Cowboy Cruiser test ride: A more comfortable e-bike for daily use

Boutique Belgian electric bicycle maker Cowboy has added a new, more straightforward and comfortable commuter e-bike to its portfolio. The so-called cruiser takes the grip, wide saddle and more comfortable riding position of the company’s C4ST (step-through) model and adds a top bar and a wider swept-back handlebar. This is the Dutch-style e-bike you buy if you already like the C4 but dislike its aggressive forward riding position, thin saddle and narrow handlebar.

I had a chance to test ride the new 19.3kg cruiser at one of Cowboy’s new retail partners in Amsterdam, pitted against the original C4 (now renamed Classic) and the step-through C4ST (now known as the Cruiser ST) Mila – an initiative that started in May with independent bike shops across Europe.

Riding the Cruiser feels very similar to the Cruiser ST, and is much more comfortable than the Classic which puts the rider in a leaning position with a lot of hand pressure on the grips. Compared to the Classic, the Cruiser should make long distance trips easier, especially if you’re used to carrying a stuffy backpack to work. It is not as comfortable and straightforward as the traditional Dutch”omafietsBut the riding posture is a fine balance between sporty and utilitarian, not unlike riding the €3,299 Veloretti Ace Two, the €2,348 VanMoof S4 or the €3,498 S5, or the €2,590 Ampeller Axel.

Cowboy says the cruiser also has a higher gear ratio. To be honest, I didn’t feel much difference between the three bikes, each tested head-to-head in adaptive power mode. But I rode each for less than five minutes and only on flat roads.

Otherwise, the Cowboy Cruiser – like the Cruiser ST and Classic – has a 250W rear-hub motor with a single-speed belt-drive, a built-in mount that wirelessly charges your phone, Google Maps baked directly into the Cowboy app , removable battery, and wide 47mm tyres.

The new cruiser is available from today in black or “sand” (off-white) colors at an “introductory price” of €2,990.