The Centris 2 has a low seat and high handlebars, more reminiscent of a standing scooter than a classic pedal bike. I had a friend compare the handling on the Centris 2 to another of my folding e-bikes, and as we zipped through the neighborhood, he called out from behind me: “Why are these handlebars so long!?” “Think of it as a combination scooter and grocery hauler,” I yelled back as we rolled with ease.
Folding facility
Photo: Maggie Slapin
The Centris 2 frame has the same two-point folding design as my HeyBike Comfort Ranger 3.0. It works by pulling the first latch in the center of the frame to halve it, then releasing the second latch located on the handlebars, folding the bike into a compact package that fits in the backseat of a car or tucks away in a corner of the garage. It’s perfect for those who have limited storage space or don’t want to load a 65-pound e-bike onto a car bike rack.
Cargo capacity is another plus, but I had trouble keeping my items safe. I did the test. Front/rear rack bin And Rear rack binboth made for the Centris line (including the original model and the Centris 2), but neither is a perfect fit. When I contacted Buzz Bicycles about this, the company confirmed that the bins will be a tighter fit on the compact folding model but should eventually fit and function properly.
When I gave both boxes a spin on the bike, however, I struggled with the setup. As its name suggests, the Front/Rear Rack Bin is designed to sit on either the front or rear rack. I used it on the front, and it mostly fit — while I used elbow grease to wedge the inside of the side rails, ie. To make it work, I had to break one side and be extra careful with the strap connectors, but the bin was ultimately able to carry a decent volume: my lunch, wallet, phone and water bottle. The large rear rack bin is more cavernous, but despite fitting my helmet, shoes, laptop case, and groceries, it was also cramped. The rugged nylon bin clips onto the included rear rack with secure latches, but no matter where I clipped it, my feet hit the bin when I pedaled. Even though I mostly use the bike’s electric function and don’t pedal much, I have to pedal to get moving in the beginning, and hitting the cargo bag with my heel is annoying and unsafe.