2022 GasGas MC-E 5 Review

Is the GasGas MC-E 5 the perfect piece of equipment for beginners?

If, like me, you are a parent and a motorcycle enthusiast, the prospect of hopping your little one on a motorcycle and seeing them take off in joy behind the wheel of a motorbike is very appealing. But children are full of energy, and parents have to adapt to all the things children do. That's why investing in a motorcycle for your child and introducing them to the world of motorcycling is a big step. GasGas' MC-E 5 (and, by default, KTM's SX-E5 and Husqvarna's EE 5) aims to extend that investment and save us time at the same time. While offering accessibility for beginners and high performance for pilots.

The real strength of the Austrian "Electric 50" range lies in its ability to adapt to riders of different sizes and abilities and in the fact that it is virtually maintenance free. Two very attractive elements for buyers who are short on time and hate spending money. And money, we must talk about it right away. This baby has an MSRP for 2022 of $6500 (this price includes the charger). In short, it is not a cheap model.

But what you get for your money is pretty huge. First of all, the electric motor is very powerful. With 5kW of torque and a set of stacked 21AH 48V lithium-ion batteries, the GasGas MC-E 5 has enough blast for a few hours of practice for beginners and recreational pilots. For the most competitive riders in race mode at full throttle (it's not gas), you can count on one motorcycle per charge (25 minutes). Charge time is just over an hour to 100 per cent, with 80 per cent reached in around 45 minutes.

At the center of the power transmission is the motorcycle's ride-by-wire throttle and Control Center display/mode selector, mounted where the gas cap would be on a burner-type motorcycle. Here your kids can quickly show you how to adjust the power output to six different levels. It's easy, don't worry. Starting with level 1, you can take a complete beginner for a slow-paced racing experience without having to worry about losing throttle control or seeing kids racing on their bikes. Accelerate to level 6, and adults using the bike should be well prepared - let's go! Output power levels are mild between Level 1 and Level 2, but Level 3 marks a big jump.

This is where the "E-50" model stands out. It is made to be a beginner's bike and a top competitor. It is fully adjustable and adapts from calm to chaos. Even the chassis transforms according to the rider's needs.

 

By starting with lowering the body and seat, you can bring your little rider up to the ground in three levels from the original position. Stage 1 is simply to move the body/subframe and saddle to a lower position and lower the saddle height by about an inch (from 26" to 25" depending on shock preload ). The second step is to move the shock to a new position and slide the fork up into the triple crown, which lowers the bike an additional inch. Stage three requires a suspension modification, lowering the components two inches for the lowest possible seat height, around 22 inches on average (again,

It took me about 30 minutes, to lower the seat height of the GasGas MC-E 5 to its lowest level without the suspension modifications. For my six-year-old, who is 49 inches tall and has a 20-inch inseam, it was right at tiptoe level. She could use the lowered suspension to eliminate more low-speed rocking and boost her confidence, that's for sure, but we're teaching here and it's all learning experiences, aren't we?

 

On the floor, his experience was awesome. Mine too. From level 1, we got familiar with big bikes. She currently rides a Stacyc, like many motorcycle-influenced kids these days, and has been riding one since she was three. Electric motorcycles are therefore nothing new to her. From the start, she could anticipate the effect of the power of the GasGas MC-E 5 on the ride, and she was quickly ready to step up to level 2 to attempt some small climbs in the wasteland.

The size of the bike is perfectly ergonomic, with handlebars and footpegs that are right where it needs them to ride comfortably and in control. It was one of her first rides on a bike with a rear brake and she managed to do some nice skidding at the end of our first day.

 

From my perspective (racing through empty fields chasing my little girl on a motorcycle), there's a lot to like about this bike. First, there are only advantages to this electric nature. It's quiet so she can hear me yelling at her to turn around, it never warms up, she can focus on the sounds and feelings she's having while controlling the bike, and it's an easy upgrade from the Stacyc motorcycles. I already know that I have to charge the bikes when we get home. I have already been trained. 

Every time we got home from a ride, I just plugged the bike in, brushed off some dirt, and lubricated the chain. That's all the maintenance this bike will probably ever need, besides new grips, possibly tires, and, I don't know, maybe brake pads in three years? My little one is far from having adopted a racing rhythm. I see that a little extra investment is needed. So if a $6,000 purchase can last a kid four years without me having to clean a carburetor, replace a piston, or clean a single air filter.

As a motorcyclist, I also appreciate the genuine parts of this motorcycle. The brakes are solid, the footpegs are original, the frame and swingarm are solid, and the bindings are familiar and of high quality. I see it lasting a long time. GasGas children's motorcycles are simply superb.

The ergonomics of the MC-E 5 are ideal for pilots of small stature.

The suspension is something that could be improved for beginners. It is geared towards pro users, that's for sure. And without lowering the components, the bike tends to lean forward, almost refusing to move through the fork. We continued to lower the air pressure in the fork to get some movement, but having a setup with a lower bias towards the recreational end of the segment would allow this bike to be much more maneuverable. It's made for jumping, and I think many of these bikes will be used in fields, backyards, empty lots and trails where rocks and off-road type obstacles are more common than rhythm tracks. The trail-bike world is an important market that this bike lacks. 

I know that the KTM group has plans for more competition-oriented bikes in this category. Be on the lookout for class 65 and 85 models, then 125 models! But, again, I don't think we'll see anything closer to the trail-bike category from the Austrian brand.

When my daughter rode the GasGas MC-E 5 for a few days, I began to realize that she may never ride a gas-powered dirt bike. The rate of development of this model is perfectly adapted to his age. She could drive this MC-E 5 for years. And until then, can you imagine what the youth electric motorcycle market will look like! Certainly, the brands of the KTM family will not be the only ones to be present. But they certainly have a good head start in this sector with this little marvel.

2022 GasGas MC-E 5 Specifications