I’m 5’4″, and even with the seat in the lowest position where the balls of my feet could touch the ground, I felt a little unstable when the bike was stopped, especially on steep inclines and descents. It’s a very difficult machine to ride. (Also, the brand doesn’t recommend it for people under 5’3″).

What the P6 aluminum alloy lacks in grace and maneuverability, it makes up for in comfort. The seat is wide and plush, and the hydraulic suspension fork (which can be locked) and 26-by-4-inch tires with deep lugs smooth out every bump in the road. I felt like I was on a Mad Max version of an electric bike, invincible over glass and potholes, when I rode around Denver.

Photography: Kristin Canning

The Class 3 P6 has a 750-watt motor (maximum 1,000 watts) and three driving options: pure electric mode, which you can use with the handlebar throttle to reach up to 20 mph; pedal assist, which can take you up to 28 mph; and analog mode. Pedal assist can be choppy if you don’t have the right power mode and gear combination (the bike has a seven-speed Shimano gear system). However, once you get there, the ride is very smooth.

You can increase pedal assistance by pressing the plus button on the right display attached to the handlebar, which shows speed, mode, distance and battery life. There are also buttons to turn on the lights and honk the horn on the right handlebar. (That’s why you don’t want to lean on the handlebars, lest you accidentally activate 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 shift paddles and a display to show which gear you’re using.