Ariel Rider Grizzly 52V Dual Motor Review 2024

Intro

The growing moped category in e-bikes has resulted in a number of manufacturers rethinking just what an e-bike is. Like their two-stroke forebears, moped e-bikes can be pedaled, but that’s more backup tech than primary tech. These are e-bikes that most riders will ride by twisting the throttle rather than turning their legs.

We’ve seen the amount of power available with these e-bikes grow and now we will see in our Ariel Rider Grizzly review how this manufacturer topped one of the most powerful moped e-bikes on the market—Ariel Rider’s X-Class—with double the power, thanks to the addition of a second hub motor, this one in the front wheel.

That’s right. The Ariel Rider Grizzly features two 1000W brushless, geared Bafang hub motors, each of which generate a whopping 95Nm of torque. Powering these motors is a two-battery setup that offers 1820Wh of capacity, enough juice according to Ariel Rider to allow the Grizzly to cover up to an estimated 75 mi. per charge.

With two hub motors, the Ariel Rider Grizzly will enjoy virtually unmatched acceleration and top speed compared to similar e-bikes. Indeed to match this level of power, someone would likely need to look at an electric motorcycle.

E-Bike Category: Moped

Who the Ariel Rider Grizzly Electric Bike Is for: For the rider who has yet to find an e-bike powerful enough for their taste, the Ariel Rider Grizzly is the answer thanks to 2000W on tap.

Ariel Rider Grizzly E-Bike Specs

• Battery: 52V, 1820Wh lithium-ion batteries (1040Wh + 780Wh)
• Expected Range: 35-75 mi.
• Charger: 52V, 4A
• Motor: Two 52V, 1000W brushless, geared Bafang hub motors, 95Nm torque
• UL Certification: No
• Pedal Assist: 5 PAS Levels
• Throttle: Half-twist
• Display: Backlit, color LED
• Headlight: Included
• Taillight: Included, with brake light
• Frame: 6061 Aluminum
• Fork: Suspension fork
• Fenders: Included
• Kickstand: Included
• Handlebars: High-rise, 670mm wide
• Grips: Faux leather
• Drivetrain: 7-speed Shimano Altus,
• Brakes: Tektro hydraulic disc brakes, 180mm rotors
• Pedals: Alloy, with reflectors
• Saddle: Moped-style banana seat
• Tires: CST 20 x 4-in., puncture resistant

In-Depth Ariel Rider Grizzly Review

Ariel Rider Grizzly Review: Comfort, Handling, and Ride Qualities

It’s common for manufacturers call their e-bikes unique. No great surprise when one does. They rarely are; different, sure, but unique? Not usually. The Ariel Rider Grizzly is an e-bike that lays a solid claim to being unique. What makes this e-bike so different is that it combines a moped-style design with two 1000W motors.

Moped-style e-bikes are growing increasingly popular, for several reasons. First is that many consumers see an e-bike with a throttle and conclude that if they aren’t required to pedal, they’ll save themselves the effort—all the fun, none of the work. Moped e-bikes give people a bigger bench-style saddle which offers greater comfort than a traditional bike seat, though it does make pedaling more difficult, due to its width and lack of adjustment. Another reason these e-bikes are growing in popularity is that some riders aren’t comfortable unless they can place both feet flat on the ground when they come to a stop, while continuing to sit on the seat. Moped e-bikes allow for that.

Compared to other moped e-bikes, the Ariel Rider Grizzly takes the zippy experience of being on an e-bike with small wheels (which increase an e-bike’s maneuverability) and puts it in overdrive by adding a second motor. More on the motor itself in a moment—right now we’re going to look at how having a second motor affects handling.

The first thing riders will notice with the Ariel Rider Grizzly is how aggressive its acceleration is. By doubling the e-bike’s power while only making the e-bike a few pounds heavier than a model with one motor, Ariel Rider gives the Grizzly top-fuel-dragster acceleration.

Having a motor in the front wheel imparts another effect to the rider’s experience: increased stability. Every time the rider twists the throttle, when the motor springs into action, it will act a bit like a gyroscope, encouraging the e-bike to stand upright and go straight. Turning while under power will take a bit more effort from the rider, but the e-bike’s ability to accelerate while turning will deliver the zoom in all caps.

Small wheels accelerate more quickly than bigger ones, so when compared to other e-bikes with two motors in 26-in. wheels, the Ariel Rider Grizzly will almost certainly out-accelerate them.

So much of a rider’s comfort at speed comes down to how easy the e-bike is to control. Thanks to front and rear suspension and 4-in.-wide tires, the Ariel Rider Grizzly will offer riders a very smooth ride, which will make going higher speeds feel calmer than it would on unsprung e-bikes. We have to ding Ariel Rider a bit, though because their language regarding the suspension fork and rear shock is pretty over-the-top. If they were truly using the best suspension components and design available, they would give the brands they are working with, as well as more specs about the suspension, like just how much travel there is.

The biggest question for most riders in terms of ride quality will be how fast they are comfortable going. Going better than 30 mph won’t be a challenge with this unrestricted e-bike and while zooming down a mountain rode at 35 mph can be exhilarating, not everyone enjoys going 35 mph in traffic without the protective cage of a car around them. Shoppers need to ask themselves, “How fast is fun?”

Ariel Rider Grizzly Review: Motor, Battery, and Drivetrain Performance

When isn’t a 52V, 1000W Bafang hub motor that produces 95Nm of torque not enough? When the e-bike is the Ariel Rider Grizzly. The acceleration this e-bike grants riders will make them the kings of the green-light drag race. Could someone beat a Tesla through an intersection? Maybe?

It seems unlikely that we will be able to find a just description for how powerful an e-bike with two 1000W motors is. Not only will it deliver motorcycle-like acceleration, top speed with this bike may be faster than the speed limit on residential streets.

While other Ariel Rider models like the X-Class and the Kepler say on their pages that they are unrestricted and riders should check their local laws, the Grizzly includes no such advisory, so we will say it for them: This is an unrestricted e-bike and does not conform to the three-class system of e-bikes. As a result, this e-bike will run afoul of e-bike laws in many jurisdictions. We would encourage anyone considering one to visit the People for Bikes website and check what the laws are in their state.

An e-bike that can produce 2000W needs plenty of juice to run for any appreciable distance and Ariel Rider equipped the Grizzly with two batteries. The first is a 52V, 1040Wh battery mounted on the down tube and the second is a 52V, 780Wh unit held inside the rear rack. Ariel Rider estimates that the Grizzly can cover between 35 and 75 mi. per charge.

Ariel Rider included but one charger with the Grizzly, despite the presence of two batteries. The charger is a 4A unit, which will help charge the batteries more quickly, but fully charging both batteries may often be an overnight affair.

The Ariel Rider Grizzly is equipped with a Shimano Altus 7-speed drivetrain. With a 14-28t cassette, the gearing will only be useful when going speeds approaching 20 mph. Above 20, someone will need to spin their legs like a jet turbine in order to get the chain to catch; the highest gear on this e-bike is simply too low to pedal at high speed. Of course, we anticipate that the target market for this e-bike probably isn’t planning to pedal much in the first place.

Ariel Rider Grizzly Review: Braking, Safety & Warranty

With such a powerful e-bike hydraulic disc brakes are a must, and Ariel Rider spec’d the Grizzly with Tektro disc brakes and 180mm rotors. Given the incredible power the Grizzly can generate, we would have preferred to see either 203mm rotors to increase brake power, or 4-piston calipers, again to increase braking power. The faster the rider is going, the longer the stopping distance will be.

The electronics spec’d in the Ariel Rider Grizzly have not been documented as UL certified, but Bafang has produced at least one UL-certified motor. The battery uses Samsung and LG cells, which are some of the highest-quality lithium-ion cells being made. This e-bike may not be UL-certified, but we are confident that it is well-made and can be charged many cycles without worry.

Ariel Rider’s warranty leaves something to be desired. Owners need to register their e-bike within the first 30 days of ownership in order to be covered for one year. This warranty looks like it’s on par with those from their competitors, but it is more restrictive.

Ariel Rider Grizzly Review: Recommendation/Final Verdict

We suspect that the profile for the potential buyer of the Ariel Rider Grizzly will include people who own things like the Dodge Charger, Ford Mustang or a motorcycle from Ducati. Some powerful e-bikes are essentially wolves in sheep’s clothing. Class 3 commuters are a great example of this. The Ariel Rider Grizzly isn’t hiding what it is.

Because this e-bike is equipped with two motors and two batteries, it is substantially more expensive than most of the e-bikes we review. With a retail price above $3000, the greater investment will cause many riders to turn their focus to more affordable models. The buyer for this e-bike will be drawn to it precisely because of its power. Put another way, there’s no need to spend this much for an e-bike unless someone wants an e-bike that is nearly three times as powerful as an e-bike that costs half as much.

We encourage potential buyers to consider that the Ariel Rider Grizzly is twice as powerful as an e-bike that is too powerful to conform to the requirements for a Class 3 e-bike.

Because we’re not certain just how fast this e-bike can go, we would prefer to see better brakes on the Grizzly. An upgrade to 203mm rotors could be done with no increase in price; 4-piston calipers would drive the price up some, but we are believers in the idea that the most important factor in a rider’s confidence is their sense of control. Good brake power is key to that.

Riders looking for an e-bike that will allow them to conquer steep hills need look no further.

Thank you for reading through our review of the Ariel Rider Grizzly. Still have further questions? Wondering how it compares to a similar e-bike we’ve reviewed? Let us know in the comments below!