Super73 S2 Review

The Super73 S2 ships as a Class 2 electric bike with a 960-watt-hour battery and 750-watt motor. Pushing a couple of buttons on the moped-style e-bike unlocks Class 3 plus capabilities. Its aluminum frame rolls on 20-inch wheels with massive 4.5/5-inch tires. The dual crown suspension fork provides 120mm of road smoothing travel, and its 325 lb weight limit encourages versatility.

Performance Comparison

Ride

The first thing that everyone says about riding the Super73 S2 is that it's fun. The ride quality isn't bicycle-like as its 20.25" long 2-up seat sits low and wide. The wheelbase is short enough that it feels nimble; still, its 74 lb weight isn't obscured by any magic tricks. While the 20" wheels aren't notoriously smooth, the high volume, motorcycle style tires do a good job absorbing vibrations. The seated position is relaxed yet relatively upright; its effective seat tube angle is quite slack. Nothing about the moped-style bike is optimal for pedaling, the seat position, its one gear, or its short crank arms. This doesn't mean it's not enjoyable, but expectations for an exercise machine should be dampened.

The drivetrain is useful as a type of throttle because the bike uses a cadence sensor; you can simply move the cranks to initiate the motor. You needn't apply force to the pedals, only motion; when you rotate the cranks, the motor propels you according to the PAS setting you're in; this is also useful for looking like you're pedaling in a place where mopeds might be frowned upon. Due to the nature of having one gear, your legs don't often contribute meaningfully to the propulsion.

The components spec on the S2 complement the bike nicely and contribute to its solid feel. Importantly, the Tektro hydraulic disc brakes with 180mm rotors provide you and the bike with excellent stopping power. Upright mini-bike style handlebars sit atop the 120mm suspension fork, providing a comfortable and functional front end. The 120mm crank arms aren't great for generating torque, but they're an ideal length to keep the pedals off the ground.

The wheels on this bike feel heavy, largely owing to the weight of the motorcycle-style tires. The effect of their gyroscopic forces stabilizes the bike at speed but also prevents it from changing course rapidly. When this happens on a bicycle, it causes it to feel lethargic and slow, but on the powerful S2, it's a mostly positive attribute. The 4.5" wide front tire uses an inverted tread pattern effective in a wide range of conditions while maintaining a smooth rolling center bead. The rear utilizes a similar tread pattern on its 5" wide casing and provides traction, comfort, and stability.

The headlight and tail light are functional and bright enough for riding at night, and the tail light features a brake light. The rear fender is full coverage and very effective, but the front duck bill style fender and downtube guard don't adequately keep water and mud out of your face while riding in wet conditions. The chain guard and kickstand increase the bike's user-friendliness, but a bell or horn are not included.

Range

The S2 impressed us with its outstanding range. Resembling a mini-bike gas tank, the 960Wh battery mounts in the center of the top tube and propels this bike an impressive distance.

Using our standardized range test that includes many different types of surfaces and some rolling hills, we were able to ride 29.7 miles without pedaling on a ride that included over 1500 feet of elevation gain at an average speed of 14 mph. Super73 claims a throttle-only range of 40+ miles, and that might be possible without the hills but sounds a tad optimistic.

Power

The S2 arrives in Class-2 mode; its power is limited to 750W, and its throttle speed to 20mph. You won't go much faster than that pedaling on level ground; it's fun and feels safe, yet relatively uninspired. Switching to Class-3 and off-road mode requires downloading the app and checking some boxes. In off-road mode, the motor's power is increased to 1200W, and the bike really moves; it feels like the motor easily overcomes the bike's mass, and there's enough power to feel sporty. It's easy to get used to having more power and speed available. Switching it back to one of the lower levels of pedal assist feels.. disappointing.

Super73 describes the PAS modes available for the S2 as follows, Class-1 Mode: throttle deactivated, 20mph. Class-2 Mode: with the throttle, 20mph. Class-3 Mode: throttle deactivated, pedal-assist only, 28mph. Unlimited/Off-Road mode: throttle and pedal assist, 28mph +. While testing this bike in off-road mode, our maximum speed was 39 mph. Using throttle only on flat ground, we reached 31mph.

Interface

The Super73 interface is a simple push-button display on the left side of the handlebar that displays all of its information on a screen the size of a nickel. Other e-bike manufacturers also use this display which gives a simplistic display of relevant info. The minimalist screen shows you the current PAS mode, a circular depiction of your state of charge and current speed.

The controls on the display are ergonomic and easy to use with a left thumb, simple plus and minus buttons switch you between the 4 PAS modes. A long push of the plus button activates the headlight, and the throttle is activated with a thumb lever on the right side of the handlebar. The main power button is on the side of the battery, and the secondary power button is on the right side of the display.

The display connects via Bluetooth to a Super73 app with a much more comprehensive dashboard, including a map, speedometer, and state of charge. Utilizing the app's functionality requires mounting a phone to the handlebar using an aftermarket phone mount. If you want to keep the app running, you'll also need an external battery to keep the phone on and charged, as no USB is available on the bike's battery or display.

Assembly

The Super73 ships almost completely assembled; rolling it out of the box and putting on some finishing touches is simple and doesn't require much time or skill. Moving the box isn't easy, so having a second pair of hands is recommended.

Super73 provides an assembly video and instructions to walk you through the process. Most of the bike preparation involves removing protective packaging and clipping zip ties. Once unpackaged, install the handlebar, pedals, and headlight; inflate the tires, charge the battery, and you're ready to go.

Should You Buy the Super73 S2?

If you're looking for a bike to use for exercise, the answer is no. If you're looking for a fun way to get around town or play on private property, the S2 has much to offer. As a class 2 bike, riding this on most bike paths or trails is not legal, so it's less practical than something that could be pedaled efficiently. Fun, range, and styling are its key selling points, and it excels in all of them, but pedaling this bike isn't fun. If you're looking for a moped-style Class 2/3 ride, you should check out the range of bikes from Super73.

What Other E-Bikes Should You Consider?

If you like the idea of a moped-style e-bike, check out the Ride1Up Revv 1. This bike was our favorite in testing, had excellent power, range, and value. It's not available in a multitude of styles and colors like the Super73, but it has significantly more power for a lot less money.