The E-Clipse Is Here To Steal the Spotlight As the Year's Most Impressive E-Dirt Bike

Folks, the machine before you is nothing more than the E-Clipse, the standard version, and the Race Edition; take a nice long look at it, watch the videos, and then get ready to expand your lineup of toys. Time to explore why.

First off, the E-Clipse is a road-legal electric dirt bike with more than enough power and speed to keep its riders smiling. All that's thanks to a mid-mounted 10 kW (13.4 hp) motor that can reach a top speed of 60 mph (96 kph). Clearly, you're going to need a license for this one if you're looking to haul butt around city streets.

But it's the Race Edition that really puts everything into perspective. Here, we're talking about a 15 kW (20 hp) motor that maxes out at over 65 mph (105 kph). One, and allow me to point out that this version is only selling for $6,800 according to Solar Scooters' website; the minds and hands behind this baby. Don't have $6,800? How about just a flat $6,000? That's all you're going to need for the standard version, minus four bucks.

Part two of the E-Clipse story is the fact that Solar has designed a machine that's about as modular as a motorcycle can be. First and foremost, take note that the manufacturer allows us to select the sort of wheels and tires you'd like for your rides.

Are you spending most of your time on city streets? Go for the 16-inch carbon fiber wheels and road tires. But, if you have a bunch of loose terrain around your area or downright trails or expansive landscapes, go for those 19-inch off-road tires with big ol' knobs on them.

All that, however, is based around a complete carbon fiber frame and swing arm. Hand-woven too! Honestly, at this stage, I had already started asking myself how the heck Solar managed to achieve this, not to mention the rest of what's to follow, and at the price they offer it.

Now, I used the phrase "expansive landscapes" for a reason. Can you guess what that reason is? None other than range. According to the manufacturer's website, the E-Clipse is able to reach a maximum range of up to 70 miles (113 km) on a full charge, a number that is bound to attract the attention of numerous riders, myself included. Oh, and I also need to point out that once the battery is drained, in up to four hours, you should be back in the streets, trails, mountains, beaches, sand flats, wherever.

How did Solar Scooters manage to cram this much capability into the E-Clipse? Part of that is due to a massive 45 Ah battery pack from LG running under 72 V, and the second is this puppy's sine-wave controller, ensuring you can access a peak of 400 A of juice. On a continuous flow, 120 A are available. The Race Edition, on the other hand, comes with an 18 Mosfet 600 A controller, so, you know, crank it! Just make sure you know how to handle all that power.

What if I told you that there's also part three of the whole range and power story of the E-Clipse? Well, there is, and believe it or not, Solar Scooters takes things a step further by adding regenerative braking to this two-wheeling EV. That's just one more reason to throw your cash at Solar.

Now, for the remainder of the E-Clipse's story, I do need to be rather brief because, in truth, if I were to go through all the little details that Solar Scooters crammed into this EV, we'd be here for at least another hour or so; no joke.

That said, allow me to point out some other essentials, such as inverted forks and adjustable suspension systems all around. And if you're going for the Race Edition, all that's upgraded, including a different swing arm and a raised motor position, adjustable brake levers, quad-piston calipers, the works. Oh, an IP67 rating also accompanies these bikes. Yes, we can call them bikes because they have the heart for it.

Ok, so I promise I'll leave you alone after this one, even though I shouldn't - be sure to check out the complete cockpit as well, including the display, hazard lights, main beams, horns, and all that - but I do need to point out that Solar has designed the E-Clipse to handle panniers, up to 23 liters (6 gals) each. Yes, that means carrying lunch and water up that ridge, having lunch, riding back down, and then doing the same for dinner. If I had $6,000 and room in my garage for another EV, this would be on my list right now!

P.S. While the E-Clipse 2.0 is available at this time, the Race Edition is in its preorder stages, so better get moving before that price changes. Ride safe out there.