Ariel Rider Kepler 52V Review 2024

Intro

One of the most enjoyable aspects of riding an e-bike is the sense of zoom that comes with moving through the world, without the interference of a car windshield. From the unimpeded view to the feeling of the wind rushing over our bodies, it is pure fun. And for many of us, more speed often translates to more fun.

The Ariel Rider Kepler is an e-bike of a different feather. This all-terrain e-bike comes with one of the most powerful hub motors on the market and benefits from a huge battery to power it, giving it speed and range in equal measure. In our Ariel Rider Kepler review we will take a deep look at its 1000W brushless, geared hub motor from Bafang, as well as its 1040Wh battery.

Here in the US, the majority of e-bikes fall into one of three classes. The Ariel Rider Kepler is so powerful, it doesn’t fit into any of those classes. The advocacy organization People for Bikes has lots of helpful information about the three class system and how laws vary from state to state. For riders looking for an e-bike that won’t take no for an answer on a hill or for bigger riders who might struggle to reach 28 mph on some Class 3 e-bikes, the Ariel Rider Kepler is a beast of an e-bike, hiding in the fairly normal look of an all-terrain e-bike.

Outside of its mammoth motor and battery, the Ariel Rider Kepler is a pretty normal all-terrain e-bike. It has 4-in.-wide, knobby tires, a 7-speed drivetrain, hydraulic disc brakes and a complement of accessories including fenders, rear rack, front and rear lights plus kickstand, that makes it a ready-to-go commuter. It comes in both a traditional frame and a step-thru version, not to mention four colors. Also, that rear rack is bigger than most; riders can mount two baskets on the rear which means that trips to the grocery can be for more than just a few things.

Let’s dig into what makes the Ariel Rider Kepler an all-terrain e-bike of a different feather.

E-Bike Category: All-terrain

Who the Ariel Rider Kepler Electric Bike Is for: This is the e-bike for riders who don’t want to compromise on acceleration, top speed or climbing power.

Ariel Rider Kepler E-Bike Specs

• Battery: 52V, 1040Wh lithium-ion
• Expected Range: Up to 75 mi., estimated
• Charger: 2.5A
• Motor: 1000W brushless, geared hub motor, 95Nm torque
• UL Certification: No
• Pedal Assist: 5 PAS Levels
• Throttle: Half-twist
• Display: Color LCD
• Headlight: Included
• Taillight: Included w/brake function
• Frame: 6061 Aluminum
• Fork: 80mm Zoom suspension fork with coil spring
• Fenders: Included
• Kickstand: Included
• Handlebars: Alloy
• Grips: Faux leather
• Drivetrain: 7-speed Shimano Altus,
• Brakes: Tektro HD-E 350, 180mm rotors
• Pedals: Alloy, with reflectors
• Saddle: Ariel ergonomic
• Tires: 26 x 4-in., puncture-resistant

In-Depth Ariel Rider Kepler Review

Ariel Rider Kepler Review: Comfort, Handling, and Ride Qualities

All-terrain e-bikes are the easy chairs of the e-bike world. While tastes may vary where saddles are concerned, all-terrain e-bike prioritize rider comfort to a degree that no other style of e-bike does. That comfort owes to a few factors. First, so long as they aren’t pumped up to 60 psi, a 4-in.-wide tire offers a very cushy ride, maybe a bit like a two-wheeled water bed. Add to that a suspension fork and the ride gains a little extra squish. Also, most all-terrain e-bikes offer a fairly upright seated position that allows a rider to avoid leaning forward much, making it that much easier to look around on a ride. That includes both seeing the beautiful sights and taking note of the nearby drivers.

The Ariel Rider Kepler comes in two different frame designs, both a traditional frame and a step-thru version. The step-thru edition allows for a lower saddle height—handy for smaller riders, but the reach from the saddle to the handlebar is the same for both frames. Thanks to an adjustable stem, riders can make some tweaks to the e-bike’s overall fit.

Because the large battery is mounted on the top tube, rather than internally like many e-bikes, the standover height for the step-thru frame is still rather high, at 26.5 in.

With such big tires, inflation will have a bigger effect on comfort and handling than on commuters and city e-bikes. This e-bike will be most comfortable if the tire pressure doesn’t rise above 20 psi. Riders can run as low as 10 psi, possibly lower if they are especially petite. Keeping the tire pressure low will also help keep the handling relaxed and the traction sticky.

Thanks to its knobby tires, this is an e-bike that will perform off-road as well as it does on-road. The presence of fenders will keep the rider dry in rain, or simply puddles, but they sit close enough to the tires that in muddy conditions they could pack up with mud and bring the e-bike to a stop; well, considering this motor, maybe not to a stop, but definitely slow it.

Ariel Rider equipped the Kepler with other accessories that will be useful to the person who wants to commute by e-bike. It was given front and rear lights, a kickstand and a rear rack; the rack has a payload capacity of 70 lbs., which is notably more than we usually see.

Ariel Rider Kepler Review: Motor, Battery, and Drivetrain Performance

The Ariel Rider Kepler is one of the most powerful e-bikes on the market. That’s not hyperbole. We rarely see an e-bike with a 52V, 1000W motor. Ariel Rider helps frame just how powerful this e-bike is in the section on the e-bike’s electronics. There’s a line for top speed and they report, “32+ mph (where legally allowed).” As a result, the Ariel Rider Kepler doesn’t conform to any of the three classes of e-bikes; we encourage shoppers to check their local laws.

With that said, we can now move on to how this e-bike actually rides. And when it comes to acceleration and climbing power, this e-bike is what happens when someone crosses a top-fuel dragster with a Schwinn Stingray. Someone could combine this with a trailer and be able to get up a hill with more weight than any cargo e-bike could manage.

In terms of experience, we need to be honest and say that 32 mph on something with two wheels is not like 32mph (or faster) in a vehicle with four wheels. The But for the rider who hasn’t been satisfied with the speed of the e-bikes they’ve ridden, this e-bike has the power necessary to keep a NASCAR enthusiast happy.

A 52V, 1000W motor is going to draw all of the current. Powering this machine is a 52V, 1040Wh battery. Ariel Rider estimates that the Kepler will manage between 35 and 75 mi. of range per charge. Those are pretty impressive numbers; our assumption is that 35 mi. reflects PAS 5 and 75 mi. reflects PAS 1, but we can’t say for sure.

The drivetrain features Shimano Altus components, a 7-speed setup that is good for moderate hills, but thanks to the Kepler’s uber-powerful motor, this e-bike will never struggle on hills and when the light turns green, the nearby drivers will wonder where the person on the e-bike went.

Ariel Rider Kepler Review: Braking, Safety & Warranty

The faster a rider goes, the better the brakes need to be. That’s because an e-bike needs two important ingredients to stop as promptly as possible. One of those ingredients we know the Ariel Rider Kepler was granted: big, fat tires. The bigger the tire footprint, the greater the traction.

The other important requirement for minimal stopping distance is, naturally, powerful brakes. The caliper is important, but so are the rotors. Hydraulic disc brakes with 180mm rotors is a good setup, but considering this e-bike can exceed Class 3 speeds, it would be helpful to see either larger (203mm) rotors or 4-piston calipers rather than these typical 2-piston calipers. This bike will stop effectively, but the rider going 32 mph will need a bit of runaway to come to a complete stop.

The Ariel Rider Kepler is a well-made e-bike. It’s on a par with most e-bikes we review in this price range. As regards a rider’s safety, our only word of caution concerns the brakes, and that’s only a concern if the rider is going 30+ mph.

Ariel Rider covers the Kepler with a one-year, limited warranty, and it is only valid if the buyer registers the e-bike within the first 30 days of ownership. Compared to other warranties, it’s thin. There are e-bikes with much more robust warranties.

Ariel Rider Kepler Review: Recommendation/Final Verdict

Most e-bikes that can be unlocked to go fast start their lives as Class 1 or 2 e-bikes and riders can enter a code in the display that will allow the e-bike’s pedal-assist limit to be raised to 28 mph. Occasionally we encounter e-bikes that can be unlocked to exceed even 28 mph. The Ariel Rider Kepler doesn’t fit into any of those categories.

It’s rare to encounter an e-bike like the Ariel Rider Kepler, an e-bike that ships with no limits. Of course, there is an upward limit to how fast this e-bike can go. Rider weight, the surface the e-bike is rolling on, the direction and speed of wind, how the rider sits and tire pressure all play a role. For that reason, Ariel Rider reports a ballpark top speed of 32+ mph. Pump the tires up to an ultra-firm 60 psi and put a horse jockey on one and it might break the speed limit in a residential area. We will leave it to consumers to decide if that’s a selling point or not.

We don’t want to steer anyone away from this e-bike, but we do want readers to be clear-eyed about what this e-bike is. Not all e-bikes provide confidence-inspiring handling at speeds above 25 mph. The ideal rider for this e-bike is someone who has a fair amount of experience riding bikes and/or e-bikes. This isn’t the model we would encourage a first-time buyer to start with.

E-bike regulations can seem like many laws—an encroachment on freedom—but the three-class system does a nice job of balancing a rider’s desire to get somewhere quickly with consideration for other people on bike paths or sidewalks, not to mention keeping the e-bike’s speed in a range where drivers have a chance to see a person on something smaller than a motorcycle (which can be plenty hard to pick out in busy traffic). All this is to say, someone going 30 mph or faster on an e-bike will have the capacity to surprise lots of people. Some of those surprised will feel envy, but some may experience alarm.

There are vast swaths of the US that are crisscrossed by long, empty roads—some paved, some not. For the rider who wants to knock out the distance in a way that is more economical, not to mention healthier, than burning gas, the Ariel Rider Kepler takes a novel approach to what an e-bike can be.

We love the beefy rear rack and its ability to see two baskets mounted. In that regard, its carrying capacity begins to encroach on the territory of compact cargo e-bikes. The Kepler also comes with mounts on the head tube so the rider who wants maximum carrying capacity can add a front basket as well.

One of the real benefits to a 1000W motor is that the rider who does choose to do their shopping by e-bike won’t struggle to accelerate when the basket(s) are loaded. Ariel Rider has a solid selection of baskets and racks for the errand-runner in us all.

The Ariel Rider Kepler is an e-bike of a different feather. With its powerful motor and equally powerful battery, it has the ability to meet some needs that other e-bikes might not accommodate.

Thank you for reading through our review of the Ariel Rider Kepler. Still have further questions? Wondering how it compares to a similar e-bike we’ve reviewed? Let us know in the comments below!