COWBOY CRUISER
Every Cruiser wins
Cowboy’s latest electrically assisted bike is designed for everything from energetic city commutes to casual suburban spins
Locking up
The battery is easy to click into the frame, and to remove using the keys that come with it –an anti-theft necessity.
■ Climb over you
The Cruiser has higher handlebars than previous Cowboys, as well as a wider saddle, both of which make it a lot more comfortable to ride. There’s also a step-through model for those who want an even more upright riding position.
■ Good bay
In the middle of the handlebars there’s aQuad Lock fitting point where you can attach your phone. You can use this just to charge it while you ride, or fire up the Cowboy app for the full connected experience.
£2399 /go.stuff.tv/Cruiser
The Cruiser has no gears that you control, relying entirely on its reactive electric assistance to keep you at a steady pace. Alongside your own pedal power the bike auto-adjusts for inclines, headwinds and how much weight you’re carrying.
■ The first time you pedal with the power on there’s an immediate whizz that will get your heart racing, zipping away from standing starts and giving you instant momentum. You never feel out of control, though –it’s very well calibrated and the disc brakes will quickly slow you down again.
■ Cowboy’s app is slick. It offers navigation and route planning that takes traffic and air quality into account, plus a bunch of security features; and you also get quick control over the lights, power and other settings. You can even hook it up to your Strava account.
■ The Cruiser has a stated range of between 40km and 80km, depending on various factors including your choice of standard power or eco mode. Cowboy’s figures tallied pretty well with the battery drain I experienced.
■ Charging the battery takes less than 3hrs from zero to full. It’s also removable –so even though it’s pretty chunky and heavy, that’s much easier than having to drag the entire bike to a plug socket; plus you can replace the battery if it loses power over time.
Tech specs
Motor 45Nm/250W rear wheel Battery 360Wh Range 40-80km Connectivity Bluetooth LE Dimensions 181x103x62cm, 19.4kg
STUFF SAYS Smart yet simple, this is one of the very best e-bikes you can buy ★★★★★
Anyone can fall in love with this smartly designed all-round e-bike
Max Freeman-Mills
The Cowboy Cruiser combines all the perks of a connected bike with the simplicity of afar less evolved option –you can hook up your phone for hi-tech riding, or use it as an offline A-to-B steed when the more futuristic embellishments aren’t needed. Its price is undeniably steep, but the level of quality and comfort it offers, plus the convenience of that all-important removable battery, mean you won’t feel like you’ve overpaid.