Motorcycle Monthly: LB X Road Legal Review

Having ridden the off-road version of Sur-Ron’s Light Bee recently, I was keen to get the chance to have a blast on the road legal model. Restricted to make it eligible for moped licencing laws, I wasn’t sure what to expect after thoroughly enjoying tearing around off-road on the unrestricted version. But I needn’t have worried, as the road legal Sur-Ron impressed me from the first twist of the throttle.

Power pick-up from the bike’s belt- driven motor is exceptional, allowing the rider to get up to its 30mph top speed in a flash. It’s by no means rapid, but there’s more than enough oomph to have a hell of a good time on the trails, and whizz around town with no trouble.

Its mountain bike-style brakes are well up to the job, too. Direct and aggressive, with plenty of bite, but enough feel to ensure you won’t lock the wheels without serious intent.

For more competent riders, the fact that Light Bee’s brakes de-activate the throttle is a bit of a shame, as it means you can’t feather the brakes when encountering some tricky terrain or a steep downhill section. But don’t worry, it’s simple enough to change. Simply remove a cable from each brake lever and away you go.

The suspension is very capable, munching bumps and lumps with ease. It’s a little on the soft side as standard, but with full adjustment at the rear and preload and compression adjustment up front, you can dial it in to find the perfect setting for whatever you’re up to. Interestingly, the existing units can be switched for some high-end downhill mountain bike kit, if you fancy getting a little more serious in the dirt.