What is the Talaria X3
The Talaria X3, also known as the Talaria XXX, is the lightweight, agile e-moto that packs a punch in a smaller frame than other e-motos in its class. Made by the same company that brought you the well-known Talaria Sting, The Talaria X3 is built for those who want to commute and look cool. All at once.
Don’t let its small stature fool you, it still has a huge 60V 40ah battery with a peak power of 5.5kW. That means the Talaria X3 needs to be taken seriously. While it is well suited for a beginner rider, it still has many of the bells and whistles the larger Talaria e-motos contain. Suspension, regen braking, and more. With a top speed of 47 MPH, no wonder you must also be over 16 years of age in most states to ride the Talaria X3.
The biggest upside of the Talaria X3 is the price point. At the time of writing, the X3 can be found in the low $3000 range. However, with the popularity rising for this small but mighty e-moto, aftermarket parts are becoming more readily available.
But… the X3 has some limitations, you can’t get away with such an awesome small and nimble machine without sacrificing some things. Depending on what you want to use the Talaria X3 for, these might change your mind to either grab yourself a bargain or save up for its bigger brother.
What the Talaria X3 isn’t
The self-proclaimed ‘modern urban explorer’ from Talaria UK, with some countries even offering a road-legal version of the Talaria X3 (not the United States, sadly), this e-moto is best suited for the road or hard-packed easy trails through the woods.
But what isn’t the Talaria X3? It can’t be compared to a full size ICE dirt bike, or even truly compared to a mid-size e-moto like a Surron LBX. The feel of the XXX’s smaller frame gives it a quick, nimble response that resembles more of a pit bike. The Talaria X3 also isn’t a bike that I would be taking to the MX track and attempting sky high jumps. At least, not without a heap of modifications.
Let’s face it, this is a small e-moto. That is what it is designed for! To be playful around the streets, or to have fun on simple dirt tracks that don’t require the X3 to get airborne. The rear suspension linkage is simple, light and works well for street riding, but would be struggling on the MX tracks. If the suspension holds up, the frame might let you down and not survive a hard landing. We’ll look into the specifics later in this article, and if it is possible to mod your Talaria X3, or would you be trying to make it something it simply isn’t?
Talaria X3: Top speed and power stats
Before we talk anything more about what the Talaria X3 isn’t, I think we need to see what the Talaria X3 is. With a decent-sized battery, and ample output, the Talaria X3 certainly has some get up and go for your daily commute. At 31.7” tall, the seat height is slightly lower than the Sting R, which sits at 33.5”.
One cool feature is an integrated RFID ignition instead of the key start that many mid-sized e-motos use – this is something my GritShift coworkers like to add to any bike they get, and it now comes stock on the X3. No key, just hop on and go!
The Talaria X3 also weighs much less than the Talaria Sting R – around 20 pounds lighter. This is thanks to features such as the X3’s smaller frame and simplified rear suspension.
Differences between the Talaria X3 and similar e-motos
If you are considering choosing between the Talaria X3 and a larger e-moto, which most are, there are a few things to consider. The first is where do you want to ride? How do you want to ride – easy commuting or hard riding? Let’s look at some of the individual components to systematically see what each is suited for, based on physical design and what we’ve found when riding this e-moto.
Rear Suspension
Rear suspension on the Talaria X3 is direct to the swing arm. It doesn’t have a triangle linkage like the Sting or Surron. Instead, the progressive spring means no linkage, which is a simplified way of creating the rear suspension. The pros: Less moving parts to fail and lighter. The cons: Limited adjustability and lacks the travel required for bigger hits such as landing jumps/whoops/rough tracks.
Frame
Unlike the frame of the Talaria Sting, the frame of the Talaria X3 is made partly from the battery box, which is a cool, unique design. The battery box makes the frame, but this design leads to questions about its robustness as the aluminum is only 4mm thick and the hollow construction could be compromised during heavy loads such as hard landings on MX tracks, especially repetitively. So much so, as grown adults we’ve elected not to take the Talaria X3 to the track. That is saying something!
Rusty from GritShift R&D says: “The flat/hollow frame design of only 4mm aluminum is extremely sketchy for large load forces. It seems like it is nowhere near the strength for moto-style hits. It may work for a few, but I doubt the confidence will last long term.”
Battery removal
You will need to remove a bolt or quick release on the rear suspension to remove the X3’s battery (depending on the year of build). But do you really need to remove the battery? It can be charged while in the bike, and the design means the battery is snug – no battery movement or rattle while riding. The position of the battery also ensures it has the most chance of remaining undamaged during a tip-over. So, why remove it at all?
If you’re carrying spare batteries and intend to swap them during the day, this could lead to some annoyance. Otherwise, there wouldn’t be too many times you’d need to remove the battery on an X3 – a design win from our perspective.
Is the X3 going to break in half?
We’ve been fairly critical of the X3’s design from a durability standpoint, but remember we’re comparing it to bikes like the Surron LBX and Talaria’s own MX4, both of which are larger e-motos designed to withstand harder riding.
Could Jaxon Pascal set records in an arena on an X3 without breaking it? Probably not. But is the X3 sold at Wal-Mart? Also no.
The X3 is not designed for a grown-ass person to ride as hard as they would on a KTM Freeride or a big, heavy two-stroke, and that much is obvious just by looking at it. But compared to an LBX or an MX4? In stock form, the X3 isn’t the strongest e-moto out there, but you can get the most out of it with some basic mods.
Can you mod the Talaria X3?
Yes! Just like most e-motos, the Talaria X3 can be upgraded in many ways. The majority of mods that can be done are ergonomic, which helps tailor your e-moto to fit you perfectly. Additionally, some mods can be done to the power train – the controller, motor and battery – but due to how the battery is placed, you’re limited to a battery that is the same physical size as the stock battery. So like all the Tesla bros out there, if you want more out of your X3’s battery, you’ll be stuck waiting for battery tech to get better so you can finally ride that 51st mile.
Seat
Let’s cut right to it, the Talaria X3 doesn’t have a comfy seat, but let me explain a little… I haven’t found any e-moto yet, or ICE dirt bike for that matter, that has a lounge chair-like seat! I guess it makes you consider being up on the pegs more often! Otherwise, look at upgrading to an aftermarket seat which is built more for comfort.
Footpegs
Footpegs are another that need to be upgraded on the X3, again, like most e-motos straight from the factory.
Handlebars/Grips
Like all e-motos, the Handlebar height can be changed to suit your height and preference. While you’re looking at the handlebars, also look at the grips and change to something you’d prefer. We all have a preference! I like the pillow top grips and always try to match a color scheme!!
Pedal Kit
If you’re new to e-motos and wondering why I’ve included a pedal kit in this section, well… don’t think exercise. The pedal kit is more for show. More specifically, in some locations, the pedal kit turns this e-moto into a legal e-bike, providing you have kept the factory speed limit. Check your local laws to see if this applies to your location. We don’t suggest getting a pedal kit if you don’t need one for legal reasons.
Is the Talaria X3 better than a Surron?
Before you go and mod the Talaria X3, just consider why you want to mod. If you want to get more range and faster top speed, awesome. But if you want to mod to hit the jumps at the MX track, look at the frame design. Anything can be overcome and modded, but do you really want to spend a heap of money on a bike that has the type of frame the Talaria X3 has? Basically, what I’m alluding to is that the Talaria X3 is an awesome e-moto for the street and probably wouldn’t survive landing jumps at the MX tracks.
Is the Talaria X3 better than a Surron? Honestly, it’s not a fair comparison. They are two different e-motos. The Talaria X3 is smaller, and lighter, but can’t be modified to include huge batteries. But, what it lacks in frame strength and battery storage, it makes up for in simplicity. You won’t get any linkage bearing failures, no battery rattles, and the cost is way cheaper than the Surron or mid-sized e-motos.
Is the Talaria X3 the e-moto for me?
Buying an e-moto is a very personal experience. Don’t get a particular e-moto just because your mate has one. Think of why you want to ride, where do you want to ride, and will you intend to make big changes to your e-moto?
If you’re looking for a cost-efficient, fun, nimble bike and don’t want to take it to the MX tracks, check out the Talaria X3. You can’t beat the value for money on this e-moto. Better still, you might even have some money left over to personalize your X3! Just don’t go casing any big jumps unless you want to walk home.
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