Puckipuppy Boxer St Review — Great All-Around Bike at Low Price – CleanTechnica

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The Puckipuppy Boxer St. is a new “cross-step, high-performance, all-terrain bicycle equipped with wide tires,” as the company summarizes. It somehow has both a spicy, speedy look and a rugged, off-road core. It implies sporty fun whether in the city or in the country. So, we were happy to receive a bike, provide it to one of our backroom staff, and have her review it. Before getting into her review, note that the bike comes with a 2-year warranty, free shipping, and a 30-return policy. But, really, the short story is that we think you won’t be returning the bike, because it’s a blast to ride, solid, and easy to enjoy. On to the review….

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TL;DR

As a bike meant to be high performing as a commuter or off-road bike, the Puckipuppy Boxer St. is very impressive, albeit definitely a better choice for someone looking for adventuring or mixed use rather than just a simple commuter bike. The bike is smooth to ride, offers a lot of power (even for an e-bike), and seems built to tackle any obstacle or trail. The tires are made for adventure in the woods, but they are also slick enough to provide sporty fun in the city. Also, if you really need support, the battery easily provides an impressive 40 miles of travel on its own — which is approximately what an average American drives in a day — or can even get you up to 80 miles.

Features & Specifications

With a range of at least 40 miles, I have yet to even need to recharge the bike as of this review. Fully charging the battery only took a few hours as well, so charging is not a big aspect of using the bike, which I love. The battery being removable (using a key) is also fantastic for safe keeping. You can keep it out of the heat (which Florida has plenty of) or make sure no one is going to nab it while you’re sleeping. The LED headlight and a rechargeable taillight being included is also convenient — though, the taillight is separate from the bike and has to be turned on manually by getting off the bike. You’ve got to remember to do that before setting off on your journey. I have to mention the seat also — which can really make or break a bike in my opinion — because it is actually super comfortable, even on longer rides. The tires are very hefty and can definitely handle more unpredictable terrain. Furthermore, there are 7 gears, providing great depth of support for those traversing difficult paths and hilly or even mountainous environments.

Star Features

The assembly was a big plus — I loved that I was able to put the bike together myself (in under 2 hours), instead of having to get the professionals involved (as a friend suggested is often the case with e-bikes). While the directions that come with the bike are not totally comprehensive (no mention of how to install the kickstand), there are easy-to-follow videos on YouTube that can walk you through it. I’m not especially handy, so it seems most people would be able to do this if I can, and there are some savings there, plus the convenience of being able to ride it the day you get it.

Riding it, the bike feels super sturdy (the frame is aluminum after all), and yet still agile. I love the handlebar LCD display, which clearly shows the speed — which reaches up to 28 mph. The battery is powerful and provides a decent amount of torque, but used with pedal assist, you still have control over how fast you take off. There is a thumb throttle too if you just want to take off. The speed buttons on the handlebar are easy to use. I, of course, did play around with bumping it all the way up and seeing how fast I could take off, and it’s pretty impressive.

Downsides to Consider

This bike is heavy, even for an e-bike, and granted, I’m a frequent user of Citi Bikes, which are no featherweights. Weighing in at 75 lb, this may not be one that you want to have to take up stairs or lift in and out of a car much, unless you’re also looking for an upper-body workout. As someone looking for a bike for just commuting or cruising, I think I would trade off some power for less weight.

I also didn’t love the height and structure of the bike — I’m 5’8”, and even at the lowest seat height, the bike feels tall. This is more of a personal preference, but I like to be able to reach the ground with my feet better, and to be able to easily swing a leg through the middle to hop off, but the downtube was a bit too high and I did get myself into a bit of a jumble trying.

The brakes didn’t feel as reactive to me as most bikes, but that could work out to being a safety feature if you are going 28 mph.

All things considered, the downsides are pretty minimal depending on how you plan to use it.

Final Thoughts

If you want a bike that can do it all, and especially off-roading, the Puckipuppy Boxer St is definitely that. If you are like me and just looking for a top-notch commuter bike, it may overdo it, but that’s not much of a complaint. For such a low price, this definitely seems like a good buy for someone who is interested in this style and capability.

Also, almost skipping over this, the name Puckipuppy certainly stands out as a fun, catchy, interesting name that provides more character to the e-bike and is surely also a good conversation starter.

Specs

• Battery: 48V 20.0Ah removable battery with a maximum range of 80 miles.
• Charger: 48V 2A
• Speed Class: 28 mph
• Weight: 75 lb
• Range: 40~80 miles
• Motor: 960W; can reach a top speed of 28 mph.
• Payload Capacity: 400 lb
• Brakes: 2×180mm hydraulic disc brakes
• Other Features: Brand-new flight interface design, with a high-definition LCD showcasing various data.

By Mira Bai

This article was sponsored by Puckipuppy, and, as already noted, the bike was provided to the writer free of charge.