Ride1Up Cafe Cruiser Review

Ride1Up makes a wide range of reasonably priced electric bikes of all styles, including the Cafe Cruiser reviewed here. Similar to other bikes in their line, this bike comes with a sleek design that includes a frame-integrated 720 Wh battery for a clean look, a nice build, and a 750W motor that uts out some serious power and is capable of pushing Class 3 speeds up to 28 mph using pedal assist. It has a decidedly laid-back cruiser bike style and the comfortable, smooth ride quality to match. It comes loaded with all the features most people will look for, and it is offered in three colors and two frame styles ST (step-through) and XR (step-over) to suit varying needs and preferences. All of that comes at a price that we feel makes it an excellent value.

Performance Comparison

Ride

Given its design and style, it doesn't come as too much of a surprise that the Cafe Cruiser has a laid-back ride feel reminiscent of a traditional beach cruiser. The seated position is upright and comfortable, and the bike has relaxed handling and a super smooth feel thanks to its front suspension and plump tires. The overall package is well executed, with a host of features that make this bike ready for riding in a wide range of conditions.

Just a quick look at the Cafe Cruiser and it's clear to see that it's styled after a typical beach cruiser. It's long and low with a big swept-back handlebar and girthy, balloon-ish tires. These design elements come together to create a ride that is very smooth, stable at speed, and comfortable when making medium to large-radius turns. The 80mm suspension fork and 3-inch wide tires also do wonders to dampen vibration and take the edge off bumps and cracks in the road, adding to the comfortable ride. While we thoroughly enjoyed the ride quality of the Cafe Cruiser, its laid-back nature means that it doesn't have the sharpest handling, and it can feel a bit sluggish at lower speeds and a bit unwieldy in shorter turns. These handling characteristics are typical of this style of bike, and you get used to it pretty quickly.

Like most beach cruisers, the Cafe Cruiser has a relaxed, upright seated position that is very comfortable and easy to get along with. The big swept-back handlebar brings the grips closer to the body, so you're not reaching forward as you might on other bikes. We found the Plush Comfort Cruiser Saddle to be just that, and the faux leather grips also have an ergonomic shape that's easy on the hands. The ST (step-through) version we tested has a low step-over height of just 22.5 inches which makes it easy to get on and off the bike. It has a claimed user height range of 5'0" to 6'4", so it should work for the vast majority of adult rider heights. It also comes in the XR (step-over) frame style with a higher top tube. This bike has a standover height of 28.5 inches and is claimed to work for riders between 5'5" to 6'4" in height.

The parts package on the Cafe Cruiser is quite nice for the price. We found the Zoom hydraulic disc brakes to work great and provide excellent speed control. The Shimano Acera 8-speed drivetrain also performed flawlessly and we much prefer the ergonomics of the trigger-style shifters to other options. The 80mm Mozo suspension fork is a real treat and it works well to smooth out the ride, especially in combination with the bulbous 26-inch x 3-inch wide tires. Additionally, included features like alloy fenders front and rear, integrated front and rear lights that run off the bike's battery supply, and a sturdy rear rack that's rated to carry up to 130 pounds mean you're ready for just about anything, whether that's hauling gear to the beach or commuting across town. Ride1Up also sells a variety of accessories to customize your cargo carrying, including a front basket, passenger kit (cushion, 2 wheel covers, and 2 foot pegs), panniers, and they even show the bike with a Yepp child's seat attached to the rear rack (although this is not currently available on the Ride1Up site).

Range

While not a class leader in our range testing, the Cafe Cruiser is certainly no slouch either. With a whopping 720 Wh battery housed in the downtube of the frame, not only does this have a clean look, but it can travel quite far on a single battery charge. Its result in our range test put it above average when compared to the other models we tested.

We do our standardized range test on the same course, with the same rider, using only the throttle to eliminate the variable of pedaling input. This course involves some gently rolling hills and a range of surface conditions that also allows us to evaluate certain aspects of ride quality and comfort in the process. The Cafe Cruiser took us 27.9 miles with 1,437 feet of elevation gain/loss at an average speed of 17.4 mph using the throttle only. While this falls a bit shy of the top performers in this metric, that's still a very impressive distance to travel without pedaling. We feel it's safe to assume you could ride this bike a bit further on perfectly flat terrain, and possibly even meet Ride1Up's claimed low-end range of 30 miles. We are also confident it could be ridden further using pedal assist, depending on assist level and pedaling input from the rider, of course.

Power

With a 750W geared hub Bafang motor, the Cafe Cruiser is definitely not lacking in the power department. This Class 3 model has no problem reaching its top throttle speed of 20 mph or its top pedal-assisted speed of 28 mph. You certainly don't need to ride it that fast, but it feels pretty eager to do so if you're looking to get places in a hurry.

The throttle is a small paddle situated on the left side the handlebar next to the grip. It is actuated by simply pressing down on the paddle with your thumb, and the bike jumps to life and has no problem getting going from a complete stop. In our timed acceleration tests, the Cafe Cruiser was able to reach its top throttle speed of 20 mph in just under 12 seconds, matching the other top performers. Likewise, on our small test hill, it was able to accelerate up to 18 mph and slowed to only 17 mph on the steepest part of the hill, further demonstrating the motor's power. The 17.4 mph average speed of the Cafe Cruiser during our range test, which included 1,437 feet of elevation gain, is even more evidence of the bike's ability to hold and carry speed under throttle power.

Pedal assistance comes in five different levels. The amount of support and the top speed increases incrementally as you shift up through the levels, with level 1 topping out around 12 mph and level five capable of hitting and cruising at the bike's top speed of 28 mph without too much effort on the part of the rider. This bike is plenty fast and powerful. Since the assistance is based on a cadence sensor, it delivers the same amount of power when the cranks are turning, regardless of how hard you are pedaling. That said, the geared hub motor provides a nice consistent ramp-up, but it can feel a little jumpy if you're in an easy gear and high output level (the same goes for most bikes with a rear hub motor). Shifts between levels are smooth and relatively seamless, with a noticeable increase in power delivery as you progress up through them, and vice versa.

Interface

While not particularly exciting, the Cafe Cruiser has a user interface that works well and avoids complication. Along with the thumb paddle throttle, the all-in-one control/display unit is situated by the left grip and is intuitive to use and easy to read. The frame-integrated battery can easily be removed, and charging is relatively standard.

Unlike many bikes that have the controls and display separate, Ride1Up has opted for an all-in-one unit that has the button controls and display combined next to the left grip. While we do like having the display centered in the handlebar for easier viewing while riding, there's something to be said about the simplicity of the combo unit. The three buttons are on the left side closest to the thumb and are easy to reach, and the simple layout is easy to use. The power button in the middle turns the bike's power and on and off, while the + and - buttons are used to shift up and down through the bike's pedal assist support levels. It doesn't get much easier. The thumb paddle throttle sits between the button controls and the grip and is very easy to reach and depress with the thumb. The screen shows you all your pertinent ride info at a glance, with the current speed in large numbers in the middle, pedal assist level as a number in the upper right, and remaining battery life as a graphic with 5 bars. It may not be fancy, but it gets the job done with little to complain about.

The battery fits into a large cutout in the underside of the downtube of the frame for a very streamlined look. Using the included keys, it can be removed for charging, storage, or security purposes. Charging can also be done on the bike, and the charging port is hidden under a large rubber cover on the upper right side of the downtube. It has an IP-65 weather resistance rating. Meaning it is protected from dust and can withstand low-pressure water jets or occasional water spray, but prolonged exposure to rain should be avoided.

Assembly

The assembly of the Cafe Cruiser was pretty standard for consumer-direct electric bikes and was actually a bit easier than other Ride1Up models we have tested. We were able to complete the process with little difficulty in an average amount of time using the instructions and included tools. One of the biggest challenges with this bike, and most similar bikes, is removing it from the box given its weight and size. We feel that most people should be able to finish the remaining assembly at home, but if you don't feel comfortable doing it yourself we recommend taking it to a local bike shop.

Once you've got the bike out of the box, all the packing materials need to be removed. The bike comes with a nice set of allen keys and printed instructions (plus a Ride1Up beanie), and the instructions are available online as well. All that remains to get the bike ready to ride is to install the handlebar, front wheel, front fender, headlight, and pedals. Once the bike is together, you'll want to make some comfort adjustments to the handlebar angle and seat height, adjust the tire pressure, and top off the battery. None of these tasks are particularly difficult, but it does take a little time to finish the job. Our test bike was ready to go in right around 40 minutes.

Should You Buy the Ride1Up Cafe Cruiser?

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 Cafe Cruiser is an excellent option to consider. With a laid-back ride quality, a smooth, comfortable ride, an excellent range and plenty of power on tap, this bike can get you where you need to go in comfort and style. Given its excellent performance and wealth of useful features, we also feel it's a great value.

What Other Electric Commuter Bikes Should You Consider?

If you don't like the cruiser bike style of the Cafe Cruiser, the Ride1Up 700-Series is our top recommendation for an all-around electric commuter. It has similar specs and performance but with a less relaxed seated position and sharper handling that may work better for many users while still being an excellent value. Want to save a few hundred bucks? The Ride1Up Turris XR does not have the same awesome rear rack or performance, but it still is a very capable Class 3 bike that may meet your needs for less money.