This bike has a moped style frame, and the riding position is in line with the moto-inspired genre. The leg extension is limited, but this isn’t a huge issue, as pedaling isn’t the main purpose of this bike anyway. I actually found this frame to be solidly accommodating – the seat is designed to fit two riders if need be, but it’s also great for taller riders to be able to scoot back and find a comfortable reach.
The AWD S has both front and rear suspension, which helps smooth out rough roads, as well as enables some off road ability. The tires play a role here too; they’re a knobby-style tread in a 20 x 4.0 size.
As for handling, this bike was more maneuverable than I expected. The heavy weight would suggest a sluggish and cumbersome bike, but it’s not necessarily the case here. At low speeds, I could feel the weight, but at a cruise, the bike feels relatively responsive.
Cornering proved to be interesting on this bike. When using a single motor, I felt very confident taking bends. The tires provide solid grip, and the AWD S is very stable. However, with both motors engaged, I didn’t have the same sense of certainty. With the front motor also running, I was struggling to trust the tire’s ability to hold a line – In the back of my mind, I was concerned the power would overwhelm the front wheel and cause me to lose grip.
I felt similarly when off roading. When using the rear hub only, the bike felt fine. When activating both motors, the front wheel struggles to keep traction, especially on loose gravel or dirt.
Here’s the thing; the AWD S is fun. It’s a rowdy, rambunctious bike that puts a smile on your face. However, the power and dual motor setup make it risky. I wouldn’t say that it’s explicitly dangerous, but it does demand more caution and experience than most E-Bikes do, especially with both powerplants on.
As you’ve probably gathered by now, this bike has a central theme – raw power. While the grunt this bike offers is great, it also ropes it into an increasingly hot debate about Ebike laws and regulations.
The AWD S blurs the lines between moto-inspired and full-on e-motorcycle. Laws and regulations change depending on location, but here’s what we can say with confidence: This bike doesn’t fully comply with the 3 class system as outlined by People For Bikes.
There are a few reasons for that; chiefly, in order to comply with the class definitions, motor power is capped at 750W continuous. The AWD S has dual 1000W motors. While having two motors isn’t technically specified as noncompliant, the power itself is outside of the legal limit.
Additionally, while the bike ships with Class 2 speeds, these can be removed via the settings. The AWD S can be set to throttle past 20 mph, and this fact also affects its legality. Pedal lists the top speed of this bike at 36 mph, which makes this, at least in legal terms, an e-motorcycle.
The debate on this is ongoing, and new laws are being introduced in many places. However, the bottom line is that this is technically classified as an e-moto, which requires a license plate and registration.
The legality conflicts present a significant dilemma. To solve the issue, we’d like to see Pedal lean into the E-moto category on the AWD S. Remove the pedals, add some pegs, and call this what it is.
Not only would this help clean up the gray area, but it would also enable Pedal to make the AWD S a more focused, capable vehicle. It’s already a very good product, but it sits in limbo; legally, it’s an E-moto, but there’s a lot of E-bike suggestion here. By choosing to fully jump out of the E-bike category, the speed and power capabilities aren’t bound by class regulations, and the AWD S could just be an off road or private property vehicle.
