Ride1Up Cafe Cruiser: Comfortable upright e-bike built for good weather fun
Bikes aren't just for exercise and with the wide swept-back handlebars and slick design you will be cruising around the neighborhood on this affordable e-bike.
Hyperdrive Hits
4/5 Medals of Yavin: Comfortable, powerful, and affordable with an option for a rear passenger
Perfect frame geometry for comfort, good size tires for comfort and stability, excellent fit and finish
Basic two-tone LCD display and controller
Range is a bit limited
For the past few weeks I’ve had the opportunity to try out another e-bike brand with the Ride1Up Cafe Cruiser. The company asked which bike I would like to try out and the Cafe Cruiser stood out with a rather unique frame design and a different focus than a foldable, commuter, or fat tire offering.
The Cafe Cruiser has a side profile that looks like the wind is blowing it back with an aerodynamic look and feel. The wide swept-back handlebars set it apart from other bikes I have tried. This handlebar design results in having you sit upright and back on the plush wide saddle.
This isn’t a bike I’m packing on the train for commuting, but when family and friends come over it is a pleasure to cruise around the neighborhood. The Cafe Cruiser is a perfect bike for exploring beach towns, family rides, and enjoying the sunshine while taking it easy on a bike.
Rating:
As explained in my palmsolo’s Refresh Rating Scale post, I’m awarding Ride1Up Cafe Cruiser four (4) Medals of Yavin. The Carbon Matte step-through model I tested is available for $1,295 which is reasonable for a big bike with a 750W rear hub motor. It includes the front suspension fork, faux-leather hand grips, hydraulic disc brakes, fenders, and front/rear lights so nothing else is necessary to get up and riding.
The Good and the Bad
It’s pretty rare for me to not find something that can be improved with a product and for things like electric bikes the pros and cons can depend on your riding needs.
Pros
Interesting swept back design and wide handlebars
Excellent fit, finish, and welding quality on the frame
Front suspension and plush saddle
Ergonomic faux leather hand grips
Hydraulic disc brakes and a removable battery
Good power to get up and go
Cons
Rear light is not a brake light
Typical range of 25-35 miles with standard terrain
Handlebar design makes the bike wide for storage and transport
Experiences
The Ride1Up Cafe Cruiser arrived with the bike, tools, and detailed manual to help you assemble the bike. The front wheel goes on first with the front wheel axle. Slide in the saddle to your desired height and then attach the pedals. That’s it and the bike is ready to go.
The right brake lever pulled all of the way back to the hand grip at first so I was worried the hydraulic brakes were leaking. A simple rotation of the lever helped me adjust it to fit my right hand and then the brakes worked perfectly. The bike brakes quickly with the hydraulic disc brakes.
The first thing I noticed about the bike was clearly the wide swept-back handlebar design. It makes the bike quite wide for storage and moving it around, but the width and design make the ride very comfortable and enjoyable.
I am also a big fan of the 26” x 3” SandStorm tires that are mounted on the bike. It’s not a fat tire bike and the tread is perfect for cruising on light gravel, pavement, and wet surfaces too. The tires and front suspension also helps to provide a comfortable ride on any surface.
A small LCD display is found on the right side with a center power button and plus/minus buttons to scroll up and down through the pedal assist levels. The numbers are big and easy to read in all lighting conditions too. A thumb throttle is located just to the left of the display.
The headlight provides 80 lux of light while the rear red light shines brightly too. The rear light does not serve as a brake light though and lately I’ve been a big fan of brake lights when riding in groups and when warning drivers around you.
The seat has a lot of padding with springs under it for excellent comfort. The seat post is easily adjustable for a wide range of heights. With the adjustable seat and step-through design my wife enjoyed riding the bike too.
The battery is removable with a key and battery latch so you can buy an extra for $430 if you want more range.
It’s great to see the rear rack integrated into the frame as this enables it to have a higher load bearing capacity. It is perfect for attaching pannier bags and other accessories for more than cruising if that is why you want to ride the bike.
You can purchase a passenger kit for $125 that provides the seat, two wheel guards, and two footpegs. There is no handle for the passenger so make sure they are safe and prepared to enjoy the ride from the bike.
If you are interested in a Ride1Up e-bike, make sure to check out the various locations where you can test ride one for yourself. There is an interesting Ambassador program where independent bike owners volunteer their time and bike for you to join then for a test ride. There are also bike shops and rental services that offer test rides.
Specifications
Specifications alone don’t mean much, but they are useful for comparing similar devices and checking that you are getting value for your money.
Frame: Aluminum alloy in two matte colors and one glossy color
Motor: 750W rear hub with 60 N-m of torque
Bike weight: 65 pounds
Bike capacity: 350 pounds, 150 pounds for rear rack
Battery: 48V15ah with UL3371 certification
Pedal assist: Five levels with throttle
Max speed and range: Class 3 with throttle up to 20 mph and 28 mph pedal assist
Transmission: 8-speed Shimano
Advertised range: 30-50 miles depending on rider weight, terrain, level of assist
Brakes: Hydraulic disk brakes
Durability: IP65 rated for riding in light rain
Tires: 26 x 3-inch SandStorm perfect for cruising
Bottom Line
While I bounce between a couple of bikes for commuting to work and other fat tire bikes for taking on gravel roads and trails, sometimes you just want to cruise around the neighborhood with family and friends. The Ride1Up Cafe Cruiser lets you sit back pedal slowly or use the thumb throttle and cruise in extreme comfort.
The swept back handlebars have plenty of room for mounting your phone or bike computer while helping you sit upright and take in the sights and sounds of outdoors. The design is unique, well built, and ready to roll. The integrated rear rack is stout while the frame and tires help you easily feel in control of the ride.
The $1,295 price is reasonable for an e-bike that is ready to roll out of the box and provide you with a quality experience. Ride1Up is located in San Diego and while the bikes are made in China like just about all e-bikes, the company provides free shipping, a 30-day return policy, 1-year warranty, and a cool Ride1Up pledge that saves you $40 by committing to replace at least two car trips per month with your new electric bike.