The state of California is the biggest market for off-road motorcycles in North America. It is estimated that 25% of all sales in the continent are in California.
As motorcycle trends changed and customers migrated to lower-powered, nimbler, and cost-efficient machines that still deliver on fun and excitement, China-based manufacturers like Sur-Ron and Talaria found a very lucrative niche – light electric motocrossers, like the Talaria Sting here.
The Sting weighs only 74 kg, with the 2.88 kWh battery included. This is thanks to a frame forged from 6061 aluminium and a pretty minimalistic attitude all around. The fun bit is that the mid-drive motor is rated at 5.5 kW continuous and can jump to 13.4 kW when needed. That and the 500 Nm torque, coupled with the low weight, make the Sting a hooligan.
But then the top speed is ‘factory capped’ at 32 kph to comply with e-bike regulations, even when the Talaria did not have any pedals.
Over the last few years, the lightweight motocrosser market has developed into something big. Teenagers wanting to have fun without shifting gears picked up these lightweight machines, and thousands have been sold in America, with a king’s share in the state of California.
However, nothing was differentiating between e-bikes (that should be regulated under 750W) and fun beasts like the Sting. The result: a rise in hooliganism as teenagers peppered the sidewalks with such machines, often traveling at high speeds without safety gear such as motorcycle helmets.
This changes from January 1, 2026, as the state of California would now classify such dirt-bikes as e-motos. This breaks them away from e-bikes and (most importantly) would club them under the same rules as what ICE motocrossers are subject to. The clear changes are:
- Must be registered and bear the off-highway green or red sticker.
- Mandatory motorcycle helmet.
- Not allowed on any public roads, sidewalks, or back roads.
- Puts legal and financial responsibility of minors breaking rules on the parents.
Impact
This certainly makes e-motos from Sur-Ron, Talaria, and many other brands slightly less attractive, though it’s not a major deterrent. However, in terms of cleaning up the rules, this is a major step.
