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Ride1Up Cafe Cruiser review: Affordable & stylish 28 MPH electric bike for one or two riders!

by Micah Toll

It’s a bit ironic that California-based electric bike maker Ride1Up’s name is now antithetical to its newest model, the Cafe Cruiser. Riding two-up is generally motorcycle speak for carrying a passenger on back.

And that’s just what the Cafe Cruiser does, in addition to combining some sexy styling with a comfortable cruiser-inspired ride. And to top it all off, the bike has some darn good performance as well.

Ride1Up Cafe Cruiser Tech Specs • Motor: 750W continuous-rated hub motor • Top speed: 28 mph (45 km/h) • Range: 30-50 miles (50-80 km) • Battery: 48V 15Ah (720Wh) with 21700 Samsung cells • Weight: 65 lb (29 kg) • Load capacity: 300 lb (136 kg) • Rear rack capacity: 130 lb (59 kg)

Ride1Up Cafe Cruiser Tech Specs (Cont'd) • Frame: Aluminum alloy • Brakes: Dual-piston hydraulic disc brakes • Extras: LCD display with speedometer, battery gauge, PAS level indicator with five-speed settings, odometer, trip meter, Shimano 8-speed transmission, front and rear LED lights, included high-quality rack and fenders, optional passenger package • Price: $1,595

This is Ride1Up’s first cruiser-ish electric bike, as the company has mostly focused on purpose-built commuter e-bikes in the past.

The new model is not a full-blown stereotypical California cruiser as it maintains a number of commuter-friendly components like front suspension, fenders, rear rack, hydraulic disc brakes, built-in LED lighting, and the ability to carry your friend along with you on the back.

But it still has the comfortable laid-back seating position and swept-back bars of a cruiser bike, not to mention the motorcycle-inspired top tank frame design to add a neat little accent to the bike’s top tube.

The beauty of the Ride1Up Cafe Cruiser is that it rides like a relaxed cruiser bike, yet offers the performance of a fast and sportier-feeling electric bike. And as the rider, you have the ability to choose how you want to ride it each day based on your mood or needs.

As a mashup between a comfortable cruiser and a feature packed commuter electric bike, the Cafe Cruiser lives up to its name and throws in some seriously good performance too. Check it all out in my video review, then read on for my complete thoughts on this awesome new electric bike.