- The Talaria models that utilize a gearbox are: The MX3, MX4, MX5, and Komodo. Other e-moto brands that use gearboxes include Arctic Leopard.
- Service Intervals: Generally, the essential break in oil change should be performed at 185 miles (300km), then followed by standard maintenance every 3100 miles (5000km).
- Gearboxes benefits: More robust than belt drive systems, eliminating the risk of belt snaps during hard riding.
- Vital Precautions: Skipping oil changes or using the wrong oil can lead to internal damage or gearbox seizure.
- Ease of Maintenance: Oil changes are simple and straightforward routine maintenance.
Changing the Oil on a Talaria Sting: Is it really that difficult?
Some say that the presence of oil makes the Sting a pain to maintain compared to other e-motos that have no oil at all.
This perception was exacerbated by the fact that when the Sting first launched, the user manual’s description of the oil change procedure led to people unknowingly underfilling their bikes and risking internal damage to the driveline.
Videos and other resources circulated to where even people who didn’t have a user manual were seeing this incorrect information, and before long, a bike that was already seen as more complex than its competitors had an air of shoddiness about it to boot.
Those days are long gone, and Talaria has come a long way since the very first MX3. As for that pesky oil issue, we’re here to tell you that changing the oil correctly on a Talaria Sting is extremely simple.
Before we go any further, we’re talking about the gearbox oil on your Talaria Sting. If you’re new to electric dirt bikes, you might not have stopped to think about how simple these bikes are compared to gas dirt bikes. It’s one of the bonuses of riding electric!
Check out this article that explains how the motor/controller/battery combo works:
Which Talaria models need the gearbox oil changed?
Talaria does things differently when it comes to transferring the power from the motor to the rear wheel. They use a gearbox to transfer power to the chain that drives the rear wheel.
Surron, E Ride and many other companies use a primary chain or belt from the motor to a jackshaft, which then transfers the power via the chain that most people are familiar with, to the rear wheel.
For a video that shows a Surron belt, to see the difference, check out this video:
Talaria models that utilise a gearbox:
- MX3 (Sting)
- MX4 (Sting R)
- MX5 (Sting R Pro)
- Komodo
The X3 and X3 Pro use a primary belt drive system, so they don’t require any oil changes.
For reference, the Arctic Leopard Pro range also uses a gearbox, so the guidelines here will also apply.
Steps to Changing Gearbox Oil
NOTE: This article is for information purposes only. Please consult your own user manual or contact your dealer if you have any questions.
Tools required:
- 17mm socket
- 5mm allen
- 4mm allen
- 10mm wrench
- Funnel
- A container to drain oil into
- Oil (correct specification)
Steps:
- Remove skid plate
- Remove the plastic cover over the motor
- Remove the bracket under the drain plug
- Place the container under the drain plug
- Use the wrench to open the drain plug
- Let the oil drain. Ensure the bike is level so all oil drains out. Open the top cap to let air in to help oil drain.
- Replace the drain plug
- Add oil
- Replace cap
- Replace the bracket, plastic cover, and skid plate
- Check that everything is on correctly
Here is a video we made to show this process for the Sting. For other brands of e-motos, the steps will be very similar.
Can I change the oil myself?
Yes, you can change the oil yourself, and generally, if you know what you’re doing, it won’t affect your warranty.
If you’re reading and watching this and still not sure what to do, contact your local dealer or bicycle shop, who can advise you on where to find a licensed technician to service your bike.
Whichever option you decide, make sure you follow the scheduled maintenance items in your user manual.
How often does the oil need to be changed?
Firstly, check your own user manual, as each brand has slightly different recommendations. However, typically, it is:
- 185miles (300km). The first change needs to happen rather quickly. This is referred to as the ‘break-in’ oil change. It ensures everything is working well together and any leftover metal filings from manufacturing are flushed out.
- After the break in oil change, change oil every 3100miles (5000km)
- Check the oil regularly to ensure the levels haven’t dropped.
Does having a gearbox change anything else about owning a Sting?
Changing the oil in a gearbox takes 5 minutes, every 3000 miles or so, so it doesn’t take much time. Pre-ride checks do include a quick glance at the sight gauge to check levels, but you don’t need to do anything – unless you notice the levels are low. Some riders prefer a gearbox, others prefer a chain/belt drive. They both have advantages and disadvantages.
Having a gearbox could be more robust, as the gears are strong and sealed away from dirt and dust, making them almost impossible to ‘snap’ as a belt could, especially on bikes with riders who challenge the limits! Replacing the oil is a relatively inexpensive maintenance cost.
However, some riders say that gearboxes make more noise than a belt drive. I wouldn’t say it’s anything significant. If you have a chain drive, that’s slightly noisier again. A gearbox can also be slightly heavier, although the weight is at the bottom of the bike, which could make it more stable.
“The best part about the Talaria Sting is that there are no primary and secondary drives; it’s gearbox driven, no jackshaft, which creates less maintenance by eliminating the hassle of belts breaking or primary chain drive kits snapping while riding.” – Cody
Riding an e-moto with a gearbox is identical to other types of drivetrains. Most riders wouldn’t notice the difference, apart from perhaps a slightly different sound.
What happens if you skip changes or run them long?
For a simple answer: don’t skip oil changes! It’s not worth the risk. Likewise, if you notice the oil levels dropping, top up with oil and investigate why the levels are dropping. Running any gears without lubrication ends in disaster.
The same thing applies if you think you’re being smart and replacing it with any oil. Oil comes in different thicknesses. It’s called viscosity. Think of a liquid like honey – it’s thick and gooey. Now think of a liquid like water – it’s runny. Viscosity describes the thickness of the oil. Manufacturers work out how thick the oil needs to be for their components, and give it a particular number. You’ll find this number in your user manual.
But, what would anything really happen if I skip the oil changes?
If you’re lucky, the oil will just keep doing its thing, and protect the gears to some extent. The oil might get extra think if it picks up contaminants, so it won’t work as well as it should, but it will do something to protect the gears.
The issue is if the oil runs low or empty – which can, and generally will happen over time. Then you’re back to running gears with no lubrication. Not good. I would highly recommend not doing this – you’ll end up needing a new gearbox, or worse if it seizes while you’re riding.
Will oil leak out if I lie my bike on its side?
One of the drawcards for owning an e-moto is the ability to be able to transport them in almost any way. If you’re thinking of transporting your bike on its side, having runny oil in a gearbox can change things. However, all you need to do is check the clip is on the gearbox vent pipe and this will prevent the gear oil from leaking out.
Just remember to open the vent pipe before riding. Check your user manual for specifics on your bike.
Which is better? Gearbox or Belt?
There really isn’t any drivetrain that is better. They’re both good for different reasons. We have a mixture of gearbox and belt drives throughout our team’s bikes here at GritShift. For us, it isn’t a make or break idea when it comes to choosing an e-moto. There are many other things to look for first, before wondering if we should get an e-moto with a gearbox or not.
Gearbox oil maintenance is usually the first question that most riders have. As you can see from this article, maintenance is very little – in fact, I would think that an oil change would be far easier than a belt change if one snaps!
Whatever bike you have, just get out and ride! If you need any parts or spares, have a look at our website. Any purchase you make helps support the creation of these free information articles, and also helps support our inhouse R&D department to create new and exciting parts.
Leave a Reply