Dust Moto: From PubTalk to LiveWire

When Dust Moto appeared on the PubTalk stage in 2023, the Bend startup was still in the early chapters of its story. Founder and CEO Colin Godby shared with the audience a vision for a different kind of electric motorcycle company, one that invited riders into the development process and challenged assumptions about what electric dirt bikes could be.

As the company gained momentum, EDCO helped connect Dust Moto with investors while supporting its growth in Central Oregon. Those early connections came at a pivotal time as the team worked to transform an idea into a motorcycle people could actually ride.

Dust Moto carved out its place in the market by focusing on the riding experience. The company wasn't trying to replicate the traditional dirt bike industry. Instead, it set out to create an electric motorcycle that felt intuitive from the moment a rider threw a leg over the seat.

That approach generated attention far beyond Central Oregon.

In 2026, LiveWire, the electric motorcycle company backed by Harley-Davidson, acquired Dust Moto. The deal pairs Dust Moto's product platform with a company that has the resources and reach to bring the technology to a much larger audience.

Following the acquisition, EDCO met with Godby to discuss the road ahead. The conversation included opportunities to take advantage of shared production resources through LiveWire while also exploring ways regional businesses could help solve shipping and logistics challenges as manufacturing scales.

Dust Moto's story acts as a reminder that startup success rarely arrives all at once. Long before the acquisition announcement, the company spent years refining its product, building relationships, and earning credibility in a highly competitive industry.

From a PubTalk presentation to a working motorcycle. From a growing startup in Bend to an acquisition by one of the biggest names in motorcycling.

Dust Moto's journey shows what's possible when ambitious founders find the support they need to keep moving forward. 

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