The Ultimate Moonbikes Review: Your New Favorite Way to Play in the Snow
Hey there, snow lovers! As a fashionista and powersports enthusiast, I‘m always on the hunt for the latest and greatest gear to up my winter adventure game. So when I first laid eyes on the Moonbike, I knew I had to get my hands (and feet) on one!
What Is a Moonbike?
At first glance, Moonbikes look like a cross between a snowmobile and a dirtbike – if they had a baby that was raised in the French Alps. These electric snow scooters are the brainchild of Nicolas Muron, a former aeronautical engineer turned action sports pioneer.
Essentially, Moonbikes swap out wheels for a ski and track to create a silent, lightweight, and eco-friendly alternative to gas-guzzling snowmobiles. The patented design has already garnered major buzz, winning accolades from Wired, Forbes, and Top Gear.
How Does It Work?
I know what you‘re thinking – "Looks cool, but how well does it actually ride?" As someone who‘s tested all manner of snow machines, I can confidently say that Moonbikes are the real deal. The key to their performance is the unique combination of parts:
- Electric Motor: A beefy 3000W brushless motor puts out gobs of torque (125 lb-ft!) for snappy acceleration. It runs nearly silent too.
- Battery: The 2.1 kWh Li-ion battery keeps you zipping along for 1.5-2 hours before needing a recharge. You can also double the range with an optional second battery.
- Chassis: Weighing just 191 lbs (87 kg), the Moonbike is a featherweight compared to a typical 500-600 lb snowmobile. The low center of gravity and narrow profile make it super agile.
- Ski: Up front, a beefy composite ski eats up bumps with 6" of travel. The wide span provides good flotation and directional stability.
- Track: The party in the back is a meaty rubber track spanning 56" x 10". Deep lugs and adjustable tension keep you churning through pow, crud, and hardpack.
- Cockpit: Intuitive dirtbike-style controls (thumb throttle, brake levers, wide bars) let you hop on and ride with minimal fuss. It‘s beginner-friendly!
Specs That Impress
Let‘s nerd out for a minute on the full rundown of Moonbike features and options:
| Spec | Details |
|---|---|
| Motor | 3000W brushless DC, 125 lb-ft torque |
| Battery | 2.1 kWh Li-ion, 1.5hr/12mile range (Sport mode) |
| Charger | 570W (4.5hrs) standard, 1200W (2.5hrs) optional |
| Top Speed | 26 mph |
| Dimensions | 86" L x 26" W x 27.5" H |
| Weight | 191 lbs |
| Front Suspension | Reinforced composite ski, 6" travel |
| Rear Suspension | Dual coil-over shocks, 7" travel |
| Track | 56" long, 10" wide, adjustable tension |
| Brakes | Hydraulic disc on rear axle |
| Ground Clearance | 8" |
| Max Rider Capacity | 264 lbs |
Now for some real talk on range. The 2.1 kWh battery is good for around 1.5 hours or 12 miles of zigzagging in Sport mode. Chill cruising in Eco extends that to 2 hours or 15ish miles. An optional second battery ($1450) lets you hot swap for double the ride time. The fast charger ($550) juices a fully drained battery in 2.5 hours vs the standard 4.5 hours.
You can also kit your Moonbike out with nifty accessories like a rear cargo rack, tow hitch, spare battery bracket, and extreme weather cover. Personally, I dig the sleek lunar color options (Arctic White, Deep Black, and Lava Red). Matchy-matchy, anyone?
Riding on the Moon(bike)
Okay, so how does this space-age scooter actually feel to ride IRL? Two words: Scary. Fun. The sensation of zooming almost silently through a wintry forest at 25+ mph with nothing but a tiny windshield is both thrilling and mildly terrifying. I imagine it‘s a bit like bobsledding… if bobsleds had handlebars and an 87 hp electric motor.
The first thing that struck me was the power delivery. The 3000W motor is packing some serious punch (the powersports nerd in me did a little happy dance at those torque figures). Acceleration off the line is brisk and borderline hilarious. Think spinning track, giggle fits, and hanging on for dear life.
With a standard snowmobile, the CVT transmission sucks up a lot of the engine‘s oomph before it ever reaches the track. The Moonbike‘s direct drive puts 100% of the juice to the snow with blistering response. A quick blip of the thumb throttle will send you scooting up steeper climbs than physics should allow.
Handling is equally grin-inducing. The centralized mass and short wheelbase let you flick the Moonbike through trees and carve pow stashes with ease. It‘s basically a dirtbike with a luge attached! Countersteering takes some getting used to (lean left to go right and vice versa) but soon becomes second nature.
On groomed trails, the Moonbike can dance around corners and blast through small bumps. The short track span limits top speeds to 20-25 mph but that‘s plenty fast when your cheeks are flapping in the breeze. I‘ll admit that icy hardpack made me pucker more than once – there‘s no substitute for studs and longer tracks on the sketchy stuff.
But deep powder is where this little electric pony really shines! Low ground pressure, narrow stance, and gobs of torque let it plane on top of the fluff and carve surfy turns. Getting stuck is rare but no biggie if you do (just hop off and yank it out). Try that with your 600 lb smoke-belcher…
Range anxiety is real though – I eked 16 miles out of a charge in Eco mode but Sport is so much fun that restraint becomes tricky (cue sweating and power management). An hour or so is about the comfy limit for my backside too. Windchill is no joke at speed, so layer up!
Who It‘s For
So who is the Moonbike made for? Certainly not the faint of wallet. With a base price of $8500 (plus options, shipping, and taxes), this is no cheap toy. Early adopters with cash to splash on a dedicated pow surfer can live out their space-ripping dreams. You‘ll be the talk of the backcountry (silently).
Budget-minded buyers may balk at the boutique price and opt for a clean used sled. The higher operating costs and maintenance could pencil out long-term though. With no finicky carbs, fuel mixing, or oil changes, Moonbikes are stupid-simple to own. Just don‘t expect your local shop to have spare parts laying around.
Riders coming off motorcycles or mountain bikes will feel right at home with the light, chuckable handling. The learning curve is refreshingly shallow (my wife went from never-ever to romping laps in 15 minutes). Newbies won‘t be overwhelmed by the power or size either. Bonus: no deafening your date!
Snowmobile veterans looking for a touring rig or deep backcountry explorer should stick to their long-tracked sleds. Moonbikes are best suited for ripping laps at the local sledding hill, cruising winter trails, and playing in the backyard. Bring a spare battery or two for all-day sessions.
Where to Rip
The world is your white, fluffy oyster on a Moonbike! But for maximum fun with minimal range anxiety, I like to keep my trips under 20 miles round-trip and close to a power source. Some of my favorite spots:
- Cabin Cruising: Perfect for zipping between the cottage, woodpile, ice rink, and outhouse. Light up the forest at night!
- Mellow Trail Riding: Traverse old logging roads, scenic rivers, and rolling hills. Stop for a hot cocoa at the warming hut.
- Sledding Hills: Link countless laps and show off your carving skills. Snag a tow rope for extra smiles.
- Backcountry Powder: Surf stashes between the trees. Get first tracks at the resort after a dump. Follow a snowshoe trail into the wild.
- Frozen Lakes: Cruise for miles in a winter wonderland. Try your hand at ice fishing transport. Drag race your buds (quietly).
Remember to respect private property, permitted areas, and avalanche terrain. The low noise and emissions of Moonbikes may open up trail access in the future though (I‘m looking at you, Glacier and Yellowstone). Tread lightly and always pack out what you brought in.
The Moonbike Family
One of my favorite parts of owning a Moonbike is the fun, passionate community of fellow riders. Despite the lockdowns of recent years, Moonbikers have found safe ways to gather for group rides, winter camping trips, and après revelry.
The official Moonbikes Owners Facebook group is a great place to connect with the tribe. Members share trail reports, photos, videos, and tall tales from their latest adventures. You can also score deals on used bikes and accessories.
Moonbikes hosts Snow Rallies across North America and Europe where owners can demo new models, race, and mingle with the Moonbikes crew. It‘s a chill vibe with more hot toddies than monster energy drinks. Don‘t worry about bringing your fanciest onesie either – Carhartts are welcome.
There‘s also a budding rental and guide scene popping up at resorts and backcountry lodges. Options range from hourly joyrides to multi-day excursions. I took a scenic lake tour in BC that included gourmet packed lunches, trail-side cocktails, and a stay in a funky geodesic dome. Highly recommend!
Behind the Scenes
Ever wonder how a crazy contraption like the Moonbike came to be? I sat down with founder Nicolas Muron for the inside scoop:
"The idea for Moonbikes came to me during a backcountry snowmobile trip in 2015. I was frustrated with the noise and difficulty of riding such a big machine. As an engineer, I thought there must be a better way – an electric solution that was lighter, quieter, and easier for beginners to enjoy. After dozens of prototypes and a successful Kickstarter, Moonbikes was born in the French Alps."
Today, Moonbikes is headquartered in a chic microfactory in the mountain town of Chambéry. Step inside and you‘ll find a dedicated team of designers, technicians, and test riders crafting each Moonbike by hand. Many are powersports junkies themselves, often ducking out for "product testing" on the surrounding slopes.
The company has grown to 25 employees with plans to double that in the coming year. Partnerships with Samsung (batteries) and Michelin (tracks) ensure top-shelf components and a robust supply chain. R&D is already underway for more powerful motors, extended range batteries, and four-season attachments. Can you say electric snowboard rack?
The Last Word
If you can‘t tell by now, I‘m head over heels for this spunky snow scoot. The Moonbike is hands-down the most fun I‘ve had on the white stuff since the invention of the high-speed detachable quad. It‘s like a dirtbike and a snowboard had a love child that runs on voltage and stoke.
Bombing through the backcountry in near silence with a perma-grin never gets old. The lightweight chassis and instant torque make me feel like a superhero (or at least a supercool French secret agent). I dig the eco-friendly vibes and idiot-proof maintenance too.
That said, the boutique pricing and limited range won‘t be for everyone. This is no Swiss Army knife for the snowbelt. It‘s a specialized tool for a certain type of powderhound. If you‘ve got the cheese and a taste for electric excitement, I say send it to the moon (bike)!
Winter pow is calling and it has a French accent… See you space cowboys on the moon!
Marc
Resident Snow Scooter Nerd
