Superstrata eBike Review: Is It Worth The Wait?

The bike itself is heavily customizable, and a few of the things missing from the version I received would have been useful. The version I was sent came without a light, which made night journeys a no-go. There is a section of the manual which references the light, but it doesn't seem to be an option while designing a bike on the website. The Superstrata didn't have a kickstand either, which was just an inconvenience, as was the lack of a storage rack though you can remedy that with a backpack. It did come with a small toolkit, which contained a very useful multi-tool capable of adjusting every part of the bike, and a borderline useless mini-pump. The Superstrata I received came with mechanical disk brakes, but they are more than enough to meet the bike's needs. Yes, a good number of eBikes come with a hydraulic system, and those systems have their benefits. But I had no issues stopping the bike with the brakes provided.

Arguably, the main difference between the bike I received and one that you could order is the lack of "tailoring." Based on what the company told me, I received a bike designed for someone around two inches shorter than me. The handlebars are the "sport" model and aren't the most comfortable or intuitive things in the world. There's also an option to choose the level of ride "aggressiveness," and I would have preferred something more laid back.

If you're really pushing it on the pedals, with maximum assist, in top gear, on a flat road, you can expect to get up to around 20 mph with an average level of fitness. Cycling enthusiasts may be able to push that a bit further — but I'm not Chris Hoy so I'll never know. Downhill, I managed to hit 30 before having to tap the brakes as, for whatever reason, every hill I went down had a sharp turn at the bottom. From my youth, I remember hitting decent speeds downhill on a conventional bicycle — so that's probably more to do with the combined weight of the bike and myself than it is the electric motor.

In terms of average speed, pedaling at a constant pace in high gear with full assist enabled will see you average around 16 mph. An easy pace in a lower gear will allow you to plod along at around 10 mph, which feels low enough to affect your stability a little bit. So you're left with an odd choice between pedaling constantly and feeling some mild wear on your legs, or taking it easy and actually having to pay attention. Maybe it would be different if I was in better shape or had more time to find a balance that worked for me, but as things stand there isn't really a comfort option on the Superstrata.

Occasionally, I'd be riding along and suddenly notice everything immediately becoming a bit difficult. Looking at the display, this was due to "error 25." As for what this error is, the manual included with the Superstrata (here's a PDF for your convenience) doesn't give much of a hint. A more extensive manual on the company's website includes error code definitions, and identifies 25 as a "Torque Signal Error." The advice they give is to "check all connectors are correctly connected." and to contact the manufacturer if the problem persists.

This problem didn't occur during the short suburban test runs I had but persisted throughout the longer journey I took to really test the bike out. It seemed to crop up when I was pedaling hard at close to the bike's maximum speed, and the remedy seemed to involve stopping, turning off the bike, and turning it back on. It isn't the biggest inconvenience in the world, but it can be quite disruptive if you've hit a rhythm and are starting to enjoy yourself. There's no guarantee this error will happen, and I'm sure Superstrata's customer service department would go all out to help you fix it. But I can only report what I experienced, it happened multiple times on my one big testing day, and it was pretty frustrating.

The worst thing about this bike is the total lack of any kind of suspension or shock absorption. Every pothole, bump, and bit of awkward terrain you hit will go right through you. The fact it came with what might actually be the worst bicycle seat I've ever encountered left this feeling more like a medieval torture device than any kind of personal transportation. The thin road tires, which do help performance, unfortunately, don't do anything to make the ride more comfortable.

While you may think the suspension is something more suited to off-road bikes designed to handle harsh terrain, I'd argue it's equally important on road bikes these days. I can only speak for the area I live in, but a lot of the roads here are riddled with potholes. The worst potholes also seem to appear on the edge of the road, which is the safest place to actually ride a bicycle. So while the well-paved bicycle path was pretty pleasant, the urban and suburban sections were absolute hell. You'll spend as much time navigating the road surface as you will looking out for cars. Some of the holes are unavoidable, so you'll have to brace yourself. Occasionally though, you'll get caught by surprise and be unfortunate enough to experience the very rigid bike frame launching that very unpleasant seat into your bottom and, if you're a gentleman like me, your love spuds. One incident like this on a fairly busy road was enough to elicit a very audible, involuntary "oh ****" from me, so you probably shouldn't ride the Superstrata past a school or playground.

A one hour, 12-and-a-half-mile journey on full assist used exactly half of a full charge on the Superstrata's battery. Around two-thirds of that journey involved cruising along a fairly flat bike path, though there were a couple of steep hills involved. The rest was in a suburban environment and around an industrial estate, which was quite flat but did involve a good amount of stopping and starting. Due perhaps to its weight, or maybe even the fact you're spinning a motor that will add a small amount of resistance, pedaling without any electric assist is far more of a chore than it would be on a regular bike. This is why it's probably a good thing that there's more battery capacity than you're likely to need.

If you rationed it or used less of an assist, the capacity would probably stretch further. But that likely doesn't matter, as 12.5 miles seems to be my limit. It wasn't fatigue or muscle aches that made me throw in the towel at that point, but the absolute battering my back end had taken from that seat and the lack of suspension. Obviously, I can't provide photographic proof because of the area involved, but there was a good amount of bruising and swelling. Sitting down isn't great four days on. Some configurations may be more comfortable, you can of course buy padded shorts, but the bike I was sent combined with a pair of jeans was enough to actually cause me physical injury. I got a lift back with the bike, had the lift not been available I would have probably chained it up there and taken an Uber home, as I was genuinely incapable of suffering through another 12 miles at that point.

So, is the Superstrata a viable personal transport option for environmentally conscious people and those trying to save on gas? No, no it isn't. If you like eBikes, configure it to your exact specifications, and own a pair of padded Lycra shorts then it may well be a great option for you. If you're slightly out of shape, wear normal people clothes, and need a new way to get around town, you should really just get an electric scooter or something.

Between the need for constant pedaling, the lack of comfort, and the lack of things like a kickstand, it's just far too inconvenient to be practical. The price tag, which is reasonable for an eBike, is again a limiting factor if you want to take this around with you. A throttle, a fluffy seat, and a couple of shock absorbers might have been enough to tip the balance and make me give this one the thumbs up. Bikes have the potential to be more comfortable than electric scooters, and the "eBike" classification could give it an edge over something like an electric moped which requires a license and insurance in most jurisdictions. But with its current configuration, people who aren't already bicycle enthusiasts should probably swerve the Superstrata.