The electric bike really payed for itself because I had got sick for five years and I didn't have the energy and endurance to pedal on my own none e-bike which was a regular mountain bike. I thought I was going to be sick for the reminder of my time. Once I started getting better I started using the pedal assist because I was just using the throttle to get me where I need it to go. You do have to paddle some for the panel assist to kick in and work. I think it is a safety feature that I like. The bike itself rides really well. I ride from 8 to 10 miles and back. I can get about 3 to 4 days off of a single charge depending on how many hills I go up. You may want to change the tires because a week later after I got the bike my back tire went flat. I replaced the back tire with a swin mountain bike tire and put a inner tube with slime in it. I also put slime in the front tire. So far so good I haven't had no other trouble with the e-bike.

Comfort: I like the seat a lot actually. The shocks are great, the ride was awesome over gravel and dirt, grass, etc..

Battery life: I went 9 miles in 30 minutes with minimal pedaling and had 2 out of 5 bars left on my battery. I find that very impressive for going mostly throttle control. I'd bring the charger with you if you're visiting somewhere you can charge!

Stability: I felt stable alright

Noise: it sounds like a bike. The motor whirs and whirls and I like that sound.

Speed: 21 mph using full throttle, also with pedal assist. Electric motor keeps the bike from going over 21 mph for state regulations.

Sturdiness: the bike is well made and feels like it could take a beating.

I would recommend this bike because of the price point. I find the value of this bike exceeds the monetary cost.

Edit: Update from Customer Service regarding motor sensors to get the electric functions moving...

Bike was easy to assemble. Derailer protector bolts were already attached to bike, not loose in the box with the other parts, so that was a bit confusing.

Motor works, but isn't as strong as I would have assumed, can't totally tell the difference between the 1-5 speed settings...

I thought the motor/throttle was broken - similar to several other commenters here - but turns out that the manual just didn't adequately explain how the pedal assist & throttle work.

TLDR: Motor turns on only when sensor detects forward motions AND a speed setting between 1-5 is selected in the control box. MOTOR WILL NOT START AUTOMATICALLY FROM THROTTLE TWIST ONLY.

Motor will automatically cut, and glide to stop if you either brake, or stop pedaling.

TWIST THROTTLE IS FOR KEEPING MOTOR ON WHEN YOU STOP PEDALING.

Brakes will automatically kill the motor.

My own safety warning, is to be careful when you slow to a near stop, either to put your foot down and actually stop, or to take a sharp corner or weave between obstacles - IF THERE'S A SPEED SETTING ON, THE MOMENT YOU KICK A PEDAL FORWARD, THE MOTOR MAY KICK ON AGAIN. My advice is to set speed to 0 any time you're slowing to maneuver or dismount, to avoid an accidental lurch..

Here's the great response from customer service. I trust this team after a good back and forth via Amazon customer support portal.

*****

Based on your description, it sounds like the electric system is operating as intended. There are a few features we would like to describe to best explain the intended function. The bike has two important sensors that allow for the safest riding experience possible. The first is the speed sensor and the second is the cadence sensor. For the motor to fully engage in pedal assist levels 1 to 5, the pedals must be rotated manually to get the bike moving forward. The speed sensor communicates the pedal rotation to the controller and lets the system know that the forward motion is intentional. Without actively pedaling forward first, the motor will not fully engage. The cadence sensor translates how hard you are pedaling to the amount of power output from the motor. You mentioned the motor seems to lurch when pedaling slightly - this is an accurate description of the speed sensor and torque sensor functioning properly. The throttle mechanism is designed to work with pedal assist level 1-5 selected, and while moving forward only. The throttle mechanism does not function like a motorcycle where the motor will engage from a dead stop. This is designed as a safety feature to prevent unwanted acceleration during braking. Again, the speed sensor communicates the pedal rotation to the controller, so the system knows the bike is moving forward intentionally first, then allows the throttle to take over afterwards. These factors add up to a riding experience that mimics the following example - From a stopped position, with level 0 selected, the rider begins to pedal the bike intentionally to begin moving forward. The sensors detect the motion but do not provide power as the level is set at "0." While moving forward, then selecting pedal assist level 1-5, the motor will engage for pedal assist riding. The rider can then choose to twist the throttle and stop pedaling for automatic riding. Now to discuss the most important aspect of your description - the motor disengaging to stop. There are two safety features built into the bike for disengaging the motor. The first is the brake sensor. Anytime the brakes are applied, the motor power will disengage. This prevents simultaneous acceleration and braking. The second is the speed sensor described above. While riding using pedal assist, if the rider stops pedaling, the motor will disengage and slowly roll to a stop if brakes aren't applied. This aspect is what makes great electric bikes feel so intuitive for cyclists and newcomers alike. Similarly, if the throttle is engaged with the bike moving forward without pedaling, then the brakes are applied, the motor will disengage completely. The system is not designed to require the rider to select level "0" while riding as a mechanism to stop power. With this system function knowledge in mind, we encourage you to safely test ride the bike again in an open area to get a feel for how these safety features allow for a smooth riding experience. Please let us know if we can help to clarify any additional information about the intended function of the system. If for any reason your bike does not stop according to the safety features described above, please do not continue to use the bike until a replacement can be sent. If you would like to return the original bike for a refund or replacement, we are happy to assist you in that endeavor.

I like the looks and performance
I would prefer a bigger seat
A real good buy

Shipped quickly. After receiving, it took me about 20 minutes to assemble. It's really just a basic mountain bike with a motor and battery. It rides on my hitch mounted bike rack with no problem, just have to remove the battery.
I am 60 years old, 5'7" and 165 pounds and it seems just right for me.
My first real test of the bike was about 15 miles of dirt trail with moderate hills. I used about 60% of the battery using pedal assistance on the uphill and long flat parts of the trail. I rarely went above #1 level (lowest) level of assistance. I suspect I would have used the entire battery life if I did not pedal at all. My top speed was about 21mph on a long flat stretch with highest level (5) of assistance.
For the money, this is a great value. Just remember it is a BASIC mountain bike. Don't expect it to perform like a $2-4,000 bike. But it's more than enough for me and the way I ride.