SX-E 5 (MY2020)

The SX-E 5 is a real motocrosser shrunk down for a kid. It is not a toy with orange plastic on it. KTM puts the electric drivetrain in a steel double-cradle frame with an upside-down fork. It gets 8.1 in (205 mm) of travel up front and 7.3 in (185 mm) at the rear, and you can adjust both ends. Output is 7 hp at 3,900 rpm with 10 lb-ft of torque. That sounds tiny until you remember who's riding it. The ride modes are the clever part. A parent can turn the power down for day one and open it up as the kid's skills grow.

The seat height adjusts too, from 26.2 in (665 mm). That lets the bike keep fitting a growing rider for several seasons, not just one. It runs almost silently, so you can ride in places where a two-stroke would bring the neighbors over. There's also no fuel or engine oil to deal with. This is a youth machine first, and an adult on it looks like a bear on a tricycle. The honest caveat is the battery. Swapping it is a slow, fiddly job that takes about as long as recharging it. Plan your riding days around charge time and don't count on spare packs.