Long story short, the Cowboy 4 is an excellent iterative upgrade.
So, without further ado, heres the Cowboy 4 review.
Whats new with the Cowboy 4 bikes?
Well, we wrote a full article thatcovered all the new updates to the Cowboy 4.
If you want a more comprehensive listing, go there.
So… whats the Cowboy 4 like?
In a word: fantastic.
I would refer to myself as a functional cyclist.
To put that another way, Ive got zero interest in owning any Lycra.
I also have a long-term partner.
And at least one friend.
The Cowboy 4 is that in a nutshell.
Hows the design?
Its a serious jump forward.
The soul of the main bike is the same, but everything is just cleaner now.
It looks like a sleek piece of modern machinery, eye-catching in a minimalist sort of way.
The Cowboy 4 ST is less traditionally stylish, but is still a gorgeous bike.
Now, its a more complete package.
To put it another way, its a stunner.
How has the Cowboy 4 improved from the 3?
In a myriad of ways.
First off, this makes your phone feel like a more integral part of the bike.
Secondly, its a bit of a lifesaver.
One of the big issues with smartphone-first ebikes is what the hell happens when your phones out of battery?
This is a small, but brilliant innovation.
I applaud thee, Cowboy.
In my experience, this gave the bike a more solid and smoother ride.
But you know one of the biggest improvements?Mudguards are now a standard.
On one hand, this really shouldnt be celebrated.
They come included, bud.
It may have taken some time, but at least the company listened.
Whats it like to ride the new Cowboy ebike?
I found the experience of both the Cowboy 4 and Cowboy 4 ST terrific.
In some respects, not much has changed.
Theres still a rear motor with only a single-speed drive.
Instead of a chain, theres still a carbon drive belt.
But there has been one big change: increased torque.
Now, a lot of ebikes have struggled over the past few years with increasingly stringent regulation.
This is something I felt as soon as I stepped on the ebike.
Theres still a smooth transference of power, but it feels meatier and more capable of munching through inclines.
Its a recognizable step-up from the Cowboy 3.
Of all the ebikes Ive tried, it has the creamiest power distribution.
It never jerks or yanks you along, instead it adds power in a consistent and velvety way.
What Im saying is Im a big fan.
It was also interesting testing the Cowboy 4 ST.
Although the components and motor are the same, riding the step-through is a far more relaxing experience.
Theres something deeply pleasurable about cruising the streets while youre in a more upright position.
Long story short, the Cowboy 4 has become my favorite ebike riding experience.
What needs to be improved?
On balance, one of the best things about the Cowboy 4 is its battery.
Yet, the max range of the Cowboy 4 is 70km the same as the 3.
This isntbad, but I really wouldve liked to see an increase in distance here.
When the ebike cant power you past 25km/h, the racing-style posture of the vehicle isnt so useful.
I realize that I live in Amsterdam though, so Im definitely biased towards this style of riding.
Im sure people in other cities would feel differently.
Finally, the last issue I have with the Cowboy 4 is the price.
At 2,490 (roughly $3,000) its a nose above a perfect price.
Again, I getwhyit costs what it does, but I wish it didnt.
Conclusion
Its also a close race between Cowboy and VanMoof.
Currently, this is my favorite ebike on the market.
Overall, the latest ebike from Cowboy does almost everything right.
It may not be perfect, but damn, its getting pretty close.
And yeah, this is an ebike good enough to eat.
