As if there was ever any question that I could resist the new Rize Blade 2, I decided to place a deposit on one today. So what is the Blade 2? It is a brand new electric bike with a 52-volt system and a 1000-watt motor with the looks of a Super 73 Z1 all grown up. Oh, and it also has dual suspension and dual battery capabilities for excellent range.
So lets take a deeper look at the Blade 2 and what it has to offer. In the front it features a 2000 lumen headlight for nighttime riding and a true motorbike look. The display sits front and center on the swept up handlebars. Through the display the bike can be configured as a Class 1, 2, or 3 ebike. By default, the top speed is 20 mph (32 km) but can be unlocked to 30 mph (48 km).
The front suspension is custom-made and is solid black as are the handlebars, rims, fenders, crankset, and rear rack. Moving onto the aluminum frame is a fully integrated removable battery for a clean and modern look. A second battery can be attached onto the frame for double the range.
Quality Components
The frame is available in three colors: black, red, and yellow and the two-tone color schemes look fantastic. A banana style seat sits on top for a sporty look. It also allows the rider to move forward or back for better leg extension when pedaling.
At the center is a large 52-tooth crankset paired with a nickle-plated 11-32 tooth gearset. Such a wide range of gears will make the bike practical to pedal at higher speeds. The Shimano rapidfire shifter allows you to shift down 3 gears in one push for those killer hills.
In the rear is a spring suspension system that matches the look of the bike very well. An integrated taillight sits at back and features brake lighting to notify drivers behind you when you are braking.
A Fast and Powerful Motor
The powerful 1000-watt Bafang motor is located in the hub of the rear wheel and produces 85 N.m. of torque and a top speed of up to 30 mph. The Blade 2 should be a very zippy bike with plenty of power to conquer nearly any hill with relative ease.
Stopping the nearly 70-pound bike are Tektro 180mm hydraulic disc brakes. The bike sits on Kenda Krusade puncture resistant knobby fat tires that will allow the bike to go on and off-road safely.
According to Rize, riders between 5’3″ and 6’3″ should comfortably be able to ride the bike. The seat height is 34 inches (from ground to the top of the seat) and 22″ from the top of the seat to the crankarm. The payload capacity of the Blade 2 is 300 lbs. The bike weighs 70 lbs with a single battery.
Powering the bike is a 52-volt 15 Ah battery. A second battery can be attached to the frame to double the range. The frame is designed to hold a second battery, so you don’t have to purchase the second battery at the time of bike purchase. You can decide to buy and attach a second battery later.
About Rize Bikes
Rize Bikes is located in Vancouver Canada where you’ll find some other major ebike makers like Dost and Surface604. Rize also has a distribution warehouse in Los Angles, CA for faster and more affordable shipping to US customers. You can learn more about the company and their bikes from their most loyal and enthusiastic customers through the Facebook group Rize Bikes Owners Group. I’m also a part of that group.
Why I Decided to Buy the Blade 2
As the owner of a Super 73 Z1, I couldn’t help but notice the similarities. The frame and banana style seat scream Super 73 but greatly improves on the concept with a 52-volt system, a powerful 1000-watt motor, dual suspension, hydraulic brakes, multiple gears, integrated lights, and dual battery capabilities.
And let’s face it, the bike looks awesome! I mean come on, it’s downright sexy and if you don’t think so, you have terrible taste. Just kidding, but I think it’s a really good-looking bike. It’s been my experience that frames such as these need dual suspension. After all, it’s a motorbike that you’ll likely want to ride long distances on a variety of surfaces. While I had a lot of range anxiety with my Z1, I won’t have to worry about that with the Blade 2. It’s capable of 30-50 miles with one battery, and 60-100 miles with two.
I’m assuming that the real range would be on the lower end of both of those estimates considering this is the type of ebike in which most riders lay heavy on the throttle.
I’m eager to find out how well the custom front and rear suspension works, what the real world range is, and how practical it is to pedal. I’m happy to see that it has knobby tires for better grip on a variety of surfaces. I wouldn’t take the Blade 2 off a ramp nor do mountain bike tricks with it, but it should be able to handle off-road trails in a comfortable and confident manner.
The Blade 2 is anticipated to ship in July of 2021, and I hope that date proves true because I can’t wait to try this bike out. You can place a $200 deposit now to reserve the bike and pay the balance when the bike is ready to be shipped. You can also check out all of Rize’s redesigned and new bike models for 2021 here.
