Shop by Vehicle
Track Order
Contact Us
The motorcycle industry looks at lightweight electric dirt bikes with a great deal of hope — hope that present popularity will translate into increased motorcycle ridership in the future.
Bonnell, an Austin-based electric startup, wants to help that transition along with the introduction of its first mid-size electric dirt bike. Enter the 805 RX.
“We believe there’s a space between the lightweight e-motos and a full-sized dirt bike,” explained Bonnell CEO and Founder Matt Wauters. “Until now, nobody's really been able to capture that in the right way.”
That objective is clear after just one look at the 805 RX’s spec sheet. A forged aluminum frame and hydroformed swingarm help manage weight, with the RX listed at 218 pounds. That’s 42 el-bees lighter than the 260-pound Stark Varg MX 1.2. What’s more, the 805 produces 56 horsepower (claimed). Put simply, the 805 is nearly as powerful as the standard-configuation Varg (60 horsepower), but weighs less than the Zero XE, a model listed at 20.1 horsepower.
The RX’s 3.9 kWh battery may seem small by electric dirt bike standards, and that’s because it is. The Varg’s 7.2 kWh cell is nearly twice that size. However, Bonnell’s swappable battery technology theoretically gets the rider back on the trail faster. Although, taking advantage of that function requires the customer to purchase a second power pack. Given the model's range, you might need one.
Wauters noted that aggressive riding in technical terrain returns ride times as low as “20-something minutes.” He also disclosed that the users could achieve as much as “around four hours” of ride time with the replaceable 4.7 kWh battery that Bonnell is currently developing. But the company has yet to price that add-on accessory.
If an additional battery doesn’t fit into your budget, each 805 comes with a 1,500 W charger that replenishes the power pack in 2.25 hours. An optional 2,500 W Fast Charger cuts that interval to under an hour. Both chargers are compatible with 220V and 110V outlets.
When it comes to the 805’s dimensions, it also lives somewhere between the Surrons and the Starks. Its seat height is 35 inches. It wears a 21-inch wheel up front and an 18-inch hoop out back. But it's the model’s wheelbase, which measures 53 inches (a full 5.5 inches shorter than the Varg’s), that falls firmly in lightweight territory. Its Sirris F43 fork and R46 rear shock do, too. Even its custom, forged calipers were designed around the RX’s lightweight build.
The RX touts a small on-board display, but users can further customize the rider aids via Bonnell’s e-Moto tuning app. There’s no shortage of parameters to adjust either, with re-gen, traction control, boost, wheel lift assist, and a speed limiter at the rider’s disposal. There are five ride modes, hill hold assist, a walk mode, and a reverse gear.
Those features feel right at home in the e-moto space, but owners can also program Bonnell’s Electronic Finger Lever as an e-Clutch or an emergency throttle (should the throttle tube sustain damage while riding). Even more ear-perking is the 805’s price, which starts at $8,250, or $4,240 less than a Varg MX 1.2. Units are currently arriving at over 50 dealerships in North America. Customers can order directly through the brand’s website, too.
The moto industry has hopes of lightweight e-dirt bikes leading to more mid-size and full-size motorcycle sales, and Bonnell hopes the 805 RX is on the front lines of that prospective transition.
| 2027 Bonnell 805 RX | |
|---|---|
| Price (MSRP) | $8,250 |
| Drivetrain | 42 kW permanent magnet motor, chain final drive |
| Claimed horsepower | 56 |
| Frame | Forged aluminum |
| Claimed range | 0.33-4 hours |
| Claimed battery capacity | 3.9 kWh nominal |
| Claimed charge time | 2.25 hour @ Level 2 |
| Front suspension | Sirris F43 fork, adjustable for spring preload, compression, and rebound damping; 9.6 inches of travel |
| Rear suspension | Sirris R46 shock, adjustable for spring preload, compression, and rebound damping; 9.6 inches of travel |
| Front brake | Single Bonnell two-piston calipers, 240 mm discs without ABS |
| Rear brake | Bonnell two-piston caliper, 220 mm disc without ABS |
| Rake, trail | 27.0 degrees, 4.8 inches |
| Wheelbase | 53.0 inches |
| Seat height | 35.0 inches |
| Tires | Kenda K7101; 80/100-21 front, 100/90-18 rear |
| Claimed weight | 218 pounds |
| Available | Now |
| Warranty | 24 months (frame & swingarm); 12 months (drivetrain) |
| More info | ridebonnell.com |
Image Gallery
