Arctic Leopard's new lightweight electric dirt bike tries to be two things at once, and mostly pulls it off. Electric Cycle Rider's first ride on the 2026 XE Pro R describes a machine that pairs full-size 21-inch front and 18-inch rear wheels with the roughly 175-pound weight of a much smaller eMoto. On paper it reads like a lot of bike for the money: about 26.5 kilowatts of peak power, near 35 horsepower, a 74-volt 60-amp-hour battery, KKE suspension front and rear, and brakes the reviewer says are essentially Surron Ultra Bee units in all but the branding. The price is $5,799. The question the review keeps circling is what that big-wheel, light-weight combination actually feels like once it leaves the spec sheet and hits a trail.
The XE Pro R lands in a crowded and fast-moving segment. Lightweight electric off-road bikes from Surron, Talaria, and others have become the on-ramp into electric dirt riding, prized for being cheap, quiet, and easy to throw around. The reviewer's reference point throughout is the Surron Ultra Bee, which by his figures runs roughly 185 to 215 pounds depending on how it is built, so the Arctic Leopard's lighter weight and bigger wheels are the pitch. One thing the video does not get into, and any buyer should, is legal status. Bikes in this class usually are not street-legal and cannot be registered as motorcycles in much of the US, which means they live on private land, OHV trails, and a patchwork of local rules. That is a real consideration well before the spec sheet comes into it.
A few hardware updates separate the R from last year's XE Pro S. There is a new and notably large TFT display that reads more clearly than the old one but looks exposed enough that the reviewer worries about it in a crash, NFC keyless ignition, and updated bodywork. Tuning happens through the third-party Far Driver app rather than an Arctic Leopard one, which works but is less friendly than a brand's own software. The battery sits in proper bolt-down brackets, so there is none of the rattle that plagues some bikes in this class, and the gear-reduction motor stays quiet and smooth. The reviewer rates Arctic Leopard's powertrain and battery range among the brand's real strengths, while noting a full range test still has to come before he will put a number on it.
On the trail, the reviewer is most impressed by the brakes and the suspension. The Surron-style brakes give real feel and modulation, and the KKE fork stays plush over small hits while holding up deeper in the travel, which is unusual for a bike this light. Power is plentiful across three modes, with mode one as a genuinely fun eco setting and mode three more than the terrain often warranted. The bigger wheels make the bike roll over obstacles and feel more stable than a typical Surron-size machine, while the narrow wheelbase keeps it flickable. The honest notes: the rear shock's 350 spring rate feels soft and heavier riders may want 400 to 500, the chain stretched quickly and needs early tightening, and the rider's size-9 boot kept catching on the rear subframe.
Bottom line: This is a lightweight eMoto wearing midsize shoes, not a full-size enduro bike, and the review is careful to say so. If you want a gas-replacement trail weapon that plows through chunder, look at something heavier. If you are an adult who wants the flickable, mountain-bike feel of a Surron with bigger wheels and better stability for $5,799, the XE Pro R hits a spot almost nothing else does right now. Budget for a chain check on day one, possibly a stiffer rear spring, and ride it playfully rather than flat out. It rewards that.