Super 73 Z1 Vs S1
"Hey, have you seen these Super73 electric bikes? What do you think of them? Should I buy one?"
Over the last couple years, I've had more people ask me about Super73 than any other brand of two-wheeled vehicle, including Harley-Davidson, Honda, and all the rest. How did an electric bicycle startup get so popular? More importantly, do the bikes live up to the hype?
California-based Super73 quickly became one of the most established names in U.S.-market ebikes with their unique style, runaway 2016 Kickstarter campaign, and positive reviews. Super73 models sell for between $1,395 to $3,495; the S1 featured in this article (now updated to a S2) will run you $1,800. Super73 ships the bike directly to your house in a box that looks like it has a TV inside. Supposedly this tricks carriers into treating the boxes with a little more care.
I've had plenty of time to think about the S1 after 250 miles of testing, and this article is both a review and my answer to everyone who's ever asked me about Super73s. Let's take a closer look at this electric love letter to 1970s minibikes and mopeds.
Meet the S1
The Super73 S1 is a Class 2 electric bicycle with retro styling, fat tires, no suspension, a 768 watt-hour battery, and a 500W nominal/1000W peak motor. Riding a Super73 is just like riding a bicycle, plus a few buttons and less physical effort. Power up the bike, select your assist level (Off, Eco, Mid, and High), and you're ready to go. Class 2 means you can mash the ATV-style paddle throttle and the bike will accelerate under its own power up to 20 mph, or you can start pedaling with assistance up to 25 miles an hour. Anything faster is up to your legs, based on Class 2 limits, so cruising speeds of around 28 mph are possible with mild effort on flat terrain. I found that the S1 could hit an indicated 23 to 25 mph when riding with just the throttle, although the speed was more like 21 to 23 mph when checked against a GPS. Either way, it goes as fast as it's supposed to, and maybe a smidge faster.
There is a learning curve as you get used to the motor spinning up, especially in High. Take your first ride in an open space until you understand that any forward pedal motion will be interpreted as pedaling by the bike's computer. While walking the bike, for example, the rear wheel will spin the pedals via the chain. The bike senses the pedals spinning and, if the electric assist is activated, sends power to the rear wheel like it's supposed to. That's a problem if you weren't expecting the bike to start self-propelling! Prevent this by switching your ride mode to Off when stopped, or by keeping a foot on a pedal to prevent it from spinning. This quickly became habit for me and I only experienced the issue once.
The faux-tank battery is good for 35 to 40 miles of mixed riding, maybe a few more if you're in Eco, and closer to 20 if you only use the throttle without pedaling. The battery charges back to full in about four hours from a regular 110V wall outlet. (The initial charge seemed to take longer than that.) The 48V/5A charger itself is about the size of two VHS tapes stacked, too big to fit in a pocket but no problem for a small bag, and to its credit, the charger feels rugged and overbuilt. The batteries are hot-swappable and lock in place with a key.
Let's take a break from the specs and talk about the S1's standout feature: its friendly, retro vibe. Super73's bikes are approachable to non-riders in a way that gas-powered minibikes and mopeds can't match anymore. These bikes might also interest current bicyclists, ebicyclists, and motorcyclists looking for a more casual way to get their knees in the breeze. Come to think of it, one of the first people to ask me about buying a Super73 was a Ducati lover with a Hypermotard and a collection of SportClassics. I think a Super73 is more likely to join a garage full of bikes than replace them.
There are plenty of potential buyers for an Instagram-approved runabout like this, and most of them are already qualified to ride one. Just check local laws regarding Class 2 electric bicycles. Or do what I did, and just ride in places where nobody cares.
Philly's crawling with electric bicycles, so that wasn't much of an issue. The S1 felt most at home in flat urban areas where the motor hardly had to work. Don't forget, there's no shifting on this bike. Stock gearing feels like it was intended for zipping around surface streets first, attacking hills second. I also took the S1 outside the city to more rural areas where inclines forced me to start pedaling. It feels like effort until you imagine how hard you'd be working on a conventional bicycle. Perfectly adequate brakes by Tektro are there for the descents.
In both environments, motorists aren't totally sure what you're riding, but they generally treat the Super73 with amused caution before leaving it in their dust. Something so quiet and cheerful couldn't possibly cause any trouble, I guess. I tried roads, trails, woods, and sidewalks, and the S1 always fit in enough to get me where I was going without bothering anyone.
The stealth factor is great, except sometimes I want to be seen by cars, pedestrians, and other riders. Super73 supplies a bright, single-mode LED headlight with a tasteful halo DRL for excellent forward visibility. Out back is a small brake light that's pretty dim until you pull the brake levers, illuminating all the rear brake LEDs for a respectable glow. Hand signs are your turn signals. The basic display shows your speed, battery level, trip meter, current ride mode, and headlight indicator, all toggled with the right hand. I have a feeling that's to get your thumb off the throttle while changing modes, just to be safe.
The riding position was cramped for me (six feet tall) at first, so I rolled the bars and controls forward to buy some legroom. The sloped seat is a dead ringer for vintage minibike seats, an awkward shape for pedaling that the company has moved away from with their newest models. Just avoid pedaling without assistance. Electric power is the only way Super73 could possibly use this frame, seat, and rider geometry, while still making something as fun to ride as it looks, and the S1 is exactly the funky, easy, style-forward ebike you think it is. The power kicks on—"whrrrRRRRR"— after hardly any pedaling for a jolt of adrenaline you might mistake for serotonin. This thing is built for goofing around and having fun.
The Super73 quickly filled the few spare moments of my weekdays. Lunch breaks became short rides around the neighborhood. Soon I was using it for most of my trips under five miles. Post office, parts store, fruit stand, fishing hole, whatever. The only place it fell short of my expectations was off-road, where the lack of suspension rattled me even while standing. Per Super73's site: "Super73 bikes are not intended for full off-road riding. Light duty off-road conditions recommended." Airing down the tires makes things a little more tolerable, though my plans of hitting some sweet jumps in the woods were dialed back for the sake of my wrists and the frame. Models above the S1, like the S2 and the RX, come with full suspension. The S1 is really intended for smooth terrain.
Modifications to the Super73
I really did modify this bare-bones vehicle. The first thing the bike needed was a way to see if cars were coming up behind me. I mounted a spare mirror from one of my motorcycles and immediately felt better about my visibility.
The second thing I added was a tool roll, Harley-branded for maximum cool points. I was always trying to jam my bike lock, my wallet, my flat kit, and my snacks in my pockets, and that just wasn't working for me while pedaling. A little storage is a quick and cheap improvement for any S1. With a little more time, I'd have tried the optional passenger seat (out of curiosity more than necessity) and a passing bell. This thing needs a bell.
All your changes made it more like a scooter, so why not get one of those instead?
50 cc scooters cost about as much as Super73s, offer similar top speeds, frequently channel retro style, and can be operated without a motorcycle license. Should you get a Super73 or a scooter? Can they even be compared?
I looked for some equivalent ICE competition using the S1's $1,800 price tag as my standard. That kind of money could get you on some popular scoots like the Metropolitan or Ruckus from Honda or the Zuma or Vino 50 from Yamaha. We used the Vino as our comparison bike with fearless test pilot Brandon. (This is a second-gen Vino with a four-stroke engine, not the early two-stroke. We're not sure what gen our Brandon is.)
Riding the scooter and Super73 side by side immediately highlights some differences between them. Both carried us around Manayunk, one of Philly's hilliest neighborhoods, without any issues. Other road users gave us our fair share of space. We ducked into parking spaces, dodged potholes, navigated construction, and you know what? Both bikes get the job done with a lot more fun and efficiency than the Crosstreks and RAV4s that dominate the area.
You should consider spending your $1,800 on a Super73 S1 instead of a 50 cc scooter if…
You're not going more than 20 to 30 miles at a time
I was always down to one bar of battery at the 35-mile mark. Considering that the average commute in the United States (pre-COVID) was something like 16 miles each way, the S1 might be a good choice for getting to work as long as the roads are ebike-friendly.
Pedaling without battery should be avoided at all costs, so pick the scooter if you're going to be pushing the S1's limits all the time. Spare S-series batteries are $795! A battery alone is almost as expensive as a nice used scooter in some places, but...
You'd rather slice up traffic than join it
The Vino is faster around town and handles bumps much better with its full suspension, feeling more at home on the road overall. The narrow S1 is better at squeezing through traffic, usually along the shoulder of the road, and it slides by gridlock without joining in. Scooters are almost as good at weaving through traffic, but...
You don't want to commit to maintenance, service, or annual costs
Long-term ownership costs are important to consider. Any scooter will need registration, insurance, and possibly annual inspections, plus all the maintenance that comes with a simple gas engine. On the other hand, most name-brand 50 cc models have been around much longer than Super73, making parts and service very easy to find. The Super73 simply avoids all of the paperwork and nearly all of the upkeep. What's there to check, tires, brakes, and chain lube? The S1 also requires cheaper safety gear and common bicycle parts. And even if you wanted a scooter, you don't like the idea because...
You don't have a secure place to store a scooter or motorcycle
Scoots are easy to steal or vandalize. Security measures like ground anchors, chains, locks, covers, garage rentals, and alarms get expensive and annoying pretty quickly. The Super73, on the other hand, can be rolled inside and charged by the door if you have the space and access. Besides, the Super73 has your interest because...
You want a little exercise, just a little
The S1 is nearly effortless to ride on flat ground at 20 mph, while even the laziest pedaling earns you assistance from the motor up to 25 mph. That's still aerobic exercise, right? Heart pumping, limbs moving? A quick blast on the S1 before work was always a better start to the day. That said, there are much better options out there if fitness is your main goal, but...
You want to try something new and different
Maybe you want to ride a motorcycle someday, or you're curious about electric vehicles, or you'd like to add an ebike to your garage because they look like fun. Maybe you want to introduce somebody to the fun of two wheels. These are all great reasons to look at an S1, and I've heard all of them from people asking for my opinion. I say take a Super73 for a test ride if at all possible, and get one with suspension if you'll be venturing beyond city limits. The S1's range and speed limitations mean that it's the perfect vehicle for some areas, and not nearly as good as a 50 cc scooter for others. Bump up to Super73's R series for more features, move down to the Z line for something cheaper, or lose yourself in the countless offerings from competitors like Rad Power Bikes, Lectric, Segway, Luna, and so on.
If I could put a Super73 S1 or a 50 cc scooter in every garage in America, I'd send the Super73. It's the better choice for most people, because most people don't want another plated, gas-powered vehicle to look after. (Motorcyclists, statistically, are not most people. N+1!) A Super73 is as close to commitment-free riding as it gets. The 50 cc scooter is the more rewarding choice, in my opinion, and better suited for folks willing to spend some extra time and money for a more capable vehicle. Everything's tradeoffs, man.
So... I should get a Super73?
You're looking at a Super73 because there's something about it that you like. I don't think you'll be disappointed as long as you've really considered where and how you'll ride it. This is not a dirt bike. This is not a motorcycle. This is not a toy, or a fast bicycle, or a scooter. It's a goofy high tech/low tech mashup that makes me want to ride over to my best friend's house and build a stupid ramp in the yard. When did we start taking ourselves so seriously?
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Source: https://www.revzilla.com/common-tread/super73s-s1-reviewed-and-versus-a-50-cc-scooter
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