by Stan Purdum
Hot!
- Dual suspension system “levels” out bumpy surfaces
- 48V 20AH removable battery with a maximum range of 80 miles under ideal conditions
- Battery can be charged while on ebike directly or removed to recharge separately
- Battery has key lock to keep it from being stolen, but since the battery is removable, it can be carried inside, making the bike less of a theft target
- Brushless 750-watt motor with a peak power of 960 watts
- A 7-speed Shimano Tourney cassette, derailleur and shifter
- A Class 2 ebike: a throttle speed of 20 mph and pedal assist up to 28 mph.
- Five pedal-assist levels
- 3mmx180mm hydraulic disc brakes provide prompt and strong stopping power
- high-definition LCD showcasing various data
- maximum payload for bike (including weight of rider) is 400 pounds
- All assembly tools included, plus extra nuts and bolts and other small parts
- Integrated Front and rear lights, powered by bike battery; rear light glows red when brakes are applied
- Horn included; operated from control pad
- Available in your choice of five different colors
- Included accessory bundle is comprised of phone mount, bottle cage, mirrors for both sides of handlebar, cable lock with key, a storage cover to protect the bike from the elements, air pump, fenders and rear rack
Not!
- Bike weighs 84.9 pounds, making it difficult to manhandle up and down stairs or into a vehicle. It may be too heavy for some car-mounted racks and some work stands. (All ebikes are heavier than nonelectric bikes of similar size and construction)
- No quick-release axle on the wheels makes vehicle transport more challenging, but also makes it harder to steal the wheels
- Although this bike has a step-through frame, the “valley” at the bottom of the step-through area is crowded by the intrusion of the rear suspension shock absorber into the space
Price: $1399
Available here: Puckipuppy
How obtained: Manufacturer provided the ebike at their cost for review
RBR Advertiser: No
Puckipuppy is a relatively new ebike maker, and given that brand name, it’s not surprising that each of its models are named after canine breeds — Labrador, Beagle, Samoyed, Corgi, Husky, Bulldog and Boxer. According to the brand’s “About Us” webpage, the company’s founder, identified as “Bob, a passionate outdoor rider” was inspired to so name the company because his puppy, Pudding, runs beside Bob’s bike as he rides. The page notes that “The energy and joy of the puppy made Bob realize that a loyal and reliable riding companion is the core of making riding life more enjoyable.”
The brand was officially established in California, in 2022, and according to the Better Business Bureau, the company launched in March of 2024. The bikes, like many brands these days, are made in China.
Recently Puckipuppy sent me their Boxer ST model for review. The “ST” stands for “step through,” which refers to its frame configuration. The ST is a full suspension, all-terrain, fat-tire steed with a motor in the rear hub. The bike weighs nearly 85 pounds and is capable of carrying a 400-pound payload (including the rider). Although it’s a sizable bike, its step-through frame makes mounting it easier than mounting its sister model, the Boxer, which has a top tube.
Puckipuppy says the ST will accommodate riders between 5’3” and 6’4” in height. I am 5’7” and found it comfortable for me. The seat post has a click-and-dial lever that makes it simple to adjust the seat height without tools.
Unboxing and assembling the Boxer ST
The bike arrived in a sturdy box with plenty of packing material to protect all the parts. It would have required the help of a second person to lift the bike directly out through the top opening, but cutting open the side of the box not only gave me easy access, but the thick cardboard also made a good surface to protect the bike from getting scratched by the concrete floor of my garage while I did the assembly.
The ST arrived mostly assembled. I had only to attach the handlebar, the front wheel, the pedals, the kickstand, the LCD display, the front light and the rear rack, to which the brake light was affixed. The User Manual gave clear instructions for all of this, both in words and in pictures, and all the necessary tools came with the bike.
The box included some optional items — including fenders, a water bottle cage, and mirrors for both the right and left side of the handlebar. I chose not to install the fenders, and the left mirror seemed sufficient, so I did not install the right side one. I did not install the bottle cage for reasons I’ll state further on.
It took me about 90 minutes to unbox and assemble the bike. I’ve worked on bikes as an amateur for years, but none of the procedures were complicated. It might take an inexperienced person a little longer to complete the assembly, but it’s likely doable without professional help for most buyers.
The riding experience
The ST is a big bike, but rather than lumbering along as would seem to befit its size, it is eager to move and quickly reaches and sustains substantial speed, either by pedaling the bike with the assist turned on or by using the throttle. Pedaling with no assist, however, does require significant effort, so you may want to turn level 1 assist on right away.
A sticker on the seat tube identifies the bike as a “Class 2” unit, which under US regulations, is the only ebike class that can have a throttle. And indeed, the throttle tops out at 20 mph, as Class 2 ebikes are required to. However, the pedal assist continued beyond 20 mph — I had it up to 24 mph before I backed off (and at least one other reviewer got his ST up to 32 mph). Class 3 ebikes can have pedal assist up to 28 mph but aren’t supposed to have a throttle. Riders who want speed, however, may welcome this bike as being in a class of its own.
The tires are 26 x 4 inches, fat tires indeed, and combined with the full suspension (which you can lock out), they provide a very comfortable ride even on rough surfaces. And on pavement, the ride is almost like floating. The bike provides a stable ride on all kinds of terrain, and it never feels squirrely
Because the motor ramps up so easily, it’s not difficult to ride in the higher gears, even when climbing, though you may want to use the lower gears to slow down the speed uptake.
Features and Components
Although ebikes more expensive than the ST usually have mid-drive motors, you need not be put off by the fact that this bike is powered by a rear hub motor. This operates smoothly and supplies more than adequate power.
The full-color LCD has two interface screens. The first displays current speed, trip distance, trip time, mode, pedal assist sensor, power level, and the status of the front and rear light. A simultaneous press of two buttons on the control panel opens the second interface, which shows average trip speed, max trip speed, trip distance (again) and total odometer reading. There is also a screen that permits changing function settings (for example, switching from mph to km/h).
The headlight and brake light are nice features, with the headlight being bright enough for nighttime riding and the rear light clearly illuminating when braking. Neither light has a blinking mode, so they don’t necessarily help for daytime running.
The rear rack is super strong, clearly capable of supporting cargo.
The hydraulic disc brakes with large rotors provide plenty of stopping power. They modulate well, allowing for good control when slowing down.
The lithium-ion battery has the CE mark, which is a European Union designation denoting that product has been assessed to meet high safety, health and environmental protection requirements. While this mark is not the equivalent of the United States’ UL mark, it does indicate that the manufacturer has declared the product to meet the stated EU standards. And my contact at Puckipuppy tells me that the company has applied for the UL mark and is awaiting that certification.
The bike cover was an unexpected accessory, but a useful item if you have to store your bike outdoors.
Weight and transportation
The Boxer ST is a hefty 84.9 pounds. Manhandling it up or down stairs or into a vehicle requires considerable strength. Although the absence of quick-release skewers on the wheels provides security, it does make removing the wheels to fit the bike into a car bike more complicated as you will need tools to remove them. However, this will not be a factor if you are using the bike instead of a car.
My conclusions
At $1400 dollars, this ebike is a good value for strong and agile riders.
Despite the step-through feature, I do not recommend this ebike for seniors or riders with physical disabilities. First, there’s no getting around the reality that the bike is quite heavy. Second, the step-through openness of this bike’s frame is partially negated by the height of the bike, made all the taller by the fat tires. That openness is further compromised by the intrusion of the rear-suspension shock absorber into the “valley” between the down tube and seat tube. In fact, due to the small space remaining in the valley, I declined to install the water bottle cage on the down tube to avoid making the space even tighter.
But for commuters and recreational cyclists without those limitations, this ebike is worthy of your consideration.
Stan Purdum has ridden several long-distance bike trips, including an across-America ride recounted in his book Roll Around Heaven All Day, and a trek on U.S. 62, from Niagara Falls, New York, to El Paso, Texas, the subject of his book Playing in Traffic. Stan, a freelance writer and editor, lives in Ohio. See more at www.StanPurdum.com.