Centris 2 Folding Ebike Review: Compact, Sturdy, Budget-Friendly

The Centris 2’s seat is low and the handlebars are high, more reminiscent of a standing scooter than a classic pedal bike. I put a friend on the Centris 2 to compare its handling to another one of my folding ebikes, and as we zipped around the neighborhood, she hollered from behind me: “Why are these handlebars so tall!?” I yelled back, “Think of it like a combination scooter and grocery hauler,” as we continued to zoom around with ease.

Folding Convenience

Photograph: Maggie Slepian

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 make it fold in half, then dropping the other latch, located on the handlebar, to collapse the bike into a compact package that fits in the back seat of a car or tucks into a corner of the garage. It’s perfect for people who have limited storage space or don’t want to load a 65-pound ebike onto a car bike rack.

Cargo capacity is another benefit, but I had trouble securing my items in place. I tested the Front/Rear Rack Bin and the Rear Rack Bin, both made for the Centris line (including the original model and the Centris 2), but neither fit perfectly. When I reached out to Buzz Bicycles about this, the company confirmed the bins would have a tighter fit on the compact folding model but should ultimately fit and function properly.

When I gave both bins a whirl on the bike, though, I struggled with the setup. Per its name, the Front/Rear Rack Bin is made to sit on either the front or rear rack. I used it on the front, and it mostly fit—after I applied some elbow grease to wedge the bin inside the side rails, that is. To make it work, I had to smush 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 larger Rear Rack Bin is more cavernous, but despite fitting my helmet, shoes, laptop case, and groceries, it, too, was flawed. 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 do have to pedal to initially get moving, and whacking the cargo bag with my heel is both annoying and unsafe.