Wow carbon fibre, and the tyres don't seem too thick.. How does it ride?

Ahhhh I think I understand - it's a "speedbike" right? So only for driving on roads like a car, so there's no question of forest tracks or gravel walkways.

I upgraded from a Trek xm700+ with a front shock. Both served me well but I don't miss the shock.

Yep, they're both commuter/cruiser type bikes, so probably not best offroad.

Both have the top end Bosch Class 3 motor, so they're usually against the rules on trails in my area.

Being pedantic, the suspension of the xm700+ doesn't have a shock. Its a simple coil spring that gives the wheel some room to wiggle. Shock absorbers actually dissipate that energy with oil/air/rubber.

If you ride it like a bicycle and try to avoid potholes and curbs, simpler designs work great.