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For a while there, it looked like LiveWire was destined to end not with a bang but a whimper. If the brand’s recent acquisition of electric startup Dust Moto says anything, it seemingly isn’t ready to go gentle into that good night.
Harley-Davidson’s electric offshoot purchased the Oregon-based company on Tuesday, citing its plan to “grow beyond on‑road electric motorcycles and address the rapidly expanding electric off‑road market.”
If Dust Moto isn’t ringing a bell, don’t worry, you’re not alone. Founded by UBCO alums Colin Godby and Jarett Volkoff in 2023, the firm specialized in electric dirt bike prototypes akin to the Stark VARG MX.
To attract investors, Dust Moto opened a WeFunder campaign, pitching its Hightail model as the “revolutionary electric dirt bike poised to define the market.” Those crowdfunding efforts raised $1,255,359 from 111 investors, but it wasn’t enough to produce a single motorcycle.
That will all change under LiveWire, with the brand establishing its plan to advance “Dust’s electric dirt bike platform toward production.” LiveWire’s engineering and manufacturing capabilities should go a long way in that quest, but it makes this writer wonder if the model will arrive unchanged from Dust Moto’s design. Well, aside from a switch to LiveWire branding, of course.
Given the Hightail’s claimed 32kW (42 horsepower), 75 mph top speed, and removable battery pack, that wouldn’t be such a bad thing. At the same time, a copy/paste approach would show just how desperate LiveWire is to enter the increasingly crowded and increasingly popular electric off-road segment. It’s easy to see why.
Dirt-bound and down(sizing)
Take one glance at the Dust Moto Hightail, and it’s clear who LiveWire has in its sights: Stark Future. The Barcelona-based firm has quickly become the poster child of the electric ranks. That’s what happens when you report record growth and profitability in 2025. Not to mention a 200% sales spike in January 2026 compared to the same month in 2025. Stark isn’t the only electric OEM publicizing sales success.
Zero Motorcycles revealed that it achieved 89% year-over-year sales growth in North American during 2025. The company’s X Line, which includes the approachably built and approachably priced XE and XB models, accounted for 30% of all North American sales. Those figures underscore a recent market trend. As opposed to the heavy and expensive flagship electrics, many e-moto makers (and their customers) are shifting toward smaller, lighter models. That includes LiveWire.
According to its filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission, the brand saw an increase of 68% in retail sales in the first quarter of 2026, but it still sold just 119 electric motorcycles during that period. Meanwhile, the company’s STACYC kids balance bikes moved nearly 4,000 units in the same timeframe. Further broadening the LiveWire's motorcycle lineup is the incoming S4 Honcho line, which is not only more accessible for a variety of (adult) riders, but will also serve as a more affordable entry point.
The acquisition of Dust Moto marks the latest diversification in LiveWire’s range. Considering the company's struggles in recent years, the news came as a bit of a surprise. However, LiveWire has been cutting costs, especially as it has fallen behind on its growth projections in recent years. It reported an operating loss of $17.7 million in the first quarter this year, which is actually an 11% improvement over its $19.8 million loss the year prior. Hey, any progress is good progress.
It should also be noted that LiveWire failed to list the purchase value of Dust Moto in its press materials. Nevertheless, LiveWire leadership is hopeful that the new acquisition can bring more value back to the brand when the firm’s first electric dirt bike debuts in the second half of 2026.
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