Without a doubt, the Super73 R Series Brooklyn is the worst bicycle I’ve ever ridden. It’s too small for a lot of adults, it forces you into an terrible driving place, it is unconscionably heavy, and it provides a grand complete of 1 gear.
Riding it was additionally far and away essentially the most fun I’ve had on an electrical bike but.
All that weight will get you a sturdy, dual-suspension body and fats tires that swallow the bumps and minimize assured activates all kinds of surfaces. And it will get you a robust motor that allows you to blast away from stops regardless of the bike’s weight. You additionally get an enormous battery that supposedly provides a variety of over 120 km when the bike is in “eco” mode—a mode no person will ever use as a result of it’s miles an excessive amount of fun to rocket round with {the electrical} help maxed out.
The design: Urban dust?
Super73 provides 5 totally different variations of its R collection, an e-bike that provides both full electrical drive, full pedaling, or electric-assisted pedaling. All 5 variations, nonetheless, appear like miniature variations of a mud bike. One, the Malibu, is kitted out to appear like an off-road racer. I examined the Brooklyn version, touted as a “performance street racer.” The key distinction right here appears to be the tires, that are comparatively slick however nonetheless provided loads of grip and dealt with a gravel path with confidence.
Dirt bikes get their ruggedness partly from their compact kind, and the Brooklyn takes that concept to the acute, with a seat peak of solely about 80 cm (32 inches) off the bottom—and that is earlier than the rider’s weight compresses the rear suspension. I’m tall however not freakishly so, but I used to be simply in a position to plant each toes on the bottom whereas seated. That means the pedals are awkwardly near my hips, an issue exacerbated by the truth that the bike is compact in its horizontal dimensions.
![](https://cdn.arstechnica.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/IMG_1025-980x735.jpg)
John Timmer
That, plus the spectacular weight of the bike (38 kg / 83 lbs), made it extremely troublesome to pedal. The seat appears to be designed for a rider and passenger, with a raised part on the rear for the passenger. But I wanted to be way back to attainable to pedal, so I discovered myself in what must be the passenger’s seat. That stance meant my legs stored bumping into the large a part of the seat to show the pedals. The firm provides optionally available 10-speed gearing that will enhance the pedaling expertise, but it surely prices $235, which is a bit a lot for a motorcycle that already prices $3,500. It’s additionally presently out of inventory.
![The seat.](https://cdn.arstechnica.net/wp-content/uploads/2022/06/Screen-Shot-2022-06-03-at-4.48.52-PM-980x655.png)
(I’ve determined that I’m limiting my definition of e-bikes to issues with pedals, so I’ve turned down evaluation {hardware} with out them. But Super73 is testing that restrict with this design.)
There’s not lots to the bike past the plain. The entrance and tail lamps are wonderful, and it comes with a horn that is loud sufficient to induce coronary heart assaults in those that do not discover its near-noiseless strategy. The hydraulic disk brakes are wonderful—a necessity for a motorcycle that weighs over 35 kilograms (83 lbs). In addition to creating potholes and speedbumps non-issues, the suspension works to soak up the forces of onerous braking so a sudden cease would not ship you flying over the handlebars. There’s a throttle that allows you to interact the electrical motor with out pedaling and a easy set of controls and a show that we’ll speak about extra beneath.
The bike’s battery is detachable, permitting it to be charged with out requiring the bike to be close to an influence outlet. It’s a high-capacity battery, although, so hauling it round with out the good thing about wheels is not as handy because it may appear.
Overall, this is a well-constructed machine, and you get lots for its $3,500 price ticket. If you are within the neighborhood of 150 cm tall (5 toes) and pay for the additional 9 gears, it would make for an inexpensive electric-assist pedal bike. For anybody else, it is all going to be in regards to the electrical powertrain. And there is lots to say about that powertrain.