Recall issued for new Alta electric enduros

American firm’s top-spec electric enduro is light and fast.

In a letter published online, the US Department of Transportation has issued a safety recall for the Alta Redshift EXR and MXR electric bikes.

The problem was described as follows:

“Alta Motors (Alta) is recalling certain 2019 Alta Redshift EXR and 2018-2019 Alta Redshift MXR motorcycles. The software for the throttle control may fault if the throttle is rolled forward past the closed position, possibly resulting in a motorcycle stall.”

With the recall expected to begin this month, Alta will notify owners and dealers to install an update for the throttle software, free of charge.

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The Californian electric bike manufacturer Alta Motors released details on their new 2019 Redshift EXR earlier this year.

Boasting 49bhp with 42ftlb of torque, the EXR is Alta’s top-of-the range model and is fully road legal, meaning it can be used for green lane riding as well as pure off-roading.

Building on the 2018 Enduro EX’s base, the 2019 R version adds upgraded WP suspension
as well as squeezing more performance from the firm’s water-cooled electric motor through a new 5.8kWh Li-ion battery. Charge times are also reduced (to just one-and-a-half hours) and its weight cut to a trim 124kg.

Although there is currently no UK importer for Alta motorcycles, MCN understands
a firm is close to securing the rights to bring these bikes into the UK and expects to import the full model range in 2019. While Alta’s new offering neatly dodges one of the main issues with electric bikes, weight, it still fails to fend off concerns about a high ticket price.

The Redshift EXR is expected to retail for about £12,500; which is around £4000 more than a petrol-powered equivalent spec enduro. However, the EXR should be eligible for the government’s electric grant knocking it down to £11,000.

Range is claimed to be about 50 commuting miles with four hours of spirited trail riding reckoned to be possible on a single charge.

Top-spec suspension

WP XPlor 48 forks split damping functions between legs with the compression. WP shock is fully-adjustable.

Extended range

Alta claim the EXR can cover 50 miles of commuting, four hours trail riding or three 25 motocross sessions.

Power modes

The EXR has four power maps; Eco, Sport, Performance and Overclocked, with power and torque varied. 

Power packed

Alta’s liquid-cooled electric motor revs to 14,000rpm and weighs 6.8kg. Producing 49bhp and 42ftlb of torque. 

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