2020 Michael Blast Vacay Review

Video Review

Written Review

The Michael Blast Vacay electric bike is a chopper-inspired ride with some seriously beautiful accents that we just haven’t seen anywhere else.

Power — 500 nominal watts, 750 peak watts

The Michael Blast Vacay electric bike has a powerful Bafang geared hub motor with an output of 500 nominal watts and approximately 750 peak watts of power, making this a rather powerful cruiser. This motor has 80 Newton meters of torque, which means the Vacay can quickly reach top speed and climb moderate hills with ease. 

Speed  — 20 mph

The Michael Blast Vacay electric bike has a top speed of 20 mph out of the box, which can be reached using the throttle or pedal assist, making this a class 2 electric bike. You can easily adjust there top speed all the way up to 32 mph on the control center, but the motor winds out around 25 mph. 

Battery and Range — 48 volt 14.5 ah, 35 miles

The Michael Blast Vacay electric bike runs on a 48 volt system and has a 14.5 ah battery for an estimated max range of 35 miles with pedal assist. The battery is located on the down tube, keeping the center of gravity low and the bike well balanced. The battery is locking and removable and also has a sweet, leather wrap that covers the battery. It looks good, and also helps keep it protected from dirt and debris.

Pedal assist sensor — Cadence sensor

The Michael Blast Vacay electric bike is equipped with a cadence sensor that measures the rotation of the cranks. Like most cadence sensors, there is some delay from the time the rider starts and stops pedaling to the time the motor activates and deactivates.

Display — LCD

The Michael Blast Vacay electric bike uses a beautiful LCD display located on the left side of the handlebars. This is a good display with plenty of electronic feedback including speed, distance, battery level, wattage output and more.

Frame and weight — 6061 Aluminum alloy, 63 pounds

The Michael Blast Vacay  electric bike has one frame size and two main colors — black and an orangey-red — and a variety of accents. The Vacay also comes in a traditional step over design and also offers a step thru frame as well for those that want something a little more approachable. The Vacay weighs in at nearly 63 pounds, which is on the heavy side, but that weight makes sense considering the elongated frame.

Suspension —  Solid forks

The Michael Blast Vacay electric bike has solid forks and no rear suspension.

Gearing — Shimano, 7 speed

The Michael Blast Vacay electric bike has a Shimano Altus derailleur with a 7-speed cassette. It uses a Shimano trigger shifter on the right side of the handlebars.

Brakes — Tektro Auriga, hydraulic disc

The Michael Blast Vacay electric bike has Tektro Auriga hydraulic disc brakes with a 180 mm rotor in the front and a 180 mm rotor in the rear. These brakes offer huge stopping power and easily shrug off mud and water. The brake levers are adjustable, and can be let out or taken in depending on the rider’s hand size.

Warranty — 6 month comprehensive, 1 year electrical, 5 year frame

The Michael Blast Vacay electric bike has a 6 month comprehensive warranty, a 1 year warranty for the electrical systems and a 5 year warranty on the frame. 

Price — Starting at $2,199

Starting at $2,199 for the 350 watt version and $2,799 for the 500 watt version, the Michael Blast Vacay electric bike enters into the mid tier price point for electric bikes. The Vacay includes some high quality components, but more than that it’s just a joy to ride and a head turner at that.

Who’s it for — Cruisers with an eye for style

This feels like a good choice for those who want an electric bike inspired by chopper culture. This ride has some serious motorcycle vibes and while the specs on the Vacay are impressive in and of themselves, the ride is more about the experience. This bike feels fun, no way around it, and it will turn heads everywhere it goes. If this is the kind of vibe you want, the Vacay is e-bike for you.