Surron Ultra Bee 400+ mile review and new primary chain.
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- čas přidán 30. 01. 2024
- A quick review after a season of fun riding.
The clip of riding on the pit bike track IS with the primary chain. It is not as loud as I thought it would be.
Please subscribe if you like these videos and I will keep them coming.
Happy riding and Feets Up!
Link for installing primary chain: (Dirty Bike Ultra Bee Primary Chain) • How to Install a Dirty... - Sport
Hi Steve. I have a similar background as you do with bikes. I've been riding since I was 16 but I'm a little older than you are at 70.
My primary enduro bike is also a KTM 300 and I do mostly single track, technical riding with a mixture of forest riding, hill climbs and fire roads. Bought my UB in last October and put 200 miles on it. I tried the bike fully stock at first to become familiar with it. I generally agree with what most people complain about the bike but I'm not as picky as everybody. For one thing, I have no complaints about the pegs for example. As for the tires, okay they are not the best but then again I've put them through plenty of mud and hill climbs and they performed much better than I anticipated. The stock tires are a perfect compromise for the weight, range, traction and power. Having said that however, my first mod was to change the rear tire.
But, Once we get into the game of playing with the tires and wheel sizes we open up a can of worms so to speak. Increasing the size of the rear tire directly affects the power and torque delivery negatively. To compensate that, we end up playing with the gear ratios. There comes a larger rear sprocket to recover the lost torque. Larger sprocket restores the torque but steals from the top speed. Having a fatter and heavier tire gives us a better traction at the expense of range. To get back the power and the range here comes the next step to upgrade the battery and the controller. The list goes on and on.
In order to minimize the cascading effect of modifications, I decided to settle on the best price / performance changes. The most sensible compromise was to stay with the 19" wheels. I replaced the rear tire with a Mitas 100/90-19 soft enduro. Took the original rear tire, which is actually a front tire by the way, and put it on the front. The difference in diameter of the original rear tire and the new tire is less than an inch and the difference in circumference is 2.8%. This way the geometry of the bike is not significantly altered and the loss in torque is easily compensated with a 50 tooth sprocket. This also enables the use of the original chain.
This is the best price-performance modification to improve traction without adding extra weight while retaining the range.
My next low cost but necessary modification will be handlebar risers and replacing the primary belt with chain.
I am enjoying the UB so much that my KTM 300 is gathering dust in the garage these days.
I'm glad you're getting the bike dialed in the way you want. Happy riding!
440 miles is nothing l got 1,200 miles on my Ultra bee 🐝 here New England. Motocross, single track gravel roads and even paved roads to get to the mountains trails. As it legally registered for the road. Still running the stock brake pads it came with it and the belt belt hasn’t been a problem. Haven’t even had to adjust it in 1200 miles no bears to speak of here in New England at least not vicious ones so I think I’ll keep the belt system as it’s been reliable and maintenance free no oil ing. Also running nano ring chain lumen him sprocket, which been on the bike since 300 miles with no wear. My gearing is 50 tooth rear sprocket. To compensate for the larger 18 inch wheel tire combination. And of course a 21 inch front wheel. TopSpeed is 48 mph with a full battery charge. Love you videos. Keep up the good work and keep riding. Feet’s up. 😊
62yrs old. Respect man, I hope Im riding as much and as often as you when I get there.
as soon as i get my bike i would love to come ride with you and some of the guys you ride with. spokane here
Sounds good, let me know when you're ready to rip.
You can email me at schredder@peoplepc.com when you're ready to ride and I will pass along my phone number.
Great review, subscribed! Love my Ultra Bee. Moving to 18/21, cant wait!
Thanks for the 400 mile review!
Brilliant content as always, a great bike I love mine 👍👍
Same mods here, probably add the chain primary this spring. Switched to a 550 lb spring and will look at some valved forks this summer. Steve- main host at Rampart Range Rec Trails, CO.
Loving this channel man! I have a light bee and an ultra on the way, do you still use your light bee or do you plan on selling it? Im conflicted on if ill sell my light after i get my ultra. Thanks!
Thanks a bunch!
I did sell the light bee to a good friend of mine. She is short, so I took off the 21" front wheel as well as the taller linkage. I am storing it for her for the winter.
If you like the Light Bee, you will love the Ultra!
Hey what footpegs have you got on there mate? & do you have to order them to fit the ultra bee or another bike. Eg honda. Cheers
KKE. Ultra bee has special pegs.
Ebay or Google KKE footpegs Surron Ultra Bee.
Lots of people carry them.
Happy Riding!
Jamming the sprocket is the way I've seen a few professional YTers do it, even if they took off the rear tire first.
I just brought a used/as is x160 with an "unknown" electrical issue, a dead battery, and no charger.
I figured out that it has (had) a broken kickstand sensor wire. I simply stripped the 3 wires and isolated them with electrical tape.
Even though the battery is 0% dead, the bike now powers on. It won't roll, but the bike seems electrically sound now. The odometer shows just 88 miles.
I have a charger on order. I'll soon see if the battery is rechargeable after being discharged for a long time. I'm optimistic.
If I can get it running, I'll play around with it my neighborhood, but the bike is really small for me.
My tall 10 year old daughter is interested in learning to ride it.
My ejourney has begun. I've got the Ultra Bee on my mind.
That's what I did. It would be easier though to do it while the tire is still on.
Is the seat height taller with the 18/21 setup and did the stock kickstand still work?
The seat height is taller with my wheel and tire setup. I had to lengthen my kickstand about an inch. Now there are aftermarket adjustable kickstands for the Ultra.
Hey Schred! Great Vid! I'm not sure about doing the chain conversion, how much more battery range do you think it is?
Thanks, I honestly don't know what to expect. I rode a sand track today with a lot of snow and mud as well, but that will not be indicative of true range on hard pack trails. I will definitely post a video with range results as soon as the snow melts and I hit some trails. Today I rode 17 miles and had 40% left which I thought was pretty good for the conditions.
@@schreddersworld1050 Is it easier to push or does it roll noticeably easier? Is the gearing any taller?
@@slovarick1 I am not noticing much difference in the way it rolls. They say the gearing is the same. I did swap out the 53 to a 54 at the same time and I definitely notice the difference.
I may have missed it, but what range difference are you seeing with the primary chain conversion? This is likely my next mod, but I’ve read differing opinions on range. Typically, chain > belt for efficiency, but who knows in this application. If I got a few extra miles of range AND less risk being deep on trials of tearing up a belt… I’m in!
So far it is hard to tell. I have yet to ride a trail without snow which I have a feeling changes the range a bit.
On my last ride which I have not posted yet, I rode 17 miles and used 57% of battery on a semi technical trail in sport mode. The snow is melting fast and I hope to get a full ride in next weekend on trails that I can compare to last years range with a belt.
Have you done anything with your suspension or running it stock?
Completely stock.
Great review what’s the website you can order that chain drive from?
Google "Dirtybike Americansurron" and the primary chain is on front page of website. This is with the 420 chain.
If you want the bigger 520 chain "Electric Cycle Rider has those.
Personally, I think the 420 chain is plenty strong enough and I have not had to readjust since I installed it.
Would you get it again having a light bee or are they too similar? I’d like one but they are awfully close to ktm 150 money once you do a few upgrades.
I would get an Ultra Bee all over again for sure.
I love this bike!
The Light Bee was a bit too small for me and underpowered compared to the Ultra which will climb any hill I want.
What are your thoughts on x-ring vs roller chain? just got a 54T sprocket and 18/21. Looks to maximise efficiency, thanks!
I think the x-ring is between the roller and o-ring chain as far as efficiency. My opinion.
@@schreddersworld1050 cool thank you. Think I'll go non o ring. Thanks!
I noticed your brake levers & hand guards are tilted kinda far down. Is there a reason why you run them that way? Just curious.
I ride mostly standing up and I am 6'-1" tall.
I am most comfortable with the top of my hand being level with my arm with no wrist bend as I have a finger on each brake lever most of the time.
@schreddersworld1050 ty for the explanation. Mostly standing was my first guess. I'm in FL, so I'm on flat ground sitting 95% of the time 😂
I really Love the noise of the chain, reminds me its motorcycle
I need registration where I ride but the complianced version wont be here till July:(
I bought a wr450 in the meantime, It's fun but I prefer my lightbee in almost every way. The UltraBee Will be perfect for me.
Thanks for showing me I'm on the right path🤠
Do you live in CA by chance? I'm in the same position where I've been told you can't register the UB so please let me know where you heard that Surron will have a bike that can be registered this summer. Thx.
I’m in Australia.
I already have a registered light bee. The compliance was organised by the dealer.
It's ordered! It will be here next week:) I just watched some of your videos again to get me pumped up and ready. 👍
When the bike was new, did you notice that your battery got better range after a few charge/discharge cycles? I did my first test ride (in daily mode) and by my calcs I won't even get 20 miles of flat dirt terrain. Bike is set up with 18/21, roller chain and 54T. I'm hoping that the batteries will balance out after a few charges and range gets better. Thoughts?
I was running a 53T last year and getting 30 miles pretty easily on mainly semi technical trails in D and S mode. So far this year my range has not been that good with a 54T. I also have been riding in cold weather and in a lot of snow and mud.
I will be riding this weekend in better conditions, so I am curious how the range will be.
I do not recall much of a difference from when I got it and after a few cycles. I also run about 10 -11 pounds of tire pressure. I lowered it riding in snow and mud. That could make a difference as well.
I also did not notice much of a range difference between D mode and S mode with the throttle setting at 1in S mode. When I switched to 2 on the throttle setting, range was worse hence the 54T and back to setting 1.
@@schreddersworld1050 Good info, thank you sir! I'll get a few full rides in before I make a true determination.
You had issues with the upgraded gates belt ?
No issues. Chains have less friction than belts. Hence a chain would have better range.
Also, chains are not prone to slipping or breaking.
Gotta say the talaria/sur ron competition has made for a full gradient of bikes from slower and light to the big boys with lots of power every power option in between (for those not planning on mods) companies compete, the consumer wins! for the time being I don't think anyone is going to try and take on the Stark Varg, they are too busy trying to kill ancient giants to need any e-moto competition. Though it would be nice to have several full bore e-moto options with different price points but similar performance/range.
As more bikes are built and perfected, there will be more competition and the prices will come down and the bikes will get better. 🤠
Great video! I’m only seeing 18-20mi of usable range (25% battery left). I weigh 220lbs and have the same setup as you. I do ride in throttle sensitivity 2. I wonder if I have a faulty battery 🤔
Yeah, that's not very good.
When your bike is idle, sitting in your garage or house, do you have it 80%?
It should never sit around at 100%
Tire pressure would make a difference.
I take it that you have a roller chain with a bigger rear sprocket?
Cold weather would also have an effect on the battery, especially if it is stored outside in freezing temperatures.
@zekd is that in sport mode?
@@JDs_Camera yes
My guess would be colder temps and that Sport mode. I rode mainly in D mode for the technical trails here. Watching your videos, you’re definitely not a slow rider and have some faster sections. My range changes drastically based on the types of trails I’m riding.
How are you feeling about the chain drive now? I have a conversion kit just haven’t put it on yet.
So far so good. I haven't had a chance to compare apples to apples as far as range goes as the snow hasn't melted on the high trails yet.
So far it seems to be the same.
I know I am not worried about belt failure anymore, so that is a big plus!
Thanks for the reply I’ll put my kit on this weekend. Hopefully y’all will thaw out soon and get to riding!! Great channel I just subscribed look forward to seeing more of your content.
@@Castortroy901 Thanks! More content coming soon.
Hello, I'm from Poland, I wanted to ask if you are satisfied with ultra? because I'm thinking about buying it
I am very satisfied after a season of riding it.
I don't think that you will be disappointed.
Can I ask what camera this is, please?
GoPro 9
How did the belt condition look??
It looked good. No signs of wear.
What tire size do you have in front and back?
4.50x18 Kenda Equilibrium Rear
90/100 x 21 Michelin Starcross Soft 5 front
do you know the bike weight with all the new mods added ?
I actually did a video on that. I weighed it in at 225, but I am not sure how truly accurate that is the way I did it. It might be a bit less.
Nice details! Just did the primary change on mine also. Now you need a tip mounted brake light with a nice easy plug and play harness! Shoot me a hollar if you want one! (video on my channel)