Tuttio Soleil 01 Budget Mods + First Stunt Impressions (And Why It’s Such a Good Wheelie Trainer)
August 6, 2024
Budget modding season officially started on my Tuttio Soleil 01.
I wanted to keep this build realistic: the kind of accessories and tweaks you’d actually do after a few rides when you start noticing the little things—comfort, street manners, safety, and that “make it feel like mine” vibe.
After bolting on a few parts and swapping tires, I got some stunt-focused first impressions and spent time working on beginner wheelie technique. Here’s how it all went in the real world.
Why I Started Modding the Soleil
Out of the box, the Soleil already feels like a lot of bike for the money. But even a solid budget mini e-bike has a few places where small changes make it feel more legit—especially if you’re riding street more than dirt.
For me, the early priorities were:
Cockpit feel (the stuff you touch every ride)
Street-friendly tires
A little extra safety and visibility
Cleaning up the front end visually
The First Accessories I Installed
ProTaper bar pad (small change, big vibe)
The bike comes with a pit bike-style bar pad that looks like a ProTaper knockoff. Totally functional, but I wanted the real deal. The authentic ProTaper pad is a little wider and just fits the vibe better.
Left-side bar mirror (street safety upgrade)
I added a left-mounted mirror because I actually ride these things around people, cars, bike paths, and neighborhoods—not just in a dirt lot. A mirror is one of those boring upgrades that ends up being one of the most used.
ODI number plate (cleaner front end)
I also installed an ODI number plate up front. It’s an easy way to clean up the look, and if you’re a sticker person, it gives you a perfect canvas.
Tire Swap: From Knobbies to Dual-Sport Style
This was the main “function” mod.
I swapped to MMG tires that are described differently than the stock sizing, but they’re effectively the same fitment:
Rear listed as 3 in x 12 in (stock is labeled 80/100)
Front listed as 2.5 in x 14 in (stock is labeled 60/100)
What I cared about wasn’t the numbers—it was the tread and street behavior.
The stock tires have chunky knobbies with a softer-feeling compound. On pavement, that’s a recipe for accelerated wear, especially if you do hard braking and skids. I’ve seen it happen fast: aggressive stops on asphalt can literally chew the knobs down.
The MMG tread is more dual-sport / street-friendly. It reminds me of the Shinko style I run on my Sur Ron—still capable, but way more logical if most of your riding is on streets and paths.
So far, the move makes sense: better match for how I actually use the bike.
Grip Install Mistake (Learn From My Pain)
I also picked up ProTaper grips… and managed to break the throttle while trying to force the grip on.
Good news: I got a replacement sent out, and I’m back up and running.
Better news: I learned the lesson.
If you’re swapping grips on this bike (or any mini e-bike with a plastic throttle tube), don’t brute-force it.
A couple practical tricks that help:
To remove old grips safely, cut them off with a razor blade instead of twisting and yanking
To install new grips, hairspray works well (slides on, then dries tacky so the grip doesn’t spin)
Some people also use boiling water to soften grips. The key is: be patient, because the throttle assembly is not the part you want to break.
For now, I’m keeping the grip setup simple and riding it.
Quick Notes on the Bike’s “Character” After the Mods
Even with just basic accessories and tires, the Soleil starts to feel more planted as a street mini.
A few things I immediately noticed:
The bike feels well-balanced. It doesn’t have that sketchy “cheap bike” feeling some budget builds get.
Steering is smooth and predictable.
The brake hardware feels solid for the category.
There’s an annoying squeak/creak that seems like it’s coming from the rear shock spring area (could also be hardware movement in the swingarm zone). It’s not a dealbreaker, but it’s something I’m keeping an eye on.
Wheelie Test: Why This Thing Is Such a Good Trainer
I did a wheelie session and messed with tire pressure to make learning easier. With lower pressure, the bike felt more forgiving for pop-ups, but it’s easy to go too low if you’re not paying attention.
The biggest takeaway: the Soleil is torquey down low.
That low-end hit is exactly what you want for learning because the front comes up without needing a dramatic yank. I could pop the wheel up just by getting into the throttle—no heroic pull needed.
Throttle feel matters more than speed
One of the most important wheelie traits on any e-bike is how the throttle comes on.
On this bike, once you roll through the initial dead zone, the power comes in immediately. No weird delay. That makes it easier to learn because the response is consistent. Consistency builds confidence.
Brakes: strong, but with a “drag” feel
The brakes lock the wheel, which is what you need. But during balance-point practice, the braking feel was more like a drag than a sharp bite. That means I had to start braking a little earlier than I instinctively wanted to.
For beginner practice, that’s manageable.
If you plan to chase more power later, I’d expect a brake feel upgrade (master/feel tuning) to be a smart, simple next step—especially since the bike already has moto-style brakes.
Speed and wheelies
Once speeds climbed into the ~20–25 mph range, it got harder to bring the front back up. Honestly, that’s not a bad thing for learning. You don’t need high-speed wheelies to build fundamentals.
Suspension Impressions (Way Better Than I Expected)
For the price category, the suspension impressed me.
I’m around 150 lbs, and I couldn’t easily bottom the front out even putting weight into it. The rear felt a bit soft comparatively, but it’s still very rideable.
If I wanted to tune the feel for stunting or more aggressive riding, a basic replacement rear shock is the kind of budget fix that could tighten things up.
Beginner Wheelie Tips That Actually Helped
This bike is friendly enough that it makes practicing less intimidating. The main technique points that clicked for me:
Start slow and controlled. Master clean pop-ups before chasing speed.
Work on circles once you can pop consistently.
Be smooth on throttle inputs instead of snapping it all at once.
Use the rear brake as a control tool, not a panic button.
Stay seated while learning. Getting your positioning consistent matters.
The coolest part is that the fundamentals you learn here transfer to bigger bikes—but with way less fear of the bike being heavy enough to ruin your day.
What We Like
Super beginner-friendly wheelie behavior thanks to strong low-end torque
Throttle response feels immediate once you’re past the dead zone
Feels balanced and not “cheap” while riding
Moto-style brakes out of the box are a big win for the price
Simple mods (mirror, number plate, bar pad, tires) noticeably improve the daily ride vibe
Dual-sport style tires make more sense for street-focused riding
Things To Consider
Grip installs can damage the throttle if you force it; take your time
Brake feel is more “drag” than sharp bite, so timing takes practice
Rear squeak/creak may come from the shock spring or rear hardware
If you want longer wheelies at higher speed, you’ll probably crave more top-end later
Final Thoughts
With just a few budget-friendly accessories, the Tuttio Soleil 01 starts feeling like a proper little street mini instead of a generic pit-bike-shaped e-ride.
The big surprise for me is how naturally it wheelies. That low-end torque plus predictable throttle response makes it one of the more approachable learning platforms I’ve spent time on—especially at this price point.
If you want something you can ride around the neighborhood, hit bike paths, mess around in the grass, and genuinely build wheelie fundamentals on without feeling intimidated, this bike is a solid base. And if you’re the modding type, it responds well to simple changes.
Links
Surge Sully: https://instagram.com/surge_sully
Tuttio Soleil 01 (use promo code Runplayback for a discount): https://tuttiosport.com/?ref=ebqnzlva
Amazon Link: https://amzn.to/3xYZFaP
MMG Tires: https://amzn.to/4cgQl00
ODI Number Plate: https://amzn.to/4chVghc
Pro Taper Bar Pad: https://amzn.to/3LUkXtK
LED Bike Light: https://amzn.to/46CFCft
Bar Mirror: https://amzn.to/4daQJyB
Pro Taper Grips: https://amzn.to/3ygAuRu
Bluetooth Module (use promo code RUNPLAYBACK5 for a 5% discount): https://econiccycles.com/products/fardriver-sinewave-controller-bluetooth-module
Far Driver Tuning for Ebikes: https://www.facebook.com/groups/fardriver/
Bell Super 3R MIPS Bike Helmet: https://amzn.to/3TJ1vTR
Fox Racing Bike Gloves: https://amzn.to/40P5SyQ
Fox Racing Hip Bag: https://amzn.to/3xmW4mT
Veeape Electric Air Pump: https://amzn.to/3LPLTf9
Denlix Military Sling Bag: https://amzn.to/3LTKN2c
Lamicall Bike Phone Mount: https://amzn.to/3LXmD6O
Onvian Wireless Bike Alarm: https://amzn.to/42KUgyE
RunPlayBack Merch: http://shop.runplayback.com/