Electric dirt bikes can be used on any surface but are
designed primarily to tackle challenging off-road terrains where grip, whether wet or
dry, will be limited and inclines may be very steep. The ideal attributes
of a dirt bike will, therefore, include a lightweight construction, a
torquey motor, low gearing, long suspension travel and knobbly tyres. Electric
dirt bikes have become very popular over the last year or two, partly
because electric drivetrains tend to be light and deliver huge torque compared
with petrol engines. The other key advantage is the negligible noise and
environmental impact, which allows riders to enjoy their sport without causing
unnecessary disruption to wildlife and non-motorcyclists.
The UK's most popular electric dirt bike is the Sur-Ron
Light Bee (LBX), which is available in two versions; road legal or
off-road-only. Remarkably, the LBX weighs under 50 kg, excluding the 10 kg
power pack, resulting in a total weight of around 57 kg. With 8 hp and up to 39
Nm of torque, the LBX can conquer inclines of up to 45 degrees, reach a top
speed of around 45 mph and will cover upwards of 20 miles on a single charge.
Due to the huge success of the LBX, in mid-2021 Sur-Ron will introduce the larger
and more powerful Storm, which will be around double the weight and deliver
around three times the power of the LBX.