I kept hearing about the Sur Ron electric bike, especially the Light Bee, but didn’t really understand the hype until I actually got on one a few weeks back. First impression: it doesn’t feel like a bicycle or a full-size motorcycleit’s somewhere in between, and that’s what makes it interesting.
The model I tried was the Light Bee X. It weighs only around 57 kg, so moving it around feels effortless compared to a dirt bike. Once you twist the throttle though, the 8 kW motor kicks in and suddenly you’re flying up to about 45–46 mph. I was honestly surprised how much torque it has for the size. The battery gave me close to 70 km of mixed riding, which was plenty for a day out.
Price-wise, new ones are sitting at around $4,400 USD, and I’d say that’s fair considering the build quality. For someone who doesn’t want the noise and maintenance of a gas bike but still wants off-road fun, it really hits the spot.
I also checked out the Ultra Bee at a dealermuch bigger, more like a “real” dirt bike. It’s nearly twice the power with a 21 kW motor, top speed close to 95 km/h, and the price jumps to around $6,500 USD. Honestly, unless you’re planning to ride steep trails or just love speed, the Light Bee feels like enough for most people.
The Storm Bee is the top model (close to $9,000 USD), but to me that seems like it belongs more on a track or with serious riders.