AMZcycle Cougar Electric Gravel Bike

Gravel e-bikes in the $2,500–$3,500 range are a mixed bag. Some are genuinely well-built; a lot of them are hub-drive bikes with mid-drive marketing, or they cut costs on the battery cells, or the fork is listed as "carbon" in a way that doesn't survive close inspection. After going through a lot of these bikes, the Cougar stands out as one of the few that's actually specced with intention at this price.

Here's an honest breakdown of what you're getting, what the tradeoffs are, and why the specs that matter most are the ones this bike actually got right.

Why Mid-Drive Matters — and What 120 N·m Actually Means

The OKAWA AP70 motor is a genuine mid-drive — it sits at the bottom bracket rather than the rear hub. This isn't just a layout preference. A mid-drive motor works through the bike's existing gears, which means it's more efficient on varied terrain, keeps weight centered between the wheels for better handling, and leaves your rear wheel fully serviceable without dealing with motor wiring. Hub motors are simpler and cheaper to manufacture; mid-drives are better to ride.

The torque rating here is 120 N·m. Wattage (500W nominal, 750W peak) tells you about power output under ideal conditions. Torque tells you what the motor actually feels like on a loaded climb at 8% grade when you're 45 miles in. 120 N·m is enough to pull you up most things you'd reasonably attempt on a gravel bike. The torque sensor — which reads how hard you're actually pushing on the pedals, not just whether they're spinning — makes the assist feel natural and proportional rather than on/off. Five levels, Class 2 cap at 20 mph.

The honest tradeoff: mid-drives at this torque level are heavier than equivalent hub-drive setups. The Cougar is 46.3 lbs. If you're comparing to hub-drive bikes in this range, expect them to come in 3–5 lbs lighter. Whether that matters depends on how much lifting versus riding you're doing.

Battery: What the Cell Choice Actually Tells You

The 720Wh figure matters, but so does what's inside. Samsung 21700 cells are a known quantity — high energy density, stable discharge curves, and they hold capacity well over hundreds of charge cycles. Not all 720Wh batteries are equal; the cell quality determines how long that rating stays accurate, not just what it says on launch day.

The pack is UL2271 certified, which is the relevant standard for e-bike batteries in the US — it covers thermal runaway protection, overcharge/discharge behavior, and short circuit handling. IPX5 waterproofing means rain and splashing aren't a concern. Realistically, with moderate assist on mixed terrain, expect 55–70 miles per charge. The 75-mile spec is achievable in lower assist on flatter routes. Charges in 6–8 hours via DC2.1. The 2.0" IPS display includes a USB-C output port — useful for topping up a phone or GPS unit on long days out.

The Fork Is the Sleeper Spec Here

Full carbon fiber fork. 700C. 12×100mm thru-axle. Flat Mount brake tabs. Internal cable routing. On a complete e-bike under $3,000, this is unusual. More importantly, that combination of thru-axle standard and Flat Mount is specifically what quality gravel suspension forks require — Lauf Grit, RockShox Rudy Ultimate, Fox 32 Step-Cast. If you ever want to add front suspension, this bike doesn't need a new fork first. That's a meaningful upgrade path most bikes in this range don't offer.

The frame is AL6061 aluminum with fully internal cable routing (FICR). Cables run inside the tubes — cleaner aesthetically, protected from brush and debris, and the rear dropout uses a UDH (Universal Derailleur Hanger), which is now the industry standard and means replacement hangers are stocked at actual shops.

Drivetrain Honesty

S-RIDE 1×12. The shifter and rear derailleur are S-RIDE GR610 and GR680 respectively — a Taiwanese house brand, not Shimano GRX or SRAM Apex. It's worth saying that plainly. What S-RIDE does well: the shifting is accurate, the rear derailleur clutch (which prevents chain slap on rough terrain) works reliably, and replacement parts are affordable and available. The 42T chainring paired with an 11–50T cassette gives you a wide enough range that you're not going to run out of gear climbing or spinning out on flats. Shimano 12-speed chain throughout.

If you're coming from a high-end gravel bike with GRX Di2, you'll notice the difference. If you're coming from a mid-range build or a hub-drive e-bike, you won't.

Brakes

S-RIDE GR610 hydraulic flat mount calipers, 2-piston, paired with Shimano SM-RT70 160mm Centerlock rotors front and rear. The rotor choice matters here — SM-RT70 is Shimano's mid-tier offering, used across Deore and Deore XT builds, and it has a good reputation for consistent performance and heat management. The calipers provide reliable stopping power with reasonable modulation. Flat Mount is the current standard for road and gravel disc brakes, so servicing and upgrading calipers down the line is straightforward.

Dropper Post

KS 860i. 125mm of travel, air spring, 30.9mm diameter. A KS dropper post retails for $150–$200 as a standalone component. Having one included on a $2,899 complete e-bike is worth noting — it reflects a build philosophy that prioritized components that affect the ride over components that photograph well. On technical gravel descents, being able to drop the saddle out of the way significantly changes how you can move on the bike. If you've ridden gravel without a dropper and then with one, the difference is obvious within the first descent.

Tires and Wheels

WTB Raddler 44×700C, 60tpi Dual DNA compound. The Raddler is a well-regarded gravel tire — short center knobs roll efficiently on hardpack and pavement, with enough tread transition to handle loose gravel and wet conditions without the rolling resistance penalty of a full knobby tire. The 60tpi casing is supple enough to run tubeless at lower pressures if you choose to convert. NovaTec hubs (D981SB front, D872SB rear) on 32-hole AL6061 rims. Both axle standards are gravel suspension fork compatible, reinforcing the upgrade path mentioned above.

Bottom Line

The Cougar makes sense for riders who want a capable, honest e-gravel bike without paying for brand recognition. The mid-drive motor, Samsung battery, carbon fork, KS dropper, and WTB tires are all components that pull above the bike's price point. The S-RIDE drivetrain and calipers are competent but mid-tier — a reasonable tradeoff to hit the price. If you're planning to ride it hard and eventually upgrade the drivetrain, the frame and fork are worth building on.

Technical Specifications

Warranty

• Frame: 5 years
• Fork: 2 years
• Motor: 12 months
• Battery: 18 months or 20,000 miles (whichever comes first)
• Display: 12 months

What's in the Box

AMZcycle Cougar Electric Bike · Assembly Toolkit · Battery & Charger · Headlight & Taillight · Display · Cable Binders · Left & Right Pedals · User Manual