The verdict
The Stealth B-52 — the legendary "Stealth Bomber" — is one of the most iconic and cult-loved electric two-wheelers ever built: hand-assembled in Australia, premium, and instantly recognizable. It's also, honestly, a pedal-equipped high-power e-bike, not a pure dirt bike, and at ~$8,890+ it's expensive and heavy for the performance it delivers. It earns a VoltRipper Score of 76/100 — a number that reflects real premium quality and a devoted following held back by poor value versus a Sur-Ron. If you want the Bomber, you already know it; this review is about what you're actually getting.
What it actually is: e-bike, not dirt bike
This is the key thing to understand. The B-52 is built on a 26″ full-suspension platform with functional pedals and a silent, high-torque brushless DC hub motor, paired with a Vboxx 9-speed pedal gearbox that lets you combine pedaling with throttle for hill-climbing torque. That pedal-plus-hub design is deliberately e-bike, not moto — it's a street/trail crossover meant to blur the line, not a chain-driven dirt bike like a Sur-Ron. For a lot of buyers that's the appeal; for anyone expecting a true off-road moto, it's the thing to know first.
The variants (don't mix them up)
"B-52" spans several models, and they're priced and specced differently:
- B-52 (this review): the core model — roughly 6.2 kW peak, ~150 Nm, ~50 mph, ~$8,890.
- B-52R: the newer high-power version — ~8 kW, ~230 Nm, 62+ mph (and often ~$11k by the time it lands in the US).
- B-52X: another ~50 mph variant listed around $12,800.
Confirm exactly which model — and which price — you're being quoted.
Where our link lands, so there are no surprises. Stealth's own store currently publishes a product page for the B-52R, not the base B-52 reviewed here — so our "check price" button takes you to the R variant, at higher power and a higher price than the figures above. We link it because it is the manufacturer's live page for this platform and the most reliable place to see current pricing, but the bike on that page is not the bike in this review. Use the configurator there to confirm the variant before you buy.
What you get for the money
The B-52's case is quality and character, not spec-per-dollar. It's a ~2.5 kWh battery, enduro-grade suspension (roughly 180 mm front / 200 mm rear on the newer bikes), a 154 lb curb weight, and the hand-built fit-and-finish that earned the cult following. Claimed range is ~60 miles; plan for ~30 ridden hard. You're paying for the brand, the build, and the pedal-plus-throttle versatility — not for beating a cheaper bike on numbers.
The honest caveats
- It's an e-bike at heart. Pedals and a hub motor — a crossover, not a pure dirt bike.
- Poor value on paper. ~$8,890+ for ~6.2 kW and 50 mph is a lot; a Sur-Ron Ultra Bee makes more usable performance for less.
- Heavy, and hub-limited. At 154 lb it's a handful, and the rear hub motor is less serviceable and upgradable than a mid-drive.
- Street-legal is nuanced. The pedal/e-bike form gives it a registration path in some places, but at 50 mph it exceeds e-bike limits, so legal street use typically still needs a kit/registration — check your state's rules.
Why it scores 76
- Build & brand (its strengths): genuinely premium, hand-built, with a cult following and real pedal-plus-throttle versatility.
- Value & serviceability (the drags): a high price and heavy weight for the performance, plus a less-upgradable hub motor, cap the value factor — which is why an iconic bike lands at 76 on an honest capability-and-value scale.
- Category: judged as the e-moto it's cross-shopped as, its e-bike underpinnings and price hold it mid-pack.
Who it's for — and who should skip it
Buy it if you love the Bomber's look and legend, want a premium hand-built bike with pedals and throttle for street/trail crossover use, and value character over spec-per-dollar.
Skip it if you want the most performance for your money or a true dirt bike — a Sur-Ron Ultra Bee or the value tier will serve you better and cheaper.
The bottom line
The Stealth B-52 is an icon with a devoted following and genuine hand-built quality — and a pricey, heavy, e-bike-based crossover that its 76 Score keeps honest against the value it delivers. Buy it for the character, the craftsmanship, and the pedal-plus-throttle experience if those move you; buy a Sur-Ron or a value-tier bike if you want maximum bike for the money. Weighing a premium buy against smarter value? Our cost guide and Find Your Ride configurator lay it out.
Go deeper on the Stealth B-52:
VoltRipper is spec-verified and data-driven — we do not claim hands-on testing of this bike. Specs and prices are cross-checked against the manufacturer and independent sources; where model variants and pricing differ (as they do across the B-52 line), we flag it rather than blur them together.
FAQ
Is the Stealth B-52 worth it?
If you specifically want the Bomber, you already know it — it's an iconic, cult-loved, hand-assembled Australian machine with real premium quality and a devoted following (VoltRipper Score 76). But honestly, at ~$8,890+ it's expensive and heavy for the performance it delivers, and its value is poor versus a Sur-Ron. Buy it for the icon status and build; skip it if you want performance-per-dollar or a pure dirt bike.
Is the Stealth B-52 a dirt bike or an e-bike?
It's really a pedal-equipped high-power e-bike, not a pure dirt bike — built more like a beefy electric bicycle than a Sur-Ron-style e-moto. That distinction matters: it changes how it rides, how it's legally classified in some places, and what it's actually good at (cruising and image more than hardcore off-road).
What's the difference between the Stealth B-52, B-52R, and B-52X?
They're variants of the same iconic platform at different power and spec levels — the lineup runs from the base B-52 up through higher-output versions. If you're shopping one, confirm exactly which variant a listing refers to and its specific power, battery, and price, since they differ meaningfully. Our score uses the B-52 spec basis.
Why does the Stealth B-52 only score 76 if it's so iconic?
Because the VoltRipper Score measures value, capability, and support — not cult status or build romance. The Bomber is beautifully made and beloved, but at ~$8,890+ it's expensive and heavy for what it delivers, and a Sur-Ron gives more real performance for far less. The 66 captures a premium, devoted-following bike held back by poor value.