What is a Talaria Sting?
The first offering from Talaria Power Tech, the Sting is a 139-pound electric dirt bike producing 31.8 NM of torque from its 6000W air-cooled electric motor (Talaria Power Tech). Depending on your location, the Talaria Sting comes in two variations – both on and off-road. These are designated Sting MX and Sting L1E. The MX and the L1E variants are essentially the same. However, the L1E comes with additional gear to make it road-legal.
Acceleration is next level! With the lack of pistons, the power delivery of a Sting MX3 is instant. Twist the throttle and hear the hum of the PSMS (Permanent Magnet Synchronous Motor) mid-mounted engine. The lightweight alloy gearbox means no more belt breaks. It does, however, mean you will need to change the oil – unlike on the Sting’s main competitor, the Surron LBX – but this is a simple maintenance procedure compared to changing a belt.
Moving well away from the possibility of a ‘toy’ e-bike, the Talaria Sting is crafted from 6061 aluminum alloy and its lightweight yet sturdy feel can be attributed to this purpose-built frame. Most dealers sell the Talaria Sting with multiple options for the forks. Choose from DNM, RST, or Fastace, some of which have strong benefits in certain situations. Read why suspension choices are so important in this article
What is a Talaria Sting SX3 electric snow bike?
Built exactly like the Talaria Sting with one big difference. This cool machine is made for the snow! Replacing the wheels with a track system, you can turn your electric dirt bike into fun on the snow! The SX3 even comes with a set of wheels that you can use during the summer. The SX3 caught my attention and thought it was worth a mention; it can only be found in certain parts of the world. I have never seen one firsthand, and I have zero snow anywhere near me, which, I think, is why I’m intrigued! It appears Talaria has teamed up with the company Track n Go, which designs, develops, and manufactures products for the motorsports industries specifically for the snow. I wonder what this e-moto would feel like riding in the snow; I could only assume it could be similar to sand riding – but cold! Comment below if you have any first-hand experience; I would love to hear from you.
Why choose a Talaria? Where can you ride one?
Pro racers and weekend warriors can benefit from this versatile machine, albeit with a few modifications in certain situations. If you plan on commuting with your Talaria Sting and perhaps the welcoming dirt road here and there, this e-moto would be perfectly suitable, as is, with no changes. If you’re looking at taking to the skies and landing the jumps – or worse, flat landing – you will need to make a few modifications so you don’t end up with a broken motorcycle. There are many options for modding this e-moto, but out of the box, it will handle mostly anything the average rider wants to achieve – including snow if that’s the version you purchase!
The biggest question that is usually asked is: can you ride the Talaria Sting on the road? The short answer… no, not really, kinda… If you can get your hands on a street-legal version restricted to 30mph, you might have more luck. Depending on where you live and ride, your Talaria Sting might fall into the e-bike category. For many states in the USA, the speed is capped at a slower pace – restricted output from the factory. You may also need a valid driver’s license, be over a certain age and wear a helmet. Some states require e-bikes to have pedals. Pedal kits can be purchased from most dealers, but don’t expect to use them for exercise. These kits are mainly sold to make it appear more electric bike-like and comply with local laws.
As always with any electric dirt bike, check your local laws before your ride to avoid any fines. And if you do some of your own modifications that increase the speed, just be sensible and safe.
If you feel the need to go faster on the road and you want to make your Talaria Sting street legal in the United States check out GritShift’s sister company, Dirt Legal and the guys can get you sorted with the proper licensing so that you can turn heads for the right reasons.
Is Talaria Sting better than a Surron?
Is the Talaria Sting better than the Sur Ron LBX? This is a controversial topic as every rider has a preference. If you’re considering buying or changing e-motos, I’ll list below some of the most significant differences and also include opinions from the GritShift boys who personally own a Talaria Sting.
From the data alone, both the Talaria Sting and the Surron LBX are very similar—same wheel size, similar suspension, similar size overall. The most significant difference is the weight distribution and frame size, which makes each e-moto unique. The Talaria Sting frame is physically wider, which makes it feel more sturdy.
It’s pretty unanimous on the frame ergonomics when put to the GritShift team. Warehouse manager Cody “loves the frame on the Talaria as it is wider and overall feels better when riding on the tracks and trails.” R&D pro Rusty mentioned “the frame ergonomics feel much better” and GritShift boss Josh said, “it (the frame) just feels better.” However, Josh also said “But if I were to choose, I’d pick a Sur Ron Light Bee over the Talaria Sting. I really like the nimble and playful feeling the Light Bee has”, enforcing the fact that dirt bike choices are a personal preference.
Regen is slightly different between models. If you’re new to the electric dirt bike world, regen is when power is transferred back into the battery from the energy created from braking. This technology also gives the e-moto some resistance when braking. Think two stroke vs four stroke on braking feel. The Talaria Sting has options to adjust the regen levels more easily as you have the ability to change the settings on the track.
The gearbox is different in the Talaria Sting to the Sur Ron. So different that it uses a sealed gearbox without a belt.Pros: no more breaking belts. Cons: Oil changes are required but are easier than belt replacements. “The best part about the Talaria Sting is there is no primary and secondary drive; it’s gearbox driven, no jackshaft, which creates less maintenance by eliminating the hassle of belts braking or primary chain drive kits snapping while riding,” Cody mentioned.
One thing to state here is that we are comparing stock e-motos; that is, how they would arrive straight from the factory. The Talaria is newer. However upgraded parts are almost on par with Sur Ron aftermarket parts. Browse through the GritShift Talaria section here to see just how many options you have today!
Cost must be considered when deciding between the Talaria Sting and the Sur Ron. At roughly $3800 at the time of writing, the Sting is cheaper than the Sur Ron. Which e-moto is better? If you owned either of these electric dirt bikes, you would definitely have a smile on your face! Look at what is in stock when you’re ready to buy, and also consider the second-hand market. You may find your perfect machine that already has your chosen upgrades.
Changing the Oil on a Talaria Sting MX3
Owning a Talaria Sting does require changing the oil, every 1000kms (Talaria Manual) which may sound like extra work. Not only that, but when the Sting was first released, the oil change procedure was incorrectly described- leading to a dangerous situation of owners underfilling and potentially damaging their e-moto. This has since long been rectified and oil changes are quick and simple.
If you would like step by step instructions from GritShift HQ, click the link here to read the article. (Coming soon – Subscribe to the Newsletter to be Notified)
Modifying a Talaria Sting – Where to Start
Being a newer e-moto than the Sur Ron, the Talaria Sting didn’t start off with a massive selection of aftermarket upgrades. However, the range is growing daily, especially here at GritShift.
When you first get your Talaria Sting, ride it as is! Get a feel of what your new steed is capable of. This way, when you start making changes, you’ll know what actually feels better. The first mods to consider would be to upgrade the sprocket to a 54T, then linkage triangle and rear shock. The front fork is already pretty good, so concentrate on the rear shock first if you’re limited on funds. In fact, a common mod to the Sur Ron is to upgrade the front forks to Talaria forks!
Secondly, the common theme from the GritShift team (myself included) is to upgrade the brakes. A team favorite is the Hayes Dominion A4 to ensure constant and reliable stopping power thanks to the DOT fluid. If you want to brush up on your brake knowledge, stop by this article (sorry, not sorry for the bad pun!) Once you have the ability to pull up on a dime, reliably, only then should you look at the power. In the words of Cody, “To add some pep and give you an overall control and customization of the bike’s throttle response and other things, upgrading the controller would also be ideal”, or simply put, in Rusty’s words: “MO powwaa!!”
This is what GritShift’s head guy, Josh is currently running on his personal Talaria Sting:
- Forks: KTM 85 forks
- Wheels: 19/16 Wheels
- Rear Suspension: Vonkat Rear Shock
- Controller: KO Nano
- Seat: KTM Freeride seat
- Motor: OEM
- Linkage and triangle: GritShift
- Sprocket: 54T
- Brakes: Hayes A4
If your bank account isn’t exactly happy with you putting all these upgrades on your shopping list, and you want to have an idea where to start on the modding process, follow this suggested order:
- Look at changing the gearing, and upgrading to a 54 tooth sprocket.
- Upgrade the linkage and triangle.
- Upgrade the rear suspension.
- Do something about your stopping ability – upgrade the brakes for reliability.
- Increase that power!
Different Talaria models
After only offering the Sting MX3 for years, Talaria released two new models in short order: the updated Sting MX4 and the completely different 3X (or XXX).
- Aimed more at on-road commuters, the value-packed XXX provides 5500w max power on a lightweight frame.
- The next release from Talaria was the Talaria Sting R, also known as the MX4. The most significant differences between these models are the increase in nominal power and a higher top speed.
If you’re in the market for a top-quality, fun e-moto that is a great all-rounder stock and even more fun to upgrade, then the Talaria Sting should be on your radar. As a great comparative e-moto to the Sur Ron, the Talaria Sting would make any dirt bike rider happy. Aftermarket parts are growing daily, and the base model Talaria Sting is also constantly improving as customers’ feedback is taken seriously.
Making a fantastic track or trails dirtbike, or taking advantage of the sturdy frame and tripling the jumps with a few mods, the Talaria Sting won’t disappoint. As soon as you’ve got yours in your sight (or before, if you’re organized!), head to GritShift to stock up on quality parts that have been thoroughly tested. If you don’t believe me, head to GritShift’s Instagram page to see what the boys and girls do to these e-motos!
Leave a Reply