To run the forums, host the website, and travel, I charge a universal service fee for my reviews. This review was sponsored by Wildsyde. My goal is to be transparent and unbiased, this video and written review are not meant to be an endorsement of Wildsyde products.
Wildsyde is a somewhat new brand at the time of this review that started in 2018. Born out of a passion for ebikes and style, the company focuses on smooth cruisers. Such is the case with the bike we are looking at today ‘The Beast”. The Beast is a fat-tire cruiser that blends aesthetic with technology as the battery is mounted on the top tube via a gas tank style battery housing. It gives the bike a unique look and helps to turn heads a bit too. Little details matter here too, like the color matched metal fenders and color matched chain guard. The bike comes in 3 colors (black, red, and olive) and just 1 frame size. The geometry is comfortable thanks to these really swept back bars that come out to meet you. As a matter of fact, this is a bike has a large focus on comfort… It has a really relaxed riding position from the seat to the crank arm, a suspension seat post, large comfort saddle with rubber bumpers underneath, and these knobby fat-tires that absorb bumps. You even get a 50 degree adjustable angle stem and ergonomic grips. The only part of the bike without comfort would be the rigid front fork, but since you sit further back than a mountain bike, you may not really even miss it. I guess that, and the fact that this only comes in a high-step frame, so you do have to get up and over to get on the bike, which is not a big deal to many, but it can be to others. Going back to those tires, they are a set of Kenda 26” x 4” wide fat-tires. These are rated for 5-30psi so you could really drop it down for more comfort, but you could get a pinch flat so do be aware of that. That front wheel has 135mm hub spacing as well as a quick release, so you could take that tire off easily for maintenance or to load it in a vehicle. I love that the bike comes with a battery integrated headlight and a rear light too. It may not be battery integrated, but it is solar powered, a nice touch to have something you can really just set and forget. Finally, I have to mention this cool retro bell. It is about 3 inches in diameter and has this really satisfying “ding-dong” tone on press and release, really a cool vintage detail.
Driving the bike is a 500 watt nominal, 750 watt peak fat tire specific hub drive motor from Bafang. There is no throttle on this model, but it does have cadence based pedal assist. The pedal assist is driven by a sealed 12 magnet cadence sensor. When I say sealed, I mean it is integrated into the frame so you don’t get dirt or debris stuck in it like older generations (or even some current generation!) of ebikes. Mechanically, the bike is operated with this Shimano Altus 7 speed system. There is an SIS index shifter up front in the cockpit. I personally prefer trigger shifters, but the thumb shifter here makes shifting with gloves on a lot easier. Stopping the bike is a set of dual piston hydraulic disc brakes. The front brake is 180mm rotor while the rear is 160mm. I love that the brakes have motor inhibitors included, this cuts power to the motor and is a welcome compliment to a cruiser ebike such as this.
Powering the bike is this large frame integrated battery. It is a 36v 13ah lithium ion battery pack. Although it is possible to remove the battery, there are a few steps that must be taken in order to do so. Check out the battery removal section in the review video for step by step instructions. Anyways, most people will be charging the battery directly on the bike itself, which is great since the charging port is on top and in the front so it is nice and away from the pedals and other things. Wildsyde gives you a 2amp charger with the bike, so not the fastest charger, but it should help maintain a good battery life. To really care for this and other lithium-ion packs, I have heard that storing in a cool dry location vs. extreme heat or cold will extend the life and try to keep it about 50% full when not using for long periods so you won’t stress the cells. Try not to let it run down to zero, because that’s really hard on the cell chemistry.
Using The Beast electronically is simple. To activate the display, just hold the button under the rubberized control pad (near the left grip) and it blinks to life. This display is not removable, but it does swivel forward and back just enough to reduce glare. It’s large, which makes it easy to read from a distance, and it shows your battery level, trip stats, speed, and assist level 0-5. If you press the mode button, it cycles from trip distance to total distance (odometer), and if you hold the up arrow it will cycle from current speed to average speed and max speed. For those who want to mess around with settings, hold the up and down arrow keys simultaneously, and for those dark riding moments (or to be extra safe during the daytime) just hold up and mode simultaneously to activate the headlight. I should also mention that the display has a USB charging port on the left side, a really cool feature so you can charge your other devices mounted to the handlebar.
The Beast is a lot of fun while being very comfortable and eye catching. The bike may not be for everyone though, let’s go over some of the tradeoffs here really quickly. The battery can be removed, but it is a multistep process, so be sure to get comfortable with it if you plan on storing the bike in a cold environment like a garage in the winter. Also, this model has no throttle, but some of the other Wildsyde models do, so those might appeal to you. And finally, while the bike is very comfortable, it may take some effort getting on to it to enjoy it. That may not be an issue for some, but there are others in the ebike world that are attracted to ebikes because of their approachability, so make sure you can mount a high-step since this only comes in that one frame. All in all, it is hard to fault the bike since it has such a unique look as well a fun and comfortable system. I would like to thank Wildsyde for showing me The Beast and I look forward to reviewing their other models.
As always, I welcome questions and feedback in the comment section below. Whether you own a previous version of the bike, have taken a test ride, or are brand new to the space, my goal is to provide an objective and honest resource. You can also join the Other brands ebike forums and share your own photos, videos, and review updates to help others! Have fun out there, and ride safe :)
Pros:
- A fat-tire cruiser that blends aesthetic with technology, comes with fenders, chain guard, lights, bell, and has a really cool style with its gas tank style mounted battery
- The geometry is comfortable thanks to these really swept back bars that come out to meet you, faux leather ergonomic grips, and relaxed seating position
- Comfort continues with a suspension seat post, large comfort saddle with rubber bumpers underneath, and these knobby fat-tires that absorb bumps
- For tires, you get a set of Kenda 26” x 4” wide fat-tires, these are rated for 5-30psi so you could really drop it down for more comfort
- I love that the bike comes with a battery integrated headlight and a rear light too, the rear light may not be battery integrated, but it is solar powered, a nice touch to have something you can really just set and forget
- Make sure to check out the cool retro bell, it is about 3 inches in diameter and has this really pronounced and satisfying “ding-dong” tone on press and release, really a cool vintage detail
- Features a 500 watt nominal, 750 watt peak fat tire specific hub drive motor from Bafang with a sealed 12 magnet cadence sensor for pedal assist
- Comes with a Shimano Altus 7 speed system, there is an SIS index shifter up front in the cockpit which makes shifting with gloves on a lot easier
- A big win are the hydraulic disc brakes, 180mm rotor in the front, 160mm in the rear, I love that the brakes have motor inhibitors included, this cuts power to the motor and is a welcome compliment to a cruiser ebike such as this
- Has a large frame integrated battery, 36v 13ah lithium ion pack, more user friendly to remove than other gas tank style batteries
- Easy to read King Meter display with proven technology and straight forward controls
- Very comfortable and still powerful, even with a 36v system, it feels more strong like a 48v system
Cons:
- The battery can be removed, but it is a multistep process, so be sure to get comfortable with it if you plan on storing the bike in a cold environment like a garage in the winter
- This model has only pedal assist and no throttle, but some of the other Wildsyde models do, so those might appeal to you
- The Beast only comes in a high-step frame with one size, so you do have to get up and over to get on the bike, which is not a big deal to many, but it can be to others, especially those attracted to the ebike world because of physical challenges
- Minor gripe here, but there is no front suspension fork, the bike however is still very comfortable since the rider position is back rather than forward, so perhaps it is not needed as much for a cruiser such as this
- The kickstand here is center mounted, so that can produce pedal lock, an annoying occurrence when reversing the bike with the stand down, the pedals lock up against the stand and the bike refuses to go any further until you push it forward for a moment and release the stand, not the end of the world, but frustrating when maneuvering bikes in and out of a garage for example
Resources:
- Official Site: https://www.wildsyde.com/
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