Welcome to the first long-term test entry for the RFN Warrior Kids SX-E500, one of the smallest, most capable electric dirtbikes currently on the market for young riders. After a full review back in issue #547 where we put the pink and blue models through their paces with our usual mini testers, we knew this wasn’t going to be the last we’d see of these bikes. So we’ve officially added the RFN SX-E500 to the long-term fleet.

Bikes get added to our long-term test fleet because real-world riding tells you more than a spec sheet ever could. Over time, kids crash, wheelie, skid and abandon their bikes, and sometimes this doesn’t happen in the one day we test them for a feature. It’s the ultimate durability test. And now that the market for electric bikes aimed at three to six year olds is finally booming, it’s more important than ever to separate the gimmicks from the genuinely good gear.

Until recently, there wasn’t much available for this age bracket. Kids either had to make do with something like a Yamaha PW50 – which is still too big and heavy for many three-year-olds. But the rise of lightweight, low seat height electric dirtbikes has changed everything. Bikes like the RFN SX-E500 have opened the door to real riding experiences for toddlers and kindergarteners, with safe speeds, light weight and easy controls.

For this testbike, Bonnie will be our main test pilot. She’s already an experienced rider for her age, having spent time on e-balance bikes. She can jump, ride minikhana and even wheelie her pink RFN. Nothing on the bike has broken despite months of being punted through our farm, local parks and mini enduro loops. The battery life continues to impress, offering consistent run times even after multiple charge cycles.

Bonnie’s older brother Jax, who’s been testing everything from Husqvarna EE 3s to petrol-powered 50s, will also throw a leg over the red and blue versions for comparison. At 125cm, Jax is slightly oversized for the SX-E500, but that actually turns it into a perfect skills trainer for him. He can practice wheelies while dragging his legs for safety, hop logs knowing he can save it if he gets off balance, and lock the rear wheel into controlled skids while standing over the bike with confidence. He’s even been dragging the bike through creek beds and clambering up rocky lines, using his size and strength to manhandle it like a mini hard enduro weapon.

Jax has got the experience to push the RFN to its limits, while Bonnie’s development will give us insight into how this bike holds up with a progressing rider.

So far, it’s proving incredibly robust. Bonnie typically rides two to three times a month, and the SX-E500 hasn’t skipped a beat. We’ll keep logging rides and crashes and see how the RFN holds up over the months ahead. Stay tuned.

Mitch Lees

RFN SX-E500

RRP

$1899

WARRANTY

1 year

DISTRIBUTOR

RFN Bike

INTERNET

 

SO FAR

TOTAL HOURS

10

 

MODS THIS MONTH

None