Puckipuppy Boxer ST E-Bike Review: Outstanding Comfort and Range

It’s easy to understand why e-bikes are all the rage these days, especially with RV owners. Whether you’re riding at home or while traveling in your rig, these two-wheeled wonders provide a convenient and eco-friendly way to explore your surroundings. They also make it easy for individuals of different ages, fitness, and skill levels to ride together without fear of someone being left behind.

But with so many models to choose from, finding the right bike can take time and effort. Fortunately, there are a lot of great options available today, including an impressive line-up from a company called Puckipuppy. Whether you’re looking for an easy-to-ride cruiser, a lightweight model with amazing range, or a powerful all-terrain bike that can go just about anywhere, this brand has you covered at prices that won’t break the bank.

Recently, we had the chance to spend some time riding the Puckipuppy Boxer ST, which definitely falls into the rugged, high-performance category. What we found was an e-bike that is extremely comfortable and has amazing range, although it is a bit on the heavy side. But once you’re in the saddle, you’ll hardly notice that weight at all, as this bike rolls along at a speedy pace, even over rough terrain.

Photo Credit: Kraig Becker

Assembly and First Ride

Like most direct-to-consumer e-bike manufacturers, Puckipuppy ships its bikes in a partially assembled state. That means, after removing it from the box, you’ll have to finish putting it together yourself. But don’t worry, even if you’ve never built a bike together before, the process is fairly straightforward and easy. In the case of the Boxer ST, you’ll only have to connect a few parts—like a headlamp and the kickstand—while also attaching the front tire and handlebars.

It took me about 45 minutes to assemble the Boxer ST, with all the required tools included in the box. That’s about on par with most other e-bikes I’ve put together, although this model had fewer parts compared to some. In theory, that should have meant that it took less time to build, but there were a few fiddly parts that required more time than expected, mostly due to user error rather than anything being overly complex.

Once the Boxer ST is fully assembled, it cuts a nice profile. The bike’s beefy tires look like they can roll over just about any obstacle, and its dual-suspension design gives it a look that falls somewhere between a comfy cruiser and a burly mountain bike. My test model was painted white, which is both simple and striking at the same time. For those who want to add a dash of character to their bike, Puckipuppy offers this model in green, gray, yellow, and camouflage, as well.

Riding the bike for the first time, I was struck by how smoothly it rolled down the street. Those fat tires mentioned above made it feel like I was pedaling on a cloud, with the suspension system taking most of the jolt out of the bumps and cracks in the road. I was even impressed with how well the Boxer ST handled, as larger tires often impact the turning radius and overall nimbleness of a bike. Not so here, as the control felt sharp and responsive, even on tight corners or in smaller spaces.

Photo Credit: Kraig Becker

Plush Comfort and Plenty of Range

I’ve already mentioned the Boxer ST’s dual-suspension design a time or two, and it is difficult to overstate just how much of a difference it makes when riding. Most e-bikes have a suspension built into the front fork, which helps lessen the jostling that comes with riding over uneven terrain. But some models—like this one—also include a second suspension positioned on the frame just below the seat,. This further reduces the impact of a rough ride, keeping cyclists more comfortable in the saddle and reducing fatigue on longer outings.

This dual-suspension approach is a big reason why the Boxer ST is so comfortable to ride, especially when paired with such large tires and a relatively cushy seat. But, it does come with one drawback—extra weight. The additional components add more bulk, pushing this model all the way up to 75 lbs. Thanks to the powerful 960W motor, the weight isn’t all that noticeable when riding, keeping the bike surprisingly agile when in motion. But you will notice it when manually pushing it around or loading it into a vehicle or onto a bike rack. Honestly, this is the one drawback we found with the Boxer ST, which is an otherwise outstanding option for veteran and first-time e-bike buyers alike.

As noted, the bike’s 960W motor provides plenty of power, propelling it along nicely over pavement, gravel, dirt, and sand. We didn’t have a chance to test it on snow and ice, but considering the oversized tires, it will likely perform well on winter rides, too. The motor is paired with a large 48V 20Ah battery that provides enough power to hit speeds of up to 20 mph when using the thumb throttle or 28 mph in pedal assist mode. That’s pretty quick for a bike of this size, which, again, feels controlled and comfortable even at max velocity.

The motor/battery combo also provides excellent range. Puckipuppy claims the Boxer ST can travel up to 80 miles on a single charge, but any e-bike owner will tell you that range estimates vary widely based on terrain, the level of assist used, and the size of the rider. That said, this e-bike still managed to impress us with its performance, even when shuttling around a rider who is 6’ 2” and 220 pounds. We were able to consistently get 65+ miles of range out of the battery, and smaller riders can probably expect even better results.

Photo Credit: Kraig Becker

Other Features and Components

While the Boxer ST’s large battery and excellent performance help reduce range anxiety, Puckipuppy has taken further steps to assist riders in understanding how much further they can go before running out of juice. The bike’s onboard color LCD display provides lots of information–including speed, distance, and time—while also making it easy to understand the impact of the current settings on how far you can ride. Turn the pedal assist up a notch, and you’ll instantly see the impact on the battery. Turn it down, and you’ll see similar results reflected on screen. This makes it incredibly easy to keep tabs on your battery life at all times, allowing you to cut a ride short if power is running low or tweak the settings so you can push yourself a little further.

The LCD also provides access to the bike’s settings, allowing owners to customize the ride and switch between metric and imperial measurements. You can even tweak the top speed and other configurations to further increase performance, but as always, you should follow the best practices established by the manufacturer before doing so. That said, if you want to go a little faster on your Boxer ST—usually at the expense of battery life—you can.

The Boxer ST’s bright, easy-to-read screen isn’t the only component that impressed us. The bike’s hydraulic brakes are responsive and effective, and its front-facing LED headlight is bright and covers a wide area. But like most other models in this price bracket, the Shimano seven-speed gear system and derailleur are merely adequate. They are cost-effective and simple to understand and operate, however, which most riders are sure to appreciate.

Photo Credit: Kraig Beckerv

Closing Thoughts

Overall, the Puckipuppy Boxer ST is an impressive e-bike for the price. It offers outstanding all-around performance, a comfortable ride, and excellent build quality. Its components are also impressive, with the clear, bright digital display especially standing out. We were also impressed by how well the bike handles, particularly considering its large tires. But most of all, we love the flexibility and versatility that comes with having such great range.

As noted, this bike is designed for all-terrain use, which in this case means on and off-road riding. But it is not a performance mountain bike and isn’t built for riding technical trails. Instead, it excels on pavement and well-established trails. It also motors through sand fairly well, and I expect it to be a lot of fun on snow in the winter. Thanks to the dual-suspension package, riders can comfortably manage those various surfaces and terrains.

The Boxer ST has an MSRP of $2,299.99, which is a solid price considering everything it delivers. But, as of press time, this model is selling for just $1,399.99, which makes it an exceptional bargain. Other than carrying a little extra weight, this e-bike is outstanding in every way, making it easy to recommend to anyone in the market for a new ride. Those who are should definitely keep the Boxer ST on their short list of options, as I don’t think you’ll be disappointed. It has everything you could ask for in an e-bike built for casual riding.

To learn more about the Boxer St—and Puckipuppy’s entire line of e-bikes—visit the company’s website.

The post Puckipuppy Boxer ST E-Bike Review: Outstanding Comfort and Range appeared first on RV.com.

Source: https://www.rv.com/gear-accessories/puckipuppy-boxer-st-e-bike-review-outstanding-comfort-and-range/