Super73's moped-styled Class 2 e-bike, decoded with real physics: where the 75-mile claim turns into a ~40-mile throttle reality, the class-switch trick that changes its legal status, and what it truly costs. Sources on everything.
A stylish e-bike that looks like a little motorcycle but is legally still a bicycle. Plan for ~40 real miles on the throttle (not 75), a 20 mph street limit (28+ off-road), about $3,300 to buy, and a removable pack you can carry inside to charge. No license, registration, or insurance required where it stays a Class 2 bike.
Assumptions: Class 2 bicycle (no registration or insurance), ~1,500 mi/yr, $0.17/kWh, maintenance ~$70/yr (tires, brakes, tune), resale ~30% of sticker at year five (e-bikes depreciate faster than Sur-Rons). Full table in §10.
Every module behind the headlines: who it is for, claims vs. physics, true cost, reliability, parts, and the standard scorecard. All sourced.
An e-bike dressed as a mini motorcycle. It runs a 750 W nominal rear hub motor (peaking higher) and a removable 48 V battery, with pedals you can largely ignore in throttle modes. Plan for ~40 real throttle miles (not 75), a 20 mph street speed (28+ only in off-road mode), about $3,300 to buy, and no license, registration, or insurance while it stays a Class 2 bicycle. Here is exactly how we get there.
Start here, the right answer depends entirely on who is asking.
Same bike, very different answer depending on the rider. We lead every report with this so nobody buys the wrong machine.
The sweet spot. Motorcycle style without insurance, registration, or a license, for short city distances. The removable pack and throttle make it a genuinely easy daily ride in town.
Where the removable 48 V pack earns its keep. Lift it out and carry it inside to charge, no garage outlet or dedicated parking needed. A real-world win that a fixed-battery bike cannot match.
Not the bike. This is a 20-to-28 mph machine with ~40 throttle miles, no matter how it looks. If you need real motorcycle speed, range, or highway capability, skip it.
The 28+ mph, up-to-2,000 W off-road mode is fun, but running it on a public path is how an e-bike stops being treated like a bicycle. Tempting, but it carries real legal risk.
Same bike, two stories. The struck-through line is what the listing tells you; the big number is what to actually expect. The "why" is in Part C.
What is genuinely clever, and which "innovations" are really table-stakes. The part the brand's own page never tells you.
The S2's real selling points, rated honestly. Each badge tells you whether it is a genuine edge, normal for a 2026 e-bike, or marketing gloss.
The battery lifts out of the top tube so you can carry it indoors to charge or keep a spare. For apartment riders with no garage outlet, this solves "where do I charge" better than any fast-charge spec.
✓ SolidThrough the app you toggle Class 1, Class 2, Class 3, and an off-road mode that unlocks higher speed and power. Genuinely flexible, and the standout feature, but it is also a legal responsibility, not just a fun unlock.
✓ SolidThe banana-seat, fat-tire styling is the whole reason people buy a Super73. It delivers a real motorcycle vibe on bicycle rules. That is a genuine product edge, even if it is design rather than engineering.
★ Genuine edgeA 750 W nominal rear hub motor that peaks higher (up to ~2,000 W in off-road mode). Plenty of punch for city riding, but a hub motor and that power level are standard for this class of e-bike in 2026.
≈ Now standardA popular brand with a growing aftermarket and OEM parts through Super73. Not a spec-sheet line, but it means seats, racks, tires, and packs are easy to find, which is a real ownership advantage.
✓ SolidMarketing specs vs. the physics. The math is simple, battery capacity and a few formulas, so let us run it.
An e-bike has a nominal (continuous) rating and a peak. The nominal number is what defines its legal class; the peak is the headline you feel on a hill for a few seconds.
The S2 is a 750 W nominal hub motor that can peak up to about 2,000 W in off-road mode. The 750 W figure is what keeps it inside US e-bike class limits. Convert both to the unit people know:
The headline gap. The claim is not a lie, it just assumes you are pedaling. Twist the throttle and ignore the pedals, and the honest number is closer to 40. Here is the arithmetic.
Step 1, real energy in the tank. Range starts with how much energy the battery holds: voltage × amp-hours. The S2 uses a 48 V pack; the common 20 Ah option is about 960 Wh.
Step 2, how much you spend per mile. Consumption is the whole game. Light pedal-assist sips ~11 Wh/mi; pure throttle at 20 mph on a heavy, fat-tired bike with a rider runs roughly twice that.
"28+ mph" and "up to 75 miles" live on the same listing, but they belong to different modes. You do not get both at once.
As sold and ridden on the street, the S2 is a Class 2 e-bike: throttle assist up to 20 mph. The 28+ mph figure is the off-road / Class 3 mode, which on most public bike infrastructure is not legal. And riding faster eats range, the same way it does on any e-vehicle:
Charge time is just battery size ÷ charger power, so the removable pack is the real story, not a "fast" claim.
Shopping for an S2, you will see the same bike listed with different numbers. They are not all lying, here is how to read them.
| You will see | What it really is | Trust it? |
|---|---|---|
| "up to 75 miles" | Class 1 pedal-assist, you pedaling, ideal conditions. | lab best-case |
| "40+ miles" | Class 2 throttle-only at 20 mph, Super73's own honest figure. | real |
| 48 V 20 Ah / 960 Wh | The common S2 pack. Some current S2 SE configs list a 720 Wh (48 V 15 Ah) battery, so check the exact build. | do the math |
| "750 W" | Nominal motor rating, what keeps it a legal e-bike. | real |
| "2,000 W" | Peak power in off-road mode, brief, not continuous. | burst only |
| "28+ mph" | Off-road / Class 3 mode, not Class 2 street speed. | mode-dependent |
The sticker is most of the story here, the running costs are tiny. Here is the whole bill.
The MSRP is most of the checkout total here, because there is no registration or freight crate. Here is what actually leaves your bank account on day one.
| Line item | Typical | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Bike (MSRP) | $3,295 | S2 SE; often $2,995–$3,295 with promos |
| Shipping | $0–$150 | Often free direct; varies by retailer |
| Sales tax (~8%) | ~$265 | Varies by state |
| Assembly | $0–$100 | Mostly assembled; bar/pedal/wheel finish |
| Starter gear (helmet, lock) | $100–$200 | A helmet is non-negotiable |
| Realistic out-the-door | ≈ $3,650–$4,000 | Before a single mile |
The number almost no one shows you. We itemize it, show the math, and state every assumption so you can adjust it to your own riding.
| Cost over 5 years | Estimate | What drives it |
|---|---|---|
| Purchase (MSRP) | $3,295 | Excl. gear; tax varies by state |
| Gear (one-time) | $200 | Helmet, lock |
| Electricity (charging) | $90 | Almost nothing, math below |
| Tires, brakes, tune-ups | $350 | Light upkeep; ~$70/yr |
| Battery (replace / upgrade) | $0 | None expected in 5 yr with care |
| Insurance / registration | $0 | Class 2 bicycle, not required |
| 5-year total (before resale) | ≈ $3,935 | |
| Resale value (yr 5) | − $985 | E-bikes depreciate faster; ~30% |
| Net true cost to own | ≈ $2,950 | ≈ $590 / year |
What breaks, who fixes it, and whether you can get parts.
We read the reviews, forums, and owner groups so you do not have to, and summarize the recurring themes, not cherry-picked raves.
A bike is only as ownable as its parts supply. Here the S2 is a fair-to-good story.
Super73 is a popular platform with a growing aftermarket and OEM parts available through the brand. Batteries, seats, racks, tires, and cosmetic upgrades are easy to find, and the bike uses common e-bike components for many consumables. It is not as deep as a mass-market bicycle ecosystem, but it is well supported for its class.
| Part category | Availability | Rough cost |
|---|---|---|
| Batteries (OEM 48 V) | fair to good | $600–$1,000 |
| Tires, brakes, tubes | good | $20–$120 |
| Seats, racks, cosmetics | good | $30–$250 |
| OEM controllers / displays | fair | via Super73 |
One scorecard, identical axes on every bike.
Every machine on the site is scored on these same eight axes, by the same rules, so a 7 here means the same thing as a 7 anywhere.
Our standing methodology, run identically on every e-moto, including bikes we would otherwise have reason to flatter.
The only honest way to compare two batteries. 48V × 20Ah holds more than 48V × 15Ah.
You never use 0 to 100%. The BMS holds a reserve and voltage tapers at the bottom. We assume ~88%.
Consumption is the lever: ~13 Wh/mi pedaling, ~21 throttle at 20 mph, more at 28. Drag rises with speed².
Always ask which number a spec quotes. Nominal sets the e-bike class; peak is a brief burst.
"Fast charging" is meaningless without the charger's wattage. The ×1.1 covers losses and taper.
| Cost assumption | We used | Change it if… |
|---|---|---|
| Annual mileage | 1,500 mi/yr (7,500 / 5 yr) | You ride more → tires & tune-ups rise |
| Electricity rate | $0.17 / kWh (US avg) | Your utility differs |
| Sales tax | ~8% | Your state differs |
| Battery life | No replacement in 5 yr | Heavy daily use → sooner |
| Resale | ~30% of MSRP at yr 5 | E-bikes depreciate faster than dirt e-motos |
We cite everything and date it, because specs, prices and e-bike class rules change. Manufacturer figures are labeled as claims; real-world numbers are our estimates from the methodology above. Spot an error? Our corrections policy means we fix it in public.
Sources retrieved May 2026. Manufacturer pages state claimed specs; treat them as marketing figures, not independent tests. Battery configuration and app-mode behavior have changed across model years, so confirm the exact build and current app rules before buying.