Six years after Segway last appeared in the electric dirt bike conversation, the company is back with the Xaber 300, a 21-kilowatt off-road motorcycle priced at $5,299. It runs Segway's own X720 controller driving a gear-reduced motor through a 520 chain, weighs around 187 pounds, and rolls on Marzocchi suspension with a 19-inch front and 17-inch rear wheel. The feature list reads closer to a software product than a traditional dirt bike: GPS, traction control, hill hold, reverse mode, and a wheelie-assist function arriving via future firmware update. Four power modes are available, named by approximate petrol-engine equivalent: 150, 200, 300, and Beast. The first ride by Electric Cycle Rider was conducted entirely in modes 1 and 2, because the top two modes are locked by software until the rider accumulates 62 miles on the odometer.
The electric off-road segment has moved quickly in the six years since Segway stepped back. The Sur-Ron Light Bee X, which sells for around $3,500, remains the dominant lightweight option in North America. At the upper end, the Stark Varg runs 60 kilowatts of peak power and is aimed directly at competitive motocross riders. The Xaber 300 positions between them, with more technology than the Sur-Ron and a significantly lower price than the Stark. The 17-inch rear wheel is a departure from the 18-inch standard that most electric dirt bikes in this power range use, and the reviewer noted the bike reads as smaller in person than its specification sheet implies. A 21-inch front and 18-inch rear combination would comfortably push it into the midsize category; the 19-17 setup leaves it in a harder-to-classify zone between lightweight and midsize. The $5,299 price is reasonable if the higher power modes validate the hardware, which this first ride could not confirm.
Mode 200 felt consistent with what a 200cc air-cooled four-stroke delivers: functional, smooth, and not especially exciting for an experienced rider. Suspension performance on the test terrain was good, with no harsh feedback through rough sections. The brake levers are adjustable using a tool kit stored under the removable seat, which covers most on-trail adjustments without carrying a separate kit. Traction control engaged aggressively on the loose surface test and was switched off by the reviewer. Hill hold worked correctly on an incline, holding the bike stationary hands-free and releasing cleanly when throttle was applied. Reverse mode activates through the menu system and works as described. The digital clutch feature and wheelie mode were both absent from the test unit and are expected to arrive via over-the-air firmware update after launch.
Bottom line: The Xaber 300 looks like a capable re-entry for Segway, but this review is necessarily a partial one. Reaching 62 miles before unlocking the two modes that define the bike's upper capability is a significant limitation for any first-impression assessment. The hardware reads as solid, the feature set is competitive for the price, and the riding experience in the accessible modes is smooth. Whether Beast mode justifies the name is the question this ride could not answer. A second ride, with the full power range unlocked, is the only meaningful verdict.