Stark VARG EX vs Sur-Ron Ultra Bee HP: Which Fits Your Riding?

Checked 12 October 2026. Prices are MotoEbikes listed prices on that date. Specifications are manufacturer figures unless stated otherwise. Licence guidance below concerns Great Britain.

Quick answer: The Stark VARG EX and 2026 Sur-Ron Ultra Bee HP are both high-performance electric off-road motorcycles, but they sit in different classes. The VARG EX is a full-size road-homologated enduro with up to 60HP or 80HP and a 7.2 kWh battery. The Ultra Bee HP is substantially lighter and cheaper, with 24.5 kW peak power. If you want the closest road-legal comparison, compare the VARG EX with the Ultra Bee HP T, not the off-road-only HP X.

Stark VARG EX vs Ultra Bee HP at a glance

The biggest difference is not the power number

The VARG EX is much closer to a full-size enduro motorcycle in chassis, suspension and overall scale. The Ultra Bee HP occupies a lighter middle ground between compact electric dirt bikes and full-size enduro/motocross machinery. That difference affects handling, transport, confidence at low speed, technical trails and how physically substantial the bike feels.

Published weights put the road-legal Ultra Bee HP T at 91 kg, while the VARG EX is around the 120 kg mark depending on specification. That roughly 30 kg gap is significant.

Which has more power?

On headline output, the VARG EX has the higher ceiling. Stark offers 60HP and 80HP versions. Sur-Ron publishes 24.5 kW peak for the 2026 Ultra Bee HP, which is about 32.9 mechanical horsepower when converted mathematically. That conversion is useful for scale, but manufacturer peak-power figures are not always measured under identical conditions, so it should not be treated as a laboratory comparison.

If you are deciding between the two Stark outputs, see our VARG EX 60HP vs 80HP Alpha guide.

How big is the price difference?

Using current MotoEbikes prices, the road-legal Ultra Bee HP T at £6,499 is £4,401 less than the VARG EX 60HP at £10,900. The 80HP Alpha widens the difference further. That is too large a gap to ignore. The VARG needs to justify its premium through the full-size platform, suspension, battery capacity, performance ceiling and the type of riding you want to do, not simply through one specification number.

Which one makes more sense for road use?

Compare like with like. The Ultra Bee HP T is the road-legal Ultra Bee. The HP X is the off-road version. The VARG EX is Stark’s road-homologated enduro.

Road homologation still does not answer the rider-licence question by itself. Electric motorcycle categories use registered continuous/rated power rather than headline peak power. Read our VARG EX road-legality guide and the MotoEbikes licence guide.

Which is better on tight trails?

The Ultra Bee’s lower mass can be a real advantage where you repeatedly change direction, pick the bike up, manoeuvre at walking pace or load it into transport. The VARG’s appeal is different: full-size ergonomics, more substantial chassis and suspension, and much higher available performance. Rider size, pace and terrain matter more than a generic “better” label.

Which feels more like a full-size motorcycle?

The VARG EX. That is one of the fundamental reasons it costs and weighs more. Riders coming from conventional enduro or motocross motorcycles may value that scale. Riders stepping up from a Light Bee, Talaria or similar lightweight machine may find the Ultra Bee a less dramatic jump.

Battery and range

The VARG EX uses Stark’s published 7.2 kWh battery platform. Sur-Ron publishes its own range and battery figures for the 2026 Ultra Bee HP. We do not declare a range winner by mixing manufacturer claims produced under different conditions. Terrain, speed, temperature, tyres, rider mass and riding mode can change the result substantially.

For how to interpret claimed versus actual range, see our electric motorbike range guide. A future MotoEbikes range test should use the same route, rider mass, temperature and speed profile for both bikes before calling one a real-world range winner.

Charging

Stark’s current EX specification quotes two hours at 240 V and 3.5 hours at 120 V with its listed 3.3 kW charger. Charging time in practice depends on starting state of charge, charger, supply and conditions. Do not assume the larger battery automatically means an inconvenient ownership experience without looking at the charger and your normal riding pattern.

Who should look hardest at the VARG EX?

• Riders wanting a full-size electric enduro rather than a lighter trail bike.
• Experienced riders who will use the extra performance and suspension capability.
• Buyers who specifically want the VARG platform and its adjustable power delivery.
• Riders prepared to pay a substantial premium for the full-size package.

Who should look hardest at the Ultra Bee HP?

• Riders prioritising lower weight and easier manoeuvrability.
• Buyers who do not need a 60HP or 80HP performance ceiling.
• Riders with a budget closer to £6,000 than £11,000.
• People moving up from lightweight electric dirt bikes and wanting a smaller step toward full-size machinery.

Which version should you compare?

If road use matters, compare VARG EX 60HP or VARG EX 80HP Alpha with the Sur-Ron Ultra Bee HP T. If road use does not matter and you are comparing primarily for off-road riding, the Ultra Bee HP X becomes relevant, and you should also consider whether Stark’s MX 1.2 is actually the closer VARG for your use.

Compare the total ownership package

Request quotations that include the charging equipment, delivery, setup and any registration costs. Get insurance quotes for the actual road versions before treating the purchase-price difference as your entire cost difference.

Check how you will transport each bike and where you will charge at your riding venue. The lighter Ultra Bee may suit your loading arrangements better, while the EX may better match a rider seeking a full-size enduro. Those are buying considerations based on the specifications, not findings from a MotoEbikes back-to-back riding test.

What would settle the range question?

A comparable test needs the same route and pace, recorded rider mass and equipment, tyre setup, temperature, battery start/end percentages and a stated reserve. Recording energy used and recharge energy would make the result more useful. Until those measurements exist, the honest answer is that the published figures do not establish a range winner.

Explore the Stark VARG advice hub or compare EX, MX 1.2 and SM.

Sources and verification

Ultra Bee HP X/T output and weight: Sur-Ron UK’s current MY26 specification. Technical specifications: Stark Future VARG EX. Prices: the linked MotoEbikes product pages, checked 12 October 2026. Road-use guidance: GOV.UK motorcycle categories, CBT and insurance requirements. This is a specification-based buying guide; it does not report a MotoEbikes road or range test.

Further reading

Stark range evidence · Sur-Ron range conditions · Stark charging requirements.