What do you think of the Kepler? Is there any other fat tire ebike that you would like to see? lddy.no/1594z If we did help you decide on the Ariel Rider Kepler, please consider helping us out by using the link. All purchases made after clicking help support us here at Ebike Escape.
i feel like the kepler has like cheaper components but is very fast, i feel like it’s not built the best and there are definitely higher quality e-bikes. What are your recommendations for the best overall bike like speed and components for around 1800-2200
There is something I have always kept in mind when shopping for anything. “Cheap, Fast, and High Quality. You can always have 2, but never all 3.” So yes the Kepler does have some cheaper drivetrain parts, it is one of the best value for dollar if you are looking for speed, we think. And drivetrain could always be swapped out cheaply.
@@kevinnashskitchen3517ive seen that bike and its pretty impressive, but i wish there was an ebike that was just like the tesla of bikes. Arguably one of the best ev or even cars that are just overall better even though the price is pretty steep.
Thanks for the thorough review. As a very satisfied Kepler low-step owner, there are several points that most reviews often miss. 1. The charger will get very, if not extremely hot. Although the LG cells are high quality, you never want to overcharge this 52v battery. The manual states 6-7 hrs and no more than 12. When the indicator light on the charger turns green, unplug from the battery and the outlet. There have been more e-bike fire articles in the news lately. One might get away with leaving their phone or laptop overcharging over night, but I would not risk it with e-bike batteries. Perhaps to calm some anxiety, charge the battery indoors at room temperature, out of direct sunlight, away from easily flammable materials (ie. curtains, cardboard, etc.) and maybe even have a small fan blowing onto the charger/battery while charging (like an internal CPU fan). Also, keep an eye on the battery/charger. Don't charge in a closet and leave home for several hours. 2. Kepler's custom Bafang motor has serious torque. However, there is a split second delay when pulling back on the half throttle grip and more importantly, the throttle power continues for a split second after you release it. The latter can be a safety hazard when you need to slow down (ie. passing people on a trail) or coming to a stop like at a cross walk. Keep one hand ready on the brake lever as a precaution. 3. The bike is solid and stable at high speeds because of its weight, 4" fat tires & build quality. However, when you need to maneuver slowly in tight spaces or sharp turns, you will definitely feel the weight of the bike and can lose control. It's a heavy bike. When lifting to load into your car/truck trunk, remove the battery first to make it a little easier. 4. There are two models: high step and low step. The Kepler is basically an e-bike SUV. Even if you're 5'8", you may find it challenging to lift your leg over the rear rack. Forget about it if you're any shorter. The low step is NOT a step thru. In other words, the low step still has a downward angled frame bar but is not so easy to "step thru" for shorter riders 5'7" and under. Yes, someone who is 5'3" can ride the Kepler with the seat at the lowest setting. However, stepping through the frame will still need extra care. If you're under 5'7", you'll feel like you're mounting a horse. The sidewalk curb is your friend! If feels great though once you start riding! 5. Rear turn signals are a nice safety gesture from AR, and I hope all e-bike manufacturers continue exploring built-in safety features. However, these turn signals are useless and I would not gamble my life on them in city traffic. Cars won't see them, especially in daylight and they need to be turned off manually. Aventon's turn signals switch off automatically after 3-4 blinks and are more visible to drivers. 6. Although wire management is quite good, the exposed wires underneath the bottom of the bike frame are exposed and vulnerable to water and sharp rocks. I wish AR had a protective cover for these wires. On the AR website, there is a picture of a man riding the Kepler in the water on a beach. I would definitely NOT do that. Even the Kepler manual states to avoid riding in water. That photo should be removed from their website. 7. The AR Kepler is an incredible e-bike, solid, powerful, fast & an excellent value compared to their competition. I was seriously considering the AR X-Class 52 because it's more suitable for shorter riders. However, the X-Class is a bit awkward for pedaling. It's more of a throttle only moped style bike. The Kepler has the same massive power but is great for pedaling (pedal assist) to avoid getting dirty looks from traditional cyclists on bike trails here in Seattle. Be patient, for sometimes the bike goes on sale for $1799.
As to the charger getting hot.. It's normal and it's getting warm is expressed by AR in the owners manual. If it's so hot you can't touch it, then they express that is not normal. But yes.. It gets very warm and it's normal . as for exposed wires underneath the frame, you can buy and use a skid plate that bolts on just like another bike that comes with one.. Same exact fit.
Old comment. I might add the following. This is not a great first bike. Very tall, very fast. Unless you live in a very hilly area like me, or are very heavy, you might not need this much juice and a smaller frame might be more fun and safer. Especially if you’re old.
Good you got one that was working and not damaged. As an owner of one of these mid step versions, I can comment on the bike as an owner having had one for a year. No problems so far. 800 miles and all is well. Nothing is really premium feeling or looking but nothing I have found really seems to be junk. Fender and light bolts may need to be tightened after a few hundred miles. The top rack rails will bump and chip off paint if you are not careful through doors and loading onto or into vehicles. Someone under 5'10" with leg or hip trouble might have difficulty mounting and dismounting. You can set up to 9 levels of assist for greater speed ranges. Also lower speed to 20-28 mph for more safe group riding. Underneath the adjustable steering neck, there is a not so easy to see bolt you must tighten. The seat will lower to rack level if you turn it to one side before lowering and locking it in. Plug in the display before you try locking it into position. The plugs should not touch the bars. The charger gets very warm charging but works fine. Leave the charger on until the green light appears or longer the first 3 charge cycles. 👍 Good look at the Kepler. Mine does 35 mph on a full to 3/4 charge. I get 45 miles at 20 mph top speed throttle only and 75 miles at 12 mph average using low assist. No hills by me.
Enjoyed your vid, thanks. Mine went 41.5 mph on it's first full charge on a flat road no wind. Second day it would only get up to 38 mph under same conditions, & now after 1,200 miles it'll do 34 mph on a flat road no wind, & hit 40 mph on a downslope. I'm 225 lbs as well. Mine weighs 88 lbs with different seat & seatpost, & rear basket. The Kepler is ideal for me. I argue with my landlord who has a 13 lb $12k carbon fiber bike that I can get more exercise from my bike than he can from his, because of the resistance when pedaling w/o the motor. He has to ride fast & far to get exercise. The Kepler offers great resistance on a flat road no power in gear 4 or 5. It's somewhat similar to using a weight machine on the legs in that regard. Luv this ebike!
i've had mine for a few months and commute about 35miles round trip everyday for work. i've never owned another e-bike but did extensive research before purchasing one and i've been 100% satisfied with the kepler 🤙
I’m not sure if they changed it with the newer ones…but the gears in the motor have very little grease on them. I opened my motor up and added grease really helped with adding a smoother motor feel, Other than that no issues at all.
J.C.? (maybe misheard name), first off this is the first review on THIS CHANNEL by you that I've seen AND by far the BEST REVIEW on this channel. Not saying that because I'm planning on buying the Kepler, still leaning to the Wired Freedom. You gave sooooo much useful information, so thx.
awesome review. one critique though: when reviewing the LCD menu system, would be great to set the camera on a tripod for 1) less glare and 2) less movement. Keep up the great work!!
How would you compare and contrast this bike with the Juiced Rip Current S ? I did watch that video of yours and many commenters asked you to do a comparison with this Ariel - Kepler. I can read all the stats and compare myself but interested in your seat of the pants feel on these two bikes and who each bike might be best suited for.
When you filmed the display, you should have filmed it inside your garage with artificial lighting to see it better and used a tripod to hold the camera steady. It was very difficult to see it while is was reflecting and shaky.
Thx for this. How tall are you? I'm 5'8 and will eventually give my first ebike to my wife who is 5'2. I can handle it but not sure if she can handle the Kepler Low Step
You guys should try and get a Wired Freedom to test, it’s so much better! Full suspension and faster, much better acceleration and hill climbing, a significantly bigger battery and much more comfortable to ride.
Faster does not always equal better, and some people don't enjoy waiting 5 months from the time they paid for their bike to arrive. I was way too sketched out by their complete lack of reviews or response to my emails to ever take a chance on $2,000 out of nowhere startup company. When I googled the address on their website it shows some building in the middle of nowhere.
Thank you for this comment. I spent a lot of today in a rabbit hole of reddit and youtube reviews and at the end of it pulled the trigger on the wired freedom to replace my poverty tier 500w ecotric fat tire!
yeah, the older version does. The newer ones do not, when I emailed Ariel Rider they told me that they went away from the quick release front wheel for safety reasons because of the power of the bike, so that's something to keep in mind.
I own a Kepler and love it. I would probably buy the Wired bike if I see no problems in the Facebook groups. Facebook groups will have people commenting on all that. The extra 3-400 $ after shipping may be a game changer on the Wired for some. But it's like 3-4 mph faster.. Bigger battery.. But that power sucks out battery as fast as it would on a Kepler. I would not expect more range from the extra 160 watt hours.. Just faster. 👍. So far I get a clue that that dual suspension is not so much of a game changer over any nice front suspension bike. Just a tad better than just cheap front suspension hard tails.
Personally.. I would jump up in price a bit and get a more versatile bike with this speed or more. Fabulous E Bikes Havoc X2 60 Volt. Dual suspension, folding, dual motors. 👍
I own a W-Class for 4 years with no issues and Ariel Rider Customer service have also taken the time to walk me through 2 repair jobs on my friends bike,(first gen Grizzly) a bike that is no longer under warranty and is no longer being sold buy the company yet they still offer parts and service. Im am very impressed, they have come a long way.
@EbikeEscape blow out in electrical wire connected to motor ,started around 11 months of owner ship. Slowly got worse to un rideable around 12-13 month mark. Contacted them and they said I was just past my Warrenty and I would have to shell out 500-800 dollars to get it fixed,even offered to have my local ebike shop email them saying they suspected an electrical around that 11 month point.1900$ for 1 year use.nice .this is completely accurate information ,I hope they do not do this to anyone else. Normal use of bike, Adam and Steve are completely useless in support.
@@kaleyaaaadventure8732A lot of ebike manufacturers are pretty much the same. Maybe with Lectric, you're better off with them since they bend over backwards with the mountains of issues they're having 🤣
What do you think of the Kepler? Is there any other fat tire ebike that you would like to see?
lddy.no/1594z If we did help you decide on the Ariel Rider Kepler, please consider helping us out by using the link. All purchases made after clicking help support us here at Ebike Escape.
i feel like the kepler has like cheaper components but is very fast, i feel like it’s not built the best and there are definitely higher quality e-bikes. What are your recommendations for the best overall bike like speed and components for around 1800-2200
There is something I have always kept in mind when shopping for anything. “Cheap, Fast, and High Quality. You can always have 2, but never all 3.”
So yes the Kepler does have some cheaper drivetrain parts, it is one of the best value for dollar if you are looking for speed, we think. And drivetrain could always be swapped out cheaply.
@@TheUbeIceCream There is only one bike as fast or faster but it's not really much better. Wired Cruiser or Wired Freedom.
@@kevinnashskitchen3517ive seen that bike and its pretty impressive, but i wish there was an ebike that was just like the tesla of bikes. Arguably one of the best ev or even cars that are just overall better even though the price is pretty steep.
@@TheUbeIceCream you are a Filipino?
I’ve had mine for about a year with almost 1500 miles on it and I still love it.
2300 on mine no issues?
Thanks for the thorough review. As a very satisfied Kepler low-step owner, there are several points that most reviews often miss.
1. The charger will get very, if not extremely hot. Although the LG cells are high quality, you never want to overcharge this 52v battery. The manual states 6-7 hrs and no more than 12. When the indicator light on the charger turns green, unplug from the battery and the outlet. There have been more e-bike fire articles in the news lately. One might get away with leaving their phone or laptop overcharging over night, but I would not risk it with e-bike batteries. Perhaps to calm some anxiety, charge the battery indoors at room temperature, out of direct sunlight, away from easily flammable materials (ie. curtains, cardboard, etc.) and maybe even have a small fan blowing onto the charger/battery while charging (like an internal CPU fan). Also, keep an eye on the battery/charger. Don't charge in a closet and leave home for several hours.
2. Kepler's custom Bafang motor has serious torque. However, there is a split second delay when pulling back on the half throttle grip and more importantly, the throttle power continues for a split second after you release it. The latter can be a safety hazard when you need to slow down (ie. passing people on a trail) or coming to a stop like at a cross walk. Keep one hand ready on the brake lever as a precaution.
3. The bike is solid and stable at high speeds because of its weight, 4" fat tires & build quality. However, when you need to maneuver slowly in tight spaces or sharp turns, you will definitely feel the weight of the bike and can lose control. It's a heavy bike. When lifting to load into your car/truck trunk, remove the battery first to make it a little easier.
4. There are two models: high step and low step. The Kepler is basically an e-bike SUV. Even if you're 5'8", you may find it challenging to lift your leg over the rear rack. Forget about it if you're any shorter. The low step is NOT a step thru. In other words, the low step still has a downward angled frame bar but is not so easy to "step thru" for shorter riders 5'7" and under. Yes, someone who is 5'3" can ride the Kepler with the seat at the lowest setting. However, stepping through the frame will still need extra care. If you're under 5'7", you'll feel like you're mounting a horse. The sidewalk curb is your friend! If feels great though once you start riding!
5. Rear turn signals are a nice safety gesture from AR, and I hope all e-bike manufacturers continue exploring built-in safety features. However, these turn signals are useless and I would not gamble my life on them in city traffic. Cars won't see them, especially in daylight and they need to be turned off manually. Aventon's turn signals switch off automatically after 3-4 blinks and are more visible to drivers.
6. Although wire management is quite good, the exposed wires underneath the bottom of the bike frame are exposed and vulnerable to water and sharp rocks. I wish AR had a protective cover for these wires. On the AR website, there is a picture of a man riding the Kepler in the water on a beach. I would definitely NOT do that. Even the Kepler manual states to avoid riding in water. That photo should be removed from their website.
7. The AR Kepler is an incredible e-bike, solid, powerful, fast & an excellent value compared to their competition. I was seriously considering the AR X-Class 52 because it's more suitable for shorter riders. However, the X-Class is a bit awkward for pedaling. It's more of a throttle only moped style bike. The Kepler has the same massive power but is great for pedaling (pedal assist) to avoid getting dirty looks from traditional cyclists on bike trails here in Seattle. Be patient, for sometimes the bike goes on sale for $1799.
As to the charger getting hot.. It's normal and it's getting warm is expressed by AR in the owners manual. If it's so hot you can't touch it, then they express that is not normal. But yes.. It gets very warm and it's normal . as for exposed wires underneath the frame, you can buy and use a skid plate that bolts on just like another bike that comes with one.. Same exact fit.
Old comment. I might add the following. This is not a great first bike. Very tall, very fast. Unless you live in a very hilly area like me, or are very heavy, you might not need this much juice and a smaller frame might be more fun and safer. Especially if you’re old.
Good you got one that was working and not damaged. As an owner of one of these mid step versions, I can comment on the bike as an owner having had one for a year. No problems so far. 800 miles and all is well. Nothing is really premium feeling or looking but nothing I have found really seems to be junk. Fender and light bolts may need to be tightened after a few hundred miles. The top rack rails will bump and chip off paint if you are not careful through doors and loading onto or into vehicles. Someone under 5'10" with leg or hip trouble might have difficulty mounting and dismounting. You can set up to 9 levels of assist for greater speed ranges. Also lower speed to 20-28 mph for more safe group riding. Underneath the adjustable steering neck, there is a not so easy to see bolt you must tighten. The seat will lower to rack level if you turn it to one side before lowering and locking it in. Plug in the display before you try locking it into position. The plugs should not touch the bars. The charger gets very warm charging but works fine. Leave the charger on until the green light appears or longer the first 3 charge cycles. 👍 Good look at the Kepler. Mine does 35 mph on a full to 3/4 charge. I get 45 miles at 20 mph top speed throttle only and 75 miles at 12 mph average using low assist. No hills by me.
Enjoyed your vid, thanks. Mine went 41.5 mph on it's first full charge on a flat road no wind. Second day it would only get up to 38 mph under same conditions, & now after 1,200 miles it'll do 34 mph on a flat road no wind, & hit 40 mph on a downslope. I'm 225 lbs as well. Mine weighs 88 lbs with different seat & seatpost, & rear basket. The Kepler is ideal for me. I argue with my landlord who has a 13 lb $12k carbon fiber bike that I can get more exercise from my bike than he can from his, because of the resistance when pedaling w/o the motor. He has to ride fast & far to get exercise. The Kepler offers great resistance on a flat road no power in gear 4 or 5. It's somewhat similar to using a weight machine on the legs in that regard. Luv this ebike!
i've had mine for a few months and commute about 35miles round trip everyday for work. i've never owned another e-bike but did extensive research before purchasing one and i've been 100% satisfied with the kepler 🤙
I’m not sure if they changed it with the newer ones…but the gears in the motor have very little grease on them. I opened my motor up and added grease really helped with adding a smoother motor feel, Other than that no issues at all.
Almost 1500 miles on my Kepler e bike and loving it just did a 42 mile rid with 42%battery left ❤👍😜
J.C.? (maybe misheard name), first off this is the first review on THIS CHANNEL by you that I've seen AND by far the BEST REVIEW on this channel.
Not saying that because I'm planning on buying the Kepler, still leaning to the Wired Freedom. You gave sooooo much useful information, so thx.
awesome review. one critique though: when reviewing the LCD menu system, would be great to set the camera on a tripod for 1) less glare and 2) less movement. Keep up the great work!!
How would you compare and contrast this bike with the Juiced Rip Current S ? I did watch that video of yours and many commenters asked you to do a comparison with this Ariel - Kepler. I can read all the stats and compare myself but interested in your seat of the pants feel on these two bikes and who each bike might be best suited for.
Really good job JT really liked the riding footage on this one and of course everything else.
My Kepler is at close to 17 mph when in PAS 1 and unlocked to 99 kph. With 9 levels set. You must have it turned down a bit from my bike.
Is there a way to adjust the speed for each PAS level? I would like PAS 1 to be slower ~7 MPH.
When you filmed the display, you should have filmed it inside your garage with artificial lighting to see it better and used a tripod to hold the camera steady. It was very difficult to see it while is was reflecting and shaky.
Thx for this.
How tall are you? I'm 5'8 and will eventually give my first ebike to my wife who is 5'2.
I can handle it but not sure if she can handle the Kepler Low Step
I think that this bike might be too big for her. Check out some options with 20" tires.
You guys should try and get a Wired Freedom to test, it’s so much better! Full suspension and faster, much better acceleration and hill climbing, a significantly bigger battery and much more comfortable to ride.
Trying...
Faster does not always equal better, and some people don't enjoy waiting 5 months from the time they paid for their bike to arrive. I was way too sketched out by their complete lack of reviews or response to my emails to ever take a chance on $2,000 out of nowhere startup company. When I googled the address on their website it shows some building in the middle of nowhere.
Thank you for this comment. I spent a lot of today in a rabbit hole of reddit and youtube reviews and at the end of it pulled the trigger on the wired freedom to replace my poverty tier 500w ecotric fat tire!
fantastic commuter bike.
For any future references.. Set the speed to at least 45 mph. The motor will not cut off until about 45 mph downhill.
Ha noted!
I’ve had mine for almost a year and it came with a quick release front tire
yeah, the older version does. The newer ones do not, when I emailed Ariel Rider they told me that they went away from the quick release front wheel for safety reasons because of the power of the bike, so that's something to keep in mind.
Why doesn’t the display ever show the 1850 watts of peak power ?
Is there a way to adjust the speed for each PAS level? I would like PAS 1 to be slower ~7 MPH.
The rear turn signal is "kind of hard to see in daylight," he say's. "stupidly slick," I say. I'll fit my own.😂
I asked them if the battery is UL certified..they said yes. But I do not see that info on their website!
Holy smokes 😮
I’m deciding between the Kepler and the Wicked. How about a head to head?
We will see about getting a Wired (formally Wicked) Ebike. That 60v system is something we are excited to try out.
I own a Kepler and love it. I would probably buy the Wired bike if I see no problems in the Facebook groups. Facebook groups will have people commenting on all that. The extra 3-400 $ after shipping may be a game changer on the Wired for some. But it's like 3-4 mph faster.. Bigger battery.. But that power sucks out battery as fast as it would on a Kepler. I would not expect more range from the extra 160 watt hours.. Just faster. 👍. So far I get a clue that that dual suspension is not so much of a game changer over any nice front suspension bike. Just a tad better than just cheap front suspension hard tails.
Personally.. I would jump up in price a bit and get a more versatile bike with this speed or more. Fabulous E Bikes Havoc X2 60 Volt. Dual suspension, folding, dual motors. 👍
Get the xclass
Do the newer models still have a cadence sensor or have thrived on to a torque sensor
Still cadence as far as I'm aware
Wow! I thought this video would have had much more or many more views by now.
I hear conflicting reviews about the quality and customer service. Any suggestions?
I own a W-Class for 4 years with no issues and Ariel Rider Customer service have also taken the time to walk me through 2 repair jobs on my friends bike,(first gen Grizzly) a bike that is no longer under warranty and is no longer being sold buy the company yet they still offer parts and service. Im am very impressed, they have come a long way.
what class is the ariel ride kepler?
What should i be cross shopping this with?
Im not interest in mini bike style frames. Owned ss73 z1 and ss73 s2.
Aventon Aventure.2, Ride1Up Rift, RadRover - just to name a few.
noti gang love the videos!
Appreciate it
Speed needs be on 99kph to get full top speed
I want to see it go over 1400 watts
Anyone know the nM of torque on the Kepler?
A lot less than the Wired Freedom. 108 vs 138 and both are the same price.
Poor quality bike. Electrical issue within a year of use and they did not honor warranty
Care to share more info?
@EbikeEscape blow out in electrical wire connected to motor ,started around 11 months of owner ship. Slowly got worse to un rideable around 12-13 month mark. Contacted them and they said I was just past my Warrenty and I would have to shell out 500-800 dollars to get it fixed,even offered to have my local ebike shop email them saying they suspected an electrical around that 11 month point.1900$ for 1 year use.nice .this is completely accurate information ,I hope they do not do this to anyone else. Normal use of bike, Adam and Steve are completely useless in support.
@@kaleyaaaadventure8732A lot of ebike manufacturers are pretty much the same. Maybe with Lectric, you're better off with them since they bend over backwards with the mountains of issues they're having 🤣