Ride1UP Cafe Cruiser

Today we are looking at the Café Cruiser from Ride1Up – and man, is this one sleek e-bike with some retro cruising style. The sweeping handlebars and flowing frame make for a comfy, straight-backed riding position. This cruise is all about comfort, with an 80mm suspension fork and a big, comfy seat. The Café Cruiser is more than just chill though, with enough pep to swerve you into the fast lane. This cruiser is a Class 3 e-bike, packing a Bafang 500W rear hub motor capable of over 750W sustained. That’s enough to get you up to 28 mph with pedal assist, no problem (on gentle terrain).

When the sun is shining it’s time to hit the boardwalk with the Café Cruiser, whether commuting or getting down to the local beach. Let’s put it to the test and see what this great-looking bike is capable of.

What Is the Café Cruiser from Ride1Up?

Starting things off, Ride1Up is the producer of a great range of e-bikes. They have a nice lineup of commuting and recreational e-bikes. Ride1Up makes its name by offering bikes that are very affordable, offer better-than-average components and grin-inspiring performance. They do it all while looking amazing too. The brand really has a visual style to the entire lineup of bikes that I love, with a build quality to back it up. So you know that when you see the Ride1Up badge, you are getting a brand that knows how to make an award-winning bike that really wins with the riders.

The Café Cruiser holds up this tradition. It’s a looker. With some old-school motorcycle-style, mixed with a beach cruising bike, it’s sure to turn some heads. Plus, its packed with features: an 8-speed Shimano drivetrain, 500W Bafang motor and hydraulic disc brakes with 180mm rotors, just to name some big winners. They’re the kind of components you would find on bikes almost twice the price of the Café Cruiser.

The first ride is comfortable and fun. With a straight-backed upright riding style and swept-back bars, the vibes are very relaxed. Plus, the motor provides good power on flats to keep you chilling and cruising, not pumping and pedaling. The motor is powerful on mellow hills and flat ground. You can really feel the power. The bike is comfortable to ride with no hands and stable at speed. All-in, it’s truly a relaxing and pleasant bike to ride around town, plus it eats up the miles in maximum pedal assist.

The bike has a ton of great features and you can’t beat the price. It really lives up to the name ‘Cruiser’ and its look is timeless, making it easy to love. If cruising is the game, this bike is the right one for you!

Pros

Laid-Back Cruising Vibes

The bike has a great laid-back vibe. It’s just easy to ride and very comfortable. Stable at speed and easy to ride with no hands, it really is the quintessential summertime ride. You could zip to the beach with a surfboard in your arms, no problem. The motor has enough pep to keep you from working hard on the road. The bike speeds you along level or lightly-sloping terrain, whether it be pavement, gravel, or sand. Ripping along the high-tide line on the beach was a lot of fun!

Great Affordability

I really appreciate Ride1Up because they offer bikes at an amazing price and they do not skimp on the build. They really bring value at a price that makes you wonder how they do it! The Café Cruiser is no different. It has all the features riders will be looking for, so its ready-to-ride right out of the box. The great price, looks and performance really make it a triple threat. If someone is looking for value and performance, Ride1Up is a great choice and a brand with a lot of happy riders. So for those looking for retro beach cruising style at the best price, this is the bike for you.

Great Looks

Ride1Up has a look – and I love it. I love the standard greyish color they use and how it layers with the black and nicely-applied branding. This bike definitely looks like a café cruiser and, if a bike can sell by looks alone, then this bike is going to go fast! Those sloped bars and the cool frame style give it a retro cruiser vibe. Features like the hydraulic brake levers, with that flash of red, really catch the eye. Overall, the bike is a looker and it turns heads on the road.

Cons

Struggles on Steep Hills

Powering the unit, we have a 500W Bafang geared rear-hub motor capable of 750W sustained and 60Nm torque. The motor was, at times, wonderfully powered, zipping along flat ground and offering nice power at the top end, zipping you between 25-28 mph. But then, when you hit a steep hill, the power is gone. It’s a strange mix of being surprised by the pep and power of the motor, but also noting that the bike struggles on steep hills. And by steep, I mean anything over a 12-13% grade.

Our small-hill test result was fairly slow but it’s good to note that this is an 18% maximum grade. With a motor only making 60Nm of torque, it’s a serious challenge. But hey, a cruiser is meant to cruise right? Those with a laid-back mindset probably wouldn’t want to pedal up a hill like this anyway. I’ve heard it’s all downhill to the beach.

What Does It Do Best?

This bike is a wonderfully fun cruiser, with a great price point and performance that will leave you grinning when riding level ground and mellow inclines. I loved the ride cruising around town and riding with no hands. Enjoying the breeze at 20 mph was super comfortable. Honestly, this bike is just a blast to ride and for recreational users, I don’t see anyone being disappointed. It’s got really great components, a comfortable easy-to-love ride, and some killer looks. The motor was not as powerful on the steep hills as you would like but it did an amazing job powering you to 28 mph on flat ground and it could handle your average hill fine. So overall, for users in areas without many steep hills, this bike is going to do just fine.

Who Should Buy This Bike?

Do you want to cruise down your main street at up to 28 mph in perfect comfort without stressing your legs? Then this is the bike for you! Any recreational user who is looking for that straight-backed riding style, classic look, and sweeping handlebars is going to love the bike. And when it comes time to pay the bill, your wallet will be happy too! This bike makes me want to tour the local boardwalk or grab a surfboard and go hit the beach. Any time is summertime when you’re riding the Café Cruiser!

Reasons to Look Elsewhere?

The key fault with this bike is its hill-climbing ability on steep grades. So, if you are about the grind and plan to climb some elevation, this might not be the bike for you. It’s not an extreme-minded bike (other than its extreme speed of 28 mph on flat ground, that is). So, adventure seekers and performance freaks might not find what they are looking for. But again, it’s in the name ‘Café Cruiser’. It’s a definite vibe. For the price and style, this bike is hard to beat.

Conclusion

The Café Cruiser turns heads with its retro style and looks. This ride is super comfy and it’s a blast to zip around town on. With a throttle capable of 20mph and pedal assist zipping up to 28 mph, the 500W motor on this bike is some serious fun. So when it’s time to hit the beach, skip the car and beat the parking lot jam with the Café Cruiser. It’s so affordable you can get two and bring a friend! Ride1Up has done it again with another great bike, so make sure you check out the Café Cruiser. As always, I’m Scott with BikeRide.com and I hope you enjoy the ride!

Specs

Electric Bike Class: Class 3
Warranty: 1 year for manufacturer’s defects
Model Year: 2022
Total Weight: 65 lb
Motor Brand:Bafang RM G040.350/500.DC
Motor Type: Geared rear hub | 48V
Motor Nominal Output: 500W
Max Torque: Rated: 60Nm | Max: 60Nm
Battery: 48V 15Ah Reention Rhino | Samsung cells
Range [Claimed]: 30-50 miles
Range [Tested]: 23.12 miles
Speed: 28 mph
Throttle: Thumb switch
Pedal Assist: 5 assist levels
Controller: 48V 18A | DMHC | Sine-wave
Charger: 48V 2A
Charge Time: 8+ hours
Display: KD21C | Adjustable speed
Frame: Aluminum with internal cable routing
Fork: Mozo hydraulic lockout | 80mm suspension travel
Brake Levers: Zoom hydraulic with electric cut-off sensor
Brake Calipers: Zoom
Brake Rotors: 180mm
Chain: KMC Professional | 8-speed
Crankset: 46t | 170mm
Derailleur: Shimano Acera M360 | 8-speed
Shifter: Shimano Acera | 8-speed trigger
Cassette: 11-32t Shimano
Rims: 26” | Aluminum
Spokes: Stainless steel | 12G rear | 13G front
Tires: Chaoyang SandStorm | 26″ × 3.0″
Fenders: Hardened alloy
Lights: Front: Buchel Shiny 80 (80 lux) | Rear: Velo Edge 48V
Grips: Velo faux-leather
Handlebar: Zoom | 25.4mm | 50mm rise | 40° sweep
Kickstand: Standard | Single-sided
Saddle: Plush Comfort Cruiser
Pedals: Wellgo | Alloy
Maximum Payload (cargo and rider): 350 lb
Rear Rack Payload: 150 lb rated loading weight with pannier side mount

Frame and Geometry

It’s a classic but also a modern take on a cruiser, with styling that brings to mind old Harley motorcycles. Either way, it’s a looker, and the frame is well-built with nice welds and a ton of functionality. The rear rack is welded and able to carry 150 lb of cargo or a passenger weighing 130 lb. At 65 lb, it’s not the lightest e-bike, but it sits firmly in the middleweight range. You can lift it unassisted to place it on a rack, but you won’t want to do it very often.

The bike is well designed and built, with care taken for small details like the welded rack, well-attached metal fenders, and a nicely placed charging point with easy battery access. It really checks all the boxes for function and style. The 80mm front suspension fork is also bringing some much-needed cushioning. When combined with the springy, plush seat and large tires, it does a good job soaking up bumps in the road.

Motor

The motor was a bit confusing at first. In initial tests, we were surprised by its ability on flat ground. It’s a fast bike! Zooming up to 28 mph you feel that Class 3 designation. It lives up to the “750W sustained” specification. But when we hit a steep hill (that other bikes have made it up), we struggled on the Café Cruiser – and we needed to find out why.

The answer is that this is a 500W, 60Nm, geared rear hub motor from Bafang. It’s a reliable and fun motor that’s easily capable of pushing you to 28 mph on flat ground and zipping up small hills. However, with only 60Nm of rated torque, this bike will never be a steep hill climber. Combined with its weight and the fact that these cruisers are not designed for maximum pedal efficiency, it’s really best to stick with the bike’s name… and just cruise.

When cruising, the motor has more than enough power and is a ton of fun to zip around town on. So, avoid those steep hills and take it easy. This bike is for the summertime state of mind.

Acceleration:

• Assist Level: Level 5
• 0-20mph: 8.0 seconds
• 0-25mph: 14.5 seconds

Short Hill Climb:

• Time: 1 minute 18 seconds
• Distance: 0.15 miles
• Elevation Gain: 85 feet
• Maximum Grade: 18%
• Average Speed:  7 mph

Cockpit and Control

‘Laid back’ is the best way to describe the Café Cruiser cockpit. It’s got some swooping handlebars, giving you a straight-back riding stance that almost makes it feel like you are running down the street. It’s a really comfy bike to ride and you can easily zip along on it with no hands.

The aluminum brake levers have a pleasant feel but do not feature a reach adjustment for those with small hands. On the other side of the bars, we have our throttle and control pad/display. It is a thumb-style throttle and will power you to 20 mph. Sitting beside the throttle, we have our three-button interface. The controls are very simple, but give you some customization and all the info you need. With only three buttons to control, it is intuitive until you get to the advanced settings. Power is a push-and-hold to activate and to turn off the display. Info is cycled with a single click of the power button. The up and down buttons control the power assist level and a long push of the + button powers on the lights.

Advanced settings are accessed by holding the + and – buttons at the same time. Ride1Up has good information about the unit. Here is an article that details how to access the bike’s advanced settings.

You can adjust some really helpful settings, including how many assist levels are shown, (5, 7, or 9 with 0) and the amount of assist provided at each level.

It’s really nice to see this simplicity and function from a display on such a well-priced e-bike. There are some great features here, from Ride1Up.

Battery

The Café Cruiser has a fairly large 48V 15ah battery. It’s just another way Ride1Up brings quality builds for a great price. In use, the battery provided a reliable range test. We did take a route that required the bike to handle several larger hills, and it put down a reasonable total range despite this. On flatter ground, that 30-mile claimed range would be possible at maximum pedal assist.

It’s great to see that the bike is living up to expectations. 23 miles at assist level 5 (96% power assist in settings) is a great result for a bike in this price range.

Range Test:

• Distance: 23.12 miles
• Time: 1 hour 7 minutes
• Elevation: 1,417 feet

Charger, Battery Removal, Keys

The 48V 2A charger is pretty standard and well-matched to the bike. The battery is nicely integrated into the downtube and locks in place. Removing it requires unlocking with the key, followed by turning the knob located on the top of the battery which allows it to slide out of the frame. Inserting it is easy. You just slide it into place and push it to lock with a click. The charging port is located on the top of the downtube and has a rubber plug.

Drivetrain

The Shimano Acera 8-speed drivetrain, with a 46t crank and 11-32t rear cassette, is giving us a nice upgrade from the typical 7-speed setup we see on lots of builds. Again, that’s how Ride1Up builds bikes. They like to add these little upgrades all around, and it really adds value. It’s nice to have the extra gear but the gearing still leaves you feeling like you are just along for the ride at 28 mph. Steep hills are also a challenge, so even with the upgrade the range feels a little limiting. This gearing is more fitting for the cruising nature of the bike. You don’t work hard when riding this thing at speed on flat ground, and avoiding steep hills is best.

Brakes

Braking is taken care of by a set of Zoom 180mm hydraulic disc brakes with an electric cut-off switch. These brakes are a well-priced but reliable set. It’s really nice to see hydraulic brakes at this price point. A lot of other brands are going to be giving you mechanical brakes so these hydraulic brakes are a wonderful upgrade, both for performance and reduced maintenance.

Braking Distance Results

20 mph:  12.5 feet

28 mph:  26 feet

Wheels, Tires

The Café Cruiser rides on ChaoYang SandStorm 3.0″ tires on 26” rims. They are large but smoother than off-road tires. So they are a comfy pavement tire that’s also capable on hardpack sand, gravel, or firm beach surfaces. I had a lot of fun riding this bike on the boardwalk and beach paths. Then I noticed the tide was out and that the rocky beach looked like a great test spot! The Café Cruiser zipped along the beach and did a great job in everything but deeper sand. Those large tires help soak up the bumps and help complete a fun setup for zipping around town.

Safety

The Café Cruiser features an 80 lux front headlight and a rear light for awareness and brake signaling. The bike also has your standard reflectors. The brake levers feature an integrated brake cut-off switch that disconnects the motor quickly and brings you to a fast stop.

Kickstand

As with most e-bikes, we have the standard single-sided kickstand. It’s perfectly functional and operates as it should.

Contact Points

Contact points are comfortable and styled as you would expect for this type of bike.

We have faux leather grips with stitching. Personally, I don’t like these types of grips. I would prefer lock-on grips as I find these ones can slide around a bit. However, they match the bike, look good and are functional, so no points are taken away from them.

The Plush Comfort Cruiser saddle is large, cushioned, and features some springs for extra comfort. It’s all in the name. It’s comfortable and offers a large stable seating platform. I found the large seat could get in the way when doing some really hard pedaling. But hey, it’s a cruiser right? Who wants to be pedaling hard?

And finally, we have Wellgo alloy flat pedals. They’re standard items that work just fine and will get you out and about on the road right away.

Accessories

Ride1Up offers a passenger kit to convert that rack to a second seat, along with some protectors for the rear wheel to keep passenger clothing from getting caught.

They also have nice pannier bags for those looking to take items along for the ride.

Low and long geometry makes the bike stable and comfortable – though a little cumbersome and large in tight spaces. Some componentry is notably nicer than many other similarly priced e-bikes. The 750W motor struggled on some of the steeper hills.

If you’re seeking a reasonably priced electric bike for commuting, running errands, or just for fun, and prefer a relaxed, cruiser bike style over other options, then the Café Cruiser is an excellent option to consider. We also feel it’s a great value.

Every direct-to-consumer electric bike company has a model with similar components, frame style, and price point that is positioned as an affordable, entry-level bike. This is not the bike that I would recommend for a new bike rider, or a smaller one. For such an affordable bike, it’s pretty powerful. It has a battery that seemingly lasts forever.

A well-thought-out, comfortable cruiser. Besides the integrated rear rack, the Cafe Cruiser comes with metal fenders and a front and rear light.

In an inflation-riddled economy, the only thing steady appears to be the price of Arizona Ice Tea and Ride1Up’s bikes. With a true 750W of power, the bike is quite sporty. You’ll want to opt for a true fat-tire bike if sand is your thing.

My favorite thing about this e-bike is the option to add a passenger seat that is well designed, comfortable, and easy to use. The B&W display reminds me of a Casio watch from the 1990s. The light is meh.