2023 RedBull TKO RACE #1 Highlights [ECR eMoto]

[@user-np7qp4sg7o]

Great vid Tucker!! Thanks for posting this. E-Moto-ing is improving every year!!

[@ElectricCycleRider]

🙌

[@shredmas]

Thanks for posting. I've been waiting for this one. Looks like you did much better with arm pump this year.

[@ElectricCycleRider]

Switched the bars and grips this year and seemed to help! Still suffered a bit but not as bad as last year.

[@shredmas]

@@ElectricCycleRider I found bar bend to be very important. I've always been partial to Honda CR Hi. Bend. But I found the electric motion escape stock handlebars to be very uncomfortable. Then there's also relaxing don't forget to breathe. But it's not a moto so when I'm in XC mode I don't mind following for a while and getting my flow going the heart rate up slowly.

[@ElectricCycleRider]

@@shredmas Agreed! I'm pretty particular about my bars but had no time to prep for this race either year. I'm sure I am to blame for much of it too! Tried to be more aware of it this year and adapt. It's also just very hard to replicate a race environment no matter how hard you try to.

[@mmig2116]

Nice footage great place I ride the trials national there !

[@MudmanDH]

Amazing track looks so hard, also read the trail limits and navigate trhu it looks very difficult too. Nice race.

[@pauldanrich3919]

Two words; knarly/fitness…All you guys rock Tucker!!

[@racerx2095]

So many rocks that was just crazy.

[@weavermon4506]

Tucker, what brand and models of E-Bikes were in this race?

[@ElectricCycleRider]

Here you go: 1 ECR eMoto - SPENSER WILTON 45:32 [1st Overall] - Electric Motion Escape X Prototype Race Bike 2 ECR eMoto - JOSEPH VAN ROEKEL 48:01 [8th Overall] - KTM Freeride E-XC 3 ECR eMoto - NATHAN BILBREY 49:23 [13th Overall] - Surron Ultra Bee 4 ECR eMoto - BRIDGER GREENMAN 54:47 [33rd Overall] - KTM Freeride E-XC 5 ECR eMoto - JESSE ZIEGLER 54:55 [34th Overall] - Surron Ultra Bee 6 ECR eMoto - TUCKER NEARY 56:01 [38th Overall] - Electric Motion Escape R 7 ECR eMoto - BRETT BALDWIN 58:22 [43rd Overall] - Surron Ultra Bee 8 ECR eMoto - JARED SCHEURER 59:12 [52nd Overall] - Surron LBX 9 ECR eMoto - DJ OSBORNE 1:01:34 [64th Overall] - Surron Ultra Bee 10 ECR eMoto - NATE WEAVER 1:02:02 [67th Overall] - Surron Ultra Bee 11 ECR eMoto - ANDRIS LAGZDINS 1:02:07 [68th Overall] - KTM Freeride E-XC 12 ECR eMoto - TRAVIS NOBLES 1:02:07 [69th Overall] - Electric Motion Escape R 13 ECR eMoto - DAMON VILARDO 1:08:06 [99th Overall] - Surron Ultra Bee 14 ECR eMoto - ALEC PERONNARD 1:13:56 [132nd Overall] - Electric Motion Escape R 15 ECR eMoto - ANDREW DAVIS 1:15:36 [139th Overall] - ? 16 ECR eMoto - CHRIS ZIMMERMAN 1:15:59 [141st Overall] - ? 17 ECR eMoto - JUSTIN TASSLER 1:24:23 [161st Overall] - Suzuki RM-E Conversion 18 ECR eMoto - LUKE DODGE 1:29:37 [173rd Overall] - ? 19 ECR eMoto - SETH HALEY 1:29:56 [174th Overall] - Arctic Leopard 800

[@electronracer]

Nice ride! Did they tone it down a bit from last year? Looks like more trails and less rocks. Maybe it just looks easier watching from my couch haha!

[@ElectricCycleRider]

Haha! It's hard to say but definitely felt the same as last year. The Sunday race was another level... will post that up next. We missed you Derek!

[@electronracer]

I might take another shot at it next year!

[@FarmerFpv]

Looks like so much fun but super tiring.

[@ElectricCycleRider]

Wait until you see the final eMoto race! Brutal!

[@colbyweeks]

What tire setup are you running?

[@ElectricCycleRider]

The stock tires on the EM Escape R - Michelin X11

[@strangehighways3]

I'll have the rocky course with a side of rocks.😅

[@sk8moto]

Awesome! How long was this Race #1? I heard 12 miles?

[@ElectricCycleRider]

Man that is a great question. I don't know the exact length but do believe it was in the 12 mile range.

[@crixzc]

Watching now, what didn’t you like about the shocks. I couldn’t tell if they were bottoming out or they were beating you up from being too stiff.

[@ElectricCycleRider]

I shouldn't be ragging on the fork and shock too much but it's just hard when you're struggling in the moment! We're asking these bikes to perform in a manner that they really were not designed for! The main thing to remember is that the Escape R utilizes trials suspension as that is EM's background and focus. The internals are very basic compared to modern MX/XC suspension. It works really well for trials and slow speed but it just wasn't designed for repeated impact at speed. Comparing it to modern 48mm USD forks from KYB, WP and Showa really just isn't fair. I should note that I was running slightly softer compression on this race and that was a mistake. After this race, I ended up stiffening up the compression almost the entire way in for the next race (video coming soon) and it did help keep it higher in the stroke. EM is working on a new model and I understand that it's focused more toward the riding we're doing. I think they would have a real weapon if they could make the bike more competitive at higher speeds!

[@crixzc]

@@ElectricCycleRider I didn’t look closely at what bike you were on! I assumed you were on a surron with chargespeed fast-ace forks. I ride a decent amount of rough rocky terrain and I am stuck hunting for the best option.

[@eBoard3R]

⚡🤙🏼⚡

[@crankydad.6769]

running the clutch or not? I couldn't see or here it clearly enough to know.

[@s5da_11]

Whats the name of the bike btw?

[@ElectricCycleRider]

The POV in this video is from a 2022 Electric Motion Escape R

[@s5da_11]

@@ElectricCycleRider thanks

[@mrhqyangtechnic_q_emx8180]

It will be interesting to know what kind of Chassis the Listed racers are riding, the EM Trials Chassis looks struggling across the Rough stuff very much

[@ElectricCycleRider]

The EM Escape R definitely suffers in the "faster pace" rough stuff but it does well in the really slow tech stuff. Here are the bikes for the racers who completed TKO Race #1: 1 ECR eMoto - SPENSER WILTON 45:32 [1st Overall] - Electric Motion Escape X Prototype Race Bike 2 ECR eMoto - JOSEPH VAN ROEKEL 48:01 [8th Overall] - KTM Freeride E-XC 3 ECR eMoto - NATHAN BILBREY 49:23 [13th Overall] - Surron Ultra Bee 4 ECR eMoto - BRIDGER GREENMAN 54:47 [33rd Overall] - KTM Freeride E-XC 5 ECR eMoto - JESSE ZIEGLER 54:55 [34th Overall] - Surron Ultra Bee 6 ECR eMoto - TUCKER NEARY 56:01 [38th Overall] - Electric Motion Escape R 7 ECR eMoto - BRETT BALDWIN 58:22 [43rd Overall] - Surron Ultra Bee 8 ECR eMoto - JARED SCHEURER 59:12 [52nd Overall] - Surron LBX 9 ECR eMoto - DJ OSBORNE 1:01:34 [64th Overall] - Surron Ultra Bee 10 ECR eMoto - NATE WEAVER 1:02:02 [67th Overall] - Surron Ultra Bee 11 ECR eMoto - ANDRIS LAGZDINS 1:02:07 [68th Overall] - KTM Freeride E-XC 12 ECR eMoto - TRAVIS NOBLES 1:02:07 [69th Overall] - Electric Motion Escape R 13 ECR eMoto - DAMON VILARDO 1:08:06 [99th Overall] - Surron Ultra Bee 14 ECR eMoto - ALEC PERONNARD 1:13:56 [132nd Overall] - Electric Motion Escape R 15 ECR eMoto - ANDREW DAVIS 1:15:36 [139th Overall] - ? 16 ECR eMoto - CHRIS ZIMMERMAN 1:15:59 [141st Overall] - ? 17 ECR eMoto - JUSTIN TASSLER 1:24:23 [161st Overall] - Suzuki RM-E Conversion 18 ECR eMoto - LUKE DODGE 1:29:37 [173rd Overall] - ? 19 ECR eMoto - SETH HALEY 1:29:56 [174th Overall] - Arctic Leopard 800

[@rebuaf]

@@ElectricCycleRider Are you going to be doing a "bikes of TKO ECR moto" video again this year? I'd love to see more on these bikes and riders

[@ElectricCycleRider]

@@rebuaf Man! I really wanted to do that this year but just didn't have the free time. We're so busy throughout the weekend that its hard to get it done. Definitely plan to bring someone out to help with that next year though.

[@rebuaf]

@@ElectricCycleRider I can understand that. I'm curious what you thought of the custom KTM Freeride, given your experience with the stock Freeride... and every other electric bike.

[@ElectricCycleRider]

@@rebuaf Bridger and Joe (Dirtfirst's) both had really cool Freeride E-XC's. I'd be lying if part of me didn't wish I had brought mine to race after seeing how good those bikes seemed to handle certain sections. No doubt they are both very talented riders too. I wish I had time to sit down with those guys but will plan to do some content around their bikes in the future. Really cool stuff.

[@just_one_opinion]

HAHAHAHAHA on the rock garden guy....well done, hope you are OK

[@jojotoole9587]

You can hear when I realized I snapped the chain guide tab off the swingarm haha. Hopefully I didn’t get you demonetized😂

[@sk8moto]

that's a bummer.

[@The_Privateer]

Heh, I thought you learned from last year - more cardio lol The Best MX upgrade you can ever do is better cardio. And it's free! But man, it's so much work heh.

[@ElectricCycleRider]

Haha, yup. You're right! Running a small business and having a young family doesn't leave much time free time for cardio! Welcome to reality! 😂

[@johnhancock1855]

Are you riding an UltraBee?

[@ElectricCycleRider]

I'm riding an Electric Motion Escape R

[@OneTwo-wt8qv]

WHAT I always Notice is the LACK OF MOMENTUM that these bikes carry and the throttle needed to POWER thru stuff where on my 250 XC-W I wouldn't be in it the whole time, I could, based on the weight let the bike WORK .. and grip the bike and relax thru stuff .. SECOND .. most of the field looked like they had Clutched BIKES .. so I made that point last time .. the technique needed attacking an UPHILL obstacle is a wind up and release ... you cant do that without a clutch or a rpm limited torque convertor like in DRAG CARS .. same idea

[@ElectricCycleRider]

It's a very good point and I agree. These bikes take a beating compared to the full size bikes (like your XC-W). I feel apprehensive in certain sections that I feel like I could plow through on the XC-W. On the flipside, there are sections that the low weight and seat height definitely make navigating easier. I'd be very curious to run a lap on the 300 XC-W and see how it feels in comparison.

[@sk8moto]

most of field on clutched bikes? are you talking about the electric? or gas bikes? I would assume most of the gas riders have clutch with some on rekluse auto clutch.

[@sk8moto]

There were 2 pros on full size electric bikes (no clutch) in the qualifying hot lap finishing one and two. One of them (JoJo) was in this video but had a mechanical at 0:33

[@sk8moto]

@OneTwo-wt8qv A clutch for electric bikes (which they have on the EM) might not all that helpful, the issue I see is the overwhelming torque on electrics breaking traction too easily. The pulse delivery of IC engine is better for loose dirt from what I have read. Maybe traction control?

[@boatelectricaldiy]

Is the eMoto course so much easier because the bikes can't handle it or because the riders don't have the same skill set?

[@boatelectricaldiy]

Side note, I love that they included water in the eMoto to see if the bikes could be shorted out. What a great test of viability.

[@ElectricCycleRider]

Haha. The eMoto course is the exact course that the gas bikes are running! This race in particular had 344 bikes (315 were gas bikes). The POV that you're watching in this video finished 38th of the 344 that entered. The final race on Sunday was on the same course with the pros. Definitely elevated from this race but we all race on the same track.

[@boatelectricaldiy]

@@ElectricCycleRider my bad. When the bike went around the bridge to the left, on what seems like a different track, I got confused. I love electric bikes, I'm just wondering if they can take on the same track as the best in the world can.

[@ElectricCycleRider]

@@boatelectricaldiy For sure! There are obvious pros and cons to most of the current eMoto's in my opinion. Having the smaller frames and lighter weight is a great benefit in certain sections but in other areas (at "attempted" race pace) I honestly feel like I can't ride nearly as aggressive or confidently as I could on my 300 XC-W. It seems as though I feel every single rock on the course and need to brace myself for obstacles or descents that would otherwise get soaked up on the full size gassers. Getting up and over a big rock or tackling a short technical climb, I love being on the EM. It's fantastic. But when it comes time to bomb down a steep rocky slope, I feel like I'm holding on for dear life and riding much slower than I normally would be! No doubt they are impressive and they really shine in a lot of sections. Stay tuned for the next video where the going gets much rougher on the pro course.

[@sk8moto]

@boatelectricaldiy304 this is the easier Saturday course, I believe each race gets progressively harder. Also, I believe the overall times for Sat are compared against the amateur gas riders (not the pros). It's not exactly a fair comparison since the electrics starts earlier than the gas, so they don't have to be stuck in the traffic jam. (there are more than 300 amateur gas riders I believe). Also, I believe the amateur gas riders have a second race in the afternoon.

[@rider65]

TKO...definitely gnarly shite. Great ride to 6th. No lie though, some of the more tamer moto trails are like some northeast mtb tech trails. Ringwood, Jungle Habitat, Sourlands, etc.

[@ElectricCycleRider]

Super fun!