain bike parts, including a Marzocchi Monster fork, a Mavic 26-inch front rim, and a Kenda MTB front tire. It’s similar in some ways to a trials bike, but is designed more for general-purpose, comfortable off-road riding.
One of the main ideas behind the Mountain Moto is that it will allow riders to explore new territory, as it can be lifted (more realistically, let’s say “heaved”) over obstacles like logs and fences, and won’t get bogged down where regular motorbikes would. It’s also aimed at new riders, who aren’t ready for a 200-plus-pound fire-breathing monster. A third market might include vacationers, wildlife officials, or other people who want something light and simple to carry on the back of their road vehicles.
What would be great is if the Mountain Moto were to replace larger bikes in some applications, resulting in less fuel use, less noise, and less wear on the trails. What wouldn't be so great is if it kept people from getting into mountain biking, or encouraged them to ride in places where they don’t belong - such as on mountain bike trails, or private property.
The Mountain Moto can currently only be ordered from the US and Canada, although a dealership network is reportedly being established. Once you can buy one, expect to part with about $US4995. If you’re interested in getting one at a discount, drop by the FX Bikes website and look into becoming a test rider.
Should you wish to go electric, and even lighter, you can also check out the soon-to-be-released Comoto.
With the fabrication technology they make these bikes with their cost is astronomically low. Their prototyping and design costs also drop double digits every year due to digitization and other new technologies... where is the INSANE markup coming from?
This invention would be cool if it cost the 1200 to 1600 dollars it should and also had a 50 cc motor thereby letting it be registered for road operation in states with 50 cc scooter clauses. Instead it\'s a least cost throw together except of course the brakes and a few other components built around a probably laughable chinese built powerplant and crap trannie... This is a joke and the reason why our nation is slowly but surelly becoming an innovation backwater!!
I agree...But the only way to force a sensible price point is if no one buys at this price. I say boycott this kind of bs because those of us in the know are not fooled. We know that these kind of machines are produced cheap enough to pass on greater savings. I really like the idea of this machine but I will not jump in at this price point. No way, never. Screw anyone who thinks it\'s fair! Sure, that\'s just my humble opinion but then again, that\'s what these comments are all about in the first place. Stay strong my brothers. Cheers bros, Stian