2024 SURRON TEST: ULTRA BEE & STORM BEE ELECTRIC TRAIL BIKES

 Sleek and powerful, the Surron Ultra Bee flies by the Storm Bee.

Q: IS SURRON TRYING TO TAKE OVER THE MOTOCROSS INDUSTRY?

A: No, Surron seeks to be an asset to the motocross community not to compete directly against two-strokes and four-strokes and not to replace internal-combustion-engine bikes, but to  fit into their own subcategory, creating new motorcycle riders and new opportunities for experienced riders to play ride. 

The founders of Surron are passionate about riding, embracing both combustion and electric bikes. Their factory is in Chongqing, China, and Surron wants to build a high-quality product that will last. Surron believes that fostering a love for riding, whether it be motocross or street riding, is essential, and they make it a company policy that each employee actively rides motorcycles. If they don’t own a motorcycle, they can borrow one from the extensive motorcycle loan pool at Surron. They have more motorcycles than employees at Surron, and they had over 200 employees at the time of this test. 

Since Surron first started selling e-moto bikes in 2017, they have sold over 120,000 units worldwide as of the end of 2023. Previously, Surrons were available online, but they’ve completely pulled back on their internet sales and instead have invested in brick-and-mortar dealerships. There are over 80 dealers in the U.S. carrying an inventory of bikes and parts. Surron recognized they could make sales quicker online; however, long-term sustainability for the brand, as well as the user experience, is better when there are physical dealerships in place with employees who are willing and able to help Surron riders with their purchases.

2024 SURRON ULTRA BEE

Surron started in December of 2014, and the Light Bee e-moto first came out in 2017, but it didn’t make it to the U.S. market until 2018. The Light Bee is Surron’s flagship model, and it’s responsible for making Surron a household name. When this bike was brought to the U.S. in 2018, no other brand made electric bikes like it. Now, multiple manufacturers have popped up, copying the Surron Light Bee’s concept, size and style. Surron created this new market of unique-looking motorcycles with an exposed frame, battery and motor. The Light Bee has a 19-inch front wheel and a 14-inch rear wheel. It weighs 103 pounds and retails for $4500. MXA didn’t test the Light Bee.

Next in line after the Light Bee is the Ultra Bee. It was introduced in 2023 and is the big brother of the Light Bee. It looks very similar, only it’s bigger, with 19-inch wheels front and rear. It weighs 187 pounds and has a peak torque of 44 N/m compared to the Light Bee’s peak torque of 39 N/m. 

Thanks to multiple map settings for the Surron Ultra Bee (left),  this bike can be tailored to any rider. A little bit on the heavy side, the Surron Storm Bee (right) is more like a full-sized motorcycle and may be preferred by the rider with more experience.

Q: HOW IS THE SURRON ULTRA BEE ON THE TRACK?

A: At 187 pounds, it is almost 20 pounds heavier than a stock Kawasaki KX85, but the power produced by the Ultra Bee makes it feel lighter than it is. We suggest that Surron spec future Ultra Bees with a  21/18 tire combo. We also recommend a larger 54-tooth rear sprocket to take some load off the motor. This would decrease top speed, but it would make the bike much more proficient on the track and on tight, twisty trails. 

The Ultra Bee has disc brakes with strong stopping power in all conditions, but they are both hand-operated. The rear shock utilizes a linkage, and the forks were updated for this 2024 model. We were pleasantly surprised with the suspension hold-up. We could ride the bike at speed and absorb hits on longer jumps better than expected. The overall feel was very comfortable and enjoyable right from the get-go.

Q: WHAT DID WE LIKE ABOUT THE SURRON ULTRA BEE?

A: One of the nice features of the Ultra Bee is the ability to manipulate map settings. The torque on this model cannot be denied. It can have a lot of snap and get up to speed quickly if set in the Sport mode. Of course, being an electric bike, it’s also easy to modulate the transition of power and detune it with Eco mode and Drive mode. On the dashboard screen, you can adjust throttle response and engine braking, as well as the many safety features the bike comes with. 

We loved the under-the-seat storage compartment. It is spacious enough to fit the entire charger. The charger plugs into a standard outlet and will take about four to six hours to fully charge the battery. We also appreciate that the battery on both the Ultra Bee and Storm Bee have smart computers built in to manage and optimize the charging process. 

Q: WHAT DID WE HATE ABOUT THE SURRON ULTRA BEE?

A: One thing to note is that the Ultra Bee did not ride like a full-sized dirt bike on the track. Though it could get around the full National track at Glen Helen, it wasn’t designed for it. The Ultra Bee struggled in the soft dirt and on long straightaways. It’s meant for smaller backyard tracks and riding on tighter trails, not wide-open motocross tracks. We found that adding an 18-inch rear wheel and 21-inch front helped balance out the chassis, giving the bike a little more stability and improving comfort for all of our test riders. The standard 19-inch wheelset performs well on smaller tracks and for smaller riders, but in more challenging terrain, a 21/18 combo is better. 

Another point of consideration is brake sensitivity. Instead of offering gradual deceleration as you apply more pressure to the levers, the brakes tend to lock up unexpectedly and skid the rear wheel.

The throttle response and torque of the Surron Ultra Bee allow you to blast through turns easily.

Q: WHAT DID WE REALLY THINK ABOUT THE SURRON ULTRA BEE?

A: This bike is an excellent entry point into motorcycle riding. It’s important to note, however, that it is not intended for street use. Surron has single-handedly created the two-wheeled category of bikes called “e-moto.” It’s not considered an e-bike (because it’s smaller and slower than a Stark or Alta), and it’s also not a bicycle. Thanks to its wide range of features, the Ultra Bee caters to users from beginners to pros, offering an accessible and enjoyable riding experience for both. The battery lasted for about 20 miles of rigorous use for our test riders, equivalent to roughly two hours of continuous riding on a small backyard track. The throttle response stayed the same throughout the ride until the battery dropped to 10 percent, then the throttle response began to slow down. The range of customizable settings is great, so users can tailor their bike setup to their liking.

Powerful enough to get you out of tough situations, the Surron Storm Bee feels much more like a gas-powered motorcycle but still maintains the electric throttle response.

2024 SURRON STORM BEE

The Surron Storm Bee was first seen as a prototype in 2020, but it didn’t officially become available to the public until 2023. With a 21-inch front wheel and 18-inch rear, this model closely resembles a full-sized motorcycle in size and appearance, yet it falls short in power when compared to pushed into real dirt conditions. Although it accelerates quickly, thanks to its impressive torque, it faces challenges in deeper, loamy dirt. With a weight of approximately 260 pounds, it’s significantly heavier than the average dirt bike. Riding this bike is undeniably enjoyable, yet it doesn’t quite match the performance of an internal-combustion-engine dirt bike. 

Powerful enough to get you out of tough situations, the Surron Storm Bee feels much more like a gas-powered motorcycle but still maintains the electric throttle response.

The Storm Bee’s battery doesn’t last as long as that of the Ultra Bee. Despite its greater power and larger battery, the extra 100 pounds hinders battery range. Surron included a unique turbo feature that improves power at 10-second increments when the button is held down. We had never seen turbo on a dirt bike before! It helped on straightaways, but it wasn’t natural to push a button with your thumb while riding wide open.

WHAT DID WE LIKE ABOUT THE SURRON STORM BEE?

A: Given that this is a full-sized model, it will help users transition to a full-size dirt bike. The suspension functioned adequately, but with more rigorous riding and the excessive battery weight, it was on the soft side. Fortunately, like everything else on this bike, the suspension is customizable and can be set up for you. With compression clickers, rebound and shock-height adjustments, it can be tailored to the type of riding you’ll be doing. 

SURRON WANTS TO BE AN ASSET TO THE MOTOCROSS COMMUNITY NOT TO COMPETE DIRECTLY AGAINST TWO-STROKES AND FOUR-STROKES. THEY WANT TO  FIT INTO THEIR OWN SUBCATEGORY, CALLED “E-MOTO, TO BRING NEW RIDERS TO THE SPORT.

The larger wheels helped this bike navigate a racetrack much easier than the Ultra Bee, but it still does not compare to a Stark, Alta, two-stroke or four-stroke. Sand sections and loamy dirt are the enemies of electric bikes. Something we found unique was the available traction that the Storm Bee had when cornering or on off-cambers; the tires felt glued to the ground.  Three map options customize the power.

Since there is no need to shift an electric bike and the front and rear brakes are controlled by hand levers, there is no shift lever or rear brake pedal. For experienced motocross racers, this is weird to get used to, but over time the hand brake makes it easier to position your feet in the proper position on the pegs. Our test riders were constantly hitting the rear brake on the exit of turns as they tried to break the habit of “clutching” the electric bike. 

Another unique feature of both the Ultra and Storm Bees is the ability to connect the bikes to the Surron smartphone app. The Surron app can keep track of your rides, and the GPS on the bike keeps track of where you’ve been. The telemetry box records the data and uploads it to the cloud to store it. You can also customize power settings and monitor battery life, view distance traveled, and be notified when the bike is being moved if you’re storing it and would like to know where your bike is at all times. This can all be done in the app. 

Easy battery removal if you need to charge where the bike cannot reach.

Another plus of electric motorcycles is that Surron can make software updates to the bike automatically (much like a Tesla). This means that you don’t have to bring your bike back to the dealership to get the latest updates to the Surron software. Simply connect the bike to your smartphone and the bike will update automatically with the latest Surron technology. Most of the time, these updates will be small and subtle, but the best part is you don’t have to pay for them. 

Q: WHAT DID WE HATE ABOUT THE STORM BEE?

A: It is a much larger bike than the Ultra Bee. It is heavy. How heavy? Much heavier than any 450cc motocross bike by roughly 40 pounds. It would be a challenge for someone smaller in stature to pick up the bike after a crash. When first getting the bike, you need to immediately turn off the tip-over sensor, as even the slightest whip or scrub will turn the bike off in the air—something that’s very dangerous. The brakes were lackluster on the Storm Bee because of the extra weight, most of it battery-related. You can improve the braking by running a mid-2000s Honda brake rotor; it has the same bolt pattern. The harder you ride it, the less time you will be riding at full power.

The dashboard is a mini computer behind the front number plate.

Q: WHAT DID WE REALLY THINK OF THE STORM BEE?

A: This bike is exceptionally good for someone who is new to riding. Motocross schools would do well to have a couple of Storm Bees on hand to speed up the learning curve of new students. It can be registered and plated in most states for someone who’s looking to use it for commuting to and from work or commuting to the trails. It is also very useful in off-road riding areas where noise has to be kept to a minimum, like in forests or on trails that are near neighborhoods. Given the multiple settings and maps, it can be handy for someone trying to improve their skills. It is easy to handle and has smooth power, allowing even first-time users to ride and enjoy the experience. Of course, it’s fun for experienced riders, especially those who hate the idea of electric motocross bikes, to play around on as well, especially because it can go into areas where riding a normal dirt bike is frowned upon. For more information about the complete line of Surron e-moto bikes Click Here

MXA GOES SWIMMING WITH THE SURRON (DON’T TRY THIS AT HOME)

We were curious if it could be submerged, so we called Surron and they said, “Go ahead and try it.” We made a few modifications to the sensors and then went riding under water.