KTM's New Electric Dirt Bike Is Making This Motorcycle Dad Very Excited

Kid me would've committed several minor crimes for one of these. Dad me is already planning ahead.

Photo by: KTM

By: Enrico Punsalang

Oct 12, at 8:53am ET

Comment

When I was a kid, having my own motorcycle would've been the coolest thing imaginable. Forget video games, fancy toys, or whatever else kids were obsessed with back then. Give me a tiny dirt bike and somewhere to ride it, and I would've been the happiest little idiot on the planet. Unfortunately, motorcycles weren't exactly on the childhood shopping list. Fast forward a couple of decades, and kids today have access to machines that would've absolutely melted my tiny brain.

Case in point, KTM's new 2027 SX-E 2.12, an electric dirt bike designed specifically for young riders. And as someone who's spent a large chunk of my life riding motorcycles, I find this thing ridiculously exciting. Not necessarily because I want one for myself, although I'm sure I could find a way to embarrass myself on it, but because I now have a daughter of my own. She's still a baby, but I've already started thinking about the day she might want to give motorcycles a try.

Photo by: KTM

The SX-E 2.12 joins KTM's growing lineup of electric minibikes, sitting between the smaller SX-E 2 and the more serious SX-E 3. It gets a 1.8-kilowatt electric hub motor, which works out to around 2.4 horsepower, along with a removable battery and a charging time of less than an hour. There's also a 12-inch front wheel, adjustable seat height, and proper suspension and disc brakes. Basically, it's a tiny dirt bike with actual dirt bike hardware, rather than a plastic toy pretending to be one.

Of course, the biggest appeal of electric minibikes isn't necessarily their performance. It's how approachable they can make motorcycling for complete beginners. There's no clutch to figure out, no gears to juggle, and no hot exhaust waiting to introduce a curious child to the concept of regret. The KTM also comes with selectable riding modes, a rollover sensor, and a wrist-mounted safety cutoff. None of that replaces proper supervision or protective gear, but it does give parents a few useful tools.

Photos by: KTM

And KTM isn't alone here. Electric minibikes are becoming increasingly common, giving families more options for introducing younger riders to two wheels. As someone who learned to ride on gasoline-powered motorcycles, I think that's pretty awesome. Sure, there's something special about the noise, vibration, and mechanical chaos of a combustion engine. But when you're teaching a kid the basics of balance, throttle control, and braking, there's a pretty strong argument for keeping things simple.

What do you think?

View

Comments

The 2027 KTM SX-E 2.12 is priced at £2,549 in the UK, or roughly $3,400 USD, with availability starting in mid-October 2026. That's certainly not pocket change for a kid's first motorcycle, but considering the hardware you're getting, it's not entirely outrageous either. Worth noting is that US pricing and availability have yet to be confirmed.

Now, whether my daughter actually grows up loving motorcycles is entirely up to her. Maybe she'll want to ride, maybe she'll prefer something completely different. Either way, I'm not about to force my hobbies onto her. But if she ever asks me to teach her, I'll be ready. And with machines like the SX-E 2.12 becoming available, there's a good chance her first motorcycle experience could be a whole lot more accessible than mine. Kid me would've lost his mind. Dad me can't wait to see what happens.