Words: Mrinmoy Choudhury | Photography: Mrinmoy Choudhury, VIDA
Children grow up fast, and parents are the witnesses to it. My mother, for instance, still holds on to some of the baby clothes I wore when I was six months old. I outgrew my toys, my pedal tricycle, and even my first bicycle, all within just a few short years. VIDA invited us to a dirt track, but this time, I wasn’t there to ride. Instead, I watched children take laps around it.
VIDA, the electric two-wheeler arm of Hero MotoCorp, has launched the Dirt.E K3 electric motorcycle, designed for children with a fascination for two wheels. This model is slightly different – it grows along with the child. For enthusiastic kids, or parents looking to introduce them to motorcycling, there is a common dilemma – buying a mini bike that the child will outgrow in just a couple of years. The Dirt.E K3 attempts to address this challenge with adjustable settings tailored to a child’s height and skill level. With three easy-to-adjust positions, the bike can be used over several years, and all adjustments require nothing more than a simple Allen key.
The Dirt.E K3 is designed for both usability and safety. It comes with 16-inch wire-spoke wheels fitted with dirt tyres, and a mobile app (under parental control) for locking ride modes and monitoring early training sessions. Removable footpegs allow the bike to double as a balance bike in the initial learning phase. It is powered by a 360Wh removable, weather-sealed battery pack, paired with a 350W continuous / 500W peak hub motor and a hydraulic rear disc brake with a safety cover. The adjustable frame can be set to small, medium, or large heights, which also increases the seat height and wheelbase in the medium and large settings. The brake lever is adjustable, while the chest impact pad and magnetic lanyard kill-switch provide a quick cut-off in case of a fall, adding an additional layer of safety.
As children gain more confidence and skill, the bike can be upgraded with optional accessories, including a front and rear suspension kit and a front brake kit. These additions allow the young rider to adapt the bike to more challenging conditions. On the dirt track, it was noticeable how the adjustable frame and intuitive controls allowed children of different sizes and abilities to ride comfortably.
Priced at ₹69,990 for the first 300 units, the Dirt.E K3 is available in three colours – red, white, and purple. Observing the kids, it became clear that this is more than just an electric bike, it is a platform that grows with a child’s abilities, providing a controlled yet enjoyable introduction to motorcycling.
