QuietKat Lynx E-Bike Review

The QuietKat Lynx is a powerful, cafe racer-inspired electric bicycle that doesn’t purr— it roars! The long-travel suspension and rugged dirt bike build mean riders can explore almost anywhere while enjoying the quiet and reliable performance of an electric motor. The new Lynx model leans even more into the moto-style e-bike trend and successfully creates something different that stands out in the crowded market. Keep reading to learn our honest thoughts on the unique QuietKat Lynx below and see if it’s right for you.

Mike Hardaker, Author and Gear Tester Talks about the QuietKat Lynx E-Bike

Adventure Ready E-Bike

The Mountain Weekly News has tested a few QuietKat electric bikes in the past and they all share this kind of ultra-rugged and outdoorsy design, all the way to their camouflage paint jobs. While many of QuietKat’s E-bikes are built for hunting, fishing, and forested two-track, the Lynx has some added street flair. This time around, the brand swaps out the camo colorway for sleeker Onyx Black and Alloy frame options. The Lynx is inspired by classic cafe racer motorcycles and embraces a kind of dual-purpose style for both city commuting and off-road riding.

What Exactly is the QuietKat Lynx?

Once I hopped on the Lynx during testing, it became apparent that it’s basically an electric dirt bike. That’s great news for motocross enthusiasts, riders with a BMX background, or people who simply want a playful all-terrain e-bike. At 100 lbs., the Lynx is a beast of a bike that’ll probably need its dedicated spot in the garage or parking spot. This bike is not your typical recreational e-bike and that’s part of its charm— think motorized cruising around town and adventuring across dirt tracks, gravel, and beyond. If you want a slim and lightweight hybrid for bopping around the city, though, you’ll want to look elsewhere.

Full Suspension

The Lynx is built around a full-suspension frame that, depending on which way you squint your eyes, looks like a pared-down dirt bike or beefed-up electric bike. That mixed design isn’t afraid of adding heft to elevate off-road abilities and I think QuietKat made the right choice here. The burly suspension package is super responsive and impressively dampens the ride naturally. The KKE double-crown fork provides a long 203mm of travel along with the 100mm rear shock. The highly-adjustable suspension allows for the tuning of compression rebound damping, sag, and spring rates.

How’s the QuietKat Lynx Ride?

I tested rode the Lynx on dirt, snow, pavement, and gravel and it handles incredibly and rolls over just about anything in its path. I found that it was easy to forget that I was actually still riding an e-bike, as opposed to a dirt bike. The ride experience reminded me of the electric dirt bikes from Surron, for example. For truer dirt bike riding, the Lynx would need to have fat tires with taller, more aggressive knobs— but remember that at the end of the day, this is still an e-bike!

1000W VPO Motor

The QuietKat Lynx relies on a powerful 1000W hub drive motor that pushes up to 83Nm of torque and 1440W peak output. The electric motor packs a ton of power that’s delivered via pedal assist or a twist throttle. The hallmark of the Lynx’s motor is its VPO™ Technology which stands for Variable Power Output— this allows riders to quickly toggle between Class 1, Class 2, Class 3, and Unlimited Modes. That’s right, there’s an Unlimited Mode! We clocked in around 30+ mph while pedaling for some serious pace on our favorite trails. The VPO feature lets riders instantly adjust the e-bike to fit local bike path or trail regulations, ensuring they stay within the top speed guidelines wherever they ride.

While riding in pedal assist, the motor will reach the top speed of the selected Class setting instead of having distinct PAS levels. The VPO system makes it easy to switch classes, but I would have liked to see an actual range of PAS levels for more customization, especially considering the big power behind the Lynx. The only way of riding at a consistently moderate speed is by lightly feathering the throttle, so keep that in mind if your local trail system has low speed limits around 10 or 15 mph. I really appreciated the automatic motor and straightforward power modes that make for easy cruising without over-complication or fussing with the controls.

20Ah Battery

The Lynx’s 20Ah battery is neatly integrated into the e-bike’s downtube. QuietKat claims it can reach up to 60 miles on a single charge but riders can expect a slightly lower range, especially when using higher power levels or throttle-only. I appreciate that the battery meets the UL 2849 certification standard for some extra peace of mind and reliability testing.

Top of the Class E-Bike

You may already be catching onto the fact that the QuietKat Lynx impressed us. Honestly, I would say that the e-bike handles the best out of all the models we tested in 2023 and is the most fun of all of them, too— and The Mountain Weekly News staff tested over 60 e-bikes throughout the year! Again, this bike skews toward the e-dirt bike category so it won’t fit the use case for every recreational rider but it sure is convincing. I may have caught ourselves ripping down trails when I technically shouldn’t have been because the Lynx is just that much fun. For riders on the fence, it’s also worth noting that the bike is currently on sale for a more reasonable price of $2,999.

Components

Regarding the nuts and bolts of the Lynx, the bike comes equipped with many solid components. There are Gemma 2 Piston hydraulic disc brakes with oversized 203mm rotors for improved braking at high speeds, especially considering the extra heft of this 100 lbs. e-bike. The 24×4.5” Vee Mission Command tires are even larger than typical fat tires.

The rear mech seems like a derailleur but it’s actually just a chain tensioner since the Lynx rocks a single speed hub drive setup. Ghost pedaling will occur more often since there aren’t extra gears, but I rode in throttle mode a decent percentage of the time anyway. Another nice touch that’s typical of QuietKat bikes is the high-quality lockable grips that add a bit of bling to the handlebars.

Frame Size

Similar to other moto-inspired e-bikes, there’s a bench-style saddle with a fixed position. The Lynx’s saddle is tiered which offers a couple of different saddle heights and positions to match certain rider heights. Taller riders will find that sitting on the taller saddle tier is the most comfortable while shorter riders can sit further forward on the saddle.

Taller riders’ knees get way too close to the front fork and handlebars when sitting in the lower saddle position. I guess that pedaling the Lynx is a bit awkward or uncomfortable for riders taller than 6’2” or 6’3”. The extended seat can carry a second passenger, but it may be a tight fit for two adults. The e-bike’s overall payload capacity is 300 lbs.

QuietKat Lynx App

Riders can hook up their Lynx to the QuietKat app to lock, monitor, and track their rides remotely. The Lynx has a full-color display at the center of the riser handlebars to see all the essential ride metrics at a glance. There’s also a small rear rack to load up the e-bike with additional cargo. The large ultra bright halo headlight has multiple brightness settings as well as a rear brake light. There’s an interesting cover behind the headlight that reminds me of a small windscreen like those seen on some dirt bikes.

QuietKat Lynx E-Bike Pros:

• Powerful Motor: 1000W motor with a lot of torque for fast acceleration and hill climbing.
• Full Suspension: Great handling and comfortable ride on rough terrain.
• VPO™ Technology: Allows riders to switch between different power modes to comply with local regulations or for different riding styles.
• Long Range: Up to 60 miles on a single charge (depending on use).
• Hydraulic Disc Brakes: Strong braking power in all weather conditions.
• Durable Components: Built to handle tough trails.
• Fun to Ride: Especially for riders who enjoy dirt bikes or motocross.
• Currently on Sale: Discounted price of $2,999.

QuietKat Lynx E-Bike Cons:

• Very Heavy: 100 lbs, difficult to maneuver and carry.
• Large and Bulky: May not be suitable for smaller riders or tight spaces.
• Single Speed: Limits performance on hills and requires more ghost pedaling.
• Not Ideal for Taller Riders: Awkward or uncomfortable for riders over 6’2″ or 6’3″.
• Limited Seat Options: Bench-style saddle with a fixed position, may not be comfortable for everyone.
• No Pedal Assist Levels: Only has on/off throttle and different power modes.

Overall Impression

The QuietKat Lynx ($3,999) makes itself known loud and clear because of its excellent performance on bike paths, trails, and beyond. The dirt bike-style design motivates riders to test their abilities and explore new off road adventures, so you’re sure to have a blast while ripping along your favorite routes. It’s a lot of bike that’s currently on serious sale, so it may be high time to get yours. If you haven’t yet ridden QuietKat E-Bikes you’ve been totally missing out on a lot of fun.

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