Segway gets dirty with its newest electric vehicle

Segway is known for its city touring vehicles, and more recently, electric scooters that you can rent (or buy your own) in cities worldwide. 

But the Chinese-owned transportation and robotics company is moving into the great outdoors with its Dirt eBike, an electric dirt bike for off-road pedaling. 

The Dirt eBike was unveiled Tuesday as a hybrid mountain and dirt bike. With two versions, the X160 and X260, each are priced differently according to their capabilities: 40 miles on a charge for the smaller bike and 74 miles for the bigger. The X260 can reach up to 46 mph at max speed. Pricing starts at $2,999 and $4,499 for the bigger bike. 

Julie Tang, Segway marketing director, said in a recent phone call that Segway is expanding beyond “micromobility” and is dipping into products for “outdoor adventurers.” This is the first time Segway is getting into powersports. Segway is usually associated with the two-wheeled self-balancing vehicles that tourists are spotted on.

The batteries for the hybrid mountain bike-electric dirt bike are swappable, so you can last long distances without giving up any electric power (though if it came down to it, you could pedal back).

The bikes will be available in the first part of 2020. An Indiegogo online crowdfunding campaign for the dirt bike kicks off Nov. 25, where early backers can get discounts on the bikes when they start shipping next year.

Let the adventures begin!