KTM takes to the streets with Freeride E-SM

The thirdmodel of the Freeride E family is KTM’s first street-legal electric bike. Afterthe Motocross and Enduro versions, the Supermoto is a battery-powered playbikethat can also double as one of the coolest commuters out there.

Officiallyunveiled at last year’s Intermot, the E-SM joins the E-SX and E-XC in the electricbranch of the Freeride series. Unlike its siblings it is road-legal and, mostimportantly, accessible to holders of the A1 European driving license.Restricted to 125 cc or 11 kW (15 hp) this license class is the compulsorygateway to motorcycling for young Europeans.

At theheart of KTM’s new supermoto lives a liquid-cooled brushless, permanent-magnet,synchronous motor which can produce a continuous output of 15 hp, with shortbursts at its peak power of 22 hp. Maximum torque reaches up to 42 Nm.

Power isconveyed to the rear wheel through a fixed gear transmission, eliminating theneed for a clutch and allowing the allocation of the left hand lever on thehandlebars to the rear brake – a scooter-like configuration. The motor’smanagement offers three different ride modes, each with a different powerdelivery: economy, standard and advanced. The rider can select the mode ofchoice at the touch of a button on a panel located between the saddle and thesteering head.

The powersource for the motor is a 300V li-ion battery developed in cooperation withSamsung, weighing 28 kg (62 lb) and producing 2.6 kWh. It requires 80 minutes for afull charge or just 50 to reach 80 percent. At full capacity it can power thebike for a maximum of one hour, depending on output level and riding style. Designedto be easily removable, once exhausted it can be swiftly replaced with apre-charged spare.

Just likeevery other member of the Freeride family, the E-SM is built around a compositeframe consisting of two aluminum central braces, connecting a steel tubular structurethat uses the motor as a stressed member with a heavy duty polyamide fibersubframe. Suspension is supplied by KTM’s long-term partner WP, with a 43-mmupside-down fork and a PDS shock absorber. The typical supermoto packageincludes 17-inch Giant wheels with sticky Pirelli Diablo Rosso tires. Brakingduties are tended by a pair of radially-mounted Formula brake calipers withfour pistons at the front and two at the rear.

Weighingjust 108 kg (238 lb) in "Ready to Race" trim, the E-SM can be a short-distancecommuter or an incredible playbike – as the talented French stunt rider JulienDupont demonstrates in KTM’s official video presentation below. With anaverage price tag north of €11,000 (about US$12,000) in European markets, it canalso prove to be a rather exclusive ride.

Source: KTMSportmotorcycle GmbH