Hands down, the Super73 R Series Brooklyn is the worst bike I’ve ever ridden. It’s too small for many adults, it forces you into a terrible riding position, it’s unreasonably heavy and it offers one gear in total.
Riding was also by far the most fun I’ve had on an electric bike to date.
All that weight makes for a robust double-suspension frame with fat tires that absorb the bumps and make confident turns on all kinds of surfaces. And you get a powerful motor that lets you blast away despite the weight of the bike. You also get a huge battery that supposedly offers a range of over 75 miles when the bike is in “eco” mode – a mode no one will ever use as it’s way too much fun to whiz around with the electric assist maxed out. .
The design: Urban dirt?
Super73 offers five different versions of its R-series, an e-bike that offers either fully electric drive, full pedaling or electrically assisted pedaling. However, all five versions look like miniature versions of a dirt bike. One of these, the Malibu, is outfitted to look like an off-road racer. I tested the Brooklyn Edition, touted as a “performance street racer.” The main difference here seems to be the tires, which are relatively slippery yet offer plenty of grip and can handle a gravel trail with confidence.
Dirt bikes owe their sturdiness in part to their compact form, and the Brooklyn takes that idea to the extreme, sitting only about 80 cm (32 inches) off the ground — and that’s before the rider’s weight hits the rear suspension. compresses. I’m tall, but not outlandish, yet I could easily put both feet on the ground while sitting. That means the pedals sit awkwardly close to my hips, a problem compounded by the bike’s compactness in its horizontal dimensions.
John Timmer
That, plus the bike’s impressive weight (38kg/83lbs), made it incredibly difficult to pedal. The seat appears to be designed for a rider and passenger, with a raised section at the rear for the passenger. But I had to kick as far back as I could, so I was in what should be the passenger seat. That position meant that my legs kept hitting the wide part of the seat to turn the pedals. The company offers optional 10-speed gears that can improve the pedaling experience, but it costs $235, which is a bit much for a bike that already costs $3,500. It is also currently out of stock.
(I’ve decided to limit my definition of e-bikes to things with pedals, so I’ve turned down review hardware without them. But Super73 is testing that limit with this design.)
There’s not much more to the bike than the obvious. The front and rear lights are excellent, and it comes with a horn loud enough to cause heart attacks in those who don’t notice the near-silent approach. The hydraulic disc brakes are excellent – a necessity for a bike that weighs over 35 kilograms (83 lbs). Besides the fact that potholes and speed bumps are no problem, the suspension absorbs the forces of hard braking, so that you don’t fly over the handlebars in the event of a sudden stop. There’s a throttle that lets you engage the electric motor without pedaling and a simple set of controls and a display that we’ll talk more about below.
The bike’s battery is removable, so it can be charged without the bike having to be near a power outlet. It’s a high-capacity battery, though, so dragging it around without the benefit of wheels isn’t as convenient as it might seem.
Overall this is a well constructed machine and you get a lot for the $3,500 price tag. If you’re around 150cm tall (five feet) and paying for the extra nine gears, this could be a decent pedal electric bike. For everyone, it’s all about the electric powertrain. and there is a lot about that powertrain.
