REVIEW – I’ve reviewed and owned quite a few Ebikes (and non-E bikes) during my lifetime, but one style has eluded me thus far: the cafe racer (also known as “scrambler” or moped) style Ebike. I see more and more riders zooming around on these bikes in my town and I’ve always wondered what they’re like to ride (though I think I have a good idea since I primarily used scooters and then electric motorcycles in my younger years). I’ve been banned from motorcycles and scooters by my better half now that we have a kid, but I may have found a loophole in the TST R002-2025 eBike, as long as she doesn’t read this review.
⬇︎ Jump to summary (pros/cons)
Price: $2199 (on sale for $899 at time of review)
Where to buy: TST and Amazon
What is it?
The TST R002-2025 eBike is a moped-style Ebike marketed towards “American Youngest”, as it’s “More Light”, “More Smaller”, “More Safe”, and “More Fun”. This bike meets the classification of a Class-2 Ebike in most areas (check your local laws), since it has functional pedals and a limited speed of 20 mph out of the box (though this can be unlocked up to 32 mph).
What’s included?
- TST R002-2025 eBike
- AC Charger
- Headlight
- Owner’s manual
- Seat
- Battery w/ keys
- Installation wrenches
- Front wheel
- Rear rack
- Front and rear fenders
- Pedals
Tech specs
Top speed: 32 mph
Range: up to 65 miles
Motor: 750 W (1500 Watt) peak Hub Brushless
Torque: 90 Nm
Hill climbing ability: Max 25° Gradient
Battery: 48V 15Ah Lithium
Charge time (0-100%): 4-5 hours
Dimensions: 60.3″ long, 42.8″ high, 26.6″ wide
Recommended rider height: 5’2″ – 6’4″
Weight: 71.87 lbs
Weight capacity: 450 Lbs
Tires: 20″ x 4″ ebike-rated tires
Brakes: 180mm Hydraulic Disc brakes
Pedal assist levels: 5
Throttle: thumb lever
Shifter: 7-speed Shimano
Display: LCD
Design and features
The TST R002-2025 eBike seems to be well built and looks great to boot. I love the cafe racer style, and the fact that it’s smaller than most Ebikes and fairly light means that it’s quite nimble and easy to scoot around on. I didn’t find any problems with parts or build quality, everything just worked and looked good from top to bottom. Here are photos of the bike with notes (click on any to see more detail):
Assembly, Installation, Setup
Assembly of the TST R002-2025 eBike was very similar to most other electric bikes. It comes shipped with the front wheel and handlebars unassembled, and you need to attach the front light, seat, and pedals as well. Here are some pictures of the process with notes:
Assembly took about an hour working solo, it would definitely go faster with 2 people, especially if you don’t have a bike stand to work with.
Performance
The TST R002-2025 eBike was a blast to ride from the very first time I pushed the thumb throttle. I did at least a week of test rides in the factory default settings, then unlocked the top speed (from 20 mph to 32 mph) during the long test ride in the video below. In both modes, acceleration is quick but not so fast you pop a wheelie, unless you shift your weight backwards at the right time, in which case you will pop that wheelie. The first thing that surprised me was how nimble the steering was: because the wheelbase is so short (and possibly due to the handlebar/front-fork geometry), this thing turns on a dime. At first, I thought it was unstable since it seemed to wiggle from side to side without my input. However, over time I realized that it’s just more sensitive to the subtle inputs that I didn’t even know I was giving. After the first few test rides I had far fewer random wiggles and absolutely love how tight you can turn when needed.
I didn’t do much pedaling at all, preferring to cruise on mostly throttle during the review period. I view the pedals on this style of bike as a last-ditch-battery-dead resort, or simply as a loophole to classifying this as a bike and allowing me to hurtle down bike trails and in bike lanes (check your local laws before following my example!). When I did pedal, the gears worked perfectly and everything seemed smooth, but the short distance between the seat and the pedals means you can’t put nearly as much leg power into it as you could with a regular form factor Ebike. Speaking of that short distance, I’m at the top end of the recommended height range, so if you’re shorter than me you might enjoy pedaling more.
Speaking of the seat, it feels great and well-padded, until you ride for more than 15 minutes. On longer rides, I quickly became uncomfortable, since all the pressure is channeled right into your perineum rather than spread into your cheeks (pardon the frank language).
I took the ride in the video above to get a good feel for a real-world range. I rode full speed for a solid 10 miles on mostly flat trails and still had 3 bars out of 5 remaining. I then unlocked the bike from 20 mph to 32 mph and continued my mostly full speed run for another 5, at which point I was at 2 bars left. I’ve had other bikes and scooters quickly drop the last ~33% of battery, so I headed home to avoid a long unpowered trek and arrived home a few miles later still at 2 bars. If battery drain remains consistent (which it seemed like it was) I estimate at least 20 miles of mostly full speed cruising until you’re completely dead, which is far more than I expected. The estimated “up to 65 miles” I’m sure was
I also tried out a few offroad trails, and this Ebike is easily the best I’ve used so far offroad. Many heavier and bigger Ebikes are difficult to maneuver on anything but the widest and flattest mountain trails, but the TSTR002-2025 is noticeably lighter and nimbler on tighter and bumpier trails. You’ll probably have to stand up to add more pedal power to steep inclines, but the suspension and agility is great for most terrain. Hill climb ability is good but not perfect, there were moderate hills where I had to pedal a bit to keep going (though nearly all of the bikes I’ve tested short of dual motor bikes struggled as well).
Final thoughts
The TST R002-2025 Ebike is a great bike for cruising around on roads and trails alike. I love it in urban rides as well, since it’s smaller and more nimble than the average hulking e-bike. It would be a good choice for older teens with the size and looks (though unlocked to 32 mph it adds a lot of risk for younger riders, I’d be wary about that). If I’m going on a quick errand or just a fun ride somewhere, this is now the bike I grab, since I know it’ll get me there quickly and I’ll have a grin painted on my face the whole time.
What I like about the TST R002-2025 eBike
- Nice top speed
- Good brakes and solid build quality
- Good distribution of speeds across the PAS levels (previously tested TST Ebike had a big jump in speed/power from level 1 to 2)
- Lighter and much more agile than most Ebikes I’ve tested
What needs to be improved?
- Long narrow seat adds pressure in uncomfortable spots over time
- Rear rack isn’t large enough for most bike rack accessories
- Retail price is too high, while the sale price at time of review ($899) is very reasonable against the competition
Price: $2199 (on sale for $899 at time of review)
Where to buy: TST and Amazon
Source: The sample of this product was provided for free by TST. TST did not have a final say on the review and did not preview the review before it was published.
Check out these other reviews!
- TST Dreamer 26″ Step-Thru Fat Tire Ebike review
- Heybike Alpha All-Terrain, Mid-Drive Fat Tire E-bike review
- Windone E2 fat tire e-Bike review
2025 New Upgraded Bike Phone Holder Handlebar - 1S Quick Install, Motorcycle Phone Mount, Bicycle Phone Holder fit Large Phone Case for iPhone Samsung, Dirt Scooter Mini Bike Accessories
$14.99 (as of June 7, 2025 22:19 GMT -04:00 - More infoProduct prices and availability are accurate as of the date/time indicated and are subject to change. Any price and availability information displayed on [relevant Amazon Site(s), as applicable] at the time of purchase will apply to the purchase of this product.)
