I grew up watching cartoons on Fox Kids, like The Kids from Room 402, What’s with Andy?, and Life with Louie. In those shows, the kids my age were riding their bikes to school, which I thought was really cool. I had a small bike, but I mostly rode it in the park near my home for fun, not for getting anywhere. Later, after finishing fourth grade, my parents bought me my first real bike, a Bianchi. It was an awesome bike that lasted for many years until it was stolen. It had gears by the handles, making it easy to shift. Even so, I mostly rode it with my friends during the summer around my neighborhood. Back then, I don’t remember anyone riding their bike to school or work. There weren’t any bike lanes, and it felt too dangerous to ride on the streets.

But the idea of biking from one place to another stuck with me. Even though I couldn’t ride my bike to school, I thought that maybe when I was older and had a job, I could ride my bike to work. It took a while, but after moving to another country, I eventually made that dream a reality.

In July 2018, I moved to Hamburg. I had already done an internship here the year before, so I knew biking around the city was a popular thing. I even rented a bike during that time. So, two weeks after moving, I bought my first bike, a CUBE Touring One. It was a great bike for long trips, commuting to work, and more. I loved the freedom of riding my bike and being able to go wherever I wanted. There were places in Hamburg that cars couldn’t go, but bikes could. Then, COVID hit. After that, my friends and I started riding more for fun. That’s when I began thinking about what I liked and didn’t like about my bike, and I decided it was time to buy a new one. This time, I wanted more freedom, so I chose an e-bike.

Why Cowboy?

After months of research, I decided to buy the Cowboy Classic e-bike in the summer of 2022. There were several reasons why I chose it:

• Design: During my search, I found that most e-bikes looked unattractive. A lot of them seemed like regular bikes with a motor attached, not made to be an e-bike from the start. That was a big turn-off for me because I knew I was going to spend a lot of money, and I wanted something that looked good. Cowboy stood out with its sleek, minimalist design and matte black color. After getting the bike and riding it around Hamburg, I noticed a lot of people staring at it, and I got several compliments from other cyclists while waiting at traffic lights.
• No Cables: I don’t like cables on bikes. They get dirty, are hard to clean, and just look messy. I wanted a bike with no visible cables, and Cowboy delivered. The cables are hidden inside the frame, which adds to the clean, minimal look.
• Removable Battery: Even though I keep my bike inside my apartment, I wanted a removable battery for a few reasons. First, if I ever have a bike room, I might need to charge the battery at home. Second, I know the battery will eventually degrade, and I didn’t want to deal with replacing it at a bike shop. Third, without a removable battery, the bike might still use some energy when it’s not in use, and I didn’t want to risk finding my bike with no charge. I also didn’t want to waste energy when it wasn’t being used, especially since electricity can be expensive in Germany.
• Carbon Belt: My old CUBE bike didn’t have a carbon belt, and keeping the chain clean was a hassle, especially in rainy Hamburg. The chain would get dirty fast. Plus, I didn’t like the noise the chain made while riding. I wanted a quieter, low-maintenance bike, so the Cowboy with its carbon belt was a perfect fit. While the motor does make some noise, it’s not annoying—it even gives a bit of a sci-fi vibe.
• Digital Native: The Cowboy bike works with a smartphone app, which lets you update the bike’s firmware, lock the bike, turn the lights on and off, and even charge your phone. This is really useful, especially when using navigation, since it can drain your phone’s battery. I’ll talk more about this later.

Because of all these features, I decided to go for the Cowboy Classic. It cost me around 3.000€, and I pay about 100€ a year for insurance. But buying the bike wasn’t my only expense, as I made some adjustments along the way. But first, let’s talk about my overall experience.

The Experience

If you want to buy a Cowboy bike, you can book a test ride to try it out first. I did that, and when I first got on the Cowboy, it felt like there was an animal under me just waiting to take off. Especially in the adaptive mode, where even a small push on the pedal makes the bike move forward. It’s a great feeling, and it also helps you climb hills without getting tired or sweaty. Unlike some other bikes where you need to press a button to activate the motor, this system is much more convenient.

Comfort

Since I’m from Hamburg, I’ve ridden more than 3.000 km on the streets here. Hamburg’s bike infrastructure isn’t as advanced as some cities in the Netherlands, but it’s still pretty good. My experience is based on riding in this type of environment. One thing I had to change right away was the seatpost. My old CUBE bike had a suspension seatpost, so riding on cobblestone streets didn’t hurt. But with the Cowboy, I immediately felt the discomfort, so I switched out the seatpost. I’ll talk more about that in the accessories section.

Another change I had to make was the saddle. It just wasn’t comfortable for me. This might have something to do with my body, but since I usually ride about 10 km in one trip, I really needed to be comfortable. After changing the saddle and seatpost, riding the Cowboy became much more enjoyable. It’s smooth on the streets, easy to handle at higher speeds, and the brakes are strong enough to stop when you need to.

I’ve ridden the bike in heavy rain, strong winds, and even snow, and I didn’t have any issues. However, after riding more than 20 km, I started to feel some pain in my wrists. To improve this, I swapped the handles, which made it better, but I still wish the bike had a suspension fork to absorb bumps in the road. There’s now a version of the Cowboy with handlebars in a more comfortable position and suspension, which might help with that.

Range

As for the range, it really depends on the season and the mode you use. I usually ride in eco mode, and in spring and summer, I get about 65 km per charge. In adaptive mode, it drops to around 45 km. In the winter, the range decreases by about 10-15 km due to the cold. So far, I haven’t had any problems with the range. When I go on longer trips with friends, I turn off the motor assistance to go slower since they don’t have e-bikes. I only turn the motor back on for the ride home.

Safety

One thing that really annoyed me was the bike’s front light. In Germany, there are regulations (StVZO) that require bike lights to be directional, but the light on the Cowboy isn’t. In the dark, especially on poorly lit streets or in parks, it’s not very useful. To fix this, I had to buy a better light, and having to charge it every time I want to ride is a bit of a hassle. This is the biggest issue I’ve had with the bike. While I could solve the comfort issues, the light is something I can’t fix without making significant changes in the bike.

Overall, aside from the points mentioned, my experience with the Cowboy has been fantastic. I no longer rely on public transportation, and the freedom to travel anywhere at my own pace is amazing. I never have to worry about waiting for buses or trains, and I can avoid getting tired or sweaty thanks to the motor assistance.

Riding my bike through Hamburg on sunny days or quiet nights is a real joy. There’s something special about cruising through the city when the streets are empty, and it makes biking the perfect way to get around.

Technical Support

I’ve had a few interactions with the Cowboy support team. The first time, while adjusting the handlebars, I accidentally broke one of the brake levers. When I contacted Cowboy, they offered to replace it for free. We set up an appointment, and someone came to my house to fix it.

The second time, I had a small accident and broke the part that hides the cables on the handlebar. I paid for the part, and they shipped it to me. I was able to replace it myself without needing any tools.

The third time, I had an issue with my back brake, and it was also time for my bike’s maintenance. When the technician arrived, he took apart the brake and said it needed to be replaced, but he didn’t have the parts with him. We set up another appointment, but after that, he disappeared. He stopped replying to my messages, which was a strange experience. Later, I contacted Cowboy, and they arranged for a different technician. When the new technician came, he replaced the brake and checked over the bike, but he didn’t seem to know I had purchased the maintenance package from Cowboy, and he wasn’t aware of what was included in that package, like cleaning the bike. I also realized that even though I had explained the issue beforehand, the technicians would still ask me about it when they arrived. Additionally, I learnt that the technicians are freelancers, not actual Cowboy employees.

After my last experience, I realized there was still an issue with my brake. Instead of reaching out to Cowboy again, I decided to try a bike shop listed on Cowboy’s website. I went there, and they replaced the brake pads, did a brake fluid bleed, and got the brake working properly. The cost was also lower than what Cowboy would have charged. From now on, I’ll probably stick with that bike shop.

I should mention that there might still be a small issue with the brake, but I’m not sure what it is. Occasionally, I hear a sound while riding, like the brake disc is rubbing against the pads. It might be a stone or something stuck in there, or maybe the tire is misaligned. Since it’s not happening all the time, I’ll need to visit the bike shop again at some point.

I never bought the Cowboy Care package because I think it’s overpriced. It costs 240€ per year. After riding 3.000 km, I’ve never had a flat tire, and if I did, I have the tools to fix it. The things that have cost me money are mainly the brake pads, which are 20€ for a pair, and brake bleeding, which cost me 30€, including labor. For that reason, I don’t see the need to pay 240€ per year for the Cowboy Care package.

Parts and Accessories

I’ve already mentioned a few things I bought for my bike, but here’s a complete list:

• Saddle: After trying several brands, I went with the Ergon ST Core Evo Men Saddle. It’s incredibly comfortable. I’ve been using it for three years, and it still looks and works great. It doesn’t absorb water, so it’s easy to clean with a tissue if it gets wet outside.
• Seatpost: I chose the Redshift ShockStop Suspension Seatpost. The important thing for me was that it can go low enough and absorbs the bumps. Some seatposts add extra height, which makes it harder to reach the pedals, but the ShockStop fits me perfectly at its lowest setting. It’s a bit expensive, but I think it’s worth the price.
• Ring Bell: The Cowboy comes with a ring bell, but I didn’t like its design or sound. I replaced it with the Knog Oi Classic Bike Bell. It matches the frame’s design, is almost invisible, and has a nice, long sound.
• Front Light: As I mentioned earlier, the stock front light on the Cowboy is pretty bad. I wanted a light that followed German regulations, allowed me to see well in the dark, and looked good on the bike. I went with the KNOG PWR Modular Bike Light, though I noticed it’s no longer sold on their website.
• Reflectors: The Cowboy comes with orange reflectors, but I didn’t like them, and one of them even fell off when I used them. I replaced them with FLECTR 360 WING reflectors, which I think look better and are more visible both during the day and at night.
• Helmet: I wanted a helmet that matched the bike’s color and looked good. I picked the Thousand Chapter MIPS Helmet. I like the design, the MIPS protection, and the magnetic attachment for the helmet straps. It also has a small hole that lets you lock the helmet to your bike, so you don’t have to carry it around. However, the light that comes with the helmet was useless—it didn’t even work, and I didn’t feel like contacting support about it.
• Handles: I tried switching handlebars but quickly realized it wasn’t possible because of the custom brake handle design. That’s actually how I broke the brake lever by accident. So, I bought Cowboy’s Comfort Grips. They didn’t make a huge difference, but they definitely helped reduce the pain in my wrists.
• Flat Tire Fixing Kit: This is a kit I bought when I had my CUBE bike, and I still use it with the Cowboy. Thankfully, I haven’t had to use it yet. For tire levers, I use Gorilla Force, and for punctures, I use Rema Tip Top.
• Air Pump: I used to have a hand pump, but I wanted something more automatic, so I bought the Xiaomi Portable Electric Air Compressor. I’m happy with it since I can charge it with USB-C.
• Pannier Bag: I spent a lot of time finding the perfect pannier bag. I didn’t want to carry a bag with my hands, and I especially didn’t want to wear a backpack in summer to avoid sweating. After much research, I chose the Two Wheel Gear Pannier Backpack Convertible 2.0 LITE (22L). It’s super functional, easily converts to a backpack, has a laptop compartment, and a rain cover. The only issue is that some of the straps were too long and would sometimes hit the tire, so I had to adjust and roll them up to make t
• Lock: Since there’s no place to attach a lock or water bottle to the Cowboy, I wanted a lock that was easy to carry without affecting the bike’s minimalist look. I chose the HIPLOK DX. It’s secure, matches the bike’s color, and has an attachment that lets me clip it to my belt or backpack. It’s not too heavy, but there are some issues. First, it’s a bit short, so it can be hard to lock the bike to thicker objects. Second, when I wear shorts in the summer, it pulls them down because it’s not secure enough on my shorts. Finally, I sometimes forget to take the lock with me, especially when I’m not carrying a backpack. I’m planning to design and 3D print an attachment to clip it to the bike’s pannier.

Cowboy App

I appreciate that Cowboy opted for an app instead of relying on a built-in dashboard on the bike. It’s easy to attach my phone to the bike with a Quad Lock mount, though that does mean switching to a specific case. One cool feature is that you can charge your phone while riding, and you can update the bike’s firmware through the app.

However, I’m not a huge fan of the app. I mostly use it for locking and unlocking the bike, occasionally adjusting the riding mode, and turning phone charging on and off. Beyond those functions, I don’t use it much, though I do like the Live Activity widget.

The main reason I don’t use the app more is that it relies on Google Maps for navigation. I stopped using Google Maps years ago, and even for iOS users, Cowboy is tied to Google Maps rather than offering Apple Maps as an alternative. Another reason is that I’m not too interested in tracking my speed or other stats constantly, so there’s no need to keep the app open.

My biggest frustration with the app, though, are the unnecessary notifications, especially while riding. Whoever came up with the idea for these needs to rethink them. First, there’s a notification about “dangerous intersections.” If I’m at an intersection, the last thing I want is to be distracted by my phone. Then, they added calorie burn notifications. Since it’s an e-bike, I’m not using it for fitness, so these notifications just felt pointless. Luckily, they later added an option to turn off these notifications, which I did immediately.

Another issue is with the auto lock/unlock feature. I started using it, but a few times while waiting at red lights, the app would lock the bike. When the light turned green, I couldn’t immediately get going because the initial pedal didn’t work properly. After this happened a few times, I disabled the feature. Maybe they’ve fixed it by now, but I still don’t trust it. If I leave the bike unlocked and the auto lock doesn’t engage, I can’t lock it remotely once I’m out of Bluetooth range. I’d have to go back to lock it manually, and leaving it unlocked could drain the battery unnecessarily.

Finally, this is a nitpick but there’s the issue with the app’s integration with the Apple Activities app. My rides are shown as “Outdoor Cycle,” but they aren’t saved as official cycling workouts. This means I miss out on earning cycling-related achievements. It might be an issue with Apple’s API, but it would be great if Cowboy could fix this. Sometimes, this also leads to odd behavior, like my Apple Watch suggesting I should start an outdoor cycle workout when I’m already riding. It’s not a constant problem, but it’s a distraction.

Final Words

This turned into quite a long product review, but keep in mind I’ve been using my Cowboy bike for almost 3 years, so there’s a lot to cover! Overall, I’m really happy with my Cowboy bike and would recommend it to anyone looking for a quality e-bike. Even though there are newer models on the market, I still haven’t found an alternative that fits my criteria as well as the Cowboy does. I plan to keep riding it until it eventually wears out or until Cowboy releases a new model that addresses the issues I’ve mentioned here.

One thing I do wish Cowboy would consider is offering more upgrade options for existing customers, like a stronger, more regulation-compliant front light or a suspension fork for a more comfortable ride. For instance, after they released the Cruiser, I wondered if I could upgrade my handlebar to the one that the Cruiser has. A technician told me it was possible and would cost around 300€, but when I asked Cowboy directly, they said it wasn’t an option. It left me wondering if it’s technically not possible or if they just prefer that I sell my current bike and buy a new one to boost their profits. This kind of upgrades would allow me to extend the life of my current bike without having to purchase a whole new one. If they offered these types of upgrades, I’d definitely consider them.