Cowboy 4 ST

Cowboy has effortlessly combined form and function to create a clean-looking, clutterfree electric city bike

The relentless rise in popularity of e- bikes continues to bring new players to the market and they are bringing with them fresh ideas about how a bicycle should be designed. Many of this new crop of e- bike manufacturers are taking the view that bikes need not be utilitarian and instead are producing bikes that feature a cutting edge, minimalist approach to design. The

4 ST from Cowboy is one such example.

What Cowboy has effectively done here is to take the humble step-through frame city bike and given a revamp for the 21st century. The basic outline of the frame may be familiar, but steel tubes have given way to hydroformed aluminium. Bolt- on accessories have been swept aside to be replaced with integrated mudguards and lights. And who needs an oily chain when a carbon belt drive is cleaner and virtually maintenance-free?

Then, to finish the package off, why rely on old fashioned leg power when you can benefit from an electric motor hidden away in the rear hub and powered by a battery, that also integrates a rear light tucked away almost seamlessly behind the frame’s seat tube?

In this ST version, the frame is a unisex step-through design which makes it suitable for riding while wearing a skirt or for those who cannot (or do not want to) swing a leg over a conventional double- diamond frame.

Aside from the modern aesthetics what really sets the Cowboy 4 ST apart is the integration of the electronics it employs. These are controlled by the Cowboy app, which not only displays the battery level and various ride statistics but also has functions such as a digital key to lock and unlock the bike, theft alert, crash detection and even a ‘ find my bike’ option if you’re unsure where you’ve left it.

► £2,290 uk.cowboy.com