In the heart of the Rocky Mountains lies the San Isabel National Forest, a place known for its rugged beauty and challenging terrain. It’s here that one of the most iconic enduro races in the Western U.S. takes place—the Rocky Mountain Enduro Circuit’s San Isabel Enduro. This 60-mile big mountain enduro, with over 23,000 feet of elevation change, is held entirely within the natural terrain of Colorado’s national forest. But there’s one thing that makes this race different for me: I’m planning to ride it on an electric dirt bike. The ECR Stage 3 Surron Ultra Bee, to be exact.
Plotting the Race Course
Before I even think about lining up at the start, I need to figure out if this ambitious idea is feasible. That’s why I’ve teamed up with my buddy Dustin and the Rocky Rippers crew to scout the course. With the help of onX Offroad, we’re mapping out the route and determining how many battery swaps I’ll need to complete the race. On a stock battery, I can get about 20 miles of range, so I know I’ll need several to cover the full distance. The plan? Map out some strategic waypoints for battery drops and see if this crazy idea is even possible. Since the race course intersects the race pits on 3 occasions, the plan is to utilize a generator to keep the spare batteries charging.
As we pre-ride the course, it quickly becomes clear that this race is going to test the capabilities of the Ultra Bee and its battery range. The terrain is gnarly in some areas, with steep climbs, rocky descents, and plenty of obstacles to keep things interesting. But after calculating the rough distances of each test section, I think I can do it—with three batteries. Fortunately, Jason Hall was kind enough to loan me two extra batteries, so I’m set. I’ll be racing our ECR race spec Ultra Bee with Sirris suspension, sticking with the stock battery setup to keep things compatible with the spares that I’m borrowing, and of course, to keep the weight down. With 15kW of power on the EBMX X-9000 Controller, I’m confident it’s enough power to tackle this mountain course.
Race Day: Putting the Ultra Bee to the Test
Fast forward to race day. I’m racing in the A 30+ class, which consists of five test sections and a total distance of about 60 miles. This race follows a reliability format, meaning the race is broken into “Test” sections where you’re racing against the clock, and “Transfer” sections that connect the tests. The goal? Complete the test sections as fast as possible.
As I roll up to the start line, I can’t help but feel a mix of excitement and nerves. The truth is, we finished building this bike the day before the race, so I’ve had almost no seat time on it in this setup. But that’s part of the challenge—and the fun.
The Realities of Racing Electric: A Lesson in Battery Management
The San Isabel Enduro wasn’t just a test of skill—it was a masterclass in battery management. The race kicked off with Transfer 1, leading into Test 1, and then onto Transfer 2. By the time I finished these segments, I had 55% battery remaining. Not wanting to take any chances, I put the first battery on the charger and swapped to the second one. But that’s when things got interesting.
As soon as I hit the trail with the second battery, I realized it wasn’t handling the 15kW tune like the first one did. It must have had different Battery Management System (BMS) settings, which meant I had to dial down the power to Race Mode 1, limiting me to 12kW. Despite this curveball, the second battery got me through Test 2 and Transfer 3—but not without some drama.
I blew past my planned battery drop point during the transfer, a mistake that could have cost me dearly. Thankfully, I was able to pull up my battery drop pin on the onX Offroad app and navigate back to the drop with 25% battery remaining. It was a close call, but I made it, swapped to the third battery, and continued on.
I had stashed this third battery inside a cooler in the woods, which I quickly retrieved and swapped out. This battery powered me through Test 3, Transfer 4, Test 4, and Transfer 5, eventually bringing me back to the pits. To my surprise, I still had 55% battery remaining.
Meanwhile, the original battery I had put on the charger earlier in the day was now fully charged. This was a huge relief because I had one final test and transfer left—Test 5 and Transfer 6—both of which involved some of the biggest vertical climbs of the day.
With a fully charged battery in hand, I was ready to tackle the last leg of the race. Despite the challenges and unexpected hurdles, the Ultra Bee had proven itself capable. This experience highlighted the importance of planning, adaptability, and having the right tools—like onX Offroad—to make sure you can navigate the course and manage your energy effectively.
Crossing the Finish Line on the Ultra Bee
After a grueling day of racing, I finally crossed the finish line. The results? I managed to secure a 5th place finish in the A 30+ class, putting me in 32nd overall out of roughly 250 racers. Not too shabby for the Ultra Bee’s first big race!
Can Your Race an Electric Dirt Bike?
While charging the batteries post-race, I had some time to reflect on the Ultra Bee’s performance. You’ll hear me mention the fork settings during the race—how they weren’t quite where I wanted them to be. But this is all part of the testing process. The feedback from this race has already led Sirris to develop a new setting, and let me tell you, the fork is now absolutely dialed. This race was just one step in making sure your production fork feels as incredible as it should.
So, can you race electric here? After this experience, I’d say yes, absolutely. With a bit of planning, the right setup, and a lot of determination, racing an electric bike in an event like the San Isabel Enduro is not only possible—it’s an absolute blast. Stay tuned, because there’s a lot more to come as we continue pushing the limits of what these bikes can do.
