I’ve been riding around on the Boxer ST from PuckiPuppy, and while I’m not fond of the brand’s strange name, they certainly produce some solid ebikes. This bike, specifically in the white color combination, immediately caught my eye. I have to say, it looks like a proper Stormtrooper eBike with that nice white and black contrast—a really good-looking, clean, and tight design.
I’m personally shifting more toward step-through designs now, especially for fat tire ebikes, as I find them easier to ride than the step-over 26x4s. The Boxer ST is a fantastic example of a step-through, dual-suspension ebike. For a price point of $1499, I think this bike offers decent value.
Under the Hood: Specs and Power
When it comes to rolling over anything, the 26x4s tires do the trick. However, those big tires do make the bike heavy; it weighs 85 lbs. The frame is constructed of 6061 aluminum, and it supports a substantial payload capacity of 450 pounds.
Powering this machine is a sizable 48-volt, 20 amp-hour battery housed underneath the down tube. For this size of ebike and tire, that’s my minimum battery requirement. Charging takes about 10 hours using the included 2-amp charger, and thankfully, you can charge it either on or off the bike.
The rear hub motor peaks at 960 watts. The exact rating isn’t clear from the website, but I suspect it’s a 750-watt motor, though it could be 500W. The bike is technically designated as Class 2, but it can be set to either Class 2 or Class 3, which is nice.
Components I Love (and One I Don’t)
I really appreciate the components PuckiPuppy chose here:
- Braking: The bike features Logan hydraulic disc brakes with two pistons and 180 mm rotors. When I put them to the test, the Logans gripped beautifully—I like them a lot.
- Suspension: I love the big, beefy dual suspension. The front fork has some good travel, looking like at least three inches. The rear mid-shock is Pucky Puppy branded and is notable for its really thick, big linkage system, though it is not adjustable.
- Gearing: It’s a seven-speed ebike utilizing a Shimano Turn derailleur, a 44-tooth chain ring, and a 14 to 28 freewheel.
- Lights & Comfort: Up front, there’s a nice dual headlight system. Out back, you get a rear tail light that also works as a brake light. The seat is a DDK brand, and I found it quite soft and comfy.
Now, for my major critique: the display. PuckiPuppy displays are kind of strange-looking. Instead of giving me clear percentages or voltage for the battery level, I get a giant bar that is hard to read and makes it difficult to tell where I stand. The Boxer ST also has a lot of flex in the frame so you do get some wobble while riding that is noticeable with one hand (or none) on the bars.
Off-Road Performance
In the woods, the dual suspension made me feel like I was just floating on a chair. I was impressed by the ride; it felt pretty solid. I did notice a little rattling, and I think I heard the battery bounce a bit. Also, there was a little shimmy and flex in the front end, which was slightly concerning, especially since I sometimes like to ride hands-free on flat ground.
While the front fork is nice, it’s not quite as good as the XPeak one. Ultimately, I think the Boxer ST is ideally suited for off-roading like logging roads or fire roads. When navigating bumps and roots, you definitely feel that feedback through your forearms.
Speed and Climbing
The motor offers five levels of pedal assist (PS). On PS1, I hit about 9 mph; PS2 got me to 14–15 mph; and PS3 reached close to 19.5 mph. Using the thumb throttle alone, the bike reaches 20 mph.
But when I put my legs into it, this thing surprised me! Pedaling hard in seventh gear on PS5, I hit speeds of 28, 29, and even 30 mph.
For the hill test (a 10% grade), the lowest speed I dropped to was 9.1 mph, so we’ll call it 9 mph minimum speed uphill. Typically, I expect a 750W ebike to hold about 10 mph minimum on this hill, which is why I suspect the Boxer ST might be a 500W unit.
Final Thoughts
I love the overall look of the Boxer ST; it’s a sick-looking bike. I really like the color choice and the combination of the beefy suspension and the comfy seat. Given the excellent braking and the working lights, I think the $1499 price is a good value.
If PuckiPuppy fixes that display issue and perhaps tightens up the front-end flex, this bike would be near perfect. Let me know what you think about the Boxer ST!