2023 Michael Blast eBikes: Cafe & Vintage Inspired Electric Bikes

Michael Blast cafe-racer & vintage ebikes, originally Tracxn Technologies, started in 2012 by a bunch of friends in Australia with one common goal: To combine the look of vintage pre-war motorcycles and pedal bikes with modern eBike motors and technology.

Just three years after forming, Michael Blast had an office in France, and expanded further over the next few years to the USA, Canada, and Hungary. In 2021, Tracxn was renamed to Michael Blast, as well as the subsidiary Surface604 being formed for eBikes with modern aesthetics.

The 2023 range of eBikes from Michael Blast are what they term as their “#LifeStyle” range, with distinct looks and aesthetics for multiple vintage looks throughout the 20th Century, from long-frame pre-war bikes to mid-50s cafe style. No matter what your taste, as long as you want a retro look, Michael Blast has a model for you!

2023 Michael Blast Greaser Classic

The Michael Blast Greaser Classic, as you can see from the picture above, takes heavy influence from pre-war “Board Racer” motorcycles. The long mid-frame, the swooping front frame support that leads to the pedals… it looks like it’s been teleported from 1910’s London.

However, don’t let the looks deceive you, nor its 3 x 26 inch wheels and tires make you think that it’s slow. Powered by a high-quality Bafang 500W motor, which operates at a nominal 350W, you can reach up to 22 MPH with 5 different levels of pedal assist.

To keep the look of the bike clean and flowing, the battery and controller are intelligently hidden in the “tank” of the bike. An easy to read backlit LED display lets you know your speed, pedal assist level, battery remaining, and trip length, among other bits of information you can cycle through.

The aesthetics of the Greaser Classic are supplemented by stitched leather hand grips and a wide Velo saddle. Modern amenities such as powerful disc brakes front and rear, as well as a cafe-style headlight bring the fusion of current and classic together in fine style.

The Greaser Classic starts at $2,299 USD.

2023 Michael Blast Greaser Springer

As evidenced in the name, the Michael Blast Greaser Springer takes the already stylish and capable Greaser Classic, and adds a stylish front fork suspension system.

However, unlike modern air coil or hydraulic suspension, the Greaser Springer uses a pivot-fork system. This leaves the springs exposed, and instead of compressing inside of the down-spar on the forks, instead pivots at the end of the fork, with the up-spar pushing against springs attached to the fork tree. In a way both more complex and simpler than modern sealed-compression suspension, it is absolutely in line with the vintage look of the Michael Blast model range.

Apart from the suspension, the Greaser Springer also features raised and more swept back handlebars, as well as a Bafang 500W brushless hub motor that is at 500W nominal power the entire time. To differentiate the Springer from the Classic, the Springer also gets stylish white-sidewall Innova tires, in the 3 x 26 inch sizing.

The Greaser Springer starts at $3,299 USD.

2023 Michael Blast Outsider

Make no mistake… despite the Michael Blast Outsider being the smallest and shortest of all the 2023 model line, it is anything but tiny.

Styled very much like a 1950’s cafe racer, you get a powerful 750W (500W nominal output) Bafang brushless hub motor to power it along, while its 4 x 20 inch wheels and tires combine with its front suspension, a new feature for 2023, to provide a comfortable ride on any surface. You can still get a 2022-model-year Outsider that comes with a full front fork without suspension, as the tires and seat absorb most of the bumps and lumps along the way, at the same price.

The Outsider’s main purpose is really in its name: It is meant be both a capable city bike, but if you want to get it off the paved trail and onto some grass, gravel, even a bit of packed dirt, it is happy to go there. It is not, however, a full-on, extreme trail bike!

What really impresses about the Outsider’s looks is the classic long padded seat, a familiar site to any cafe racer, or those that enjoy vintage bikes from the 1950s. With the upswept handlebars, you could realistically ride the Outsider all day in comfort, or get down into a bit of a tuck, set the PAS to 5, and get a little speed going in the bike lane with a grin on your face!

The Outsider starts at $2,399 USD.

2023 Michael Blast Vacay (Hi-Step)

The Michael Blast Vacay model series comes in four different varieties, including this Hi-Step model.

Powered by a Bafang 500W hub motor, the Vacay Hi-Step is modelled after the classic 1960’s British cruiser style of bike: High handlebars, low sear, big wheel out the back and a nicely raked-back fork set.

The classic British cruiser vibe is even carried over to the battery holder, which is under a diamond-stitched leather cover, giving it the same look as the kind of saddlebag or seat that you’d find on, say, a 1960s Triumph Bonneville.

The headlight is placed low on the fork tree, exactly in line with classic cruisers, and there is even a fender mounted rear tail light. From a distance, if you didn’t see the pedals and there was a tank over the upper frame member, you’d be forgiven for thinking that this was, in fact, a classic cruiser, the design is so spot on perfect. As it is, you’ll still probably get some nice looks and a few knowing nods on this two-wheeled piece of eBike art.

The Vacay Hi-Step also features a thumb throttle as standard, not as an optional add-on, so if you truly do want to just cruise, all you need to do is press on the throttle and rest your legs.

The Vacay Hi-Step starts at $2,799 USD.

2023 Michael Blast Vacay (Lo-Step)

The Michael Blast Vacay model series comes in four different varieties, including this Lo-Step model.

Keeping all of the great features and tech of the Vacay Hi-Step, the Vacay Lo-Step adds the convenience and ease of mounting and dismounting of a step-thru style frame.

What is truly impressive about this variation of the Vacay is that despite not having the sweeping, long upper frame member, it still carries 99% of the classic British cruiser look through its appointments and style. The same diamond-stitched leather battery cover, the same low-fork headlight, the same distinct fender mounted tail light, and the same high and back handlebars to give it that comfortable yet elegant riding style. It’s just easier to get on and get off it now! The Vacay Lo-Step also features a thumb throttle as standard, not as an optional add-on, so if you truly do want to just cruise, all you need to do is press on the throttle and rest your legs.

The Vacay Lo-Step starts at $2,799 USD.

 

2023 Michael Blast Vacay (Mid-Drive Hi)

The Michael Blast Vacay model series comes in four different varieties, including this Mid-Drive Hi-Step model.

The Vacay Mid-Drive Hi-Step changes things up a little when it comes to the looks and feel of this model series. First of all, the front fork features the same pivot-fork suspension as the Greaser Springer from earlier in this list.

Secondly, the motor is moved to the mid-drive position, which allows for a slightly longer and lower rear set, giving the eBike even more of the classic 60’s British cruiser aesthetic. The headlight is a smaller model, due to having to be mounted on the suspension supports, but is just as powerful as the previous two Vacay sub-models.

The diamond stitched leather pattern is still there on the battery cover, but now also translates up to the saddle, giving it a fully vintage feel and look. That mid-drive motor is a 750W unit that operates at a nominal 500W of power with 750W peak when needed. The Vacay Mid-Drive also features a thumb throttle as standard, not as an optional add-on, so if you truly do want to just cruise, all you need to do is press on the throttle and rest your legs.

The Vacay Mid-Drive Hi starts at $3,499 USD.

2023 Michael Blast Vacay (Mid-Drive Lo)

The Michael Blast Vacay model series comes in four different varieties, including this Mid-Drive Lo-Step model.

Much like the Vacay Mid-Drive Hi-Step model, the Mid-Drive Lo-Step model takes all the great things about its brother, and adds the convenience of a low step-thru frame. This makes it the perfect premium commuter cruiser of the eBike world, that can be ridden in either your suit for the workday, or jeans and a t-shirt for cruising the city pathways on the weekends.

As the Vacay models come standard with a thumb throttle, this just makes it all the better for commuting. You wouldn’t want to get a sweat on while riding to work, so having the option to just cruise and let the wind wick away the heat and effort of riding lets you arrive fresh and ready to go.

The Vacay Mid-Drive Lo starts at $3,499 USD.

2023 Michael Blast Soda

The Michael Blast Soda is the only current model from the company that is mostly meant for the rougher and bumpier stuff.

Powered by a high-quality Bafang 500W hub motor, the biggest difference between the Soda and almost all other Michael Blast models is that it comes with Innova 4 x 20 inch tires with an off-road tread patterns, as well as modern sealed-compression-style front suspension to absorb big bumps, roots, and obstacles on your way across rougher terrain.

It also includes both a 5-speed cadence sensor pedal assist system, but as you might need a break once in a while after pedalling hard, it also has a thumb throttle as standard. The Soda even has a mild “bash-plate” under the battery, which to keep the whole retro and vintage theme going on a bike that is, arguably, “modern” in style, has the leather diamond-stitch cover, but with a few extra zippered pockets on it to carry a few things such as a spoke wrench for more vigorous riding.

The Michael Blast Soda starts at $1,999 USD.