Sleek E-Moto for On- and Off-Road Fun: Terra Prime First-Look Review

We rolled to a stop at the T-intersection with our blinkers on. My riding partner, Dylan Brown, the mastermind behind the dual-terrain electric Terra Prime motorcycles we were riding, turned to me and indicated that I should switch to “mode 3” before we turned onto the country frontage road.

“Careful, though. It’s going to be a lot faster,” he warned before silently zapping away on his Terra Prime. I flicked the switch on my right handlebar to “3.” I checked that the coast was clear. Then, I twisted the throttle.

The familiar G force of electric vehicle acceleration gripped me as the bike rocketed forward. I crouched over the handlebars, watching the mph climb: 20, 30, 45, 55 — and higher. The bike handled smoothly as we cruised, winding past turkey farms, guest cabins, and small clusters of mountain homes.

If it hadn’t been for the lack of noise and rumble, I’d have lost track of the fact I was riding an e-moto. It certainly didn’t look like one.

Eventually, we turned, and I followed Brown up a steep BLM four-wheel-drive dirt road. Switching back into mode 2, I started scrambling the loose, rocky, muddy, snowy-in-places double-track trail behind him — like a mountain goat. We charged up the variable, sometimes technical terrain.

If I had thought that I wanted one of these sexy electric motorcycles before, I was infatuated after that.

In short: With a max speed of 65 mph and a max range of over 70 miles per charge, this e-moto is both a capable commuter and recreational vehicle. What it lacks in the power you might get from a traditional motorcycle or dirt bike, it makes up for with its impressive zero-emissions range, respectable top speed, and classic aesthetics.

Terra Bikes Terra Prime First Look Review

Terra Bikes, out of Western Colorado, started producing its first full-scale electric motorcycle, the Terra Prime ($5,995-7,995), in December 2024. It has a long-travel suspension and purpose-built wheels for off-road travel. It’s also VIN-assigned and comes with DOT-approved components for legal road riding.

I covered Terra Bikes for GearJunkie back in 2023. When Brown and I spoke for that piece, we’d talked about an eventual “demo day” where I could ride one of his bikes. In the span since, we’d coincidentally both moved within 15 minutes of each other. So when he hit me up to let me know he was getting ready to launch version 2.0, Terra Bikes’ first full production model, it was a no-brainer to get together and go ride.

We met in New Castle and saddled up in his driveway. He set me up on one of the pre-production models, an eye-catching yellow-tanked e-moto. We set off for the spider-webbing network of BLM trails west of town.

Having interviewed Brown and written about his bikes before, I generally understood what I was getting into. Brown grew up with a motorcycle dad and rode bikes from a young age. He liked the idea of e-motos, but couldn’t get over how slow and unattractive most of them were.

So he decided to build his own. This year, Terra Bikes launches its first full-scale production bike, the Terra Prime. It’s currently only available for preorder, with units scheduled for delivery in June.

The Terra Prime Indiegogo campaign will launch toward the end of February. Customers who want one can put a $20 VIP deposit down now and get $2,796 off the MSRP.

Construction & Price

The first 13 Terra Bikes were built here in the U.S. in Brown’s garage. The price tag on the original Terra Prime was $12,000 (and he still still sold 10 of those).

Since securing an overseas manufacturer, the cost of the Terra Prime has come down significantly — without the need to skimp on components, materials, or other construction elements. The basic package will have an MSRP of $5,995. The extended-range Terra Prime retails for $7,995.

No matter how you slice it, that’s still expensive. You can buy a brand-new Yamaha XT2250 for $5,500. The Terra Prime might be a tough sell for folks who ride traditional dirt bikes, but electric motorcycles present a more approachable option for those seeking a zero-emissions vehicle.

Steel, Not Plastic

Plastic is cheaper and lighter to build with, but Terra Bikes uses a chromoly frame and an aluminum battery housing. That decision was made in part for aesthetics but largely for function, Brown told me. This bike is rugged. You don’t have to baby it.

Wheels & Suspension

Terra Bikes use a custom wheel that Brown designed from the hub up. They’re made with billet aluminum and have enduro, multi-sport tires.

The suspension on the Terra Prime is also built for business. The front fork uses DNM USD-8 lightweight moto shocks with 200mm (8 inches) of travel. The rear is a DNM MK-AR with either a 600 or 800-pound spring that offers 165mm (6.5 inches) of travel.

That suspension isn’t quite as juiced up as, say, a “real” dirt bike with 300mm of travel. But it’s significantly more than what’s offered on other off-road e-motos like UBCO.

Street-Legal

Terra mindfully included a number of DOT-required components to make the Prime street legal. The Prime has front and rear turn indicators, an LED 21W projector headlight, an easily readable 7-inch LED screen speedometer, and a standard DOT-approved horn. It also comes VIN-assigned.

All you have to do when you get your Terra Prime is register it, and you’re ready to rip. Just make sure you have a motorcycle license if you plan on riding over 28 mph.

Battery, Top Speed, and Range

Don’t let the faux gas tank on top of the Terra Prime fool you (that’s a glove box). This bike uses a 72V lithium battery pack with a peak output of 14.4kW. It’s powerful enough to achieve a top speed of 65 mph and a range of about 70 miles per charge on pavement; off-road, the range decreases to about 40 miles.

Brown told me that for around-town use, he only charges his once every 2 weeks or so, and charging takes about 6 hours with the large battery pack, and 4 hours with the smallest one.

Riding Modes

The Terra Prime has four riding modes: Mode 1 is low power and chill for safe neighborhood riding; mode 2 is faster and better for city commuting; mode 3 is faster yet and ideal for scrambling around in the backcountry; and mode 4 is “ludicrous mode” — which I did not get a chance to use but is somewhat self-explanatory.

Weight

The Terra Prime is sub-200 pounds. It’s not a light bike — but it is compatible with any bike rack that’s capable of e-moto carry.

Racks like the QuickrStuff Mach 2 or the 1Up Super Duty would do the job and allow you to take your Terra Prime on road trips.

On Road

The on-road experience with the Terra Prime was a lot of fun. The bike handles nicely and silently accelerates faster than any gas motorbike or motorcycle I’ve been on.

With a top speed of 65 mph, you won’t be winning road races against crotch rockets on a Terra Prime. But it’s perfectly fast enough to cruise with traffic in the city, on frontage roads, and even on country highways. You won’t be an on-road obstruction puttering along and blocking traffic.

The Terra Prime would be an amazing option for commuting to work, grocery store trips, errands, visiting friends, or simply cruising around on a Sunday afternoon. If this was your primary around-town vehicle, it would eventually pay itself off in gas savings. That might take a while, but along the way, you’d save a lot of carbon emissions as well.

Not to mention, these bikes turn heads. They’re slick-looking and attract attention — when people find out they’re electric, it only amplifies the excitement.

Off-Road

As soon as we left the pavement, I fell in love with these e-motorcycles. The trail conditions were less than ideal. It was November, and snow had fallen earlier in the week. Much of it had melted, though, making the terrain muddy, puddle-pocked, snowy in spots, and dry here and there. It was a great mix to really put these bikes to the test.

We ripped to the top of a mountain ridge. The bike handled loose gravel, rocks, and dirt very easily. It was maneuverable in more technical terrain and scrambled up chunky boulders in the trail without issue.

The progressive 3:1 spring ratio in the rear provided a controlled, damp ride. The mud proved to be a challenge on some of the steepest sections, but I think that was more of a user problem than anything to do with the bike.

I have ridden gas-powered dirt bikes, and it’s definitely a different feeling. There’s a rumbling vibration and slight delay in acceleration that you don’t experience at all with electric vehicles. Higher cc engines also bring more power to the table than batteries are capable of — for now.

So, if you’re looking for a true powerhouse off-road dirt bike with a max speed and cc count in the triple digits, a gas engine is still your best option.

Wish List Items

The only other e-moto I’ve reviewed for GearJunkie was the UBCO Special Edition Off-Road Bike. I loaded that thing up, packed its cargo bags full, strapped a tent, stove, and even firewood to its frame, and went on a camping/fishing trip to my favorite Hidden Gems reservoir.

The Terra Prime outshines that Kiwi utility e-moto on most fronts. But the UBCO’s cargo capacity and built-in attachment points for panniers, molle panels, and other portage accessories were really nice.

The preproduction Terra e-moto I rode didn’t have any of that. But Brown told me the production version will have an 8-inch tubular rack and fender with a mounting point for a license plate, pannier, and molle panel attachment points and (later this summer) a seat attachment accessory for rack and peg mounts.

Hardcore dirt bikers might wish they had more than 200mm (8 inches) and 165mm (6.5 inches) of travel in the suspension. But it was more than enough for me as an intermediate rider. Even at higher speeds, the suspension didn’t feel underpowered off-road.

Adding a bigger front fork would also potentially add significant weight.

Changes From Pre-Production Terra Prime

As noted, I was riding a pre-production model of the Terra Prime. I asked Brown what other specific differences there would be between the version I rode and the production version that customers would receive.

“Aesthetically, there will not be any big changes,” he said. “But internally … we are using high-output battery packs (5C output); our motor will be customized specifically for the Prime and will be 6kW nominal versus 3kW nominal. Peak output from the motor will be the same, so performance will be increased on the production model. The rear swing arm has been shortened slightly and widened to accommodate motorcycle brakes.”

Terra Bikes Prime 2.0: Who Is It For?

If I owned a Terra Prime, I probably wouldn’t drive my car around town during the summer, maybe ever. Commuting and putzing around my area would be so much fun. I’d look for excuses to go to the grocery store or post office. I’d probably make afternoon rides — whether on pavement or dirt — a part of my daily routine.

If you’re a dedicated dirt bike enthusiast, you could get a lot more power for the same price if you went with a gas motorcycle instead of this electric alternative. However, I think most dirt bike riders would still be impressed with the Terra Prime’s handling and climbing abilities. As far as electric motorcycles go, I haven’t seen another one that’s as close in form and function to a classic gas motorcycle as this one.

The production version’s price might scare off some. But you get a road-legal motorcycle and a rugged off-road scrambler in one. Sleek looks and lack of emissions are the cherries on top.