Buzz Drone Review | Will It “Bee” Worth Your Buy?

Ride Quality is not measurable in the same way that our other tests are, and much of it comes down to personal preference. Many factors affect how the Buzz Drone feels to ride, but we can examine it broadly to evaluate its effectiveness. Some of the primary factors are sizing and fit, comfort, handling, motor engagement, and the bike’s user interface.

Buzz Bicycles does not advertise a specific height range for the Drone but instead says that it will fit “most riders.” Moped-style e-bikes accommodate their riders differently than most other types of e-bikes since they do not require pedaling, so this makes sense. As long as you can sit comfortably and reach the handlebars, the Drone should work for you.

At 5’11”, I found the bike generally comfortable; its size and geometry felt much like I expected based on previous testing of similar models. My legs assumed a somewhat crouched position while my upper body was upright. With a long reach, my arms were fully extended, but the bike’s handlebars could be angled to adjust this to a limited degree.

With its relatively low weight and 20×4” Kenda tires, the bike handled quickly and felt stable when riding and cornering. Its suspension fork, while somewhat limited in its travel, offered enough cushion to soften bumps, and when tire pressure is reduced, the tires themselves can serve as a sort of suspension.

Motor engagement was another area in which we felt the Drone could be improved. The bike uses Throttle-After-Pedal (TAP), meaning that its throttle cannot engage unless the bike is moving. We feel that Throttle-On-Demand (TOD), which would allow starting from a complete stop, would be a better fit with the Drone’s style and feel.

It largely comes down to personal preference, but we also generally prefer twist throttles to thumb throttles—especially on longer rides—as they are easier and more comfortable to hold for extended periods of time. The Drone’s thumb throttle was functional, but we would like at least the option to switch to a twist throttle at purchase.

The Drone’s user interface was simple and easy to use. Its control panel included rubberized raised buttons that I found effective. The bike has a basic but functional black-and-white display with the current assist setting, battery charge, speedometer, etc. With a single-speed drivetrain instead of a 6-speed, the Drone would be even easier to use.

Overall, the Drone’s ride quality was decent; the bike was fun, reasonably comfortable, and not overcomplicated. As with most bikes, it has room for improvement, but the existing features generally functioned well.