Sunra Miku Super (2021) electric motorcycle road test and review

Next up at the Sunra launch in Milton Keynes at Robotazia was the Miku Super, a seriously unique electric motorcycle that’s looking to bring a bit of fun to the 125cc-equivalent electric category. 

Shaped like a horseshoe with wheels at the front and rear, the Miku comes in two forms in the UK, the 50cc equivalent Max & the 125cc equivalent Super (which we were trying on for size here). There was also the Robo-S electric scooter which we had a whirl on - give it a read!

Watch: Sunra Miku Super & Robo-S review

First off, a bit of background for you. Sunra is a Chinese manufacturer of electric vehicles that’s been building a name for itself since 1999. In that time Sunra has established itself as one of the largest electric manufacturers in the world, No.1 in China, with a staggering output of 4.1 million units per year. 

This is the first step for Sunra into the UK market, so it’s more than just a local startup - this is a release of gigantic proportions - and they plan on releasing fun, accessible & innovative machines going forward. 

Bringing it back to the Miku Super, it’s certainly an innovative style. But let’s have a look and see what makes this electric motorcycle tick. Or buzz, considering the electro-energy.

Sunra Miku Super price & availability

In dealers now, the Sunra Miku Super is priced at £3,499 including the 20% government plug-in grant, and comes in 3 eccentric yet succinct flavours: Blue, Black & Red.

Dealers are found throughout the UK with more opening up as time goes on, and each Sunra machine comes with 2 years unlimited mileage warranty & 3 years/18,000 mile battery warranty. 

For your money, you get a visually quirky motorcycle with monkey bike proportions, but it’s still a size that is accessible to a 6’3” reviewer who weighs a good 15+ stone(~100 KG) - luckily the max load is 150kg so we’re away!

Engine & battery range

As always with electric machines, power, batteries & range are the hot topics, and understandably so. Seeing as it’s fitted with 2 x 72V 20Ah lithium-ion batteries, the maximum range is a quoted 84 miles - with a max speed achievable of 50mph. 

The rear hub-mounted 3000 W motor is shared with the Robo-S, so is comparable in terms of power output at 25Nm of torque and around 3-4 BHP. As is typical with electric power, acceleration is torquey & rapid up to 30mph, with 40mph achieved not long after - but 50mph can be a bit of a waiting game. 

With 3 power modes that seemed to give reviewers trouble on the day (myself included) you’ll find the battery can discharge a bit faster than the quoted 84 miles in the sportiest mode 3, with my ride for the day reaching 15% on the final stretch and entering its ‘eco save’ mode with the fuel/charge light illuminating.

Whilst still giving me enough power to crawl ‘home’ to Robotazia, it could be a bit touch and go if you’re on a particularly busy road. Re-charge time is quoted as 4 hours from a UK socket. It also has regenerative braking, but whether or not that will charge up a percent or two over a ride remains to be seen.

Riding ability

Despite the monkey-bike dynamics, it’s a nippy ride and absolutely hilarious fun. It loves a bob & weave, and leaning into corners and roundabouts is great fun. Watch you don’t scrape the side-stand whilst leaning in, though… In any case, it’s hard to come off this without a smile on your face.

I think it could be the new electric monkey bike!

Brakes, Suspension & comfort

Front and rear disc brakes hooked up with CBS (combined braking system) genuinely scrubbed off speed nicely, despite little to no engine braking coming from the rear hub wheel. 

Suspension is in the form of USD forks up front and twin rear shock absorbers on the rear wheel. Of course, the harp-esque frame sees the seat hanging out in the air, but I wouldn’t say that adds to any ride comfort.

Whilst on the topic of the shape, the Miku Max houses one battery, and therefore the ‘under seat storage’ space is a tad larger, and has a hook to keep a rucksack between your pegs if you fancy it!

Handlebars quite literally reach out towards you, giving a nice upright ride, and the two batteries onboard give it a roadgoing weight of around 109kg. It’s also said to have enough room for a pillion, but in all honesty good luck with that - if you’re the size of a rucksack you’d probably still struggle.

Equipment and features

For the price, the Miku Super is quite literally packed with tech and gadgets. You can pair it up to the Sunra app, it has an alarm and wheel lock as standard, a fingerprint scanner, reverse gear & 4L storage compartment with USB slot within. 

Yes, that’s right, a fingerprint scanner. Despite not being a keyless machine, if you register a digit of your choice (like your smartphone) you can unlock, activate and ride your machine away. Super handy, but we’d certainly recommend still riding with your keys. 

The dashboard is clear and well laid out, with battery percentages and speed prominently displayed, although it can get a suffer from a bit of glare. There is also an option for auto-lights, which will select the recommended lighting based on the current conditions. Plus the indicator makes a tick-tock noise, which is always handy. 

What do we like & dislike?

There’s a lot to like with the Sunra Miku Super, in all honesty. It’s great fun to ride around, is packed with gadgets and tech, and gives a fresh look at what a motorcycle can do. Plus the styling is certainly individual, shining a light on what’s possible when you don’t stick to the rulebook - I mean, look at the illuminated badge on the side!

Negatives of this pint-sized monkey? Charge seemingly depleted rapidly from above 20% to 15%, activating the restrictive super eco mode, but is a get-me-home feature a real negative? 

Certainly, some may highlight the 84-mile range and 50 mph top speed as a downside, but consider it an inter-city commuter, and 84 miles suddenly becomes quite a distance. You could probably get from Chelmsford to Liverpool Street in one charge if you fancy the ride. 

How does it compare to the competitors? Naturally, the initial target is the Super Soco TC Max, priced at £4,249 for a 60mph and 60 mile range machine. We’ve reviewed that here at Visordown too, and both machines are certainly capable of being a good city beast. 

Verdict

The Sunra Miku Super is a brilliant little pint-sized machine with monkey bike-esque character, brilliant fun and stealthily quiet. Zipping up to 30mph is a great laugh, and whilst it may eek at the thought of propelling a 6’3” reviewer to 50mph, it was certainly up for the challenge. 

Consider this one an alternative means of commuting into the office, and the £3,499 price point becomes incredibly attractive. Throw in the zero road tax, minimal running costs (27p to charge up) and tech features galore, this electric machine becomes a ridiculous amount of value with plenty of fun. 

If you’re after a motorhome addition, town runner or stocking filler (yes it’s really that small) it’s worth having a look at one of these. 

Thanks again to Sunra for having us at the UK launch, check out their website for more info (or a dealer locator) and keep your eyes peeled for an electric 400cc motorcycle due for a 2022 release…