It’s a bit ironic that California-based electrical bike maker Ride1Up’s title is now antithetical to its latest mannequin, the Cafe Cruiser. Driving two-up is usually bike converse for carrying a passenger on again. And that’s simply what the Cafe Cruiser does, along with combining some attractive styling with a snug cruiser-inspired journey. And to high all of it off, the bike has some darn good efficiency as properly.
That is Ride1Up’s first cruiser-ish electrical bike, as the corporate has principally centered on purpose-built commuter e-bikes previously.
The brand new mannequin just isn’t a full-blown stereotypical California cruiser because it maintains quite a few commuter-friendly parts like entrance suspension, fenders, rear rack, hydraulic disc brakes, built-in LED lighting, and the power to hold your pal together with you on the again.
However it nonetheless has the comfy laid-back seating place and swept-back bars of a cruiser bike, to not point out the motorcycle-inspired high tank body design so as to add a neat little accent to the bike’s high tube.
As a mashup between a snug cruiser and a function packed commuter electrical bike, the Cafe Cruiser lives as much as its title and throws in some severely good efficiency too. Examine all of it out in my video evaluate beneath, then learn on for my full ideas on this superior new electrical bike.
Ride1Up Cafe Cruiser Video Evaluate
Ride1Up Cafe Cruiser Tech Specs
- Motor: 750W continuous-rated hub motor
- High velocity: 28 mph (45 km/h)
- Vary: 30-50 miles (50-80 km)
- Battery: 48V 15Ah (720Wh) with 21700 Samsung cells
- Weight: 65 lb (29 kg)
- Load capability: 300 lb (136 kg)
- Rear rack capability: 130 lb (59 kg)
- Body: Aluminum alloy
- Brakes: Twin-piston hydraulic disc brakes
- Extras: LCD show with speedometer, battery gauge, PAS stage indicator with five-speed settings, odometer, journey meter, Shimano 8-speed transmission, entrance and rear LED lights, included high-quality rack and fenders, optionally available passenger package deal
- Value: $1,595
Cruising alongside in type!
The great thing about the Ride1Up Cafe Cruiser is that it rides like a relaxed cruiser bike, but affords the efficiency of a quick and sportier-feeling electrical bike. And because the rider, you will have the power to decide on the way you need to journey it every day primarily based in your temper or wants.
Crank it up into excessive pedal help ranges and hit 28 mph (45 km/h), or ease again and cruise effortlessly on the throttle at 20 mph (32 km/h).
Or, drop it into decrease pedal help ranges and get an easy-going exercise by casually pedaling alongside the boardwalk or seaside path. It’s bought a lot potential due to its excessive efficiency combined with laid-back cruiser design.
The pedal ahead structure and large saddle offer you a snug and relaxed geometry, particularly contemplating the swept again handlebars convey the grips proper to you and mean you can keep good and upright within the saddle as an alternative of leaning ahead.
The hydraulic entrance suspension fork and massive 26″ x 3″ balloon tires easy out the journey for all the pieces from boardwalks to nature trails. These tires are extra road optimized than something, which suggests I didn’t make nice progress whereas attempting to journey by means of the fluffiest of Florida sugar sand, however extra packed sand would probably be potential.
Even so, the “cafe” a part of the Ride1Up Cafe Cruiser prevents it from being a extra devoted sand bike, and also you’ll need to go for a real fats tire bike if sand is your factor. However you’ll undoubtedly be the king of the bike path on this factor – I certain am.
With 750W of energy (a real 750W, not only a peak-rated 750W), this makes the bike fairly sporty. You don’t solely stand up to a excessive velocity of 28 mph, however you get there rapidly. And also you’ve bought the boldness of punchy hydraulic disc brakes to convey you again right down to a cease rapidly.
I’ve bought to present the corporate props on the lights, too. Whereas many firms are nonetheless holding again lights as optionally available tools or forgoing them altogether, the Ride1Up Cafe Cruiser features a highly effective and prime quality 80 lux entrance headlight and a extremely seen rear tail mild. These aren’t dinky, low-cost lights both. They feel and look stable, as if they’re designed to final for years (or as if Ride1Up doesn’t need them breaking off after which having to take care of guarantee claims). The tail mild is even protected by the frame-integrated rear rack, which means it gained’t get caught on obstacles round your storage or bike rack that might threat knocking it free or snagging a wire.
Talking of the rear rack, that’s the “final however not least” large function I need to discuss. Not solely is the rack tremendous sturdy since it’s constructed into the body itself (serving to it obtain that large 130 lb or 59 kg weight score on the rack), but it surely’s the proper mounting level for the passenger package deal.
This superior accent from Ride1Up provides a rear bench seat onto the rack, plus fold out foot pegs and a transparent wheel skirt so passengers don’t get their pant legs or skirt sucked into the rear wheel.
Many firms have now began providing rear bench seats as a part of passenger packages, however Ride1Up’s is the perfect one I’ve seen thus far for one easy cause: it has a fast launch to take away it. You see, with different passenger packages I’ve tried on rivals’ e-bikes, you need to bolt the bench seat onto the rack. Meaning if you wish to entry the rack once more, akin to for strapping down some cargo or including a milk crate for momentary storage, you need to spend a number of minutes unbolting the bench seat.
However the Ride1Up Cafe Cruiser’s rear seat has a spring-loaded fast launch that enables you pop it on and pull it again off in about two seconds with none instruments apart from your fingers. It’s rock-solidly hooked up, however continues to be straightforward to take away! I adore it!
And the ultimate kicker is the worth, at simply $1,595! I don’t understand how Ride1Up has resisted growing costs when so many different US-based electrical bicycle firms have been strolling up costs lately, however I’m additionally afraid to ask and smash a superb factor, like the child who reminds the instructor that she forgot to assign homework.
The Ride1Up Cafe Cruiser debuted at $1,595 when it went on pre-order late final yr, and right here we’re 4 months later in an inflation-riddled economic system the place the one factor regular seems to be the worth of Arizona Ice Tea and Ride1Up’s bikes.
Different firms will promote you numerous much less e-bike for lots more cash. With what you’re getting on this electrical bike and what you’re paying, that is some loopy good worth if I’ve ever seen it.
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