My full review of the Pulse R.1 Cross

Twice The Bikes (Tigo)
Sep 19, 2025
2 min read

Hey everyone, today we’re taking a look at the Pulse R1 Cross, a fat tire e-bike that stands out from the rest of Pulse’s lineup with some surprisingly premium touches. I’ve tested a couple of their other bikes before, but this one? It feels like the best of the bunch. Let’s get into it.

Unboxing & First Impressions

Unboxing was mostly uneventful, although I did have a small paint chip on the frame. Assembly wasn’t too hard, just average for a bike like this. I’d prefer less assembly, but it’s doable for anyone.

Right away, the display caught my attention. It’s not your average e-bike screen—it even has a SIM card slot. Rare to see on a fat bike at this price point, and it gives the bike a high-tech feel, together with the front light. Honestly, it’s one of the coolest headlights I’ve seen on any e-bike. It has both yellow and white beams, looks unique, and gives off serious motorcycle off-road vibes.

Design & Features

Dual rear air shocks look awesome and work decently, though a bit too stiff for really rough terrain.
Street tires roll smooth and quiet, unlike the loud knobby fat tires you often see.
Torque sensor delivers instant power with no lag, making the single-speed setup surprisingly practical.
Saddle is on the firm side. Not uncomfortable, and actually better for longer rides.
Pedal stance can feel awkward for riders over 190 cm, so it’s not ideal if you love heavy pedaling.

The battery is a little small for a bike this size. There’s room for a bigger pack, and weight wouldn’t be a huge issue. That said, the integration looks sleek.

Build Quality

There are a couple quirks here:

The light switch setup is a bit odd—you have to press an emergency button before the headlight switch works. Feels like a workaround, but the buttons themselves feel nice.
My unit had a paint chip, likely a shipping issue. Pulse told me they’ll always make things right if problems pop up.

Handling & Stability

This is where the R1 Cross really shines. The handlebar design feels much better than on the Pulse S6 Go or Q1 City. The bike corners better, feels more stable, and inspires more confidence than other fat bikes I’ve tested.

Final Verdict

For me, the Pulse R1 Cross is the most complete and refined of the Pulse lineup so far. The display and headlight are impressive, the dual shocks add character, and the handling is excellent. Compared to the Brekr F250 I reviewed earlier, this has more features for the money, though Brekr still wins on build quality and custom design.

Western European riders will like that Pulse is a Dutch company with 40 years of history, so support should be reliable. Just keep in mind the bikes are still built in China.

✅ Pros: