Puckipuppy Labrador Off-Road E-bike Review

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In 2022, the brand Puckipuppy was officially established in California. The founder wanted to provide a bike riding experience for all abilities with a price that was affordable for all. The first model to be released was the Puckipuppy Labrador Off-Road E-bike. The adventurer among e-bikes, the Labrador was designed to conquer rugged terrain while making outdoor adventure effortless.

I ordered the Labrador as I prepare for 6 months of travel to the Rocky Mountains of Colorado. I am not an avid mountain biker but seek to explore some mountain roads and jeep trails that are too rugged for my Honda Pilot. A fat-tire e-bike is exactly what I needed.

Unboxing and Assembly of the PuckiPuppy Labrador

The PuckiPuppy Labrador came shipped in a rugged, corrugated box. The weight of the box was approximately 90 lbs. It was delivered by Fed Ex with a signature required and appeared to be in very good shape upon arrival. There was one puncture on the side of the box but the bike was undamaged as a result. Puckipuppy did a very nice job of using packing materials that protected the delicate components of the bike and then zip-tied all the components together.

The assembly took me about 20 minutes. Included with the bike was every tool needed for assembly. The user manual did a pretty good job of taking me through the installation step by step. The cockpit components were all pre-installed on the handlebars which made step one super easy. There were a few confusing entries in the manual. Example, it suggested that you turn the bike upside down to install the tires but with all of the components on the handlebars, it was not possible. I enlisted the help of my husband to hold the bike while I installed the tires and all was fine. The rest was pretty intuitive and I didn’t run in to any assembly snafus.

Build

The overall weight of the assembled bike is 75 lbs. The frame is made of a welded 6061 aluminum alloy. It is hefty and durable with solid and complete welds (although they did look a bit sloppy). Being 6 feet tall, I love the height of the Labrador. It is very well suited for a tall rider but may be a bit of a challenge for shorter riders.

The finish on the bike is beautiful quality with no runs or thin spots. The white designs and lettering appear to be painted on (rather than decals) and covered with a thick clear coat that I expect to be very durable. I did find one small spot where the handlebars insert into the neck that was chipped. It wasn’t large enough to complain, but I did put some clear nail polish on the spot to prevent any corrosion. It appears the paint was chipped in production (not during shipping) based on it’s location.

Power of the Puckipuppy Labrador Off-Road E-bike

The Labrador’s power is supplied by a 750W motor, a 48v 20ah battery and a 48v pedal cadence sensor.

Battery of the Puckipuppy Labrador Off-Road E-Bike

Battery longevity is one factor that can make or break the enjoyment of an e-bike. Puckipuppy chose a removable 48v 20ah battery to supply power to the Labrador. The battery can be removed and charged elsewhere which is helpful if you don’t have a plug close to the bike. A key is used to release the battery so it can’t be stolen.

The power of the battery can last up 60-80 miles depending on how you ride the bike and the specific terrain. I put many miles on this bike during the testing period and found the specs to be spot on. I tend to pedal continuously which provides for the longest battery usage and easily got 80 miles from a full charge. A huge plus!

Motor

Puckipuppy used a 750w motor on the Labrador for quick pickup and power in challenging terrain. The motor is integrated into the rear axle and creates a very stream lined look in contrast to other e-bikes I have seen in the past. The wattage is painted on the frame but I couldn’t find any additional information on the motor itself aside from the Puckipuppy name and a serial number. The power is immediate and the throttle/motor are very responsive and powerful.

The motor proved very reliable over the testing period. It provides a smooth quiet ride at all pedal assist levels and reacts quickly and accurately thanks to the cadence pedal sensor.

Display on the Puckipuppy Labrador Off-Road E-bike

Puckipuppy’s display is an LED integrated display controlled by a 5 button console near the left hand. The display screen is shiny which I thought may be a problem in bright sunlight. I was pleasantly surprised at how clear and easy to read the color display was, even in bright sunlight. The controls contain a power button, an up arrow, down arrow, a headlight button, and a horn. While the simple features of the display were evident, finding alternative menus to control the functions of the bike were not immediately intuitive. The manual did a nice job of explaining the use of the buttons and combinations required to find the alternate menus.

One thing the display lacked initially, was a clear indicator of the power left in the battery. The manual pointed to the large vertical orange line and indicated “power.”  It wasn’t immediately clear whether this meant that the bike was powered on, battery power, or pedal assist level. It wasn’t until I had ridden the bike long enough for the indicator to go down that I was able to articulate that it was the battery power indicator. I found that the 6 segment indicator was sufficient for my needs but would have rather seen a % indicator to be more specific on battery level.

Throttle

The right handed, lever type throttle is super responsive. I was impressed at the pep of the throttle, especially on the 75 lb. bike with a 160 lb. rider. You have power RIGHT NOW! The throttle allows the rider to have immediate power without having to pedal. It was light to the touch and easy to control. When the bike arrived with the pre-installed throttle control, it was at a bit of a low angle and required me to really twist my wrist back to hit full throttle.  This was easily remedied with a few turns of an Allen wrench (included with the assembly tools) and I was able to reposition the throttle controller.

Speed

The Puckipuppy Labrador is rated at a class 2 E-bike with speeds up to 20mph. Full throttle without any pedaling does get you up to 20 mph (flat road). I found if I pedaled at a level 5 pedal assist, I easily reached 28 mph.

Tires and Wheels on the Puckipuppy Labrador Off-Road E-bike

The Puckipuppy Labrador is equipped with 26″x4″ Black Cat off road tires. Aggressive lugs on these directional tires gave me incredible traction, even in soft sand. I was so impressed! The lugs are spread nicely across the tread pattern so that the traction maintains, even on a tight turn. On pavement, I was pleased with how quiet the tires were despite the aggressive makeup.

The tires are mounted on aluminum alloy rims with standard 12 gauge spokes on the front and rear. With the integrated motor in the rear hub, it is a sleek, strong design. The ride was super cushy and I had absolutely no complaints in this department. I love the soft feel of the fat tires as you bounce down a trail.

The Brakes: Quality Made with Great Stopping Power

For a larger bike such as the Labrador, stopping power is a essential feature that cannot be overlooked. Puckipuppy equipped the Labrador Off-Road E-bike with Logan hydraulic disc brakes. Perfectly adjusted right out of the box, I really didn’t have to adjust or tinker with them in any way. They have great stopping power, even with a hard, sudden stop. One very notable feature is that they were quieter than the gritty sounding disc brakes I had on previous bikes. While Logan may not be the premium brakes you see on more expensive e-bikes, they were perfectly functional and performed nicely. Added bonus: It helped keep the price down on this great bike!

Suspension: Ride the Puckipuppy Labrador Off-Road E-bike in Comfort

Puckipuppy equipped the Labrador with a full suspension. The front suspension is adjustable with the turn of a knob on the top of the fork. You can also lock out the front suspension completely for better efficiency on flat, smooth terrain. In addition to the front suspension, Puckipuppy added a rear frame shock to take the brunt of a rough ride. The result is fantastic, responsive handling and a super smooth ride.

Gearing

It’s always great when a bike adds Shimano components because of their well known quality and reliability. The Labrador is equipped with a 7-speed Shimano Tourney derailleur. Coupled with a 210mm forged alloy crank set, the combo delivers an ultra-smooth shifting experience. The chain is your standard anti-embroidery chain that you will need to grease before riding. The shifter is easy accessed with your right thumb and is equipped with push-button downshift capability.

I was a little disappointed that the security of the shifting cable was held in place with black zip ties along the frame of the bike. It looked a little cheap and took away from the overall look of quality and durability. I feel like Puckipuppy could have done something different here.

A Logically Designed Cockpit on the Puckipuppy Labrador

Being able to manipulate the components of the cockpit without looking is essential, especially on an off road bike. The configuration of the components on the handle bars are logical and easy to access. With the exception of the advanced menu features on the display, the controls are easy to access. The grips are comfortable and the handlebars are easily rotated forward or back with the included tools to fit the riders preference.

Riding the Puckipuppy Labrador Off-Road E-bike

The Puckipuppy Labrador E-bike really shines when it comes to off road adventures. The first thing you will notice is the smooth ride accompanied by incredible power. The robust motor makes even the most challenging climbs enjoyable and effortless. The overall geometry of the Labrador provides for a balanced feel, even over the roughest terrain and tightest of curves.

The grip of the tires and the reliability of the braking system instills the rider with confidence, even on the steepest of descents. The Labrador’s pedal assist feature adds to the riding pleasure, allowing you to adjust the level of assistance with how hard you would like to work. It’s your choice! The ride can be as rigorous or relaxed as you please.

Added comfort from the leather, spring cushioned saddle tops off the riders experience with a fluid and enjoyable experience. Despite being a larger, heavy bike, I found that the momentum of the journey and the ease of handling was exceptional.

Extra’s and More Extras

Aside from the performance and safety features already discussed, I want to point out a few of the other features included with the Puckipuppy Labrador. Included with the Labrador is a 2 beam headlamp that was super easy to install. It provides excellent vision at night. The horn, accessible with your left thumb is also a fun safety feature that is pre-installed with the display control panel.

Purchased and shipped separately, the Labrador also has a a set of front and rear fenders. They didn’t arrive at the same time as the bike so my pictures won’t all show the fender set installed. I look forward to that first ride when I DON’T get mud or sand slung up my back. Yes!

Lastly, the kickstand. Not a standard feature on most fat tire bikes from what I have seen. It is an aluminum alloy kickstand with a durable hard plastic foot. The foot is wide and held up the weight of the bike, even in softer soil. It tucks away nicely to the frame and wasn’t rattly or clunky while riding. Nice!

Specs

• Battery 48V 20Ah
• Charger 48V 2A
• Speed Class 28mph
• Weight 75 lbs.
• Range 40~80miles
• Motor 750W
• Payload Capacity 400 lbs.

Final Thoughts and Recommendations on the Puckipuppy Labrador Off-Road E-bike

I dove in to the fat tire e-bike experience about a year ago when my husband bought one for himself. I tried it out and after looking at the features of his bike, I quickly began the research for a bike of my own. Having a year of epic travel ahead of us, I wanted a bike that rode smooth, had adequate power to assist with brutal climbs and had adequate safety features. I landed on the Puckipuppy Labrador for all of those reasons, but as an added bonus, it looks sleek and cool and is available at a price point that doesn’t break the bank.

Puckipuppy does a great job of making sure the components are reliable and quality made. The bike shipped quickly and was well packaged and easy to assemble by myself (almost). Puckipuppy bikes are available on Amazon or from Puckipuppy’s website but I would definitely use the company’s website. They often have freebies that they include with their bikes. The website price is very reasonable at $1,299.

I’m pretty sure that the Puckipuppy Labrador is going to change where and how I ride moving forward. It is an incredibly fluid feel as you effortlessly wind through the trails. If you think that the Labrador is right for you or you would like to check out all of Puckipuppy’s e-bikes, visit their website at www.puckipuppy.com or www.amazon.com.