The Sykeruns X5 is a 3000W, 48V electric dirt bike. We list it at 50 mph, with up to 53 miles of range on the factory sheet. Sykeruns lists it at $1,199. We sell the same bike for $975 with free shipping. Here is what the spec sheet says, what an independent reviewer measured, and who it actually fits.
What the X5 is
It is the middle bike in our lineup. Bigger than a 50cc kids mini, smaller than the X7. It carries a rider up to 265 lbs and fits roughly 4 ft to 5 ft 11 in, which means a tall twelve year old and a grown adult can both ride the same machine.
It runs three selectable gears. That matters more than the top speed number. You can hand the bike to a brand new rider locked in first at about 15 mph, leave it there for a month, and open it up when they have earned it. A single speed electric gives you no such control.
No gas to mix, no pull start, no carburetor, no spark plug to read. If you have owned a two stroke, that is most of the maintenance gone.
The specs, from the factory sheet
- Motor: 3000W brushless
- Battery: 48V lithium
- Torque: 146 N.m
- Top speed: 50 mph
- Gears: three, roughly 15, 27 and 50 mph
- Claimed range: up to 53 miles
- Charge time: 5 to 6 hours
- Brakes: hydraulic disc, front and rear
- Suspension: telescopic front fork, nitrogen mono shock rear
- Tires: 60/100-14 front, 80/100-12 rear
- Max rider weight: 265 lbs
- Rider height: about 4 ft to 5 ft 11 in
- Bike weight: 126 lbs
About that top speed
We list the X5 at 50 mph. Sykeruns' own sheet says 44, and an independent review measured closer to 40. All three are real figures taken different ways, and that spread is normal for this category.
What you see depends on rider weight, tyre pressure, how full the battery is and what you are riding on. A light rider on flat hardpack with a full charge sits at the top of that range. A heavier rider on loose dirt sits nearer the bottom.
In practice, top speed is close to the least useful number on this spec sheet. On dirt, in third gear, you are going faster than most riders want to be going long before you reach any of them.
The range number nobody tells you
The factory claims up to 53 miles on a charge. An independent review of the X5 and X7 put real world range for the X5 at 20 to 25 miles.
Both numbers can be true. Fifty three miles is what you get creeping along in first gear, on flat ground, with a light rider and no wind. Twenty to twenty five is what you get riding it the way people actually ride, in the higher gears, on dirt, with hills and hard acceleration.
Budget around 20 miles and you will never get stranded. If you need a full day of hard riding without stopping to charge, no electric at this price will give you that, and anyone who tells you otherwise is quoting the lab number.
What it does not have
No turn signals, no road legal lighting, no horn, no VIN. That is not a defect, it is what an off road machine is.
Off road use only. It is not street legal and it does not come with a title. Private land, dirt lots, desert, OHV areas and tracks. If you are not sure what is allowed where you live, we wrote a 50 state guide to where you can legally ride a dirt bike.
The same independent review noted that the battery and motor are not name branded and it could not confirm UL certification on the pack. We would rather you know that now than find out after you buy. If a certified pack is a hard requirement for you, buy something else.
X5 or X7
The honest split is rider size, not budget.
If the rider is under about 5 ft 11 in and under 265 lbs, the X5 is enough bike and saves you $375. If the rider is tall, heavy, or has real riding experience and will be bored inside a month, go to the Sykeruns X7, which is 5500W, carries 330 lbs and fits up to 6 ft 3 in. There is a full Sykeruns X7 review if you want the same breakdown for that bike.
Where the X5 is clearly the better buy: a teen who is still growing, an adult under 265 lbs who rides occasionally, or a household where one bike has to fit two different sized people.
If you are weighing the two against each other right now, we laid them out side by side, spec for spec, in Sykeruns X5 vs X7: which one should you buy.
X5 or a 50cc gas mini
If the rider is a kid under about 4 ft 10 in, this is not a close call. Buy the 50cc gas mini at $300 and put the difference toward gear. The X5 is too much bike and too much money for a first time seven year old.
The X5 starts making sense the moment the rider is too big for the mini, or the moment noise becomes the deciding factor. If you have neighbors close enough to complain about a two stroke, an electric is the difference between riding at home and trailering somewhere every weekend.
If you are still torn between gas and electric, our gas vs electric guide lays out cost, noise and upkeep for both.
What it costs, and why ours is less
Sykeruns lists the X5 at $1,199 on their own site. Ours is $975 with free shipping to all 50 states, and the shipping is already inside that price. There is no fee added at checkout.
We buy direct and we are a family owned mini moto and ebike club in Tempe, Arizona, so there is less in the middle. That is the whole trick and there is nothing clever about it.
What shows up at your door
It arrives sealed in its factory crate, exactly as it reaches us, because we never open it. The factory has it about 90% assembled, which leaves you the handlebars, the front wheel, a few bolts and the fluids, plus a full first charge before the first ride. The tools are in the box. Most families have the assembly done in 20 to 30 minutes, sometimes 10 once you have done one, and after that you are only waiting on the battery.
The full walkthrough is at manual.pluggedby50cc.com.
Everyone should wear a helmet and gear, on the first ride and every ride after. Our safety gear guide lists what a rider needs before the first ride.
If a part comes through bad
Plugged by 50CC does not cover or pay for warranty. If a part is defective, we contact the manufacturer on your behalf and get the correct part sent to you free. We are the middleman on that, and in our experience chasing the factory for you is worth more than a card in the box.
Common questions
How fast is the Sykeruns X5 really?
We list 50 mph in third gear with a light rider on flat ground. Sykeruns' own sheet says 44 and one independent review measured closer to 40, so treat the top of that range as a best case. First and second gear cap out around 15 and 27 mph, which is where a new rider should stay.
How far will it actually go on one charge?
Plan for 20 to 25 miles of normal off road riding. The 53 mile figure is a best case number at low speed, not what you should budget around.
Is the X5 street legal?
No. It has no VIN, no turn signals and no horn, and it does not come with a title. It is an off road machine and that is the only way to use it.
Will the X5 fit a 12 year old?
If they are about 4 ft or taller, yes, and the three gears mean you can keep them in first at around 15 mph while they learn. Size by whether they can get the balls of both feet down at a stop, not by age. There is a full guide to what size dirt bike fits a 6, 8 or 10 year old.
How long does it take to charge?
5 to 6 hours from empty on the charger that comes with it. Our battery charging guide covers how to charge it right and help the pack last longer.
Where to buy
We ship the Sykeruns X5 free to all 50 states, out the same day, normally there in 2 to 5 business days. Questions before you order, text 623 320 8984.
You can see both bikes side by side in our electric dirt bikes collection. If you are in Arizona, our electric dirt bikes in Phoenix guide covers where to buy and where to ride.
Plugged by 50CC is an independent retailer. We do not manufacture, assemble, modify or service the bikes we sell. Every bike ships sealed in its factory crate exactly as it reaches us, about 90% assembled from the factory, and final assembly and setup are completed by the buyer. Off road use only. Riders under 18 should always be supervised by an adult.