Bonnell Takes Aim At Stark Future With New 805 RX Electric MotorcycleForbesWilliam Roberson, ContributorUpdatedThu, September 17, 2026 at 3:34 AM UTCAdd us on GoogleThe Bonnell 805 RX is the first salvo from the company; a larger model and a street-legal version are in the works.BonnellThere's a lot of chatter these days about electric "minimotos" for kids, but it's also important to note the sudden and significant growth in the electric off-road motorcycle segment for adults (and teenage riders).Currently, Spain-based Stark Future leads that segment with its line of Varg models, including dirt-only, dual-sport, and street-specific variations built around a central core of technology and power. Stark Future is a cash-positive venture - unusual for a purely electric motorcycle maker these days - because it got a lot of things right from the outset, and now other motorcycle makers are hoping to duplicate Stark Future CEO Anton Wass's success.Harley-Davidson electric motorcycle spinoff LiveWire recently acquired Oregon-based Dust Moto, which makes a challenger to Stark Future's Varg MX, and now, startup Bonnell has announced a new electric off-road motocrosser, the 805 RX, which they say will be joined by an even more powerful and larger sibling, called the 902, in 2027. According to comments made on an official Bonnell YouTube video about the bikes, a street-legal model or variant is also in the works. The company also currently offers a high-powered full-suspension electric mountain bike, the 775MX. The new 805 RX e-moto is now available for pre-order on the Bonnell website.Knobby tires, big brakes, adjustable Sirris suspension, and a whole lot of torque should make for an entertaining off-road riding experience.Performance-wise, the Bonnell 805 takes steady aim at the Stark Future Varg machines, with 54 horsepower maximum and nearly 600 (yes, six hundred) pound-feet of rear-wheel torque and a maximum speed in excess of 80 mph. Those numbers line up well with the base model of the Varg MX, which allows for a jump to 80 horsepower on its premium offering. Like the Varg, the 805 features five ride modes and a wide range of motor power adjustability, letting riders dial output from maximum thrust for pros to near e-bike levels for beginners. There's also a small lever on the right bar that can be assigned functions such as an e-clutch controller, regenerative braking modulator and other tasks.AdvertisementAdvertisementSuspension is courtesy of Sirris front and rear and features wide adjustability. Brakes are house bits from Bonnell and include twin-pot calipers on large discs for maximum power.Bonnell claims the 805 weighs in at just 218 pounds - far less than gas-powered bikes like the Honda CRF450, which make similar horsepower but far less torque. Initial pricing for the base 805 rings in at $8,250 before taxes and fees, while the Stark Future Varg MX retails for $12,000. A Bonnell spokesperson told me that Bonnell is a global electric motorcycle company with operations across Hong Kong, mainland China, Australia, and the U.S. Its primary U.S. facility is in Austin, Texas, with a growing dealer network across the country. Bonnell motorcycles are manufactured in Taiwan.Bonnell publicity images and videos show the 805 being ridden through extreme off-road terrain and getting big air under the control of pro riders. This isn't a bike for beginners, but you can dial back the motor power if newbies want to give it a go.Again, for now, the Bonnell 805RX is strictly an off-road machine and is not designed for street use. Stark Future does offer the Varg EX, a street-legal dual-sport, and the Varg SM, which retains a dirt bike profile but is designed specifically for street use.It will be interesting to see how the Bonnell 805 and 902 do in terms of sales in the near future, but for now, it's clear that many adult riders are smitten with the simplicity, torque, and lighter weight of these larger, pro-level electric motocrossers. The challenge for Bonnell will be to replicate Stark's success, which won't be easy, given that most of Bonnell's current dealers are in the U.S., where electric vehicle adoption at all levels lags behind European countries. Stark is a heavyweight in its native EU market, which has proven more accepting of electric vehicles of all types, and where range is less of an issue for riders and drivers because of the relatively short distances between cities, at least compared to the U.S.AdvertisementAdvertisementWith Bonnell and other companies now racing to catch Stark's success, the future looks bright for this interesting electric motorcycle niche.Thank you for reading. Subscribing to Forbes.com lets you leave comments and supports contributors like me. You can also follow me on Facebook and LinkedIn.This article was originally published on Forbes.com