Electric Dirt Bike Accessories Worth Buying First: Stands, Guards, Mounts and Bags
Most new owners spend the first accessory money on the wrong end of the bike. We get it. A controller sounds more fun than a stand. But it is the stand you end up using every Saturday, and the skid plate that pays for itself the day you clip a rock.
The weight is what catches people out. An adult electric off-road motorcycle is not a bicycle, even if it looks close in photos. A Valtinsu EM-5 weighs 126 lb and the EM-5 Pro 143 lb, and plenty of the stands, racks and chargers sold online were designed around something far lighter.
The Short List: What to Buy First
Before any of this, sort out what you wear. NHTSA's helmet guide is a good place to start; the off-road style it describes has an extended chin bar and is meant for goggles. If your boots stop below the ankle, replace those too. Then the bike itself, in roughly this order.
|
Priority |
Accessory |
Problem it solves |
Buy it when |
|
1 |
Maintenance stand |
Chain, tire and brake checks at a safe height |
Before the first service |
|
2 |
Skid plate and guards |
Rock strikes to motor, frame and levers |
Before rocky or rooty trails |
|
3 |
Lock, alarm, tracker |
Theft of a light, high value bike |
Before it sleeps outside the house |
|
4 |
Rated carrier, ramp, straps |
Moving 126 to 143 lb safely |
Before the first trailhead trip |
|
5 |
Trail bag and tool kit |
Small faults that end a ride early |
Before rides far from the truck |
|
6 |
Phone or GPS mount |
Navigation on unfamiliar networks |
When routes get longer |
|
7 |
Performance parts |
A limit you can actually name |
After several rides on the stock bike |
Stands: Rate for the Real Weight
If we could keep only one item from this list, it would be the stand. Chain lube goes on in two minutes with the rear wheel spinning free. With the bike on the ground, it is a crawl around the garage floor.
Center, Lift or Side Stand
Center stands are the basic option. They lift from underneath and hold the bike steady for chain work or storage. A lift stand adds a lever or a small hydraulic jack, which you start to appreciate the first time you hoist around 140 lb by hand. If all you have is the kickstand, parking is covered. Maintenance is not, since both wheels stay on the ground.
Check the Numbers First
Whatever style you choose, its rating should sit comfortably above the bike's net weight. These are the figures from the Valtinsu spec sheet.
|
Model |
Net weight |
Max rider load |
Size (L x W x H) |
Age |
|
EM-5 |
126 lb |
243 lb |
61.0 x 26.8 x 37.0 in |
13+ |
|
EM-5 Pro |
143 lb |
287 lb |
65.7 x 27.6 x 41.3 in |
18+ |
|
EM23 |
131 lb |
265 lb |
68.1 x 30.1 x 42.5 in |
16+ |
|
Tip Check under the bike before buying a fixed height stand. A skid plate or battery housing can sit right where the stand wants to push. |
Skid Plates and Guards: Protect What Sits Low
Rocks find the same few parts every time. Motor, frame bottom, rotors, levers. That is where protection money does the most good.
Skid Plate
People tend to compare plates by thickness. We would look at shape and drainage first, because a plate that packs full of mud on a wet ride has created a new problem. Valtinsu sells a bottom protective plate for the EM5
through its parts and accessories catalog. We would still message support first, since the page does not list model years yet.
Handguards and Rotor Guards
If you have ever bent a lever in a slow tip over at the trailhead, you already know why handguards exist. Full wrap guards are the stronger type. The catch is clearance. Turn the bars to full lock and make sure the guard leaves the throttle and brake hoses alone. Rotor guards are worth it on rock and in deep ruts. On smooth hardpack we would skip them for now.
|
Editorial note Frame and swingarm guards mostly stop boot rub and scratches. They are nice to have, but they are not armor, so on a tight budget put structural protection first. |
Phone and GPS Mounts: Stay Clear of the Controls
Handlebars are a rough place for a phone. Every rock sends vibration straight into the clamp. The EM-5 and EM-5 Pro use 27.2 in bars, and once the display and levers are on there is not much room left.
Check the bar diameter at the clamp spot, since bars taper. Rubber band mounts made for bicycles tend to let go on the first washboard section, so we use a damped cradle. Once it is on, swing the bars from one stop to the other. Something rubbing means it needs to move.
A phone covers most riders. A dedicated GPS only starts to pay off on big, remote trail networks.
Bags and a Small Trail Tool Kit
Storage is one thing electric dirt bikes almost never come with. A small bag solves it. Heavy tools belong low and central; hang a pound of wrenches off the bars and the steering goes lazy. Pack the bits that fit your own fasteners, a gauge, a mini pump and a puncture kit, and little else.
|
Bag type |
Good for |
Check before buying |
|
Handlebar bag |
Gloves, keys, pressure gauge |
Hose and display clearance at full lock |
|
Frame bag |
Tools, first aid kit |
Suspension travel and fastener access |
|
Battery cover bag |
Phone, snacks, cable |
Battery removal and charge port access |
Locks, Alarms and Trackers
Two people can lift a 126 lb bike into a truck bed in a few seconds. That is why we never rely on one lock. Layering is also what the National Insurance Crime Bureau recommends for motorcycles.
|
Layer |
What it does |
Setup note |
|
Heavy chain or motorcycle lock |
Stops rolling and lifting |
Frame to a fixed object, chain off the ground |
|
Disc lock |
Blocks the front wheel |
Use a reminder cable before riding off |
|
Motion alarm |
Draws attention during tampering |
Set sensitivity so wind on a cover is ignored |
|
Hidden GPS tracker |
Helps recovery after theft |
Add its battery to routine checks |
Transport Gear Rated for the Bike
A bicycle hitch rack was never designed for this kind of weight. The carrier, the receiver and the vehicle's tongue weight limit all need to cover the bike and the carrier together.
|
Warning Hitch carriers put the bike behind the receiver. With 143 lb of EM-5 Pro out there, the rating on the hitch label matters more than the size of the hole. |
A wide ramp gives you room to fix it when the front wheel wanders. Soft loops go around the bars so the hooks never touch the grips. We compress the suspension slightly when strapping down and stop to check the straps after the first few miles.
Chargers: Where "Universal" Gets Risky
Having a spare charger at a second address is convenient. A generic one bought because the plug looks right is a different story. In September 2024 the CPSC issued a universal charger warning and said to stick with the original or an approved replacement. Fitting the socket proves nothing about voltage.
|
Model |
Charger spec |
Charge time |
|
EM-5 |
48V 5A (UL listed 48V EM5 charger) |
7 to 8 h |
|
EM-5 Pro |
67.2V 5A |
7 to 8 h |
|
EM23 |
67.2V 5A |
6 to 7 h |
Charge while you are home and awake. Never overnight.
Accessory Priorities by Terrain
The right order also shifts with where you ride.
|
Terrain |
Move up the list |
Can wait |
|
Slickrock and ledges around Moab |
Skid plate, rotor guards, handguards, puncture kit |
Large frame bags |
|
Tight singletrack in Pisgah National Forest |
Handguards, compact tool roll |
Bulky phone cradle |
|
Long Mojave fire road loops |
Mount, water, bag, pump |
Heavy armor |
|
Frequent truck or trailer trips |
Ramp, rated straps, soft loops |
Cosmetic parts |
Upgrades That Can Wait
Bars, pegs, brakes, suspension, controllers and bigger batteries can all be worth it later. The test we use is simple: can you name the problem the part fixes? If your feet slide off the pegs when standing, wider pegs make sense. If the stock pads fade on the descents you ride every week, the EM-5 Pro front
and rear pads are sold as direct replacements. Set sag and preload per the user manual for your model before shopping for suspension parts. Controllers and higher voltage batteries come last, since they stress the whole electrical system at once.
Some riders know from day one that they want more output. For them it makes more sense to compare the full lineup than to modify a smaller bike. The EM-5 Pro is an 18+ model with a 60V geared motor that already makes 5,600W peak and 177 lb-ft.
Conclusion
If we had to sum it up: buy for problems you know you will have. For most new owners that means the stand and guards first, then a mount and a bag. Security and proper transport gear follow close behind, along with the charger built for your battery.
After that, ride for a few weeks before buying anything else. That is usually enough time to see which upgrade, if any, is worth the money, whether your garage holds Valtinsu electric dirt bikes or another brand.
FAQs
What are the must-have accessories for an electric dirt bike?
Start with what you wear. A DOT off-road helmet with goggles comes first, then gloves and boots over the ankle, as NHTSA's motorcycle safety guidance suggests. For the bike, we would buy a stand and terrain guards before anything else. If you haul it to trails, a rated carrier belongs on that list too.
What are the best modifications for an electric dirt bike?
Whatever fixes a problem you have already felt on the trail. For a lot of riders that turns out to be brake pads or wider pegs rather than a new controller. Until you can say what is wrong, keep your money.
Can I use a universal charger on an electric dirt bike?
Only when it has been approved for that specific battery. The CPSC warns that a plug that fits does not make a charger safe to use. The EM-5 uses a 48V 5A charger, and the EM-5 Pro a 67.2V 5A unit.
Do bicycle racks work for electric dirt bikes?
In most cases, no. Valtinsu models weigh between 126 and 143 lb, which is more than most bicycle racks are rated to carry per bike. A motorcycle or powersports carrier rated above the bike's weight is the safer choice, as long as your hitch and tongue weight limits allow it.
What should I carry in an electric dirt bike tool bag?
Not much. The bits that match your fasteners, a gauge, a mini pump and a puncture kit for your tires cover most trail fixes. Zip ties are worth the few grams.
Are universal phone mounts safe on an electric dirt bike?
Usually. Check the bar diameter where it clamps and go with a damped cradle. Then turn the bars all the way; a mount that hits a hose needs moving.
How do I stop my electric dirt bike from being stolen?
One lock is not enough. Chain the frame to something fixed and hide a GPS tracker somewhere unexpected. NICB adds two more: park where people are, and cover the bike.
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