I’m 5’4″, and even with the seat on the lowest setting where the balls of my feet could touch the ground, I felt a little unstable when the bike was stopped, particularly on steep inclines and declines. It’s just a lot of machine to handle. (Plus, the brand doesn’t recommend it for people under 5’3″.) The P6 will probably feel more comfortable for taller or bigger folks, or people who are used to ebikes, fat bikes, or heavy mountain bikes.

What the aluminum alloy P6 lacks in grace and maneuverability, it makes up for in comfort. The seat is wide and plush, and the hydraulic suspension fork (which you can lock out) and the deeply lugged 26-by-4 inch tires flatten every bump in the road. I felt as if I were on a Mad Max version of an ebike, invincible to glass and potholes, when I was riding through Denver.

Photograph: Kristin Canning

The Class 3 P6 has a 750-watt motor (peak 1,000 watts) and three riding options: pure electric mode, which you can use with the handlebar throttle to go up to 20 mph; pedal assist, which can take you up to 28 mph; and analog mode. The pedal assist can feel jerky if you don’t have the right power mode and gear combo (the bike has a Shimano seven-speed gear system). Once that’s dialed in, though, the ride is very smooth.

You can increase the pedal assist by pressing the plus button on the right-hand display attached to the handlebar, which shows your speed, mode, distance, and battery life. There are also buttons to turn on the lights and honk the horn on the right handlebar. (This is why you don’t want to lean on the handlebars, lest you accidentally deploy the very loud horn on some innocent bighorn sheep you’re watching from the trail, like I did.) On the left, you’ll find the gear shifters and a display to show which gear you’re using.