A Beginner’s Guide to Racing an Electric Motorcycle at the Knolls Sprint Enduro
Racing an electric motorcycle, especially against gas bikes, can be challenging. The battery range is often a major obstacle to overcome when racing. Even the largest battery bikes like a Stark Varg can often only achieve 20-25 miles at race pace. So what do you do when the race (like Knolls Sprint Enduro) has 27 mile laps, with deep sand, and you have to complete multiple laps racing 50-60-70 miles? Don't worry, at Charged Cycle Works we go race these types of events to figure it out and we've got you covered!
On March 21st 2026 is the Knolls Sprint Enduro just outside of Salt Lake City, Utah. If you haven't already, sign up and come race with us!! This event is probably our favorite race of the year, it's an absolute blast, it's electric friendly, and best of all you can race with your friends and family the entire day due to how the class structure works.
What is a Sprint Enduro?
A Sprint Enduro is a form of off-road motorcycle racing where riders compete against the clock on multiple short special tests rather than racing head-to-head on the course. Each rider starts individually and completes a series of timed sections—often a mix of technical trail, desert terrain, and faster open segments—repeating the tests several times throughout the day. The rider with the lowest combined time across all tests wins. This format rewards consistency, technical skill, and endurance while allowing racers of different classes to ride the same course in a controlled and organized flow.
Why is it friendly to electric motorcycles?
This is one of the best formats for an electric motorcycle because you have the entire day to race the course and complete each special test section. Between test sections you are free to do what ever you want, ride to the next section with your buddies, or B-line back to your pits to recharge or swap a battery. What you do between each race section is up to you! This allows the flexibility required for an electric bike to compete against the gas bikes.
How can I complete 50/60/70 miles on electric??
Using the Knolls Sprint Enduro as an example, the electric classes are racing 2 laps, 27 miles each for a total of 54 miles. On each lap 18.3 miles are racing in special test sections and the remaining 8.7 miles are casual riding with your buddies to the next stage of the race. HINT: do not race and go fast in between sprints, save your battery and ride slow! This is an important tactic to conserve your battery for the race sections.
Can I swap batteries or charge during the race?
YES! Part of the strategy is figuring out when and where to charge or do battery swaps. At the Knolls Sprint Enduro Charged Cycle Works has a Charging Station at Mile 10 just after the Special Test #2. Riders can stage their batteries, chargers, and generators here. CCW has multiple generators to use (first come first serve), BUT you need to have your own charger at the charging station. We will not have extra chargers for people to use.
Does stopping to charge affect my finish results?
Nope! The amount of time you take between the special test race sections is irrelevant. The only timed part of the race is inside the race stages. Between each stage you can go fast or slow or stop for two hours to charge your bike. All that matters is completing as many of the special test stage races as you can within the time limit (the day). At Knolls for example there is plenty of time to complete all 6 race sections within the allowed time. If you are unable to complete all 6, race as many of them as you can to increase your finish result.
Can I ride with my friends and family during the race?
As a father who loves riding with my kids this is my favorite part about racing sprint enduros. I literally get to spend the entire day racing with my kids, what's better than that? IMPORTANT TIP: Be sure to sign up together at the exact same time, this will ensure that your starting time is the same as the people you are wanting to ride with. It's like a tee time at a golf course, you must sign up together!!
The "start" of the race is not like most races, you have a starting time and you (and your friends) will need to be at the start at that time to begin your race together. When you start the race you are not actually racing yet, you are simply starting to ride to the first special test section. Between the special test race sections you and your buddies are hanging out and trail riding together, it's awesome!
Charged Cycle Works Charging Station
At the Knolls Sprint Enduro CCW will have a mobile charging station after stage 2 before the long and fast stage 3 race section. YOU MUST CHARGE OR BATTERY SWAP BEFORE STAGE 3 OR ELSE YOU WILL BE STRANDED ON THE COURSE WITH A DEAD BATTERY. Not even a Varg can complete the full race course (27 miles) on a single battery due to all of the deep sand on this course.
Racers please stage your extra batteries, chargers, generators, food and drink at the CCW Charging Station. This will be the fastest way to complete the race and it will be fun to hang out with your fellow racers and have a chat and a drink while we refuel the bikes and the body.
Knolls Electric Class - Medium/Big Bikes ONLY
Due to the distance, speeds, and intensity of this race no small eMoto bikes are allowed on this course. An Ultra Bee or larger bike with 4kWh or larger battery is required to race this event. Racing anything smaller at this event is endangering yourself and others.
Sounds Awesome, RIGHT!!!
Sign Up and come race with us! Or come out and watch the race, it's an open course and you can literally ride anywhere you want to spectate and see the action.
