Puckipuppy GoldenR

The GoldenR is Puckipuppy’s dual-motor e-bike made to “conquer the wild” and handle “extreme” conditions.

With two hub motors and a 20Ah battery, this full-suspension e-bike should provide exciting off-road performance.

To begin the review, we describe the bike’s packaging, specs, and ride experience. Then, we reveal the pros, cons, and test results, finishing with a verdict on the GoldenR’s overall value.

Spec Run-through

The GoldenR arrives well-packed in a large bike box. Final assembly requires installing the kickstand, aligning the fork and stem, and attaching the handlebars. To finish, install the front wheel, pedals, and any accessories like lights, fenders, or racks.

Our test bike came with standard accessories like the charger, headlight, and tool kit, along with some spare bolts and brake pads and a pump.

Puckipuppy also gave us the basic accessory bundle to test. This includes a rear rack and fenders. At the time of writing, the basic bundle has been replaced by a larger “$499” bundle that’s currently being given for free, but this may change.

The GoldenR is a Class 3 e-bike with an aluminum frame. Puckipuppy markets it for off-road riding and hunting. It has a 130mm coil suspension fork, a 40mm coil shock, a Horst-style rear linkage, and a stated payload capacity of 400lb.

Puckipuppy says the single frame size fits riders from 5’4″ to 6’6″, but this isn’t true, as we discuss below.

The GoldenR has a 350W front motor and a 500W rear motor. Both are powered by a 48V, 20Ah battery. Puckipuppy says the motors have a combined peak power of 1,600W.

A selector on the left side of the handlebar allows the rider to toggle between using the rear motor alone or using both.

The thumb throttle next to the right-hand grip is limited to 20mph, but the five-level pedal assist has a top speed of 28mph. The other e-bike controls include a removable LCD mounted in the middle of the handlebar, and a five-button control pad on the left.

The GoldenR doesn’t have UL safety certification, but Puckipuppy says that it’s in the process of getting it. The bike’s IPX6 water resistance rating is solid for an off-road bike.

The GoldenR’s 26” aluminum rims are wrapped in unbranded 4” tires with a cross-country-style tread pattern. The tires are not tubeless-ready, and they don’t have puncture protection.

The drivetrain on the GoldenR is a little disappointing: bottom-tier Shimano Tourney 7-speed with a 46t chainring, and 14-28t freewheel. The Logan hydraulic disc brakes have two-piston calipers and 180mm rotors.

The GoldenR has a 740mm riser handlebar with rubber lock-on grips. The bright, easy-to-read display shows the typical information. Battery level is displayed as a six-step graphic. The control pad has buttons for power, up, down, lights, and a horn.

The fenders and rear rack included with our test bike greatly increase the GoldenR’s utility, especially for commuting or hunting. The included rack can carry 55lb. The bike also has a pair of bottle cage bosses on the down tube and mounting points on the head tube for a front rack.

Riding the Puckipuppy GoldenR

The Puckipuppy GoldenR is bulky, but not bad-looking. The first thing I noticed upon mounting the bike was the sizing. I wasn’t cramped, but I needed the seat at its highest position, so I don’t see how riders much taller than 6’ will pedal this bike comfortably.

Things aren’t much better for smaller riders. Puckipuppy states the standover height as 29.8”, but this is right under the saddle. The actual standover height is 32”. Add this to the 35.6” minimum saddle height, and it’s fair to say that anyone under 5’8” is likely to find this bike hard to mount and won’t be able to straddle the top tube with their feet flat on the ground.

Switching between single and dual-motor modes on the fly is easy. For general riding, single-motor mode provides sufficient power for accelerating and cruising around. For quick getaways and climbing hills, dual-motor mode offers the necessary power. With 850W between the two motors, it’s not the fastest bike we’ve tested, but it certainly doesn’t lack power.

Unfortunately, using both motors drains the battery quickly, and the battery indicator drops by one bar when power is applied in dual-drive mode.

The GoldenR is comfortable to ride. However, it is heavy, and the weight is felt on the trail as the bike gets thrown around by rocks and roots, and requires taking turns in wider arcs than necessary with lighter, more agile bikes with narrower tires.

The GoldenR handles smooth singletrack and wider roads well, so for exploring light trails, the GoldenR does just fine. The suspension is cheap but plush, braking was consistent throughout my test rides, and the large tires provide plenty of cushion and traction.

Unfortunately, the bike is fairly loud. It suffers from a creaky suspension linkage, clunking fenders, and suspension that quickly reaches its limits. After a few short rides on the trail, the bike developed annoying noises that will take more than a bolt check to fix.

Finally, with a motor in each wheel, the GoldenR is heavier than most of the electric bikes we test. We weighed it at 88.4lb, which is lighter than the 89.18lb listed on the website, but is enough to make lifting it onto a bike rack or maneuvering it up stairs a real pain. It also means it’s not a bike for pedaling without assistance.

Overall, I enjoyed riding the Puckpuppy GoldenR, but what are its key pros and cons?

Pros

Dual-Motor Power

The two motors provide good power for climbing hills and enhanced traction for deeper sand and other loose terrains. It’s great to be able to swap between the rear motor for casual cruising and both motors when the terrain gets rough, or to tackle steep hills.

Plush Suspension Feel

Despite the budget suspension components, the ride is plush and comfortable. The bike’s comfort over light off-road terrain and bumpy pavement was impressive.

Battery Range

Off-road riding and hunting require lots of power and range. Fortunately, the Puckipuppy GoldenR offers a solid range of 29 to 39 miles using pedal-assist levels 5 and 3. The range tests were done using single-motor mode for cruising and dual-drive for hills.

Cons

UL Compliance

UL 2849 and UL 2271 safety certification should be considered the bare minimum for any e-bike. As Puckipuppy has been selling the GoldenR since December 2024, it’s disappointing that it lacks these certifications. This means it can’t be sold in some regions, and it raises questions about electrical safety.

Sizing

Puckipuppy says this bike fits riders from 5’6” to 6’6”, but this is clearly exaggerated. I needed the saddle at its highest setting, and I’m only 6’ tall with a 32” inseam. Riders from 6’2” – 6’6” won’t find this bike comfortable, unless they only use the throttle. I also think riders shorter than 5’8” will find it too big.

Website Information

The product page for the GoldenR lacks key information, such as the bike’s IP rating and the motors’ nominal outputs. Puckipuppy also claims the GoldenR has a peak torque output of 185Nm, despite customer service confirming to me that the motors have 65Nm of torque apiece. This lack of clear, reliable information is another big disappointment.

Test Results

Hill Climb Test – Small Elevation

With both motors engaged, the GoldenR is quick. In dual-motor mode, it easily accelerated up the small elevation hill climb to share second place with the Mokwheel Obsidian. Switch to single motor mode, and it falls to the middle of the pack, taking an extra 30 seconds to climb the hill.

Hill Climb Test – Medium Elevation

The GoldenR nearly matched the Obsidian again in the medium elevation hill climb, coming in just 1 second behind with a time of 2:10 up the 226-foot hill. In single-motor mode, the Puckipuppy took a minute longer to complete the test. The GoldenR can still climb hills in single motor mode, but it’s slower and requires more pedaling effort from the rider.

Acceleration Test

In single drive, the GoldenR takes 11 seconds to reach 20mph using throttle or pedal assist. With both motors engaged, it hit 20mph in 7 seconds using pedal assist and 9 seconds with the throttle.

Range Tests

For the range tests, I used a mix of single and dual-motor modes to simulate real-world riding: single for cruising and small climbs, dual when I needed extra power for things like steeper hills and accelerating across busy streets.

Range Test PAS 5

In the PAS 5 range test, the GoldenR traveled 29.6 miles at an average speed of 22.1mph. That’s a solid performance. However, it lags behind other bikes with 20Ah batteries like the Himiway Zebra and Snapcycle R1 Pro, which travelled 9 and 19 miles more, respectively.

Range Test PAS 3

Dropping to PAS 3 boosted the range by 10 miles. The GoldenR covered 39.18 miles and gained 1,374 feet of elevation over 2 hours 19 minutes. That’s another respectable result, but yet again, it trailed behind other 20Ah bikes like the Snapcycle and Himiway Zebra, which beat it by 5 and 12 miles.

Braking Test

The Puckipuppy GoldenR matched its cousin, the Labrador Pro, with a stopping distance of 21 feet. That’s acceptable for safety, and the brakes felt reliable during my test rides, but it’s not a great result in our braking tests. Most e-bikes we test stop in 18 to 20 feet, and the best need just 15 feet.

Conclusion

The dual-motor setup is this GoldenR’s standout feature. Having 850W of combined motor power split between both wheels gives solid climbing ability and lots of traction when the terrain gets loose. The toggle switch makes it easy to save battery but quickly activate both motors when extra grunt is required. This setup is genuinely useful, not just a gimmick.

The 20Ah battery delivered good range, with 29 miles in PAS 5 and 39 miles in PAS 3 when switching between single and dual-motor modes as needed. The suspension is plush and comfortable, handling bumpy doubletrack and easier trails without complaint.

But there are real concerns here. First, the sizing is way off. Second, the lack of UL compliance is disappointing for a bike that’s been on sale since December 2024. Finally, the bike quickly developed creaks, and with its weight of 88lb, running out of battery is a scary prospect.

For riders around 5’8” to 6’1” who need a powerful off-road e-bike and can overlook the lack of UL safety certification, the GoldenR offers impressive capabilities at a competitive price. Just be aware of the risks we’ve outlined.

Score Breakdown

• Build quality: 65
• Performance/Innovation: 80
• Design: 60
• Ride quality: 70
• Price/Value: 70

Overall: 69

Detailed Specs

Electric Bike Class: Class 3
Warranty: 1-3-year limited warranty
UL Certification: None
IP Rating: IPX6
Total Weight: Claimed: 89.18lb – Actual: 88.4lb
Motor Brand: Puckipuppy
Motor Type: Dual hub motors
Motor Nominal Output: 350W front, 500W rear
Torque: Claimed: 185Nm – Actual: 65Nm per motor (130Nm total)
Battery: 48V 20Ah (960Wh)
Range Claimed: 40-80 miles
Range Tested (PAS 3): 39.18 mi – 1,374 ft. – 17.1mph avg.
Range Tested (PAS 5): 29.61 mi – 1,024 ft. – 22.1mph avg.
Max Speed: 28mph
Throttle: Thumb
Pedal Assist: 5 levels
Sensor Cadence
Charger: 48V 2A
Charge Time: 11 hours
Display: 2.7” LCD
Frame: 6061 Aluminum
Fork: 130mm coil suspension
Rear shock: 40mm stroke coil
Brake Levers: Logan hydraulic
Brake Calipers: 2-piston
Brake Rotors: 180mm
Crankset: 170mm alloy – 46t
Derailleur: Shimano Tourney
Shifter: Shimano Tourney TX-50
Freewheel: 14-28t 7-speed
Rims: 26” aluminum
Tires: 26” x 4”
Fenders: Not included
Lights: Integrated headlight & taillight
Grips: Rubber lock-on
Saddle: DDK wide comfort saddle
Pedals: Composite platforms
Handlebar: 740mm riser
Kickstand: Yes
Payload Capacity: 400lb
Rack Capacity: 55lb

Geometry Details

Seat Tube: 18.11“ (460mm)
Reach: 18” (457mm)
Stack: 24.8” (630mm)
Stand Over Height: Stated: 29.8”, Measured: 32” (813mm)
Virtual Top Tube Length: 23.8” (605mm)
Min Saddle Height: 35.5” (902mm)
Max Saddle Height: 40.5” (1029mm)
Wheelbase: 50.5” (1280mm)

Overall, I really like the GoldenR. This e-bike is a winner both for street riding and off-road light trail riding. I’ve deducted one [star] because of it’s [high] weight of 93lb.

If you can’t afford a bike like an Ecells or a Wired Freedom and you want that dual motor, dual suspension kind of look, this is an affordable e-bike.

This whole entire package with the full suspension, dual motors, and a big old battery is surprising… and that has to be one of the best values that I’ve seen on the market.

[It’s] a lot of money, but you’re also getting a lot of bike. Most other dual motor e-bikes are more expensive and don’t have some of the features of the GoldenR.

I really like having the dual motors. You can turn on and off the front whenever you need it… I really like this seat. It’s nice and comfortable. Some things I didn’t like so much is this dual suspension, however.

It does want to take off, but not as much as I expected, actually. It’s a little bit less aggressive in the power department than some of the other bikes I’ve ridden.