Riding Times GT73 Motor Bike

Overview

It seems almost too good to be true to pay just $1,700 for a dirt bike. When you look at the market, most legitimate electric dirt bikes command prices ranging from $3,000 to $5,000. Yet, Riding Times has managed to deliver the GT73 at a fraction of that cost. The catch? After testing it myself, I can confidently say this isn't actually a dirt bike at all.

What we have here is essentially a dirt bike frame dropped onto an e-bike body. It certainly carries the aggressive look, design, and feel of a true dirt bike, complete with a rugged tube frame and a massive saddle. The company behind it, Riding Times, has been around since 2006 with roots in New Jersey, though their operations appear to be primarily based out of China.

Marketed officially as the GT73 electric motorbike, this machine suffers from a bit of an identity crisis. It features pedals, a heavy chassis, and a dual-battery setup that makes it a fascinating, if slightly confusing, ride. At $1,700, it is an undeniable budget option, but you have to understand exactly what you are buying before you pull the trigger.

Real-World Performance

To see what the GT73 could really do, I put the kickstand up, switched the color display to turbo mode, and pulled back on the full twist throttle. The acceleration is incredibly tame off the line. Because the bike weighs a hefty 116 pounds, it simply does not have the snap or torque you expect from a dirt bike. It rides exactly like a heavy e-bike struggling to get its mass moving.

I was eventually able to reach a top speed of 35 mph, which is quite respectable for an e-bike. However, it took me a full 4.5 blocks of flat pavement to finally hit that top speed. Once you get moving, the bike feels stable and holds its momentum well, but you are not going to win any drag races off a red light.

The biggest reality check came during my hill-climbing tests. I took it to a steep incline that any basic dirt bike should effortlessly conquer. The GT73 bogged down completely and failed to make it to the top. If you are buying this expecting massive off-road torque to conquer steep trails, you are going to be disappointed. Additionally, once you get the motor working hard, it emits that classic, loud 'buffing' e-bike motor whine, stripping away any illusion that you are on a high-end electric motorcycle.

Design & Build Quality

The build quality of the GT73 is a mixed bag of heavy-duty materials and budget components. As I mentioned, the bike weighs 116 pounds, which is roughly 40 pounds heavier than your typical e-bike. You feel that extra weight every time you lean into a corner or try to maneuver the bike at low speeds. The tube frame design is sturdy, and the massive saddle is over 2 feet long, giving you plenty of room to shift your weight around just like on a real dirt bike.

It rolls on incredibly knobby dirt bike tires with an aggressive tread pattern that looks ready for the mud. You get plenty of ground clearance if you do decide to venture off-road. I also really appreciated the lock-on grips in the cockpit; they feel premium and are fastened tight without any annoying twisting.

Suspension is where things get a bit sketchy. It features full suspension, with a hydraulic fork in the front and a spring shock in the rear. I couldn't find the exact travel specs for the front fork, but it is blocked on both sides and cannot be locked out. The rear spring suspension, frankly, is not the best. It is extremely bouncy—hitting rough patches elicits a 'holy moly' reaction as the bike rebounds harshly beneath you.

Key Features

One of the standout features of the GT73 is its dual-battery system. The bike houses two separate batteries nested in the frame, and you can power them on or off individually. This setup gives the bike a fantastic rated range of 60 to over 100 miles, depending heavily on how hard you ride and whether you use the pedals.

The braking system is another major highlight. I love hydraulic brakes, and these feature oversized rotors to help stop that massive frame. Better yet, the brake levers have adjustable play, allowing you to dial in exactly how much bite you want. The right lever controls the rear brake, while the left handles the front.

The bike also includes a full suite of lighting. There is a surprisingly bright headlight with a cool casing, a functional tail light that illuminates when you pull the brake levers, and beeping turn signals. The cockpit features a color screen and a control pad to swap between eco, standard, and turbo modes. It even has a quirky park mode that engages after the bike sits for 15 to 20 seconds. Oddly, while in park mode, the bike refuses to roll backward but will happily roll forward.

Another feature worth mentioning is the pedal drivetrain. Because this is technically an e-bike, it has pedals, but it operates as a single-speed bike with no gears whatsoever. I actually used an AI tool to check rider feedback on this model, and the lack of gears was a major complaint. While you can pedal in turbo mode to match the motor's top speed, the sheer weight of the bike makes pedaling without motor assist a miserable experience.

Who It's For

I'd point riders who want the aggressive, head-turning aesthetics of a dirt bike for casual street riding toward the GT73. If you stick to pavement, light gravel, and flat terrain, the massive battery range, dual-battery setup, and 35 mph top speed make it a really fun, imposing commuter.

Who Should Skip It

If you are looking for real off-road torque to climb steep hills or hit jumps on dirt trails, skip it entirely. The heavy frame, weak acceleration, lack of gears, and poor rear suspension make it entirely unsuited for serious off-road abuse.

How It Stacks Up

When you compare the GT73 to true electric dirt bikes from brands like Surron, Talaria, and Rawrr, the performance gap is massive. Those bikes deliver raw torque, high-end suspension, and true off-road capability that easily scales steep hills. However, those machines will cost you anywhere from $3,000 to $5,000.

The GT73 sits in a completely different category. It is an e-bike dressed up as a motorcycle. You are trading away the intense acceleration and hill-climbing power of a Surron or Talaria to save thousands of dollars. As long as you compare it to other heavy, moped-style e-bikes rather than premium dirt bikes, the GT73 holds its own reasonably well on flat ground.

Final Verdict

Ultimately, the Riding Times GT73 is a fascinating hybrid that looks like a dirt bike but rides like a heavy-duty e-bike. At $1,700, it offers a ton of value if you are strictly looking for street presence, bright lights, hydraulic brakes, and incredible battery range. Just keep it off the steep trails, accept the sluggish acceleration, and enjoy it for the massive cruiser it actually is.