Look, I might be a little biased here—but motorcycles are the most versatile machines on the planet. Name something else that can zigzag through city traffic, bomb down fire roads, and apparently… be used in a war. They’re fast, fun, practical, and wildly capable.
And if you ever needed proof, the Ukrainian Skala 425 Regiment is more than happy to provide it.
Since May 2025, this special forces unit has reportedly been deploying motorcycles into active combat zones, right alongside tanks and drones. And while most people tend to associate modern warfare with satellite-guided missiles and high-tech surveillance, sometimes all you really need is a lightweight dirt bike and some guts.
Why bikes? Easy. They’re stealthy, nimble, cheap, and fuel-efficient. You can zip through forests, duck through alleyways, and cross terrain that would stop most vehicles dead. No fuel truck? No problem—these things sip gas. No budget for armored transports? Just grab a few crates of Chinese enduros and call it a day.
Enter the Forte Cross XSR 300—not to be confused with Yamaha’s XSR lineup. This thing has nothing to do with Yamaha. It’s a made-in-China dirt bike, imported under the Forte brand in Ukraine, and it’s about as simple as motorcycles get. But it turns out that simplicity is exactly what makes it such a great wartime workhorse.
The specs? This little brute runs a 3000cc, carbureted, air-cooled, four-stroke single-cylinder engine pushing out just under 19 horsepower at 7,000 rpm. It’s got a 5-speed transmission and chain final drive. No electronics, no fuel injection, no ABS. Just a good ol’ carb and pure analog simplicity.
At 271 pounds dry (123 kg), it’s light enough to toss around like a mountain bike with an attitude. Its 2.5-gallon tank (9.5 liters) gives it decent range, and the long-travel suspension—paired with 21-inch front and 18-inch rear wire-spoke wheels—means it can handle trails, potholes, rubble, and whatever else a warzone throws its way.
And the best part? The price. At around $1,600 USD, the XSR 300 costs less than a new iPhone. You could outfit an entire unit for less than the price of a single military-grade drone or tactical ATV. That’s a huge win in terms of logistics—especially when you consider how easy it is to maintain. No need for special diagnostic tools or software updates. If it breaks, grab a wrench and fix it. If it dies, grab another one.
Ukrainian troops don’t even bother repainting them. These bikes are being used in their original showroom colors—bright plastics and all. Forget camouflage; these things are too quick and nimble to catch anyway.
In a world obsessed with high-tech warfare, there’s something refreshing—and honestly, kind of badass—about a cheap dirt bike pulling its weight on the front lines. It doesn’t need to be fancy. It just needs to work. And the Forte XSR 300 is proof that sometimes, a simple tool is the best one for the job.
So yes, I’ll say it again: motorcycles are the most versatile vehicles on the planet. Whether you’re riding to work, blasting through trails, or hauling intel through enemy territory, there’s just no substitute. And if a $1,600 Chinese enduro can make a difference in an actual war, imagine what yours can do on your next ride.
