2026 Bonnell 805 RXEV dirt bikes remain the hottest show in town, as this new Bonnell proves.Despite what you may have heard, the youths freakin' love motorcycles. And they and their parents are buying them to such a degree that the hottest market within the motorcycling world right now is youth dirt bikes. But you wouldn't know that if you listened to much of the media or social media influencers, as all they see is the motorcycle market share falling. Both in youth markets and overall. So what's the disconnect?Well, much of the youth market has turned to electric dirt bikes and their ilk, which, at present, aren't counted in the overall stats within the industry. Basically, a whole segment of riders is being missed in the official counts, which has led to the rumor that the motorcycling industry is dying to be greatly exaggerated. AdvertisementAdvertisementCase in point, everyone and their mothers debuting all-new EV dirt bikes. With the latest being Bonnell, which is known for its e-mountain bikes, which just launched its first-ever e-moto, the 805 RX, which not only caters to the youths and those slightly older (fine, way older), but does so by offering capability and an incredibly reasonable price. Moveover, it has swappable EV batteries, which means you can literally go from fully depleted to fully charged in less than 30 seconds.Are we entering the golden age of dirt bikes? I kind of think so. 2026 Bonnell 805 RX2026 Bonnell 805 RX2026 Bonnell 805 RX2026 Bonnell 805 RXAdvertisementAdvertisementE-BraaapsThis EV Motorcycle Startup Shows That Substance Over Style Matters, Continues ProfitabilityWatch Hard Enduro Legend Graham Jarvis Take His EV Moto To Erzbergrodeo And Be One of Just 14 FinishersThe idea behind the 805 RX is simple: make an EV dirt bike that's cheap, easy to use, has swappable batteries, and just freakin' works. All right, when I put it like that, it might sound slightly harder than reality, but based on the specs and price, it seems as if Bonnell figured out how to have all three of the hierarchy of choices: fast, cheap, and good.Centered around a swappable 3.9kW (standard) battery, capable of producing 56 horsepower—a race-spec 4.7kW is also available for an additional charge. And it'll take between an hour or less to charge up, depending on whether you spec the standard 1500w charger or the 2500w charger, and whether you use a standard outlet or a 220V. But the EV dirt bike's party piece is that the company says swapping from a depleted battery to a fully charged one will take less than 30 seconds. "A 30-second battery swap means the ride doesn't have to end when the charge does," says Bonnell, adding, "The 805's removable battery can be quickly exchanged for a charged one to get back on the trail faster, or removed at the end of the day for more secure charging and temperature-controlled storage. As battery technology continues to evolve, the platform is designed to support future, backwards-compatible Bonnell batteries."AdvertisementAdvertisementAnd that last part is important, as it showcases Bonnell's want to keep innovating within its battery ecosystem, and states that any future battery will be backwards compatible, i.e., when the company figures out a bigger, badder, better battery chemistry, you won't be SOL with your old one needing to buy an all-new bike. You just buy the battery and get back to riding. 2026 Bonnell 805 RXWeight of the 805 RX is pegged at 218 pounds, which puts it under most other 250cc dirt bikes, thanks to a forged aluminum frame, a hydroformed swingarm, and Sirris' F43 and R46 suspension setup—the same I installed on the Zero XE currently in my garage, which is fully adjustable for however you want to ride. Bonnell also included what the company is calling a "Electronic Finger Lever," which can act as a host of things, but the one I'm interested in is an e-clutch, thereby theoretically giving you the ability to clutch-kick the EV dirt bike when you need to. That would be a first for a production EV dirt bike, and wickedly cool if it works as intended. There's also a host of data points riders will have access to, ride modes, multiple safety systems and controls (traction, wheelie, regen, speed limits, etc), parental lock and controls, hill assist, and a tool kit that doesn't suck. Neat!Obviously, however, we've gotta talk about the price. According to Bonnell, the company wants a cool $8,250 for the 805 MX, and that's not terrible for what you're getting. That undercuts Stark's Varg by a good amount but is slightly more than the smaller Zero XE. A middle of the road, EV dirt bike, as it were. But again, this has more capability and ease of use than every other gas dirt bike on the planet, and will likely be cheaper to own and operate over the course of its life. And you won't have your HOA calling the cops on you for running it into the wee hours of the night. Overall, it looks rad. But what do you all think?
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