this is an absolutely beautiful bike. the all black frame is slick as ****. the "gas tank" battery holder, seat, and handle grips are all leather, lending it a stylish retro look. definitely spring for the fenders, rear rack, and panniers, not just for the immense utility, but to complete the "cafe racer" aesthetic. for your money, you'd be hard pressed to find a better ebike with throwback motorcycle styling. people will come up to you to ask what you're riding. from a technical stand point, it's solid, but leaves something to be desired as far as battery capacity and range. the updates to the LCD display are welcome, and well worth the price jump. the stock seat is comfortable, allowing you to ride for hours on end. the 9 levels of peddle assist will ensure the bike works /for/ you, and not against you. the throttle on the right handle bar will let you pretend to be a moped for a reasonable amount of time, shooting along at 28 - 30mph on flat land, easily, with no pedaling. when riding in a city, your ability to ride at ~30mph will allow you to keep up with slow-to-medium speed traffic, particularly useful in cities with poor bike infrastructure. the powerful LED headlight (styled to look like a motorcycle's) will ensure you are visible at all hours of the day. however, sadly, the one major drawback is the bike's weight. it's around 70 lbs, with battery. if you're 6'1'' and 220 lbs, like me, you're unlikely to get more than 20 miles out of it on one charge, and even that's pushing it. that said, remember that your weight, your pedal assist level, and the amount of inclines on your ride will vary your experience. i still absolutely consider this bike worth the money, but, don't expect to put in any more than 20 miles on an average ride. if you really have money to burn, buy a back up battery from revi bikes and keep it in your panniers (although also be aware that it's a small hassle to remove the battery, since you'll have to unscrew the "gas tank" casing and unscrew/rescrew the battery within). if you're wondering whether it's worth spending the extra money to get this over the original cheetah: yes, absolutely. do it, you won't regret it. if you're wondering if this is a good first bike: yes. you will love it. if you're wondering if this is a good new addition to your ebike stable: possibly, depending on what you value in a bike. do you want highly efficient performance machine that can clip along at 15 mph for 40 miles with no breaks? this isn't the machine for you. do you want a gorgeous bike that is competently built, fast, and unbeatably stylish? then buy it, and buy it now.