The Bonnell 775 MX may be the most interesting answer yet to a question a lot of riders are asking: what if you combined the suspension, pedals, wheel size, and trail manners of a downhill mountain bike with enough electric power to feel like a lightweight e-moto?
That is the promise. The honest answer is more complicated—and more useful. The 775 MX is not a normal e-MTB, and it is not a compact electric dirt bike with decorative pedals. It sits in the messy middle, which can make it perfect for the right rider and a very expensive misunderstanding for the wrong one.
A quick transparency note: my logistics company has helped with the work of bringing Bonnell bikes into the United States. I am not pretending to be a completely disconnected reviewer. I also have not put a 775 MX through a long-term test. My firsthand reference points are years on mountain bikes, a heavily modified Sur Ron Light Bee, my current eRide Pro SS 2.0, and plenty of time on gas dirt bikes including a KTM 500 EXC. The Bonnell-specific facts below come from current manufacturer documentation and public sources, not a fake “I rode it for six months” story.
The Quick Answer
The Bonnell 775 MX makes the most sense for a capable mountain biker who wants substantially more power without jumping to the weight, bodywork, and motorcycle feel of a full-size e-moto. It is especially compelling if you value a 75-pound bike you can still load, maneuver, and ride like an aggressive bicycle.
It makes less sense if your main goal is legal bicycle-trail access, relaxed family cruising, street use, or maximum dirt-bike durability with pegs and motorcycle wheels. At 6,000 watts, this is not a normal Class 1, 2, or 3 e-bike just because it has pedals.
Bonnell 775 MX Specs That Actually Matter
Bonnell currently lists the 775 MX at $5,895 through local dealers. These are manufacturer specifications, not independently measured test results:
| Specification | Bonnell claim | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Peak power | 6,000 W | Far beyond a legal Class 1–3 e-bike |
| Claimed torque | 280 Nm at the crank | Huge climbing and acceleration potential; not directly comparable with wheel-torque claims |
| Battery | 65 V, 1,300 Wh | Large capacity for a 75-pound platform |
| Claimed range | 12–37 miles | A wide range because power mode, terrain, rider weight, and speed matter enormously |
| Weight | 75 lb / 34 kg | The headline advantage over compact e-motos |
| Suspension travel | 200 mm front / 170 mm rear | Aggressive downhill-bike territory |
| Wheel size | 29-inch front and rear | Better rollover and true MTB tire choices |
The current build uses a Suntour Rux 38 RC+ dual-crown fork, Suntour Voro coil shock, Magura MT5 four-piston brakes, a CYC X1 Pro drive unit, and a removable 1,300 Wh battery. Bonnell offers medium, large, and XL frames, which is a major difference from the one-size-fits-most approach common in the e-moto world.
Why 75 Pounds Changes the Whole Conversation
My eRide Pro SS 2.0 is a blast because it gives me motorcycle-like acceleration in a package that is much easier to handle than a gas enduro. But it still behaves like a compact electric dirt bike. The Bonnell is trying to preserve much more of the mountain-bike experience.
Seventy-five pounds is heavy when you compare it with a normal mountain bike. It is impressively light when you compare it with a Sur Ron, eRide Pro, Ultra Bee, or Arctic Leopard. That difference should show up everywhere: loading the bike, changing direction, correcting a bad line, lifting the rear wheel, and getting unstuck on technical terrain.
The tradeoff is that lightweight bicycle-derived components must manage serious power and speed. Riders coming from e-moto should not assume every part will tolerate the same abuse as motorcycle hardware. Riders coming from MTB should not assume familiar-looking controls make 6,000 watts familiar. The gap between “easy to ride” and “easy to get in trouble on” can be one aggressive twist of the throttle.
Is It an E-MTB or an E-Moto?
Mechanically, it borrows from both. Legally and for trail access, the answer depends on where you ride—but in California it should not be treated like a normal e-bike. State guidance says an electric bicycle must stay within the statutory power and speed framework, and specifically warns that machines capable of more than 750 watts or more than 20 mph on motor power alone are not electric bicycles.
That means pedals do not create automatic bicycle-trail access. Check the exact land manager, route designation, and registration requirements before you buy or unload. California’s electric off-highway motorcycle bulletin and OHV FAQ are good starting points, but a buyer should confirm how the 775 MX’s specific VIN, pedals, and paperwork are handled by the DMV and the riding area.
My practical rule is simple: if a trail is open only to bicycles or Class 1 e-MTBs, do not assume the 775 MX belongs there. Use it on private property, motorized trails, or designated OHV areas unless the responsible agency clearly says otherwise.
Who Should Seriously Consider the 775 MX?
- Aggressive mountain bikers who want more power. The geometry, 29-inch wheels, long travel, and three frame sizes should feel more familiar than a mini-moto chassis.
- Riders who transport bikes frequently. A 75-pound machine is much easier to load into a van or onto a serious rack than a 140-to-200-pound e-moto.
- Technical-trail riders who value agility over outright motorcycle stability. The 775 MX should be easier to place and recover when the trail gets tight.
- Experienced riders willing to manage access rules. This is not the bike for somebody who wants one simple answer everywhere they ride.
Who Should Skip It?
- Anyone expecting normal e-bike legality. Six kilowatts and throttle power change the category conversation.
- Riders who want street registration. Bonnell lists the intended use as off-road. Do not build a purchase plan around a future plate.
- People who prefer motorcycle ergonomics. If you want pegs, moto wheels, heavy-duty bodywork, and a planted full-size feel, look toward an Ultra Bee, Arctic Leopard, or traditional dirt-bike platform.
- First-time riders attracted only by the power number. Start with skills, protective gear, and a lower-output mode—not maximum settings.
Five Questions to Ask the Dealer Before Buying
- What paperwork comes with this exact bike? Ask about VIN documentation, title or certificate of origin, and the registration path in your state.
- What warranty applies to the battery, motor, frame, and suspension? Bonnell has a dedicated 775 support hub; confirm the terms for the bike in front of you.
- How quickly can replacement parts arrive? Brake pads are easy. Proprietary displays, batteries, frame parts, and electronics are the real ownership test.
- Which frame size should you ride? Do not buy solely from height. Reach, mobility, terrain, and preference for playfulness versus stability matter.
- Can you test the lowest and highest power modes? A parking-lot spin will not reveal everything, but it will tell you whether the controls and power delivery feel manageable.
Range, Charging, and the Part Nobody Should Guess About
The claimed 12-to-37-mile range is believable as a broad envelope, not a promise. Slow pedal assist on rolling terrain and repeated full-power climbs are almost different sports. Rider weight, tire pressure, temperature, elevation, soil, and throttle use will move the result dramatically.
For our family, I would plan the first rides conservatively and record distance, elevation, mode, and remaining battery. That creates a useful personal range number instead of trusting a brochure or an internet hero who weighs 60 pounds less and rides flat pavement.
Charge with the supplied charger, stay present, unplug when complete, and do not improvise with a universal charger. The U.S. Consumer Product Safety Commission specifically recommends manufacturer-approved batteries and chargers and says not to charge while sleeping or away from home.
How It Fits Against the Bikes We Already Know
If your reference is a Light Bee or eRide Pro, the Bonnell should feel more like a downhill mountain bike with absurd assistance and less like a small motorcycle. If your reference is an Ultra Bee or Arctic Leopard Pro R, the Bonnell gives up the planted, substantial e-moto feel in exchange for dramatically lower weight and real MTB proportions.
For the longer version of those tradeoffs, read our Sur Ron-to-eRide Pro story and the Arctic Leopard Pro R vs Ultra Bee comparison. They show why “more power” is never the only decision. Weight, wheel size, terrain, loading, maintenance, and where you can legally ride matter every single week.
The Bottom Line
The Bonnell 775 MX is compelling because it does not copy the standard e-moto formula. A 6,000-watt, 1,300 Wh, 75-pound bike with downhill geometry and full-size MTB wheels could be the sweet spot for riders who want serious power without giving up the lively feel of a bicycle.
It also demands honesty. The published power and range are manufacturer claims until independently tested. It is not a normal trail-legal e-MTB. Dealer support and registration details deserve as much attention as acceleration. And if you have never managed a powerful electric bike off-road, the correct first ride is not maximum mode on a crowded trail.
Gear up before you turn it up. Our e-moto safety gear guide and maintenance checklist cover the unglamorous habits that keep the fun going.
Then, when the helmets come off, the E-Moto Urban Assault Group Ride T-Shirt and our full E-Moto & Electric Dirt Bike Shirts collection fit the culture without pretending a shirt is safety equipment.
Yours in finding the right amount of ridiculous,
Jeremy Curran — Stoked Clothing Company