After spending some proper time on the RFN Ares Endurance this month, it’s quickly become clear what this bike is actually about. It’s not trying to be a race bike and it’s not trying to replace your enduro, it’s a bike you can use every day and line up with the kids.

 

Most of my time so far has been commuting and just using it as a runaround, and that’s where it makes a lot of sense. Around town it’s easy, it’s narrow and it just works without any drama.

 

Where it’s really stood out, though, is riding with Jax and Bon. We’ve been ducking down the road to an abandoned RSL and just letting him ride, and because both bikes are electric, no one really cares.

 

And this is where the RFN really makes sense. As a bike to ride with the kids, it’s unreal. It’s quiet enough that I can actually talk to him while we’re riding or yell “stop” or give him directions and he hears it straight away. There’s no engine noise drowning everything out, which changes the whole experience.

 

The power delivery is another standout. It’s roughly comparable to something like a Honda XR200, but with way more instant response. That electric torque means it’s surprisingly evenly matched against Jax on his Surron Hyper Bee. Given the weight difference between us, it ends up being a pretty fair race, which he absolutely loves.

 

From a practical side, it just keeps ticking boxes. The bike is light enough that you can manhandle it easily, and because there are no fluids or hot components, you can literally lay it on its side to help the kids when they crash without worrying about anything. There’s no heat coming off the engine either, which is a big deal when you’re just plodding along at their pace. On a normal bike you’d be cooking, but on this you don’t even think about it.

 

So far, the RFN Ares Endurance has slotted into that role better than expected. Next month, I’ll start pushing it a bit harder and see how it holds up with more trail riding and longer rides.

 

2026 RFN Ares Endurance
RRP
$6,990 + ORC
WARRANTY
1 year
DISTRIBUTOR
RFN Bike
INTERNET
rfnbike.com.au

SO FAR
TOTAL HOURS
20

MODS THIS MONTH
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MODS next MONTH
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