I came to electric dirt bikes the same way most people do — sideways, unexpectedly, and completely obsessed within the first five minutes of riding one.
Before E-Moto, I'd been a KTM 500 EXC guy for years. Full-send gas enduro riding at McCain Valley OHV east of San Diego. That bike rips. But it's also loud, heavy, and needs constant maintenance. When my riding buddy showed up with a Sur Ron Light Bee, I thought it was a toy. Then I rode it.
The Sur Ron Light Bee: Where It All Started
The Sur Ron Light Bee is the gateway drug of E-Moto. It's light (~50kg), nimble, and has enough power to make any trail genuinely fun. The silent motor is the thing nobody warns you about — you hear the rocks under your tires, the trail itself, things you've never noticed over years of gas riding. It completely changes how you experience the trail.
At McCain Valley, the Light Bee turned into my go-to for the technical singletrack sections — the rock features and dry riverbed connectors that are tight and technical where the bigger KTM felt like overkill. My son Kyler started riding with me more because E-Moto is just less intimidating — no exhaust, no noise complaints, and way easier to manage for a younger rider learning the ropes.
The Light Bee's limits: top end is modest, it's not built for long enduro sessions, and you'll want more bike as you progress. I hit that ceiling faster than I expected.
Why I Upgraded to the eRide Pro SS 2.0
The eRide Pro SS 2.0 is what the Sur Ron Light Bee graduates to. More power, more range, better suspension — built for actual enduro riding rather than trail cruising. Where the Light Bee is a fun toy that happens to rip, the eRide Pro is a real dirt bike that happens to be electric.
At McCain Valley, the difference is immediately obvious. The power delivery is more linear and predictable at speed. The suspension handles the rocky technical sections I was threading on the KTM. And the range is actually usable for a full sesh without paranoia about getting stranded.
The father-son sessions with Kyler have gotten even better. He's progressing fast, and being on E-Moto together — quiet, manageable, no fumes — is a completely different experience than riding gas bikes near a kid.
Why I've Become So Obsessed With E-Motos
What surprised me most about E-Motos wasn't the technology or even the performance. It was how much more fun they made everyday riding.
I've spent years riding dirt bikes, mountain bikes, surfing, skiing, and chasing adventures all over the western United States. My KTM 500 EXC could go almost anywhere, but the eRide Pro opened up an entirely different style of riding.
One minute I'm cruising around North Park in San Diego wearing flip-flops and a trucker hat grabbing coffee. The next I'm sessioning urban trail features, hitting MTB Hopper ramps with friends, or loading up for a weekend ride at McCain Valley OHV, still my favorite riding area close to San Diego.
The bikes are incredibly light, ridiculously quick, and instantly fun. With acceleration that feels closer to a downhill mountain bike crossed with a motocross bike, they're the first motorcycles I've owned that make me look for excuses to ride every day.
What really sold me, though, was how quiet they are.
Instead of listening to exhaust noise all day, Kyler and I can actually talk to each other while we're riding. We spend entire trail rides talking smack, planning the next feature, laughing about crashes, and figuring out where to explore next. That's something I never experienced on gas bikes.
The lighter weight has also helped Kyler progress faster on his Rawrr Mantis Mini. The bike is approachable, confidence inspiring, and lets younger riders focus on learning skills instead of wrestling with a heavy motorcycle.
Some of our favorite rides and sessions have been:
- McCain Valley OHV east of San Diego
- Bass Lake's legendary 007 Trails
- Miami Creek OHV south of Yosemite
- Truckee and Lake Tahoe
- Crested Butte, Colorado
- Sycamore Canyon
- Urban San Diego trail systems
- Backyard jump sessions with MTB Hopper ramps
Every year these bikes get better, the batteries get stronger, and new places become accessible. E-Motos are creating an entirely new category of riding that blends mountain bike culture, dirt bike culture, adventure travel, and family fun.
Many of the designs in our E-Moto collection are inspired by these exact rides, locations, and adventures. They're reminders of the places we've explored, the features we've built, and the memories we've made along the way.
For me, that's what E-Brap Life is really about.
What's Next: Ultra Bee or the Bonnell 805?
I'm currently eyeing the Sur Ron Ultra Bee and the Bonnell 805. The Ultra Bee is basically a full-size electric enduro bike with Sur Ron's reliability track record. The Bonnell 805 is more exotic — higher power ceiling, different character. I've ridden both and have thoughts.
If you want the full breakdown — all four bikes compared by riding style and terrain — read our detailed Sur Ron vs eRide Pro E-Moto Buyer's Guide. That article covers specs, riding feel, and who each bike is actually right for.
E-Moto Shirts Born From These Sessions
These McCain Valley E-Moto sessions are also what built our E-Moto shirt collection. Drawn from real rides, real trails, real father-son sessions in the San Diego backcountry:
- Sparky's E-Moto Club — the OG E-Moto shirt, built around the Sur Ron community.
- Braap Life — McCain Valley Sessions — these exact trails, on a shirt.
- Kyler Braap — Father Son E-Moto Adventures — for the dads bringing their kids into the E-Moto life.
If you're in the San Diego area and want to talk E-Moto, compare bikes, build a few features, or shred McCain Valley together, reach out.
— Jeremy Curran, Stoked Clothing Company