Caofen F-80 Review: Electric 8kW dual sport is street-legal and Sondors-priced
We got the chance to test ride a street-legal plus off-road electric motorcycle that comes at a reasonable price point, something of an albatross since the Sondors Metacycle went under.
For a while now, we’ve been seeing quite a few off-road e-bikes/motorcycles with similar specs, price, and design language as the Sur Ron Light Bee. Unfortunately, most of these aren’t street-legal like the more expensive and kitted out Zero FX/E. While that’s likely not a concern for those riding on private property, having more street-legal options in this segment of the market is something I’m excited to see more of. Thankfully, manufacturers are slowly starting to fill that gap.
$4,500 Dual Sport
The Caofen F-80 off-road version is an electric dual-sport motorcycle that’s fully street-legal in 50 states and has some decent specs that make for a fun day. For this test ride, I visited an off-road vehicle park in the northeast, put on my gear, and tried to see just how well this bike would perform on trails.
Now, while Caofen does have a few other models, such as the FX full-sized off-road motorcycle as well as a more street-oriented version of the F-80, for this review, we’ll be focusing mostly on the F-80 off-road version. Thankfully, we got the opportunity to test this out on an off-road course with tight turns and jumps. For the sake of the review, I made sure to try my hardest to test its limits, but full disclosure: I am a beginner at motocross and off-road riding.
Compliance parts:
The F-80 is capable of obtaining insurance, plates, and registration, but this bike was built primarily as an off-road motorcycle geared more for trails and motor tracks. So many of the parts that make the bike street-legal, such as the license plate holder, felt more like an afterthought with lower-quality parts than what is on the rest of the bike.
Before we get into the weeds, let’s get a few specs out of the way.
Specs:
- Motor: 8kw
- Top speed: 62mph
- Battery: Liquid-cooled 2.2kWh 72v 30 ah and 2.2kWh and 3.9kWh 48 ah
- Weight: 165lb
- Frame: Single-piece aluminum frame
- Brakes: 230mm disc brakes on the front and 203mm at the rear
- Size: 77×31×42
- Clearance: 14 inches
Initial thoughts:
The F80 looks and feels different from your typical Sur Ron Light bee in the sense that it has a bit more power and feels more like a full-sized motocross bike. It’s also not in that upper-echelon class of electric dirt bikes. I’d say if the classic Sur Ron was at one side of the spectrum and the higher-end dirt bikes such as Surron’s Storm Bee, Stark Varg, or KTM free ride e-xc was at the other end then this would be somewhere in between depending on how you look at it.
In terms of pricing, the street-legal off-road version of the F-80 with the 30-ah battery configuration comes in at $4,500 on the www.caofen.us website. The bigger battery 48-ah version is available for an extra $500.
Legality
At that price point, it’s close to that of most other 45-60 mph electric bikes. One big difference here for the F-80 is that Caofen is claiming that it can be registered in 50 states. When I test rode it on the east coast, I was shown registration for the vehicle as well as a license plate. Now this may not be a huge factor for those who are looking to ride primarily on trails, but for those who enjoy off-road capable bikes even on city streets and don’t necessarily want to go for the 10+k price range of a highway-suitable dual sport like a Zero FX, it’s a great thing that companies like Caofen are starting to fill that gap in the market.
Power
In terms of power, the motor is rated for a max peak output of 8kw and claims to have 310 nm of torque. To be truthful, even though I always want as much power and torque as possible in an electric bike, with this being my first time in an offroad dedicated park with a mini motocross track, I found this to be more than enough power.
For trail riding and beginner motocross riding I think this bike handles well and is nicely balanced. The one downside aside from the lower quality compliance parts like the plate holder that broke off was the rather small footpegs. I believe the suspension is adequate but not to the level of some of the higher-end dual sport bikes. But then again this is still a 72v off-road bike with 8kw of peak power and DOT approved.
Getting into some of the pros here the frame is a zero-weld one-piece unit that adds strength and lowers the weight. In total, the bike weighs 165 lbs with a 30-ah battery. This, combined with the 8kw of power, made it relatively easy to skid the rear wheel on loose dirt, and I’d imagine for those who wheelie that this would be plenty of fun.
Battery:
As for charging, the batteries can be charged from fully empty to full in three hours for the street-legal off-road bike. When it comes to the battery Caofen uses a patented immersion cooling battery system that claims to achieve 8 times the thermal balance and only 50% of normal temperature rise. The temperature control system allows you to ride freely in any case, even in a minus 40-degree environment.
When it comes to brakes, the F-80 is stopped with 230mm disc brakes on the front and 203mm at the rear. It’s an adequate feeling brake but leaves you wanting just a bit more heavy-duty braking power. In terms of size, the bike comes in at a size of 77×31×42 and gives you about 14 inches of clearance.
For those wanting a bigger size, with better suspension and upgraded brakes, you may want to check out their full-sized version, the FX, which costs $5800 and features a 12kw motor.
Electrek’s take:
I think it’s great that Caofen is bringing this to the market at a low price point. Being able to ride without worrying about breaking the law just to have fun on your electric motorcycle is a feature that not enough manufacturers are including. Let’s face it: A lot of people who ride high-speed e-bikes/motorcycles like Sur Rons or Talarias ride on public roads despite manufacturers saying that it’s not street legal. I think if there were more options like this on the market at lower prices, we’d be seeing a lot of young people opting to register their bikes and ride a bit safer, especially if it meant they needed a motorcycle license and the required skills to operate these types of bikes on the street.
For more info on their bikes, you can check out www.caofen.us or www.caofenusa.com
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Veteran bicycle brand and e-mobility innovator Huffy is joining the Black Friday sales festivities with an exclusive deal for Electrek readers on its 36-volt Electric Green Machine drift trike. Use the promo code below for 30% off your purchase.
Huffy puts over 130 years of experience into its products
Huffy is easily a household name in bicycles. The company is celebrating over 130 years in the segment and has shown no signs of slowing down. The brand is sold across thousands of retail locations and ships millions of bikes to customers throughout the US and 40 additional international markets each year.
The Huffy name is known for products that deliver riders comfort, style, and durability. Whether on a bike, trike, scooter, or ride-on, there’s something for every member of the family to enjoy. Since 2019, Huffy has been calling riders together with its rally cry, “Live the Ride,” which encourages families to celebrate togetherness by exploring the outdoors atop its products.
Whether that means leisurely rides through local parks with friends, family outings, traversing local trails, or exploring new cities during a summer getaway, Huffy strives to remind riders of the simple youthful joy that riding can bring.
Since Huffy launched the 20” Green Machine in 2023, teens and adults have been asking for a version that would allow them to experience the same adventure, fun, and thrill of each spin and drift. Huffy answered the call with their new Electric Green Machine, a nostalgic and electrified version of the classic drift trike Huffy fans know and love. This powerhouse drift-trike is packed with 36 volts of electric power and a 250-watt front hub motor that lets riders reach exhilarating speeds of up to 15 miles per hour. Perfect for thrill-seekers ages 14 and up, the Electric Green Machine reignites the fun and excitement of childhood rides.
All of Huffy’s products, including the Electric Green Machine seen below, are thoughtfully crafted for the moments that happen when you pop up your kickstand and see where the path takes you. In the case of the E-Green Machine, Huffy wants riders to unleash a whirlwind of thrilling drifts and slides right when they climb into the cockpit.
To help even more riders experience holiday thrills this season, Huffy is offering an exclusive discount on the Electric Green Machine for Electrek readers. Whether buying it for yourself or friends and family, the Electric Green Machine is the perfect gift to put under the tree this holiday season. If you’re ready to start drifting, use the promo code below to save some “green” on your purchase⎯but only for a limited time!
Don’t miss Huffy’s Black Friday deal on the Electric Green Machine
The new Electric Green Machine is available on Huffy.com for $599.99. However, you can use promo code “ELECTREKGM” at checkout for 30% off your purchase (valid on the Electric Green Machine only).
Huffy’s Black Friday deals are available now, but only until 11:59 PM on December 8, 2024, so act quickly while supplies last. This year, holiday thrills start with red and green at Huffy. Be sure to take advantage of this limited-time offer and check out the other limited-time deals on Huffy’s site this week (offering up to 55% across a range of products).
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Environment
Watch Hyundai’s massive $7.6B Georgia EV plant go up in just 2 years in this video from space
Hyundai’s new EV plant in Georgia is now up and running. The massive $7.6 billion facility was built in just two years as the company preps for new US-made electric models like the upgraded 2025 IONIQ 5 and its new three-row IONIQ 9. A cool new video from space shows just how quickly Hyundai worked to open the facility.
Watch Hyundai’s new EV plant go up from space
Production officially began at the new Hyundai Motor Group Metaplant America (HMGMA) in Bryan County, Georgia last month.
The accomplishment comes after Hyundai broke ground at the site in October 2022. In May 2022, Hyundai announced plans to build its first dedicated EV plant in the US to meet new requirements for the federal EV tax credit, which provides up to $7,500 for clean car purchases.
Hyundai fast-tracked construction at the plant as it looked to gain an edge in the US, its most important market. The company’s initial $5 billion investment turned into a whopping $7.6 billion.
According to a study from the Center for Automotive Research, Hyundai’s EV plant will help create over 58,200 new jobs while attracting over $12.6 billion in investments in Georgia. Last month, the company secured its 18th supplier as it builds out an extensive US network.
A new video from space-based intelligence company BlackSky shows an impressive timelapse of the construction.
You can see the massive facility go up in just two years as Hyundai looks to secure a leadership role in the US auto industry.
Hyundai’s new EV plant will directly employ 8,500 workers to build up to 300,000 EVs per year. The first vehicle that rolled off the assembly line was the refreshed 2025 IONIQ 5.
The upgraded 2025 Hyundai IONIQ 5 now features even more range (318 miles), a sleek new style, and it even comes with an NACS plug so you can charge at Tesla superchargers. The base, 2025 IONIQ 5 SE RWD Standard Range model, starts at just $42,500.
Last week, after unveiling its first three-row electric SUV, the IONIQ 9, Hyundai confirmed it would also be built at its Georgia facility.
Despite President-Elect Trump’s transition team reportedly planning to end the $7,500 EV tax credit, Hyundai is confident in the company’s future.
At the LA Auto Show, the company’s newly electric CEO, Jose Munoz, said in an interview, “Hyundai did not build our investment plan based on incentives; the plan was even made before Trump’s term.” Munoz explained even without the credit now, Hyundai is still gaining market share.
Ready to check out Hyundai’s best-selling electric SUV for yourself? With the new 2025 IONIQ 5 arriving, Hyundai is offering closeout deals on 2024 models. You can use our link to find the best deals on 2024 and 2025 Hyundai IONIQ 5 models at a dealer near you.
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The world’s first electric muscle car is finally here, and Dodge is already sweetening the deal for buyers. The Dodge Charger Daytona EV is launching with 0% APR, making it even cheaper to finance than the outgoing gas-powered model.
Dodge Charger EV launches with 0% APR offer
The first all-electric Dodge Charger has arrived, and surprisingly, it’s already becoming more affordable. In March, Dodge unveiled the Charger Daytona EV, kicking off “the next generation of Dodge muscle.”
According to Dodge brand CEO Tim Kuniskis, the electric Charger “delivers Hellcat Redeye levels of performance.” That’s for the Scat Pack model, which comes with a Direct Connection Stage 2 upgrade kit straight from the factory.
The upgrade delivers up to 670 hp and 627 lb-ft of torque for a 0 to 60 mph sprint in just 3.3 seconds. It can also cover a quarter mile in around 11.5 seconds.
In comparison, the 807 hp Dodge Charger SRT Redeye Jailbreak edition, powered by a Supercharged 6.2L HEMI SRT V8 engine, takes 3.6 seconds to get from 0 to 60 mph.
With a Stage 1 upgrade, the base R/T trim has up to 456 hp and 404 lb-ft of torque, good for a 0 to 60 mph time in 4.7 seconds.
Dodge opened orders for the 2024 Charger Daytona EV in September, starting at $59,995. The High-performance Scat Pack trim starts at $73,190.
According to a new dealer note viewed by online auto research firm CarsDirect, all 2024 Dodge Charger Daytona EV models are now eligible for 0% APR financing for up to 72 months.
| 2024 Dodge Charger Daytona EV trim | Horsepower | 0 to 60 mph time | Starting price |
| Dodge Charger Daytona R/T | 496 hp | 4.7 seconds | $59,995 |
| Dodge Charger Daytona Scat Pack | 670 hp | 3.3 seconds | $73,190 |
The offer makes the electric Dodge charger even cheaper to finance than the outgoing 2023 Dodge Charger at 5.9% APR for the same 72 months. However, this is an individual offer and cannot be combined with other deals. Based on CarsDirect analysis, the 0% APR offer is limited to the Northeast, Southern, and Central US regions.
Dodge is also offering a $1,000 loyalty bonus for Stellantis (Jeep, Dodge, Ram, Chrysler) lessees that trade in for the electric Charger.
With the $7,500 EV tax credit incentive, eligible customers can save up to $8,500 on the 2024 Dodge Charger Daytona EV. You may want to act fast, as these deals expire on December 2, 2024.
Jeep, another Stellantis brand, launched lease prices at just $599 per month for its first luxury electric SUV last week, the Wagoneer S. Jeep’s electric Wagoneer is also available with 0% financing.
Ready to check out the world’s first electric muscle car for yourself? We can help you get started today. You use our link to find deals on 2024 Dodge Charger Daytona models at a dealer near you.
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