Our First Range Of Parts For The Sur-Ron Light Bee X
Before And After Shots Comparing The OEM Sur-Ron Parts And The AS3 Performance Parts
Introduction to the Sur-Ron Light Bee X
The Sur-Ron Light Bee X was first launched in 2018 and is an all electric "part dirt bike, part MTB". It has 6kW of power, only weighs 56kg and has a top speed of 75kmh! With a range of up to 100km, short charge time for the battery and a climbing ability of over 45 degrees, this lightweight off roader can provide a lot of fun over varied terrains. The more we learnt about these bike the more we felt that there was going to be a strong market for them, slotting in nicely between a motocross bike and an e-bike. With the maintenance levels being much lower than a petrol powered motorcycle they also have the potential to open up motorcycling to wider audience. After discussing all this with a local Sur-Ron dealer we decided to purchase one as a test bike to gain some knowledge of this relatively new market and to see what parts we can develop to enhance the riding experience for our customers. Below we highlight each new AS3 Performance part for the Sur-Ron Light Bee X, explaining the features and benefits and showing before and after photos.
OEM Foot Pegs
Foot pegs are one of our most popular parts for motocross and enduro bikes and we have one of the best selections available with up to 5 different styles for some models. One of the first things that we noticed when we first rode the Sur-Ron Light Bee X is that it could benefit from some better foot pegs. The foot pegs that came on the bike as standard measured 35mm wide and were not the most stable when riding on more challenging off-road sections. The standard pegs also had flat rounded edges on the teeth which were ok for riding dry trails but not the best in wetter muddy conditions and sometimes it was difficult keeping your feet fixed on the foot pegs.
AS3 Performance Foot Pegs
We developed a foot peg based around our Racing Series foot pegs that we supply for motocross and enduro bikes. They are CNC machined from a solid block of 7075 billet aluminium and have a 57mm wide platform (22mm wider than the standard foot pegs). They are also fitted with 30 individual stainless steel teeth that offer much more grip in all conditions than the OEM Sur-Ron foot pegs. The total weight of our Sur-Ron Light Bee X foot pegs is 242g compared to the OEM Sur-Ron pegs at 225g. So for and increase in only 17g in weight you're getting a wider, more stable foot peg with much better grip and in a choice of 6 anodised colours, allowing you to fully customise your Sur-Ron Light Bee X to match the graphics.
OEM Rear Axle Blocks
Axle blocks are a product that we are very familiar with as we stock many different versions for motocross, enduro, trail and sports bikes. The rear wheel of the Sur-Ron Light Bee X looks really trick in standard OEM form however we felt that the OEM axle blocks could be improved to finish off the look and we also had some ideas on how we could improve them over the OEM parts.
AS3 Performance Axle Blocks
Just like the foot pegs we had our Sur-Ron Light Bee X axle blocks machined from a solid block of billet aluminium to ensure that the fit in the swing arm and around the wheel spindle is perfect and that they are strong enough to stand up to a variety of off-road riding conditions. To improve them over the standard axle blocks we incorporated the adjuster bolts in to both blocks which is a design that we also do for our motocross and enduro models. Combine this with the 4 extra alignment scales on the top and bottom of each block and the deeper profile for the wheel spindle to sit in, this makes changing the wheel easier and helps with more accurate wheel alignment.
OEM Front & Rear Brake Levers
The braking system on the Sur-Ron Light Bee X has more of a mountain bike feel compared to the levers on a motorcycle with short levers that have smooth rounded edges and a ball end as you can see from the photo below. When riding the Light Bee X we found that we were only really using one or two fingers to operate the front and rear brake which is something that we took in to consideration when developing a new set of brake levers.
AS3 Performance Front Brake & Clutch Levers
We had the new AS3 levers made to suit a one or two finger style of braking with the flat part of the lever designed to comfortably hold two fingers in place when riding the bike. This is the part of the lever shown in the photo below where our AS3 Performance logo has been laser etched. Our front and rear brake levers for the Sur-Ron Light Bee X are CNC machined from billet aluminium and are stronger than the OEM levers. They also come anodised in 6 colour options to match the other products in our Sur-Ron Light Bee X range.
OEM Front & Rear Brake Reservoir Covers
The master cylinder reservoir covers on almost all motorcycles and e-bikes always look very basic and understated, some prefer that look and we get that but more often than not our customers prefer to change them to improve the look of the handlebar area and add some customisation to their bike. Most OEM reservoir covers are cast aluminium, including the covers on the Light Bee X which is a cost effective way of mass producing them but isn't as strong as billet aluminium.
AS3 Performance Front & Rear Brake Reservoir Covers
As with all of the previous parts we have highlighted in this feature the reservoir covers have also been CNC machined from billet aluminium, this makes them a stronger and a more robust upgrade from the cast OEM covers and less likely to crack or become damaged in the event of them taking an impact. The anodised finish not only looks great but also helps resist corrosion from brake fluid. After the anodising process was complete they then went back to the CNC machine to have an outline engraved around the edges of the covers which we think finishes them off nicely and sets them apart from other reservoir covers on the market. The final detail was the laster etched AS3 Performance branding. The OEM reservoir covers weigh 21g compared to ours at 24g so you're getting stronger parts that look better and can be customised to suit the bike as they are available in the same 6 anodised colours as the rest of our Sur-Ron hard parts.
Seat Cover
We also worked with our seat cover supplier on a range of ribbed seat covers for the Sur-Ron Light Bee X. They are manufactured from the same textured rubber as our motocross and enduro seat covers but due to the shorter seat they only have 4 ribbed strips. These strips help you gain traction from the seat in wet and muddy conditions. All of our Sur-Ron Light Bee X seat covers come in black and a choice of orange, blue, red and green traction strips.
Future Development Of Sur-Ron Light Bee X Parts
This is just a small first batch of parts for the Sur-Ron Light Bee X and as we use the bike more we will find that we will develop more parts accordingly, depending on what we feel can improve the bike and enhance the riders experience. If you currently ride a Sur-Ron Light Bee X and have any feedback or concerns around where it needs improving we would love to hear from you as we may be able to help.
Where Can I Get Aftermarket Parts For The Storm Bee And Ultra Bee?
At AS3 Performance we also stock parts for the Sur-Ron Storm Bee Enduro bike plus the Sur-Ron Ultra Bee, the latter being a bigger version of the Light Bee and the most up-to-date in terms of technology. The levers in the photo below our our flexi levers for the Sur-Ron Storm Bee. These are also available in yellow.
What's The difference Between The Sur-Ron Light Bee X And The Talaria Sting?
In terms of speed and torque, the Light Bee X and Sting are pretty much exactly the same. Small differences include: The Sting is slightly heavier (62.5kg) than the Light Bee X (56kg) and the seat height on the Sting is 35" compared to 33" on the Light Bee X. The main difference between the two e bikes are functional: the Light Bee X is driven by a belt and the Talaria Sting by a gear box!
