Finding places to legally ride your off-road electric bike in the UK can be challenging. This guide covers the main categories of riding locations and well-established venues where electric motorcycles and off-road e-bikes are permitted.
Important: Venue policies, opening hours, and restrictions change. Always verify directly with the venue before travelling contact details are below for each location mentioned.
Your Own Private Land
The most legally simple option: if you own or have explicit permission to ride on private land, you can ride your off-road electric bike without any licence, registration, or insurance requirement. You must still comply with health and safety obligations (don’t endanger others on the land). No planning permission is required for casual recreational riding, though building a permanent motocross track may require it.
Motocross Tracks
Many established UK motocross tracks have welcomed electric bikes in recent years. Because electric bikes produce far less noise than petrol-powered machines, they are often welcome even at tracks with sound restrictions. Always check before visiting some tracks have specific sessions for electric bikes, others allow them in general practice sessions.
The ACU (Auto-Cycle Union) maintains a directory of affiliated venues at acu.org.uk this is the most complete listing of sanctioned UK off-road riding locations. Many ACU-affiliated clubs run electric-friendly sessions and beginner days.
The British Trials and Motocross Association (AMCA) at amca.uk.com runs additional venues and events. Both organisations are the authoritative sources for finding legal riding locations near you.
Enduro and Trail Riding Clubs
The Trail Riders Fellowship (TRF) at trf.org.uk campaigns for legal off-road trail riding access and maintains information on legal byways open to all traffic (BOATs) and restricted byways. Electric bikes are legally permitted on the same public off-road routes as conventional motorcycles but only on designated legal routes, not footpaths or bridleways.
Forestry England Tracks
Forestry England manages several sites with legal off-road cycling trails. Motorised off-road bikes (including electric motorcycles) are generally not permitted on standard mountain bike trails in Forestry England land. However, some sites operate separate motorised off-road facilities check forestryengland.uk for details on specific sites and any permitted motorised areas.
Electric Bike Events and Riding Days
Electric off-road riding events are growing rapidly in the UK. The Electric Motocross Invitational and various Sur-Ron UK club days provide access to private land with organised sessions. Follow the Sur-Ron UK Facebook group (search “Sur-Ron UK Light Bee”) and the Talaria UK community groups these are the best sources of current event information.
Practical Tips
- Always call ahead don’t assume a track accepts electric bikes based on old reviews
- Bring your own charging equipment most venues don’t yet have EV charging infrastructure
- Electric bikes are often required to ride with petrol bikes in the same session noise levels make this practical at most venues
- ACU or AMCA membership is required at affiliated venues includes basic third-party liability
- Electric Motocross Racing UK
- Best Off-Road E-Bike Helmets UK
See also: Are electric dirt bikes legal in the UK Electric dirt bike insurance UK Sur-Ron Light Bee X Review