TALARIA STING MX3

The Talaria Sting MX3 is the original Sting, the 60V bike that built Talaria’s reputation in the UK before the Sting R arrived, and it remains in production for good reason. A 6000W peak permanent magnet motor, a sealed gearbox, a 38.4Ah LG cell battery and a forged aluminium frame give a rider most of what the newer bikes offer at a lower entry point. The Talaria UK stocks it in all black, black or green, as either an MX off road bike or an L1e road legal moped.

The Sting that started it

When Talaria launched the Sting, the electric dirt bike market had one obvious rival and it used a belt primary drive. The Sting’s decision to run a proper gearbox instead, inside a forged 6061 aluminium frame, was what first made riders take notice. The Talaria Sting MX3 is that same bike, carrying the TL3000 model code, refined through several production runs and now sold alongside its more powerful successors rather than replaced by them.

Why it is still on sale

A bike does not stay in production for years without a reason. The Talaria Sting MX3 is lighter on the wallet than the Sting R, shares the same chassis dimensions, uses a pack of the same physical size, and has had every early production issue worked out. For a first electric dirt bike, a younger rider, or someone who wants a road legal L1e moped for the daily commute, the extra power of the newer bikes is often power that will never be used.

The rider it suits

The Talaria Sting MX3 suits riders who value a proven platform over the highest number on the spec sheet. Talaria quotes 47 mph, or 75 km/h, as the maximum, with 6000W of peak power and 34 Nm at the motor shaft. That is comfortably quick on a trail and more than enough for a 45 km/h limited L1e. Riders who race, or who ride heavy and fast, will get more from the Sting R MX4.

What the 2024 update changed

The 2024 Talaria Sting MX3 is not the bike that launched. Talaria made a set of changes that address the feedback from the first years of ownership, and they are the reason a current MX3 is a better buy than a used early Sting at a similar price. The list below is Talaria’s own summary of what changed.

• An improved controller with better protection against current spikes, interference and temperature extremes
• DNM suspension, revised for a wider range of preload and rebound adjustment
• A larger 38.4Ah battery in place of the original 38Ah pack, with LG 21700 cells
• An improved battery connector and a resettable circuit breaker
• A stronger frame and swingarm
• Black footpegs, black rims and spokes and a black sprocket
• Regenerative braking adjustable from the display in four levels

None of these changes altered the basic character of the Talaria Sting MX3. The frame geometry, the motor architecture and the gearbox are as they were, so parts, tyres and accessories developed for earlier Stings still fit. What changed is the durability of the electrical system and the quality of the suspension, which were the two most common complaints on early bikes.

PMSM motor and gear drive

The Talaria Sting MX3 uses a permanent magnet synchronous motor, PMSM for short, mounted in the middle of the frame. It is air cooled, weighs 7.0 kg, measures 180 mm across and 120 mm long, and reaches 92 percent peak efficiency. Nominal output is 3000W with 6000W peak, and the FOC controller that drives it is the same 2 kg, 248 x 128 x 50 mm unit used across the Sting family, rated to 100 degrees.

Torque at the wheel

Motor shaft torque is 34 Nm at peak, which sounds modest until it is multiplied through the drivetrain. Talaria quotes 284 Nm at the rear wheel with the 44 tooth sprocket and 309 Nm with the 48 tooth, which is why the Talaria Sting MX3 pulls away from a standstill with the immediacy that petrol riders notice first. The two sprockets give overall ratios of 8.35 and 9.18 respectively, and swapping between them is a short job.

The gearbox

Primary drive on the Talaria Sting MX3 goes through hardened, precision cut gears running in oil, then a conventional chain to the rear wheel. Compared with a belt this is quieter under load, immune to stretch, and untroubled by grit and water. The only maintenance is a periodic oil change, and the Talaria oil change guide explains the interval and the process with the tools required.

Throttle

The Talaria Sting MX3 throttle uses a geared twist mechanism with the encoder protected inside the housing, so an impact to the throttle tube in a fall does not usually take out the sensor. The encoder is automotive grade and gives the controller a clean signal, which is what makes fine throttle control on slow technical ground possible without the jerkiness cheaper electric bikes suffer from.

The 38.4Ah battery and charging

The Talaria Sting MX3 pack is a 60V 38.4Ah lithium ion unit built from LG 21700 cells of 5000 mAh each, giving around 2280 watt hours. It weighs 12.85 kg and measures 170 x 140 x 380 mm, and it lifts out of the frame in seconds so a spare can be swapped in. A programmed battery management system watches cell voltages and temperature and communicates with the controller and the dash over CAN.

Range in practice

Talaria’s constant speed figure is 100 km at 32 km/h, and the company also quotes around 44 miles as a general range. As with every electric bike, the number on the day depends on the rider, the ground and the throttle hand. Riding style, tyre pressure and regeneration level all move the figure, and the same principles apply to the Talaria Sting MX3 as to the larger packs.

Charging

A full charge from empty on the Talaria Sting MX3 takes roughly 2.5 to 3.5 hours on the supplied charger, depending on how far the pack was run down. The improved connector introduced with the 2024 update seats more positively than the original, and the resettable breaker means a trip is a matter of a switch rather than a spare fuse. Chargers and spare packs for the Sting are in our batteries and chargers category.

Frame, DNM suspension and brakes

The Talaria Sting MX3 frame is forged 6061 aluminium alloy under 6000 tonnes of press pressure, the same process Talaria uses for the Sting R, and it is stiff enough that the bike weighs 66 kg with the battery in place. Seat height is 840 mm. The compact layout puts the motor and pack low and central, which is what gives the Sting its easy, almost bicycle like manoeuvrability at walking pace.

DNM suspension

The 2024 bike carries DNM suspension front and rear with improved adjustment over the original units. For trail riding and L1e commuting the setup is more than adequate, and preload can be dialled in for rider weight in a few minutes. Riders who outgrow it can fit the same aftermarket forks and shocks used on the Sting R because the mounting points are shared across the family.

Brakes

The Talaria Sting MX3 stops on four piston hydraulic callipers, finished in titanium gold, with four levels of regenerative braking layered on top from the dash. Regeneration on an MX3 is worth experimenting with: a higher level extends range on undulating routes and reduces pad wear, while the lowest level lets the bike coast freely for riders who prefer a petrol like feel when shutting the throttle.

Wheels and dash

The Talaria Sting MX3 runs 19 inch spoked wheels front and rear, black rimmed since the 2024 update. The dash is a high contrast OLED display that reads top and average speed, range, battery data, riding mode, error codes and regeneration level, and it can be set for different wheel and sprocket sizes and switched between km/h and mph. Because it reads the BMS over CAN, the battery figure shown is the pack’s own.

Two versions: MX off road and L1e road legal

The Talaria Sting MX3 is one of the few Talarias sold in a road legal configuration, and the choice between the two versions is the most important decision on this page. The MX off road version is unrestricted, has no type approval and is for private land with the landowner’s permission or organised events only. The L1e version is the same bike built to moped class approval for use on UK roads.

What the L1e version requires

The L1e Sting MX3 is limited to 45 km/h and falls into the moped category defined by EU Regulation 168/2013. It must be registered with the DVLA, carry a number plate and be insured. The rider needs to be at least 16, hold a provisional licence and have completed compulsory basic training, and must wear an approved helmet. A full car licence obtained before February 2001 also covers a moped.

Why the MX3 makes a good L1e

At 45 km/h the extra power of the Sting R is never called on, so the Talaria Sting MX3’s 6000W peak is ample and its lower entry point makes more sense for a commuter. The 38.4Ah pack comfortably covers a typical daily round trip with charge to spare, and the quiet gearbox drive means an early morning start does not wake the street. Our road legal Talaria category groups the L1e and L3e options together.

Talaria Sting MX3 versus Sting R MX4

The two bikes share a chassis footprint, a battery form factor, a controller, a gearbox design and 19 inch wheels. The differences are concentrated in the motor, the pack capacity and the brakes, as the table shows, and every figure in it comes from Talaria’s published specifications for each model.

Reading the table honestly

The Sting R has a third more power and an 18 percent larger pack. For a racer or a heavy rider on steep ground those numbers matter. For everyone else, the Talaria Sting MX3 delivers the same frame, the same gearbox reliability, the same swappable pack format and the same dash, and the money saved buys tyres, kit, a second battery or the finance headroom to make the purchase comfortable. The guide to Talaria Sting top speed goes deeper into how the two compare on the move.

Frequently asked questions

Is the Talaria Sting MX3 the same as the Talaria MX3?

Yes. Talaria MX3, Sting MX3 and TL3000 all refer to the original Sting: the 60V bike with the 6000W peak PMSM motor and the 38.4Ah battery. The R suffix and the MX4 code belong to the second generation bike with the 8000W IPM motor and the 45Ah pack.

What is the Talaria Sting top speed on the MX3?

Talaria quotes 47 mph, or 75 km/h, for the off road Talaria Sting MX3. The L1e road legal version is restricted to 45 km/h, about 28 mph, because that is the ceiling of the moped class it is registered in. Sprocket choice moves the off road figure by a few mph either way.

Can a 16 year old ride the Talaria Sting MX3 on the road?

Only the L1e version, and only once it is registered, insured and fitted with a number plate. At 16 the rider needs a provisional licence and a CBT certificate and must wear a helmet. Our post on Talaria for 16 year olds and CBT walks through the steps in order. The MX version cannot be used on any public road at any age.

Does the Talaria Sting MX3 use the same battery as the Sting R?

The packs share the same physical size, weight and connector family, but the MX3 pack is 38.4Ah and the Sting R pack is 45Ah. Whether a specific pack is interchangeable depends on the connector revision and firmware on your bike, so check the compatibility notes on each battery listing before buying a spare.

Is the gearbox oil change difficult?

No. It is a drain, refill and check job that most owners do at home in under half an hour with a socket set, a drain tray and the correct oil. Talaria specifies the interval and the grade. The gearbox is the reason the MX3 needs no belt replacement, and keeping fresh oil in it is the only thing it asks in return.

Which colour and version should I pick?

Colour is a matter of taste: all black, black or green, on the same anodised frame. The version is not. Pick L1e if there is any chance you will ride on a public road, and MX only if every ride will be on private land with permission or at an organised event. Both are shown with current availability on the product page.

Next steps

Choose your colour and version above and place your order, or spread the cost with Talaria finance. Delivery is to UK mainland addresses with timescales confirmed at checkout, and every Talaria Sting MX3 is covered by our UK warranty, full terms on the warranty page. To see the MX3 alongside the Sting R, the Expert and the Off Road, browse the Talaria Sting range.

Buying this from The Talaria UK

Our service promise as a UK Talaria specialist.

• Checked before it shipsEvery bike is unboxed, inspected, torqued, charged and test run in our workshop before the courier is booked. You get a machine that is ready to ride, not a crate and a leaflet.
• Packed to arrive intactBikes travel in their factory crate with the fragile parts protected, and we tell you exactly what to check before you sign for it.
• UK mainland deliveryShipped across the UK mainland, with options, costs and timescales confirmed at checkout and tracking sent on dispatch.
• Answers from people who ride theseAsk which model suits your weight, your ground or your licence and you get an answer from someone who has set these bikes up, not a script.
• Parts on the shelfWe stock the batteries, chargers, controllers, motors, forks and wheels for what we sell, so a repair or an upgrade is a stock check rather than a long wait.
• Covered after you buyEvery bike is covered by our UK warranty, with the period for this model shown on this page and in your order confirmation, and claims handled by the team that inspected it.

Questions before you order? Contact us, or read the delivery guide, the warranty terms and finance options.