Cycle News is a weekly magazine that covers all aspects of motorcycling including Supercross, Motocross and MotoGP as well as new motorcycles
Issue link: https://magazine.cyclenews.com/i/1536483
P112 RIDE REVIEW I 2025 SURRON ULTRA BEE HP is common on electric bikes, and while it requires some time to get used to, it eliminates the need for a foot brake, allowing riders to focus on weighting the footpegs for traction and balance. Without a clutch, riders accustomed to modulating rear- wheel power need time to adapt, though the left-hand rear brake can somewhat mimic clutch modulation on climbs. For newer riders, the absence of a brake pedal or shift lever simpli - fies operation considerably. Having reverse on a motorcy- cle sounds silly, but it can help extract you from tricky predica- ments on the trail. Range and Charging Using the Strava activity app to track riding distance and actual moving time during every ride, we found that intermediate-level riders could achieve over 2.5 hours of riding time and cover up to 60 miles on trails. Time and range vary with riding intensity, but most riders will find the Ultra Chassis and Suspension The chassis remains largely unchanged from the previous model, but the upgraded suspen- sion is noticeably improved. The forks, especially, are much more compliant over small rocks. As noted in our previous test, the suspension is fully adjustable and outperforms most trail bikes. However, with roughly 9.5 inches of front and rear travel, it doesn't match high-performance off- road bikes that typically feature nearly 12 inches of travel. For a play bike costing about 40 per - cent less than those machines, some performance compromise is expected. Surron also upgraded the brakes for 2025, though we felt the previous model's units performed well. The 240mm front and rear hydraulic discs are predictable and never faded, even on gnarly descents. Nota - bly, the rear brake operates via a hand lever on the left handlebar, where a clutch lever would typi- cally reside. This configuration conventional motorcycles. For- mer Supercross winner Josh Hill has been riding a 2025 Ultra Bee HP with a 21-inch front wheel and modified suspension in Arenacross competition and in spectacular freeriding sessions. The 2025 Ultra Bee delivers significantly more power than its predecessor, verified with a few drag races. While the 2024 mod - el wasn't slow, the 2025 version is genuinely quick and requires finesse to use its full potential. It's approaching the chassis limits, which is why we're not fans of the "Turbo" mode. The bike is already plenty fast, and the turbo mode's 10-second duration creates control issues, delivering a power burst that can cut out precisely when you need it most. We preferred the three standard power levels. On technical trails, the updat - ed controller offers significantly improved modulation in slip- pery conditions. A new crawling mode would benefit beginners, although we didn't feel a strong need for it given the precise throttle control.