The Super73 Z1 is one of the most popular bikes in the Super73 lineup. From it's minimalist design aesthetic to the extremely fun ride, Super73 has introduced a bike that opens up a whole new market that may have been hesitant about riding an ebike. Since I've been working home, I wanted an affordable electric bike that I could use to commute or run errands. I also wanted an ebike that my wife and daughter would feel comfortable using. And most of all, I wanted something to just decompress and blow off some steam while riding around the neighborhood.

Impress your high school friends with the power of electricity!

So here's what I like about the Z1. It's FUN plain and simple. Riding this thing is unlike any other experience I've had on an ebike before. It's hard to pinpoint one exact thing about the Z1 that makes it feel this way. But after riding it for a few days, I think it's the combination of price and parts that Super73 has chosen that make it all work together seamlessly.

The Super73 Z1 comes almost fully assembled, just add the forks and pedals. Lego sets have a higher degree of difficulty.

Assembly is as easy as installing the fork, pedals and charging the battery. I've tried other ebike kits that require a little bit more intuition and bike maintenance skills. But the Z1 is about as plug and play as it gets. The Tektro disc brakes work surprisingly well despite the weight of the frame which is about 56 pounds. The display and throttle is as minimalist as it gets with only 3 indicator lights. The jet black frame and teal seat really pop out in person. The paint is a glossy black and the teal is vibrant which makes for a visually striking colorway. Another great part of the design is the size. It can easily be lifted in and out of a mid-sized SUV or carried up a few flights of stairs. This would be a much more difficult task with some of the larger models.

Do you know how to use a Philips head screwdriver? If so, then you know how to make the Super73 Z1 battery removable.

But let's talk about the elephant in the room - the seat and battery combination. Aesthetically, it's a great piece of design that is so clever, it's not even noticeable. And I mean that in a good way. This bike draws your attention by the sum of it's parts as opposed to one specific thing - such as a big fat battery sitting on the frame. Is it an ebike? Is it a fat bike? Is it a moped? It's like all of those things which is why I appreciate the effort that went into the design. As far as range goes it's rated to get about 20 miles. I've been able to do at least 10 miles riding through downtown and back home. This is more than enough for my needs which right now is getting my "fix" riding around. If I'm going somewhere more than 20 miles away, I'm probably driving there.

You really have to appreciate the design thinking here. A seat, battery and controller all in one piece? This is beautiful.

But here's what I don't like and this may or may not be a deal breaker for most people. The seat and battery combo is not "removable". And I use air quotes here because technically it is removable with only a few screws holding it to the frame. So the first thing I did was make it removable by adding a little industrial Velcro to hold it against the frame. It sits tight inside the frame so I'm not that worried about it bouncing around. Now I can charge the battery indoors without having to take the entire bike inside. It's not the best DIY solution but it is something that wouldn't permanently alter the Z1. It also doesn't require that much DIY effort. Super73 could have made something just as simple but that could have an increased the price margin or possibly cannibalized the upper tier models. You'll sometimes see these weird design decisions made by camera companies where a small feature is purposely omitted even though it can create a better user experience.

Riding dirty in an empty parking lot. The Soccer Moms just out of frame were impressed.

Performance was very surprising for me. I'm not a big guy and I weigh only 130 lbs but the torque on the Z1 was still more than I expected. The 500 watt rear hub motor has much more pull than my current DIY mid drive ebike. With it's big 20" x 4" tires, it can roll over just about anything, especially on these Midwest streets. You can easily transition from asphalt to grass or dirt and back again. However, you will definitely feel everything because of the lack of suspension. The fat tires absorb some of bumps but definitely not all of it. So just be aware of the terrain while riding.

I know what you’re thinking. What kind of person color coordinates their sneakers with their Super73? Someone with too much time on their hands, that’s who!

As the most affordable model in the Super73 line up, the Z1 has a weird reputation as being a beginner's bike or only for girls. I think that's ridiculous to be honest. The Z1's price model really hits that competitive sweet spot for what people can afford and how much they would use it. At slightly over 1k, the Z1 can easily be reimbursed by saving money on gas or parking. One thing to remember is that like cars, ebikes are not investments, they depreciate each time you ride. Spending over 2k on an electrical bike is like buying a new car. It's an ego thing. And that's okay. But the real value of a product like this depends on the lifestyle of the owner.

Riding the Super73 off road is really pleasant, unless you encounter some crazy inclines.

For someone like me, who has a little DIY experience, lives close to downtown and gets daily practical and recreational use out of it, the Z1 is a good purchase. But I would never call it an investment. It's a lifestyle choice that I'm fortunate to afford. And in the future, if I decide to upgrade it, there's plenty of mounting points and aftermarket parts to do so. So if your looking for an ebike with lots of style, power and large cult following, the Super 73 Z1 is a solid recommend.

Buy on Super73