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 66/100 — 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.
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 66
- 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 63 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 66 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.
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.