The first thing most cyclists do before riding a new bike is to correctly size the frame, adjusting to make sure the standover clearance, seat tube length, and reach are all the right fit. The Bronco has a one-size-fits-all frame advertised to fit heights from 5′ 4” to 6′ 5”. My 5′ 9” self was too tall to comfortably pedal, my knees practically hitting my chest on every stroke.
When I stopped pedaling, however, tooling around town using only the throttle, straddling the bike far back on the seat like I was riding a Ducati, it was a fabulously fun ride.
Beach Burner
There is a drawback to a throttle-only joy ride on a Class II bike, however. First, the bike feels like it should fly, but legally it tops out at 20 mph, which is generally slower than pedaling an analog bike on flats. I also quickly chewed through 25 percent of the battery power in less than an hour while riding on steep city streets. (No off-road testing was available due to snowy trails.)
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Photograph: Stephanie Pearson
Cold temperatures are notoriously hard on ebike batteries, so the diminishing battery could be the result of 30-degree and below temperatures on testing days, but I still had to turn back on my intended test route because I feared being stuck out in the dark with a dead battery.
The wintry testing conditions weren’t optimal, so I tried to give the bike the benefit of the doubt. What’s a more perfect scenario for this bucking Bronco? The optimal rider is someone either shorter than 5′ 9”, who can extend the battery life with pedaling, or it’s a Bronco fan who has a couple grand to burn on nostalgia-provoking toys.
Specifically, it’s for someone who wants to take the Bronco camping south of the border, where the bike is meant to ride wild and free over stretches of sandy back roads to a local market that sells fresh ceviche and cold beer.
