Dust Moto’s Hightail: Carving Out Its Own Size Class
If you’ve been watching the electric dirt-bike space explode, from ultra-light pit bikes to full-fat MX missiles, you’ve probably noticed a gap in the middle. That’s precisely where Dust Moto’s first production bike, the Hightail (formerly “Model_1”), plants its flag—and it does it with a proudly American build and a development story that feels refreshingly open and rider-first.
Proudly made in Oregon, Dust Moto’s Hightail is set to ship in 2026. Preorders at the level of $100 are being taken now.
A clean-sheet journey, built in public
Dust didn’t follow the usual stealth-mode script. In 2023 the team launched Founders50, a 20-month, behind-the-scenes program that let early backers sit in on monthly updates, preview prototypes, and hear frank trade-off discussions as the bike evolved from concept to production spec. That transparency built a community—and shaped the product.
By late 2024 the wraps came off the production-bound Hightail with numbers that turned heads: a claimed 42 hp, 485 lb-ft at the wheel, and a target weight under 220 lb—plus a 4.4 kWh swappable pack designed for quick turnaround between motos. Production is slated to ramp in 2025, with a $100 fully refundable pre-order to hold a build slot.
Made in the USA (and proud of it)
At a time when many e-motos are assembled overseas, Dust leads with its manufacturing story: the Hightail is “proudly built in America”, with the company headquartered in Bend, Oregon. That domestic footprint isn’t just a slogan; it’s part of the brand’s promise around quality, support, and iteration speed as real-world rider feedback rolls in.
The Dust Moto Hardtail’s display is nestled in the forward portion of body designed for hard enduro riding.
The size that changes the ride
Where the Hightail differentiates itself is fit and feel. With a 55.1-inch wheelbase—about two inches shorter than a typical 250cc dirt bike—and a 35–35.4 inch seat height, the chassis lands squarely in the mid-sized “play bike” sweet spot: big-bike stability when you’re on the pipe, yet compact enough to be flickable on tight singletrack or a backyard moto loop. It's less intimidating than a full-size MXer, way more capable than a pit bike.
That sizing choice pairs with 21-inch front and 18/19-inch rear options and ~10–11 inches of suspension travel, so riders can run real off-road rubber and suspension without bumping into the parts-availability weirdness that plagues some niche electrics.
Sized between the Surron Light Bee that established the ultralight electric cycle segment (silhouetted in white) and a full-sized Stark Varg electric motorcycle (shown in black), Dust is carving out a unique spot to settle on within the electric motorcycle market.
Quiet power, simple ownership
Dust’s custom drivetrain targets low noise (~55 dB), opening more places and times to ride without being that neighbor. The swappable 4.4 kWh pack is built for hot laps and practice days; reports cite under-a-minute swaps and roughly 4-hour full recharges, with range varying by terrain and throttle but commonly expressed as “a couple hours of spirited riding.” The idea is less “babysit your state of charge” and more “ride, swap, repeat.”
The Hightail uses a mix of materials like steel in the front main frame to add strength and aluminum in the swing arm and other areas to lighten to overall weight of the bike to around 220 pounds.
Positioning: approachable performance, not a compromise
Plenty of e-motos either chase lap-time glory (with size, cost, and weight to match) or keep things toy-light (fun, but limited). Dust bets that a premium mid-weight, American-built machine with real suspension and wheels, quiet torque, and easy energy management is the right everyday tool for most riders most of the time. Industry watchers have started to describe the Hightail as “production-ready” and “punching above its weight,” which aligns with that thesis.
Quick-spec snapshot (production targets)
Power: 42 hp (32 kW) peak
Wheel torque: ~485 lb-ft (660 Nm)
Top speed: ~75 mph (110 km/h)
Weight: < 220 lb (< 100 kg)
Battery: 4.4 kWh, swappable; ~4 h to full
Chassis: 55.1 in wheelbase; 26° rake; 35–35.4 in seat
Wheels/Suspension: 21” front, 18/19” rear; ~10.2” F / 11” R travel
Pre-order: $100 refundable; MSRP $10,950
Why it matters
Electric dirt bikes have matured past novelty. The next frontier is right-sizing: giving riders something easy to live with, quick to charge or swap, quiet enough to ride more often, and stout enough to take real abuse. Dust Moto’s Hightail is one of the clearest expressions of that idea—and it’s doing it with a U.S. manufacturing story that many riders will gladly get behind.
For more, visit www.dustmoto.com
Images: Dust Moto
