Looking for a fat tire e-bike to do some off-road riding?
And how about one that folds up as well? [Bonus!]
Well, in that case, let’s take a look at the Buzz Centris FAT Tire E-Bike!
This Buzz Centris model launched in January 2022 and is the newest edition of Buzz’s FAT e-bikes. But, before we dive into all the features of the Buzz Centris, let’s tell you a little bit about Buzz…
About Buzz Bicycles
The Buzz Bikes team believes that the freedom of riding should be fun and accessible for riders of all skill levels, regardless of what outdoor adventure you may be on, so that you can “buzz” through life!
Buzz e-bikes are designed in Dayton, Ohio by passionate team of bike enthusiasts who have a goal of delivering ultimate transportation solutions at a great value.
The unboxing of the Buzz Centris Folding E-Bike
Right out of the box, one of the positive features of the Buzz Centris is how easy it is to put together.
So, here is a look at the Buzz Centris in its folded position. And, this is really pretty much what it looked like right out of the box, less the foam padding and packaging that we removed.
Once we took it out of the box and took the safety packaging/padding off, it literally took less than 60 seconds to put the whole bike together and have ride ready.
The Centris folds up nicely, making it much more compact. so, if you’re going to put it in the back of a truck, inside a vehicle or an RV, it definitely makes storage a lot easier.
Now, the Centris does weigh 67 pounds, so it’s not exactly light. But, because it folds up so well, you can store in some tighter spaces and take it with you if you’re going to be on the road.
The Centris was super simple to assemble. We didn’t even have to really look at the manual very long to figure any of that out.
Key Features Of The Centris
So, let’s take a look at the key features of the Buzz Centris…
Tires, suspension, motor and brakes
The tires of the Centris are fat (4 inches fat, to be exact!).
The Centris has 4″ wide tires, which are great for trail riding and on various types of surfaces.
The Centris also has front fork suspension which aims to be helpful when riding in off-road situations and more rugged terrain than your typical road ride. It’s even a great option for if you’re hunting on public lands where gas-powered vehicles are not allowed.
The front fork suspension gives extra shock absorbency to off-road terrains.
It has a 16” step-over height. It sports a 500-watt peak level rear hub motor.
Here’s a look at the rear hub motor of the the Centris.
It has 5 levels of power assist and a 6-speed Shimano Tourney Derailleur that provides precision shifting.
Here’s a look at the handle bar gear shifter.
Here’s a look at the Shimano Tourney Derailleur.
The Centris has front and rear disc brakes.
Electronics
The Centris has a thumb throttle for non-pedaling power. So, if you decide you need a breather during your ride, you can use the thumb throttle and it will take over and you will be riding all-electric.
Once pedaling has begun, the thumb throttle can be engaged and the bike will run strictly off electric power (no pedaling!)
Buzz claims that the Centris can reach speeds of up to 20 miles per hour when not pedaling.
Now, you should take into account that the 20 MPH number is assuming a flat riding surface and also depends on the terrain you are riding (smooth, rough, etc) as well as the weight of the rider. (We’ll provide the results of our findings in this area a little later on in this review).
Front basket rack…
It also has front and rear racks for carrying things… like maybe a big buck or a big bass! (Well, maybe not, but you could carry a duffle bag or a backpack or utility pack in the basket!)
… and the rear rackk.
The Centris also has an LCD screen that displays your speed, battery life, and the electronic pedal assist level.
The controller shows the speed assist level as well as the current battery charge, mph and odometer readings.
It also has an adjustable seat height.
The seat of the Centris has multiple adjustments.
It’s got a removable lock-in battery with battery cover, and inside is a 48-volt rechargeable battery, that according to Buzz, will give you up to 40 miles per charge and recharge within 2-6 hours.
Again, you want to keep in mind that these are estimates and they are going to be based on things like rider weight and also the type of terrain that you’re riding on.
The Centris’ battery is 48-volts and locks in place.
Another neat feature is that is also has a headlight.
The headlight is easily assembled and is controlled by the LCD screen display buttons.
Warranty of the Buzz Centris
The Buzz Centris sports a 2-year limited warranty on the electronics and it has a 10-year warranty on the aluminum frame. And, the Centris is UL-tested.
And one very, very important feature… a powerful little bell (OK, so we’re not huge fans of the bell, but it is mandatory in some states.)
You can get the Buzz Centris fat-rie E-Bike, with all its features, for $1199, which includes free shipping to your doorstep!
Test Ride
We got the Centris charged up and ready to go. Then, it was time for the fun part… we took it for a spin!
What we learned
After a 3-mile test ride we can tell you… the Buzz Centris is a ton of fun!
We rode it on a flat surface to test the speed and then went straight into the woods and rode trails that had both inclines and declines.
The Buzz Centris, with a 180-lb rider, reached a top-speed of 20.1 mph while using only the controller (no pedaling).
Over the course of the 3-mile ride, the battery stayed on the fully charged indicator! So, the battery life seems to do very well.
We rode the Centris off-road through wooded trails and it did well.
We also did a speed test on the road to see if it would in fact go 20 miles per hour, as the specs stated.
It actually reached a top speed of 20.1 miles per hour, using only the all-electric thumb throttle (no pedaling)! So, the top speed of 20 mph is as advertised!
Improvements
The one thing that we’d like to see improved would be the suspension. During the off-road trail riding, the suspension bottomed out pretty hard a few times as I went over some rougher parts of the trail.
Final Thoughts on the Buzz Centris
All in all, the Buzz Centris is a great ride. And man, what a ton of fun!
And, it was actually pretty actually quiet. The motor does make just a little bit of noise, but nothing real significant.
So, if you’re looking for an electric folding bicycle to enjoy in the woods and on off-road trails, this is a great option for the money!
We are excited to get to do some more testing of the Buzz Centris fat tire electric bike. We hope you enjoyed the review. Ride safely!
