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The stylish e-bikes from Cowboy have always been designed for use in the city. That changes with the new Cowboy Cross, because this model is also suitable for longer tours in the surrounding area.
The Cowboy Cross rolls on six centimeter wide tires, which takes the fear out of tram tracks. Both the front wheel and the seat post are suspended, the suspension travel is four centimeters each. As with some motorcycles, the fork is installed upside down, so the suspension grips near the axle, not at the top of the fork. This also makes it possible to hide the brake line in the fork housing, which benefits the clean look.
Cowboy offers the Cross in two frame shapes: a step-through with a low entry and a step-over with a lowered center bar. The bike with a low entry should fit people between 1.55 and 1.90 meters tall, the model with a center bar is designed for people between 1.65 and 1.95 meters tall.
The Cowboy Cross with a low entry
(Image: heise online/sht)
We rode the step-through through Berlin for a quarter of an hour. At 1.85 meters tall, the e-bike didn’t feel too small. The thick tires, together with the spring elements on the fork and saddle, absorb small and medium bumps, and it rolls extremely comfortably over cobblestones. The engine is the same as in the other Cowboy models, but tuned differently. The rear hub motor delivers power more smoothly and very predictably. The driving experience almost demands the adjective “comfortable”, and the upright seating position contributes to this. The fact that the engine starts with even small crank movements is particularly helpful when starting up hills.
Heavy bike, powerful battery
At 26.5 kilograms, the Cowboy Cross is anything but light; the step-over version weighs 27.9 kilograms. There are significantly lighter e-bikes. After all, the weight also includes the standard mudguards and the sturdy luggage rack. It is approved for 27 kilograms, but should be able to withstand a lot more. The taillight, which at Cowboy was previously housed in the removable battery, now has its place in the rear mudguard. Speaking of the battery: At 540 Wh, its capacity is around 50 percent higher than that of other cowboy bikes. The manufacturer promises a range of between 60 and 120 kilometers on one charge. If the battery is empty, it has to be connected to the charging cable for around four hours.
Upside-down fork at Cowboy Cross
(Image: heise online/sht)
Cowboy has also revised the app for the e-bike. If you want, you can be given short tasks during the journey, for example to set a new best time in a segment or to burn calories. To ensure that such challenges are not distracting, they should not appear in busy areas via geofencing. You can also configure the bike and install updates using the app.
Cowboy is now offering the Cross for pre-order; the e-bike then costs 3,499 euros. The regular price is 3999 euros. Delivery is scheduled to begin in the summer.
(sht)