Hey, you party animals! Welcome back to Electrified Reviews. I’m Mitch, and today we’ve got the exciting Soda bike from Michael Blast. So, last night was a wild one, and I found myself waking up in the woods with an e-bike by my side. I figured, why not take this opportunity to do a review? So, here we are, ready to jump into it!
Alright, everyone, let’s get up close and personal with the 2023 Soda bike from Michael Blast. This e-bike promises to add a thrilling new flavor to your daily rides and weekend adventures. Priced at $1,999, it’s a bike that aims to deliver a perfect blend of performance, comfort, and style – oh, and let’s not forget about the style, because this bike has got it in spades!
As we explore the features and ride experience of the Soda bike, we’ll uncover what sets it apart from the crowd and why it’s a fantastic choice for riders seeking a unique and enjoyable e-bike adventure. Stay tuned for an electrifying review that’ll leave you itching to hit the road with this awesome ride!
| FRAME | A6061 Aluminum Tig Welded |
| MOTOR | BAFANG 500 Watt |
| SPEED | 32 km/h (20 Mph) UNLIMITED |
| GEARS | 5 Speed motor assist with 7 speed Shimano Acera |
| TRIP COMPUTER | LCD 5 Speed Display |
| BRAKES | Taiwan Star Union Hydraulic |
| TIRES | Innova 26’ X 3.00, 15-36PSI |
| FORK | Double Down Chromolly/CNC Alu Made Crown Set |
| BATTERY | Samsung Lithium Ion 48V 14.5Ah |
| RANGE | Approx. 50 Kms (32 Milles) |
| DIMENSIONS | L76xW26xH40-inch (163x66x102 cm) |
| PRODUCT WEIGHT | 62 lbs (28 kg) |
Design and Build Quality
The Michael Blast Soda bike stands out with its unique and attractive mid-step frame design, which immediately catches the eye. The mid-step frame allows for easy mounting and dismounting, making it convenient for riders of all ages and abilities. This feature is particularly beneficial for urban commuting or leisurely rides, where frequent stops and starts are common.
The upright riding position further adds to the overall comfort of the bike. It ensures a relaxed and natural posture, reducing strain on the rider’s back and shoulders, making it ideal for longer journeys or exploring nature trails at a leisurely pace.
With a standover height of 26 inches and a reach of 15 inches, the bike is designed to accommodate a wide range of riders. Whether you’re tall or short, the Michael Blast Soda bike caters to various rider heights and body types, providing a comfortable and personalized fit.
To enhance the riding experience on rough terrains and bumpy rides, the bike is equipped with a standard saddle and seatpost suspension. While it may not offer the same level of cushioning as a full suspension ride, the included seatpost suspension does a commendable job of absorbing shocks and vibrations. This feature is especially valuable for riders who frequently encounter uneven surfaces, as it contributes to a smoother and more enjoyable ride.
The Michael Blast Soda bike comes equipped with impressive 20-inch by 4-inch Compass tires, which play a significant role in its ability to handle diverse terrain. These wide and robust tires provide excellent traction and stability, making it suitable for riding on various surfaces, from smooth city streets to gravel paths and even sandy trails. The colored sidewalls of the tires add a touch of aesthetics, giving the bike a distinctive and stylish look.
A standout feature of the bike is its unbranded hydraulic brakes with 180-millimeter rotors. Despite not being a well-known brand, the hydraulic brakes perform exceptionally well, delivering reliable and powerful stopping power in all conditions. Whether you encounter wet roads, mud, or dusty trails, the brakes instill confidence in the rider, ensuring safe and controlled stops.
The 7-speed Shimano Altus gear set with Shimano trigger shifters provides a versatile range of gears, allowing the rider to tackle both uphill climbs and speedy flats effortlessly. This gear system is known for its reliability and smooth shifting, making it suitable for various riding conditions.
To complement its robust performance, the bike is equipped with a front suspension boasting 80 millimeters of travel. This suspension setup effectively absorbs shocks and vibrations, providing a comfortable and smooth ride over uneven and rough terrain.
Safety is a priority, and the inclusion of front lights on the bike ensures visibility during rides, even in low-light conditions. Whether you venture out in the early morning or late evening, the front lights enhance safety and visibility, allowing you to enjoy your rides at any time of the day.
While the bike already offers a range of useful features, the review suggests some potential improvements for future versions. An integrated tail light could be a valuable addition to enhance safety further, especially for rides in dimly lit areas or during nighttime adventures.
The playful and practical addition of a bottle opener on the front of the bike adds a touch of fun to the overall experience. It’s a unique feature that showcases the brand’s attention to detail and desire to provide a delightful riding experience for their customers.
For added functionality, the option to add a front basket, fenders, or a rear rack is available. This allows riders to customize their bike according to their preferences and needs, making it a versatile and practical companion for various activities, be it daily commuting, grocery runs, or leisurely rides.
The Soda e-bike offers a color LCD display that provides riders with essential information to enhance their riding experience. The display allows users to monitor key metrics such as speed, distance, and battery life, which are crucial for understanding and optimizing their rides. Having this data readily available on the display ensures that riders can stay informed and make informed decisions during their journeys.
The convenience of the LCD display doesn’t stop there. It is adjustable both physically and in terms of brightness, making it user-friendly in various conditions. Even in the hot and direct Texas sun, the display remains easily visible, ensuring riders can keep track of their ride statistics without any inconvenience.
Weighing about 65 pounds, the Soda e-bike strikes a balance between sturdiness and maneuverability. It is designed with practicality and performance in mind, providing riders with a reliable and enjoyable riding experience. The bike’s weight limit of 260 pounds caters to a wide range of riders, ensuring that people of various sizes can comfortably and confidently use the e-bike.
So, the design and build quality of the Michael Blast Soda bike emphasize comfort, versatility, and durability. The mid-step frame and upright riding position ensure easy and enjoyable rides, making it suitable for various purposes, from daily commuting to leisurely adventures. The thoughtful inclusion of seatpost suspension adds an extra layer of comfort and demonstrates the brand’s commitment to providing a satisfying riding experience. Whether you’re a casual rider exploring scenic trails or a commuter navigating busy city streets, the Michael Blast Soda bike promises a comfortable and enjoyable journey.
Michael Blast Soda: Power and Driving Test
The Soda bike by Michael Blast offers an exciting e-bike experience with its powerful MicroBlast branded rear hub motor. This motor is rated at an impressive 500 watts, providing ample power for smooth and effortless rides. With a torque of about 65 Newton meters, the e-bike delivers impressive acceleration and climbing capabilities, making it suitable for various terrains and inclines.
As a Class 2 e-bike, the Soda features a throttle, specifically a convenient thumb throttle. This allows riders to engage the motor without pedaling, providing instant acceleration and an extra boost when needed. The thumb throttle feature is user-friendly and intuitive, making it easy for riders to control the amount of assistance they desire.
The e-bike’s motor-assisted speed is capped at 20 miles per hour, which is the standard limit for Class 2 e-bikes. This speed is perfect for urban commuting and leisurely rides, ensuring you can keep up with traffic and comfortably cruise along bike paths.
For riders looking for even more speed, there’s an option to unlock higher speeds by adjusting a few settings. This means that if you’re a speed enthusiast and want to zip around at higher velocities, the Soda bike can be easily customized to suit your preferences.
During testing, the e-bike is evaluated as it comes right out of the box, providing an authentic and straightforward experience for users. For those who enjoy the thrill of faster speeds, making a few adjustments to the settings unlocks the full potential of the bike, allowing them to enjoy high-speed rides in no time.
Alright, guys, we’re here for the ride test on the Soda bike from Michael Blast, and I must say, these bikes are an absolute blast to ride. This is the second Michael Blast bike we’ve tested in the last week, the other one being The Outsider 5.0, which had more of a motorcycle vibe. However, the Soda bike is different, offering a fun and less serious e-bike experience.
The leather case for the battery adds a nice touch of style, and having a bottle opener right on the bike is pretty cool. Just a word of caution, though – be careful not to shake your drink too much before using the bottle opener, or you might end up with a fizzy mess. But don’t worry, a little rag can quickly solve that issue.
But enough about the features; let’s head out for the ride test. I’ve attached my rock form case on the bike, and while there aren’t many ideal spots to put it, I found the top tube to be a decent place. It fits well there and does what it needs to do.
I’ve set the pedal assist level to five, similar to the other Michael Blast bike. Interestingly, if you double click either of the pedal assist buttons while changing levels, it switches between sports mode and eco mode, which is a handy feature. Now, let’s try riding in pedal assist level zero, where the throttle won’t work. This is a good safety feature to prevent accidental throttle engagement.
Now, I’m putting it in pedal assist level one on eco mode. Let’s see what kind of performance we can get from the bike in this setting. And off we go!
We’re fortunate to have access to the Full Throttle mode on this e-bike, which is simply awesome. In eco mode, you can feel the power coming in with a smooth and gradual curve, providing a comfortable and leisurely ride. However, once we switch to sports mode, even at pedal assist level one, the power becomes more apparent right from the start, propelling us to the top speed of 20 miles per hour. The bike’s fat tire design doesn’t hinder its maneuverability, and it surprisingly feels much like a BMX bike in terms of agility and stability.
As we cruise around on this small and compact e-bike, we can’t help but notice the excellent cushiony faux leather grips, which not only stay in place but also provide a comfortable and pleasant grip. Riding for extended periods won’t leave your hands feeling tired due to the added comfort of these grips.
Now, let’s talk about the pedal assist levels. It might take some getting used to because, in this model, double-tapping the pedal assist buttons puts the bike in an extra slow mode, commonly known as eco mode. It’s essential to avoid accidental double taps to maintain the desired level of assistance during your ride.
As we ride in gear seven without any ghost pedaling, we appreciate the smooth cadence provided by the pedal assist. For longer rides, this is the ideal setting to keep a steady and enjoyable pace. The e-bike is so comfortable and fun to ride that we even spotted someone familiar out there, maybe another e-bike reviewer enjoying their own ride with a friendly dog companion.
Alright, let’s refocus on the e-bike ride. As I mentioned earlier, this bike is smaller in size. Currently, the GoPro is angled slightly downward to provide a good perspective of the bike and the road ahead. I hope it’s not too boring, and you can still enjoy the ride.
Given its compact size, I, being 5’10” and around 220 pounds, can feel that the bike is on the smaller side for me. If I were to use it as my everyday ride, I would need to raise the seat a bit to achieve the right pedal geometry. However, it’s important to note that this isn’t the bike I’d pick for serious commuting. With the cool bottle opener on the front, it’s clear that this bike is meant for fun and leisurely rides.
In a community with restaurants and places to bike to, this e-bike would be perfect for scooting around. It’s a cool and fun bike, ideal for showing off and being the coolest kid at a party. For casual rides around town or just to have some fun, this bike would certainly bring excitement and style.
As I venture onto a trail, I notice it doesn’t seem too bad, although we’ve had some rain recently, so caution is still necessary. I usually come from the other direction on this trail, and for some reason, it feels like the trees are closer together this way. Of course, that can’t be true, but that’s just the impression it gives.
Now, as I was saying before, this isn’t the kind of terrain you’d initially want to take on with this bike. However, with its fatter tires and front suspension, it’s well-equipped to handle these rough trails. The seat post suspension, although not a high-end model, still does a commendable job of absorbing the bumps, roots, and sticks along the way. If I were on a hardtail suspension, I’d definitely feel those impacts much more intensely.
As we continue cruising along, let’s put the brakes to the test. Approaching the top of the hill at about 20 miles per hour, we can easily lock out those brakes almost instantaneously if needed. I recall having some fun sliding around during the filming of the intro. However, I need to be cautious not to slide around a corner into someone else, which wouldn’t be ideal. With the bike’s excellent braking capability, I can confidently control my speed and make smooth stops.
Alright, let’s amp up the excitement a bit. We’re going about 20 miles per hour, and it’s time for a little slide action. Here we go! It’s easy to perform controlled slides with this e-bike, adding a thrilling element to the ride. But let’s not stop there; let’s go for a more extreme slide!
I can’t help but express my excitement; I could do those slides all day long. Every time I review a bike, I find myself saying the same thing, but it’s true! The thrill of performing slides is just irresistible. When I hopped on this bike and started sliding around, I couldn’t help but think, “Let’s do this all day, every day!” It’s just so much fun.
Battery and Range
One of the most attractive features of the Soda e-bike by Michael Blast is its removable 624 watt-hour battery. This high-capacity battery ensures that riders have sufficient power for their daily commutes or leisurely rides, eliminating range anxiety and providing a seamless e-biking experience. With a minimum range of 25 to 30 miles, the battery offers impressive mileage, making it suitable for various distances and terrains.
The decision to utilize Samsung cells for the battery is a notable highlight. In a market flooded with cheaper battery options, the use of high-quality Samsung cells demonstrates the brand’s commitment to providing a reliable and long-lasting power source. Samsung is renowned for producing durable and efficient battery cells, ensuring that the Soda e-bike delivers consistent and dependable performance.
The removable feature of the battery adds to the bike’s versatility and convenience. It allows riders to easily take the battery off the bike for charging, making it convenient to recharge both on and off the bike. This flexibility ensures that riders can charge the battery wherever it’s most convenient for them, whether it’s at home, the office, or a coffee shop during a break.
Aesthetically, the e-bike stands out with its included faux leather battery cover. This stylish cover adds a touch of elegance and vintage charm to the overall design, blending some throwback vibes with the modern technology of today. It not only protects the battery but also adds to the bike’s visual appeal, making it an eye-catching and sophisticated e-bike.
Conclusions
There you have it! Thank you all for joining us on this exhilarating ride and review of the Soda bike from Michael Blast. We hope you enjoyed witnessing the excitement and fun that this e-bike brings to the table. If you’re curious to know more about the Soda bike or other products from Michael Blast, be sure to check out the link provided in the description.Â
The Michael Blast Soda bike is a fun and stylish e-bike that offers an enjoyable riding experience. With its mid-step frame design, comfortable upright riding position, and versatile standover height and reach, it caters to a wide range of riders.Â
Pros of Michael Blast Soda:
- Stylish and fun design.
- Comfortable mid-step frame and upright riding position.
- Wide range of rider sizes accommodated.
- Impressive traction and braking performance with Compass tires and unbranded hydraulic brakes.
- Powerful MicroBlast branded rear hub motor with full throttle and pedal assist options.
- Removable 624 watt-hour battery with good range and Samsung cells.
- Clear and adjustable color LCD display.
- Maneuverable and nimble compact size.
Cons of Michael Blast Soda:
- Smaller frame size may not suit taller riders.
- No integrated tail light.
- Some may prefer higher-end seat post suspension.
- Limited cargo-carrying capacity without additional accessories.
Overall, the Michael Blast Soda bike is an excellent choice for riders seeking a stylish and enjoyable e-bike with solid performance and versatility. Its distinctive design, comfortable riding position, and robust components make it a great option for neighborhood rides, leisurely adventures, and showing off your cool factor. However, taller riders and those with specific cargo-carrying needs may need to consider additional customization or accessories. With its appealing features and thrilling ride experience, the Soda bike is a delightful companion for a wide range of riders.
