The Erzbergrodeo is widely regarded as the toughest hard enduro event in the world, where simply crossing the finish line is considered a major achievement. This year, for the 30th edition of the epic Hare Scramble, electric motorcycles were allowed to compete alongside combustion-powered bikes for the first time.
But the big question was, can one of them finish?
At 51 years old, Graham Jarvis has amassed quite a collection of hard enduro trophies. But before transitioning to hard enduro in 2004, Jarvis competed in traditional motorcycle trials events, winning the Scottish Six Days Trial four times, the Scott Trial nine times (more than any other competitor in the event's history), as well as six British Trials Championships.
Since making the move to hard enduro, Jarvis has collected seven wins at Red Bull Romaniacs, six at the Red Bull Sea to Sky, five at Hells Gate, four at the Roof of Africa, as well as five wins at the Erzberg Rodeo Red Bull Hare Scramble.
Honestly, Jarvis has revolutionized the sport, showcasing his precision, balance, and mechanical sympathy in brutal terrain for more than 20 years now. He’s both a legend and a trailblazer, so it’s no surprise that the British champion is at the forefront of the electric dirt bike movement.
This year, instead of lining up to face the Iron Giant on a ubiquitous 300cc two-stroke, Jarvis wanted to show the world that his Jarv-E electric dirt bike was not only capable, but able to compete in and finish the ultimate hard enduro.
Starting from the second row of fifty riders, Jarvis navigated through a crowd of stuck, stranded, and struggling riders to take his Jarv-E to a 10th place finish, becoming the only rider from his row to reach the finish line, and one of the first three electric motorcycles ever to complete the Erzberg Rodeo.
So, sit back and watch Jarvis take on the Iron Giant aboard his Formula Jarv-E Moto, fighting through some early struggles during the Prologue, but ultimately succeeding in his goal of proving the platform's capabilities.
Now that the question of whether they can finish has been answered, I wonder: Is the future of hard enduro... electric?
