The identical qualities with a extra comfy using place—Cowboy presently makes use of this tactic to draw new consumers within the aggressive e-bike market. The brand new cruiser mannequin prices roughly $3,395 and is out there in two totally different colours. Nevertheless, does this new e-bike impress? nextpit paid a go to to Cowboy on the Tech Open Air in Berlin and reveal whether or not the check experience is value it!
The Cowboy Cruiser in a nutshell
Cowboy slapped a €2,990 price ticket for its new “Cruiser” mannequin in Europe, with pre-orders for the brand new e-bike already open. Earlier than you resolve in your buy, you possibly can select from 5 colours: black, lavender, fig, clay, and sand. Along with the Cruiser, there are different equipment you possibly can contemplate, reminiscent of a rear rack and a pre-fitted kickstand.
Cowboy prices a further annual charge of €120 for theft insurance coverage. Should you additionally wish to take part within the restore program, you’ll have to finances one other €240 yearly for what is named “Cowboy Care”. Going for each would imply a whopping €360 per 12 months, which is precisely €30 every month.
Design & Processing
With the Cruiser, Cowboy desires to supply an alternate e-bike with an upright seating place. To attain that, the producer redesigned the handlebar with the hand place being a bit of bit extra inclined towards the rider now. Utilizing the identical body, the Cruiser mannequin ought to be a lot extra comfy to experience and it leans extra towards a racing bike design in comparison with extra standard fashions.
Execs:
- Excessive-quality workmanship.
- Clear minimalist look.
Cons:
- No suspension included.
- Just one body dimension.
Whereas Cowboy modified the seating place of the brand new e-bike, the Cruiser depends on the acquainted technique based mostly on its earlier fashions. This implies the bike also needs to be equally straightforward to deal with. There are not any buttons or gears on the Cruiser as every little thing is managed by way of the smartphone or a torque sensor.
Cowboy’s new mannequin locations extra emphasis on the smartphone. The good factor about this e-bike is how suitable fashions might be charged wirelessly when connected to the wi-fi charging mount. This works by way of the Qi customary, and Cowboy depends on Quadlock for the mount. The producer does provide circumstances with an built-in mount, whereas there are additionally suitable adapters that may be connected to your present telephone case.
The workmanship of the brand new bike is past reproach. In step with the very tidy look, there may be nothing that rattles on the Cruiser. The body’s stability can also be very excessive, so it’s fairly stunning that the Cowboy Cruiser would not really feel just like the vibrating plate in your favourite health club when ridden on cobblestones.
This was made attainable by the thick tires which cushioned tough impacts simply. Right here, the Cowboy Cruiser feels rather a lot just like the new VanMoof S4, which I used to be additionally in a position to check out lately. Each bikes boast a very comfy experience.
E-motor and using enjoyable
Whereas Cowboy focuses on extra consolation with this seating place, the sporty nature of the C4 mannequin remained untouched. Meaning you get a 250 W hub motor within the rear wheel, which is managed by way of a exact torque sensor within the backside bracket. It is putting that Cowboy’s lack of various assist ranges doesn’t hassle you in any respect when using. As well as, I’ll lastly reward the cadence in an e-bike.
Execs:
- Very excessive experience consolation.
- Nonetheless a sporty experience regardless of the upright using place.
- Comfy saddle.
Cons:
- The engine is typically raring to go at visitors lights.
- Handlebar peak isn’t adjustable.
- Cowboy doesn’t provide totally different body sizes.
Primarily based on my half-hour check experience, one impression remained above every little thing else: Man, it’s comfy! Personally, I primarily experience sports activities bikes and the Cowboy Cruiser appears to me as designed completely for longer excursions in the course of the weekend. The explanation for that is the particularly comfy saddle along with the upright seating place, after all.
Cowboy specifically optimized the saddle for the Cruiser and has executed a superb job on this division, since weight distribution is nearly totally on the saddle when using upright.
The seating place on the cruiser mannequin could be very comfy, letting you get from A to B shortly on the Cowboy. With out a lot effort and regardless of the reasonably hefty weight of 19.8 kg, I made it to 35 km/h in the course of the check experience. Cruising at 25 km/h isn’t an issue in any respect due to the sturdy assist from the 250-watt motor, and the torque sensor within the backside bracket is exact and delicate sufficient for gradual using.
I don’t have any actual criticism factors on the subject of using enjoyable, which doesn’t lower an excessive amount of even on cobblestones regardless of the shortage of suspension. As talked about earlier, Cowboy maximized using its significantly thick tires right here.
One level to notice, nevertheless, is that Cowboy would not allow you to modify the handlebar peak, nor does it provide totally different body sizes. The cruiser mannequin is, subsequently, extra appropriate for tall riders. I am guessing that there can be one other mannequin with a step-through body and related seating place sooner or later.
There was one minor factor I observed throughout my check experience: In case you are at a stoplight and apply stress to the pedals, the engine tries to edge you ahead reasonably enthusiastically. That is extra annoying than harmful, and isn’t fully held again by holding the brake.
Battery efficiency and good capabilities
The producer specified a variety of 40 to 80 km for the Cowboy Cruiser. The e-bike’s battery is charged inside 2 hours and 40 minutes. Happily, you possibly can take away the battery and cost it at residence. The battery is secured by way of a key. The way in which Cowboy decided the remaining vary can also be very intelligent. Anyway, the Cowboy Cruiser is de facto good due to its shut integration with the app.
Execs:
- Battery might be charged individually.
- 80 km vary is a strong quantity.
- Many good options with a sign of the remaining vary.
Cons:
- Anti-theft gadget doesn’t lock the bike.
- Anti-theft options and restore service is simply accessible by way of subscription.
Primarily based on my half-hour check experience, I couldn’t kind a strong opinion in regards to the vary of the Cowboy Cruiser. Nevertheless, 40 to 80 km is strong for a motorcycle that was primarily designed for metropolis use. It is usually very handy that you could take away the battery from the e-bike and cost it individually within the consolation of your individual residence. Right here, Cowboy has a bonus over fashions just like the VanMoof S5 (assessment).
Nevertheless, the Dutch competitor has the sting on the subject of anti-theft safety. Though Cowboy additionally provides monitoring capabilities and anti-theft safety, the bike isn’t locked bodily. VanMoof’s answer is to make use of a metal bolt often known as a kicklock, which is pushed via the rear wheel. With Cowboy, however, it’s a must to take note of your smartphone because it alerts you at any time when somebody strikes your bike.
It is also a bit annoying for a motorcycle that prices nearly €3,000 for Cowboy to cost a subscription for chosen options. Amongst them embody theft insurance coverage in addition to a restore service that features on-demand servicing of your e-bike within the occasion of harm. Cowboy claims it is going to restore faulty bikes inside a most time interval of three days. In sure circumstances, the bike will even resolve for itself when is it time for servicing.
Cowboy makes actually good use of the info it collects from its prospects. For instance, there’s a fall detection function that contacts your emergency contact after an elapsed countdown. If it’s not that severe, the Cowboy app will even ask you later whether or not you would possibly want a mechanic.
There’s a additionally deep information integration with the corporate’s app that relies on data from Google Maps which Cowboy lately launched. This manner, accident or theft hotspots are detected and you’ll be alerted by way of the app in case you are shifting into mentioned important zones. Cowboy additionally contains information like air high quality or climate circumstances to provide you a heads-up about potential issues earlier than you experience.
What I additionally discovered actually thrilling is how Cowboy exhibits you ways a lot battery energy is left after the deliberate route. This manner, you possibly can make sure that there may be enough battery to final you for the return journey.
Right here ends my first impression
The brand new Cruiser mannequin in addition to Cowboy’s product philosophy left a really optimistic impression after paying a go to to the corporate at Tech Open Air in Berlin. With the brand new mannequin, Cowboy desires to faucet into a brand new market and the Cowboy Cruiser appears to be very well fitted to this. In different phrases: If the earlier Cowboy bikes have been all the time too sporty and uncomfortable for you, it is best to check out the Cruiser.
Nevertheless, the €2,990 asking value remains to be sky-high, and particularly so since repairs might be costly as a result of many proprietary parts used. The truth that the extra providers value €30 every month can also be actually steep. The complete potential of the Cowboy Cruiser also can solely be unleashed when used with a smartphone, which will also be a bit impractical.
Cowboy doesn’t appear to have made any actual errors at first look. The truth is, the intelligent leverage of information to guard riders particularly confirmed the holistic view that the e-bike business has taken which co-founder Tanguy Goretti offered throughout his discuss on the commerce present.
As quickly as we will assessment the e-bike correctly over an extended time frame, we’ll have a full assessment and its accompanying score for you. For now, Cowboy loaned us the C4, the place a assessment will observe within the subsequent few days. Do you wish to know extra about e-bikes at nexptit? Then learn my listing of the finest folding e-bikes and take a look at my suggestions for life-style e-bikes in 2023.
