Horsepower. The word itself conjures images of raw power and maybe a touch of nostalgia. It’s a unit steeped in history, dating back to the Industrial Revolution, yet it’s still used to measure the might of today’s advanced vehicles. Originally, it was a way to contextualize steam engines by comparing them to the work of draft horses – one horsepower equating to 745.7 watts.
This little history lesson is crucial to understanding why it’s almost comical when someone dismisses your electric mountain bike (e-MTB) with a wave of the hand and declares, “That’s just a dirt bike.” These two types of machines, Bikes Dirt Bikes Dirt Bikes, are fundamentally different, even down to how their power is measured.
Instead of just rolling my eyes at this simplistic view, I decided to tackle it head-on. Having spent four years riding dirt bikes and considerably longer on various types of bikes, I felt qualified to offer a real-world comparison between off-road motorcycles and e-bikes.
To put this to the test, I designed a course on trails suitable for both dirt bikes and e-bikes, essentially racing against myself to see how they truly stack up. The results? Let’s just say they were more surprising than I initially anticipated.
Dirt Bikes vs. E-MTBs: The Numbers Don’t Lie
It almost feels silly to even dedicate time to this comparison, the gap seems so vast. But before we dive into the actual riding experience of these two very, very different machines, let’s lay out some hard facts to illustrate just how different they are.
| 2015 KTM 250 XCW (Dirt Bike) | Specialized Turbo Levo Comp Carbon (E-MTB) |
|---|---|
| Approx. Motor Output | 50 horsepower |
| Top Motorized Speed | 70mph |
| Suspension Travel | 292mm front, 317mm rear |
| Wheelbase | 1495mm |
| Approx. Weight | 250lbs |
| Approx Price | $6,000 used |
Bigger, faster, heavier, and significantly more powerful – is anyone genuinely surprised that a modern dirt bike outperforms an e-MTB in sheer specifications? The numbers speak for themselves.
Head-to-Head: Racing Dirt Bikes Against E-MTBs
To truly challenge the idea that e-MTBs are simply dirt bikes, I created a six-mile loop with a demanding 1,200 feet of elevation gain. I knew this would push an e-bike’s battery and capabilities, making it a fair, if challenging, test. The trails were a diverse mix: flowing singletrack, steep ascents and descents, and even a section of fire road to round it out.
My first run was on my KTM dirt bike. While experienced, I’d classify my skills as intermediate, and my riding style is more about control than outright speed. As my friend Lucian’s stickers say, “Try Not To Crash,” and that’s definitely my moto mantra.
My KTM 250 dirt bike
I focused on a smooth, consistent ride. I did have a couple of stumbles on steep climbs, requiring me to backtrack and retry. Those mistakes cost me time, highlighting a key difference: the weight. A 250-pound dirt bike demands momentum and control, while a lightweight e-bike is much easier to maneuver, even if it means walking it uphill when needed. On a moto, you’re very much along for the ride, actively engaged but also subject to its weight and power.
However, being an “active passenger” on a dirt bike is physically demanding. Those six miles left me winded. Riding a dirt bike on technical trails requires bursts of intense effort, constant balance adjustments, and unwavering concentration. Add to that the heavy, heat-trapping gear, and you’re guaranteed a good sweat.
My friend, Lucian makes these stickers that say “Try Not To Crash,” and that encapsulates my riding style on a moto.
Two days later, I tackled the same course on my Specialized Levo e-MTB. In contrast to the intermittent bursts of effort on the dirt bike, pushing an e-bike at speed feels like a sustained, high-output effort, much like cross-country mountain bike racing, just faster. It’s a different kind of challenge, and one I personally enjoy.
My bike handling style shifts dramatically between the two. On a bike – e-bike or acoustic – I’m comfortable pushing limits and letting it all hang out on descents. Bicycles feel so natural to me that I often feel faster downhill on two wheels without an engine. Reviewing my Strava data (kept private, naturally), I saw I even gained a little time on the dirt bike on the steepest, most technical sections, though perhaps not as much as I expected.
My Specialized Levo Comp Carbon
However, on fast, loose trails, the e-MTB feels more lively and less planted than the heavy, stable dirt bike with its large tires and long-travel suspension. The e-bike is more agile, making it easier to change lines and navigate tight corners, but it demands constant attention to maintain control.
On the steepest uphill sections, I did have to dismount and walk the Levo a couple of times. The trail was quite torn up, making traction a real issue (thanks, dirt bikes, just kidding… mostly!). I anticipated this would be slow, but it turned out to be a surprising “tortoise and hare” scenario. Walking those short, ultra-steep climbs was actually quicker than struggling to power up them on the heavier dirt bike, allowing me to make up a 2:30 deficit in that section alone.
The e-bike’s advantage faded on the open fire road. Here, the dirt bike’s superior power took over immediately. Unless you’re willing to push yourself to the limit without pedal assist, a class 1 e-bike like the Levo is capped at 20mph. At that speed, the dirt bike is barely tapping into its potential.
The Race Results: E-MTB vs. Dirt Bike Lap Times
Alright, the moment of truth – the lap times! When I checked my stopwatch app, I was genuinely surprised. I fully expected the e-bike to be significantly slower, but it was only about 7% off the pace of the dirt bike.
Dirt Bike Time: 27:28
E-MTB Time: 29:42
It’s important to remember this wasn’t a scientific study; it’s just one data point. You could argue I wasn’t pushing the dirt bike to its absolute limit, while I was definitely giving the e-bike a race-pace effort. Fair point. However, crashing and getting injured on the dirt bike wouldn’t have allowed me to write this comparison at all!
Also, the Levo is a full-power e-bike, not a lightweight model. A lighter e-MTB, like the Levo SL, with less peak power and torque, would likely have been noticeably slower in this test.
The takeaway is clear: the smoother and straighter the trail, the more the dirt bike’s power advantage shines. But on technical, twisty trails, the e-MTB can definitely hold its own. And, as always, rider skill is a huge factor. Clean climbs on the dirt bike would have shaved significant time off its lap.
What Does This Comparison Really Tell Us About Bikes, Dirt Bikes, and E-MTBs?
The beauty of off-road riding lies in its unpredictability. Repeat this test with different riders, different trails, and you’d get a spectrum of results. However, my little experiment reinforces what I’ve come to believe since I started riding e-MTBs: they are incredibly efficient machines for covering ground and having an absolute blast on the trails.
After the moto vs. e-bike ultimate showdown
There are nuances, of course. Current battery tech limits e-bikes in terms of range and sustained high speed compared to dirt bikes. My KTM could likely cover 100 miles of trail on a tank. My Levo used 23% of its battery on that single six-mile, 30-minute lap.
Conversely, dirt bikes have well-known downsides: noise pollution, potential trail damage, access restrictions, demanding maintenance, and mechanical complexity. Plus, they can be intimidating for beginners. It took me time to become comfortable with the power and handling of a dirt bike. An e-bike, on the other hand, is as intuitive as a regular bicycle, making it far more approachable for newcomers. Though, admittedly, there’s a certain undeniable cool factor to riding a dirt bike.
Ultimately, calling an e-bike “just a dirt bike” is a fundamental misunderstanding. I’d bet those who say it have never ridden either, or perhaps neither. They are simply not the same.
They are, however, two fantastic ways to experience off-road riding. Both offer fun and challenge. They require similar but distinct skills. Each has its own set of advantages and drawbacks, and even their own unique subcultures. It’s a Bizzaro World of off-road fun!
And, surprisingly, both are pretty darn quick ways to navigate the woods.
P.S. We use affiliate links at Direct Current. If you’re looking at a Specialized Turbo Levo Comp Carbon, using our link helps support the site! 😀
