Review – Sur-Ron Storm Bee – fun, fast and quiet!

Some say the future is electric, others doubt it. In fact, more and more brands are focusing on 100% electric models and Sur-Ron is one of the most influential and successful brands in the off-road sector. That’s why we decided to test one of the most anticipated enduro/motocross electric motorcycles of the year.

Let’s move directly to the questions that come up the most: well, the brand announces 100 kilometers of autonomy, but driving as I did, it was actually 60 kilometers. The good news is that it charges from 0 to 100% in about 4 hours. Another good thing is that anyone with a car license can drive it.

FEATURES

This 2023 version is a bike eagerly awaited by Sur-Rons and electric off-road fanatics. With each new version, we feel that the brand is evolving towards what customers are looking for and loving.

For starters, it has a 104-volt battery, compared to the previous version’s 90-volt battery, a 32 percent improvement. Being a Chinese brand, many people may worry about battery reliability. We obviously haven’t tested its longevity, but it is a Panasonic battery, which offers a good level of confidence.

Then the biggest development is the controller, which is now liquid cooled and programmed very efficiently. In other words, the power transmitted to the rear wheel is powerful and at the same time inspires safety.

Above all, it is an easy and predictable bike. One of my biggest doubts was the fact that there was no clutch, and although we didn’t take any photos in those conditions, I did some trail running and managed to get myself out of tricky situations in steep places.

Interestingly, this model has a button they call “turbo”, which gives the Storm Bee 22.5 kW for 15 seconds.

And here’s something interesting. To use the A1 license, the limit is 11 kW… which is approximately the nominal power with which it was registered, but if we press that turbo button the motorcycle gets 22.5 kW for 15 seconds, in addition In other words, we have a motorcycle that you can drive with a car license, but which in practice is more powerful.

MORE DETAILS

The dashboard is new and, although small, contains useful and very easy to read information, the main ones being battery level, speed and driving mode.

Still on the subject of electronics, the model is equipped with a traction control system developed specifically for this Storm Bee version. Basically, it acts when there is a loss of grip on the rear wheel, reducing skid peaks during excessive acceleration. Other interesting numbers are the torque figures, with 520 Nm and an impressive top speed of 110 km/h.

FEELINGS

Another common thing on electric motorcycles, but one I didn’t expect this one to have, is reverse. And believe me, it has come in handy many times!

In terms of the frame, it was also developed specifically for this version, as it must accommodate the space for the battery, controller and motor. For this reason, the rear shock absorber is in a more vertical position than we are used to.

This Storm Bee is only approved for one person, so if they improve it in the future, everyone will love it. We all love riding a motorcycle and sharing this experience. Riding an electric motorcycle for the first time is always a pleasant experience, so a passenger, even on short trips, would enjoy it.

This bike rides like a normal motorcycle, but at the same time it’s different simply because it’s quiet! Especially at first, the slight noise made me think I had a flat rear tire, but of course, that’s how it is. It’s just the fact that the rear brake is where you’re used to having the clutch that takes some getting used to. In my case, I learned quickly from the second or third scare.

Finally, it’s an amazing bike and I can see all the hype surrounding it…

It’s the closest electric bike to a motocross bike we’ve ever tested; the price is high compared to a combustion bike, but the fact is that it’s not really comparable.

Those who buy it already have the germs of electric motorcycles in them and appreciate other things, such as the fact that it requires almost no maintenance, contains no fluids and hardly makes any noise… among other things.