Why is Motorcyclist reviewing electric bicycles? Easy; as discussions of cubic centimeters and compression ratios are giving way to those of volts and kWh, the line between ebikes and electric motorcycles is blurring. But one thing will always be true: If it’s got pedals, it’s a bicycle. Right?
Well, mostly. Readers might be following the recently announced Super73-C1X (shipping in winter 2023) but the current Super73 R, S, and Z-series are the templates the C1X is based on. Sized to accommodate every rider, Super73 is making light handling and accessible power its calling card. If it pulls off the C1X delivery date, the company will be making a smart, calculated jump from its ebike lineup.
All 10 current Super73 models currently available have honest-to-god old-fashioned pedals. But like vestigial tailbones and floating casinos, the purpose is legal, not locomotion. With miniature 125mm cranks and pedal assist that quits around 28 mph (or so), the Super73 becomes a Class 2 (or 3) electric bicycle, able to legally use bike lanes and trails. They also stay out of the way as you jump speed bumps, curbs, or exposed manhole covers. More on those manhole covers later.
The $3,495 MSRP Super73-R Brooklyn isn’t a commuter, mountain, or track bike. It’s billed as the “Performance Street Racer,” which isn’t entirely untrue. Unlike the S and Z series, it features a rear monoshock which definitely helps performance. Right? Hitting Chicago’s Beirut-esque streetscape should help us find out.
What does the Super73-R Brooklyn do really well? It looks great and attracts lots of attention from curious passersby and fellow ebike riders. The dual downtube aluminum frame is a funky, fun, and sturdy design. The 83-pound weight makes it cumbersome as a bicycle, but positively pixie-like in motorcycle terms. And it’s a blast to ride and looks great.
It features an impressive 18 Super73 logos, not including four on the tires. There’s also six lightning logos, plus one on the left-hand display on start up. Motor Company, you’ve got serious competition.
The Brooklyn is stripped down, but optional fenders, luggage, and racks are available and recommended for commuting. True to its California roots, a surfboard rack is also available for $105. Hey, surfers commute too.
The pedal assist comes on slow, helping preserve the life of the 1/8-inch chain. You have four PAS (Pedal Assist System) modes, ranging from minimal to maximal assist. But you’ll never opt for No. 1, the lowest setting. Pedal assist continues for a split second after you stop pedaling, which is a little disconcerting. But the brakes cut power immediately, no matter what.
The 32-inch seat height and short cranks mean pedaling gets comically futile at 15 mph or so, like a Flintstones car. It comes with 36T/16T front and back cogs, but an optional 44T front and 11-34T rear 10-speed unit is available. A chain tensioner is also a nice touch. Tired of pedaling? Hit the right-hand thumb throttle and watch everything become a 30-mph blur.
That’s right. You can easily do 30-plus mph, provided you’re in the Mode 4 Off-Road setting. Obviously, Super73 and Motorcyclist discourage the use of Mode 4 for anything besides off-road locales and/or dirt. But lots of streets, and all of Chicago, are off-road by any civilized definition, so use your best judgment.
“Best judgment” doesn’t include doing 31 mph in the Milwaukee Avenue bike lane, aka “The Hipster Highway.” You’ll terrify fellow bicyclists and drivers alike as you pass both at twice their given speed with inches to spare on either side.
Front and rear brakes are Tektro Hydraulic two-piston calipers on 180mm rotors. They work well from 20 mph or so, but 30 mph, not so much. Feel is great, but the motorcyclist’s habit of always planning emergency escape routes comes in handy as objects appear faster than you can stop for them. Spirited testing by several “assistants” resulted in the front rotor getting pretzeled, but a vise put things back to 95 percent new. It’s unlikely the rotor warped, so only the guilty party knows their blame.
The nonadjustable front shocks suffered from bad stiction that mimicked the feel of bottoming out a number of times. Lift the front end and you’re immediately greeted by another healthy thud. This is doubly disappointing, since the meaty LZRD Override 20 x 4.5/5.0 tires invite you to do unwise and fun things, like jumping speed bumps and unfinished manhole covers. But read the warning label behind the front right shock; “Do not big jump, competition and other similar activities.” Super73′s site shows all manner of curbs and dirt hills being jumped in extreme fashion, so the truth lies somewhere between.
The adjustable rear suspension is fine, though differences between adjustments are suspect. Regardless, it stands up nicely to abuse, unlike the front. It’s set pretty hard, with slow rebound, highlighting the Brooklyn R’s minimal seat padding. Best to stay on the pedals over rough stuff.
The Brooklyn comes preprogrammed to provide 750W of power (1,200W peak) in Class 2 mode, allowing for pedal assist and throttle operation up to 20 mph. Stick to this and you’ll get very close to a promised 40-plus mile range. Or use Class 1 pedal assist only and get up to 75-plus miles. But Class 3 mode (available as Mode 4 in the Super73 app) unlocks 2,000 watts of peak power, bringing total range down to an estimated 29 miles or less. A 7.3-mile commute in Class 4 took 10 miles off displayed range. Curiously, a full charge brought a range display of only 36 miles. Still, standard 110V recharging plus a removable battery means range is fine for anyone except overworked delivery drivers.
The Super73 app worked nicely, with map and navigation features working well. Stats and battery life showed up nice and accurate. An optional phone holder is recommended, probably a better fit than the Ram unit used during testing. Saved rides were problematic, often failing to save after arriving at destinations, which was a bummer. Less free data for Super73.
Otherwise, the left-hand Bluetooth display was intuitive and smart, letting you cycle through ride modes and choose range, PAS, or speed displays. It was of little use displaying navigation and directions, but you’ll likely never use it.
The Brooklyn’s fun and fresh design was undercut by less than perfect fit and finish. The horn wasn’t connected and an errant blue O-ring was hanging out on the left fork stanchion. Maybe the cause of the fork stiction?
The easiest way to explain the Super73-R Brooklyn is that it’s an ebike for people who don’t want an electric bicycle. It’s an ebike for people who will eventually get an electric motorcycle. Funky style and zero-apologies design isn’t limited to motorcycling. Plus, you’re guaranteed to cut five to 10 minutes off your motorcycle commute in any given dense urban environment, unless you’re a jerk and ride in the bike lane.
Already ride motorcycles? Then you’re well versed in threatening your life through calculated and measured ways. Grab your full-face helmet and enjoy the thrilling view from a blurry bike lane by giving the Brooklyn a test ride. The Brooklyn is available in three colors: Obsidian (as tested), Dark Earth, and Blu Tang.
Super73-R Brooklyn Technical Specifications and Price
| PRICE | $3,495 |
| MOTOR | Hub-mounted, 750W nominal power, 1,200W peak power (2,000W peak power in Off-road Class 4 mode) |
| BATTERY | 960 watt-hours, 21700 cells |
| CHARGER | 3A (6–7 hour charge time) / Optional: 5A (3–4 hour charge time) |
| FRAME | 6061 / 7005 aluminum alloy, 1-1/8 to 1-1/2 in. tapered head tube |
| FRONT SUSPENSION | Inverted coil spring fork |
| REAR SUSPENSION | Coilover monoshock, compression and rebound damping adjustable |
| FRONT/REAR BRAKE | Tektro Hydraulic, 2-piston caliper, 180mm front and rear rotors |
| WHEELS, FRONT/REAR | 20 in. x 100mm alloy w/ lightening cutouts |
| TIRES, FRONT/REAR | LZRD; 20 x 4.5 in. / 20 x 5 in. |
| RAKE/TRAIL | N/A |
| WHEELBASE | N/A |
| SEAT HEIGHT | 32.0 in. |
| CLAIMED CURB WEIGHT | 83 lb. |
| WARRANTY | 1 year on frame, fork, and electronics; 2 years/500 charge cycles on battery |
| AVAILABLE | Now |
| CONTACT | super73.com |
Source: MotorCyclistOnline.com