Are you looking for an electric dirt bike that’s bigger than the original Surron LBX, yet not in the category of ‘full-sized’ e-motos? This is where the Surron Ultra Bee comes into play. It’s a larger, more powerful e-moto that somewhat retains that flickable, nimble ride feel of the traditional mid-sized e-motos like the LBX.
Or does it?
If you’re looking for a larger electric dirt bike, what do you want it to feel like? Is it a playful machine that has crazy top speeds, or do you want a complete replacement for your 250 or 450 gasser?
At just under $7,000, the Surron Ultra Bee is a fair bit more expensive than the LBX. In a similar category, you’ll find the Talaria Sting MX5 Pro, the E Ride Pro SS 3.0. So, you may be thinking, what are the other available options? Is the Surron Ultra Bee the best value for money, or is it just a larger LBX?
Let’s look at the Surron Ultra Bee – and specifically, the 2025+ Ultra Bee with 21kW. We’ll compare it with the Talaria Sting MX5 Pro and the E Ride Pro 3.0, both 2025 models, to work out what you’re really after in an electric dirt bike.
The Ultra Bee, MX5 and E Ride Pro 3.0
The stats on each of these e-motos are easy to find, so what we really need to work out is which bike is the right one for you based on the ride feel. The Ultra Bee has the most power, but it is also heavier. The top speed across the board is similar. The biggest standout is the size. The Ultra Bee is simply bigger and heavier.
In short, all of these bikes have a similar top speed, performance, but the Ultra Bee remains the bigger bike – according to the physical size.
Does size matter?
It depends on what you want the ride to feel like.
The Ultra Bee is still a long way from being a full sized dirt bike, but it’s more roomy than the standard ‘midsized’ e-motos like the Surron LBX or even the MX4 or E Ride Pro.
Here are the stats on the Surron LBX for comparison between the larger Ultra Bee and the LBX, for reference:
What are you looking for in your e-moto? To work out the best bike to match your style, we need to dive deeper into a few facts and figures.
Let’s look at each section in detail so you can make those decisions:
Ultra Bee vs. MX5 vs. Pro 3.0: Power & Performance
Surron Ultra Bee
- 21kW Peak Power
- 18kW continuous
- Eco/Daily/Sports/Crawl/Reverse and Turbo modes
- Top Speed of 59mph
- Range: 71.5 miles at 31mph
Talaria Sting MX5 Pro
- 13.4kW Peak Power
- 5.5kW continuous
- Top Speed of 59mph
- Range: 61 miles at 15mph
E Ride Pro SS 3.0
- 15.8kW Peak Power
- 6kW continuous
- Top Speed of 62mph
- Range: 64 miles at 25mph
The Ultra Bee has the highest performance at 21kW peak power, but has a similar top speed to both the MX5 and the E Ride Pro 3.0. You could argue that the MX5 and E Ride Pro 3.0 feel faster, as anything feels faster when you’re closer to the ground!
The range is hard to gauge on any e-moto. It depends on the terrain, ride style, and even the weather, which can vary the outcome. Most manufacturers do range testing on a closed course, and as you can see, they are all done at different speeds! It is better to go on the battery capacity to get a rough idea; keep in mind that this figure is really subjective.
As a quick reminder, the more amp hours, the higher the ‘capacity’ of the battery. Read this article here if you would like to refresh your memory on how batteries work in e-motos. Of course, the battery can empty more quickly if more power is being drawn. Just like emptying your tank of gas quicker if you keep it pinned.
Ultra Bee vs. MX5 vs. Pro 3.0: Ergos & Handling
Surron Ultra Bee
- Front Tire: 80/100-19”
- Rear Tire: 100/90-18”
- Forks: 9.4” of usable travel with compression and rebound adjustments
- Rear suspension: 3.3” of travel with 9.4” of rear wheel travel
Talaria Sting MX5 Pro
- Front Tire: 70/100-19”
- Rear Tire: 80/100-19”
- Forks: Adjustable air and dual spring with 220mm travel
- Rear suspension: Adjustable with 85mm travel and linkage
E Ride Pro SS 3.0
- Front Tire: 2.75-19”
- Rear Tire: 3.0-18”
- Forks: Fastace adjustable
- Rear suspension: Fastace adjustable
The Ultra Bee, Sting, and E Ride Pro have adjustable forks and rear suspension. The Ultra Bee has a slightly longer fork travel at 9.4” compared to the Sting MX5 with 8.6” of travel.
Tire Size Matters
The Surron and the E Ride Pro both have 19” tires on the front and 18” on the rear, while the Talaria MX5 has 19” front and rear. There isn’t a right or wrong here. It comes down to personal preference and where and how you ride.
All of these bikes come stock with dirt off-road tires. This is one of my first mods on any bike I’ve owned. The tire that comes with your bike will be perfect to get you started until you work out what terrain you prefer.
This article explains those nuances in greater detail:
As a quick example, most of our team prefers the 19/16 setup on the E Ride Pro, achieved by changing the stock rear wheel to a 16” size. This gives more low-end torque and even faster acceleration.
Ultra Bee vs. MX5 vs. Pro 3.0: Build Quality & Design
Surron Ultra Bee
- Carbon fiber belt primary system
- 2.5 hours charge time to 80%
- Second Generation Ultra Bee HairPin motor
- Traction Control with selectable levels
Talaria Sting MX5 Pro
- Primary transmission is via a gearbox
- 3 Ride modes, including hyper performance mode
- CNC-machined footpegs, in black
E Ride Pro SS 3.0
- Advanced Battery Management System
- 3.5 hours charge time to 90%
- Available online from GritShift
All three of these e-motos are built to a high standard and offer good warranties, which can be interpreted as each company backing its build. The Surron Ultra Bee, Talaria Sting MX5, and the E Ride Pro 3.0 all have a 12-month warranty. Check with your authorized dealer for the finer details, but generally, a warranty comes with unlimited mileage for the original owner.
One of the biggest differences between these 3 bikes, apart from the size, is how the torque is transferred to the rear wheel. The Ultra Bee has a carbon fiber belt and pulley system for the main drive, the Talaria Sting has a gearbox, and the E Ride has a belt system. Again, there are pros and cons to each system, but for most riders, the systems are well suited to each bike.
It’s only when you start riding outside the capabilities of the bike that it becomes a potential problem – breaking a gearbox is unlikely, but you’ll want to keep an eye on the belt and jackshaft on the belt-driven models. Gearboxes require oil changes, belts require belt changes. Pick your poison.
One of the unique features of the Surron Ultra Bee is the ability to carry the charger under the seat. I’m not sure why you’d want to, but the option is there! I guess if you’re out and about, you can have a 2 hour coffee while your bike adds a bit of charge to get you home.
The Ultra Bee and the E Ride Pro have a corresponding app where you can change some parameters and view performance information.
Which E-Moto is Best?
Surron Ultra Bee
Yes:
It has the Surron name – the longest running e-moto brand, and we know they’re reliable when ridden within their limits. It is the most ‘dirt bike’ like in terms of ride feel without going that next step to something even larger like a Stark Varg. It has a good amount of power, and quality components. With a few minor upgrades, you could compete with gas dirt bikes and keep up.
No:
The cost is significantly more than the other e-motos that we’re comparing. If you’re after that true mid-sized flickable e-moto ride feel, this isn’t the e-moto for you.
Talaria Sting MX5 Pro
Yes:
Talaria is a well known brand with quality e-motos. The MX5 Pro is the cheapest out of the 3 e-motos in this comparison, making it easier for people to enter the e-moto world. It has that flickable, nimble feel that draws many riders to e-motos in the first place.
No:
If it’s raw power and top speed you’re after, the MX5 Pro has the lowest of both in this group. The gearbox could be in the yes or no category, depending on your personal preference. It does mean you’ll need slightly more maintenance, but it can run slightly quieter than the other e-motos and you won’t randomly break a belt while you’re out in the field.
E Ride Pro SS 3.0
Yes:
Representing all-round good value, the E Ride Pro 3.0 is a good combination of price vs capabilities. It has a great ride feel, good power at a reasonable price.
No:
If it’s a bigger dirt bike feel that you’re after, the E Ride Pro is the smallest e-moto here. Not necessarily a bad thing, again, it just depends on what you’re after.
Which Bike Would Our Team Choose?
If you’re getting out and about on an e-moto, you’re winning. Within our team of competitive riders, we all ride different bikes. The E Ride Pro SS is a favorite amongst most of us, but it just comes down to what you want to get out of your bike.
For a ‘dirt bike’ feel that’s close to a gas bike, the Ultra Bee is the best bet. The E Ride Pro and MX5 are fast, nimble machines, but are still smaller. Just remember, they’re far from ‘toys’ at 60mph top speed; these are real electric dirt bikes made for adults, not a Surron LBX with big power added to a small frame.
We have aftermarket parts for all e-motos, so whatever bike you go with, we’re here for you for any upgrades you do in the future. We’re also E Ride Pro dealers, which means we help make it easy from the initial purchase to any questions you have in the future. If you decide on a Talaria or Surron, just make sure you purchase it from an authorised dealer. Talaria or Surron will not cover any warranties if you don’t. Ask us how we know!
For any questions on the E Ride Pro, or parts for your e-moto, feel free to have a chat with us to work out the best option for you.
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