Last Updated on February 6, 2024 by Igor Karni
For an American e-bike brand, Ride1Up, efficiency is the name of the game. However, it also makes its status as a budget-friendly e-bike store pretty clear. For most riders, that’s a combination that hits the sweet spot, and for the relative youth of the brand. It has already made its mark in the industry due to that mix alone.
Ride1Up considers San Diego, California, as the base of its operations, founded there by Kevin Dugger in 2018. Before that, Kevin has already been serving as a bike mechanic for years and had shown a deep love for biking throughout his life. Unsurprisingly, this passion readily extends to e-bikes.
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After constructing his e-bike, part of the reason why Kevin decided to enter the e-bike industry was that he immediately saw the opportunity in the relatively novel field.
Even then, he already made it clear that he wanted to make e-bikes that would last. This philosophy, along with value- and price-centric ideals, formed the foundation of Ride1Up‘s own vision and mission, which it is fast becoming well known for among local e-bike riders.
Its other rather lofty objective is to overtake car commutes with the more arguably cost-effective e-bike. Given the company’s current trajectory, we think that’s not entirely implausible.
Read also: Tips before buying an electric bike. And, Are electric bikes good for the environement?
It’s safe to say that it’s one of the truly innovative and inimitably American e-bike brands at present due to its sheer focus on efficiency. Being helmed by a young entrepreneur with a clear vision for his company and attention to the needs and requests of e-bike riders, Ride1Up certainly is one brand to watch out for.
Ride1Up e-Bikes Review: Model Lines
Ride1Up chooses to focus on e-bike categories that will always be in-demand: eMTB and city.
| Ride1Up model | E-bike type |
| Ride1Up 700 series | commuter / city |
| Ride1Up 500 series | commuter / city |
| Ride1Up Core-5 | commuter / city |
| Ride1Up LMT’D | commuter / eMTB |
| Ride1Up Roadster | city / road |
| Ride1Up Cafe Cruiser | cruiser |
| Ride1Up Prodigy | commuter / city |
Considering that the first-ever e-bike that its owner built was a commuter, it’s arguably apt for it to be known for that category through its widely-praised 700 series. Along with the 500 series (which is equally popular), it can be considered the company’s worthy representative, a sum of its design ideologies.
The brand’s models exude genuinely American practicality, made apparent by its clean designs that can fit right in almost all modern settings. Indeed, this same no-nonsense directness could not also be more evident in the battery capacity connotations of the two models’ names (i.e. 500 and 700 series, which have 500W and 750W capacities, respectively).
If you want to know what to expect from Ride1Up models, it’s that they can compete with mid-range to even high-end e-bikes based on their fundamental riding specs (such as torque, range, top speed, and comfort).
Ride1Up 700 Series e-bike Model Line
As a testament to this, many riders are all too willing to rain praises on the brand’s 700 Series, which is a solid commuter/city offering. After all, it’s rare to see e-bikes with 750-watt power with 56nM torque, 28mph top speed, 30 to 50 miles of range, notable durability, hydraulic brakes, and close to outstanding comfort and handling for a very affordable price.
It’s one of those e-bikes that deserves to be labeled as the quintessential high-quality commuter e-bike accessible to people, regardless of where they are located in the economic spectrum. It pays off to dive deeper into the specs of the 700 Series to find out how it manages to perform its magic.
But, you really don’t need to look further than the actual riding experience that its owners have documented as well as the overwhelming praise it has received to know that it’s one well-designed city e-bike.
Read also: How to select the best commuter e-bike (with examples)? – also in this article. And, how much does a commuter e-bike cost?
True to its contemporary design, it is also fitted with an LED headlight and taillight connected to and operated from the advanced TFT display, as well as an integrated removable battery system. Lastly, it may incorporate a hub motor (like all Ride1Up models), but it’s one of the few that manages to compete with mid-drive offerings from other brands.
Learn more about the Ride1Up 700 series.
Ride1Up 500 Series e-bike Model Line
The 500 series can be considered as the progenitor of the more critically-acclaimed 700 series. That said, it’s no less popular during its release, and its pivotal role in making Ride1Up a noteworthy, up-and-coming brand can’t be denied as well.
Basically, the 500 series has now taken on the role of a more toned-down version of the 700, with the same top speed capabilities and comfort but obviously a lesser (but still impressive) riding range of 25 to 45 miles.
It’s noticeably more lightweight than the 700, too, topping only at 53 pounds (24 kg). It also sports all-terrain tires, which makes it more amenable to off-road riding.
Read also: How to select the best city e-bike (with examples)? – also in this article, and this article. And, How much does a good city e-bike cost?
Keep in mind also that both the 700 series and the 500 series integrate the same high-performance motor – Shengyi 500W, which is capable of 800W peak output. No compromises!
For the price, the 500 is pretty generous with its accessories, the most spotlight-worthy of which are the insulation and the phone stand. Like the 700, it also comes with removable batteries.
Take a closer look at the Ride1Up 500 series.
Ride1Up Core-5 e-bike Model Line
That said, it wouldn’t do the brand justice to ignore its Core-5 model, which is really more of a basic, all-terrain e-bike. Based on this description, it seems to defy categorization, but its specs and designs – besides the fact that Kevin originally constructed a commuter e-bike – convinced us that it belongs in the city category as well.
Overall, the Core-5‘s appeal lies in its versatility and wallet-friendly price tag, making it easy to recommend as a model for beginner riders who want to test the waters of e-biking.
Find out more about the Ride1Up Core-5.
Ride1Up LMT’D e-bike Model Line
The LMT’D claims to be the fastest, and it’s really more about how quickly it can achieve the 28mph top speed with pedal assist. For this model, it literally takes only a few seconds to achieve that level of speed. It’s just that: crazy fast.
Nonetheless, it tends to be overshadowed by the 700 because it only ties it range-wise, despite having a motor with a 1,000W peak capacity. It also practically incorporates the same frame geometry that boosts comfort.
Read also: How to select your first electric mountain bike? And, How much does a good eMTB e-bike cost?
Nevertheless, the LMT’D is more lightweight even than the 500, weighing only 51 pounds (21 kg). All in all, it’s basically a more juiced-up version of the 700, and if you can’t get enough speed and torque to negotiate steep hills or tend to be late in your commutes, then the extra punch that this model offers might just deliver what’s missing.
Find out more about the Ride1Up LMT’D.
Ride1Up Roadster e-bike Model Line
The original Roadster has been tweaked and improved recently, and now, Ride1Up offers the Roadster V2. It may not be as popular (yet) as the other lines of e-bikes mentioned here, but still, it has its own unique selling points. For one, it’s the lightest e-bike in the brand’s catalog, weighing as light as 32 pounds (14,5 kg).
It’s also a belt-drive e-bike that showcases all the benefits of that kind of drivetrain, and more than makes up for the absence of a throttle. The battery is also cleverly designed.
A lot of riders love stealthy e-bikes, and the Roadster just slays it with its design, to the point that the entire model looks like a conventional bike that you normally take out for off-road riding fun – and you get a decent 20 to 35 miles of range from it.
Read also: How to select the best road e-bike (with examples)? – and also in this article. And, How much does a good road e-bike cost?
And all of these pros for less than $1,000? That’s definitely a bargain in our book.
Learn more about the Ride1Up Roadster.
Ride1Up Cafe Cruiser e-bike Model Line
The Cafe Cruiser stays true to its name, it is meant for cruising around town with comfort and style. It is priced at $1,595 with several color and frame customizations. It provides pedal assist up to 28mph (45 km/h), has a range of 30-50 miles (50 – 80 km), and has a lightweight frame that can hold up to 300 lbs (135 kg).
You can even ride around town in the evenings as this bike comes with a LED headlight and taillight. People will see you coming and wish they had an e-bike like yours!
Learn more about the Ride1Up Cafe Cruiser.
Ride1Up Prodigy e-bike Model Line
The Prodigy lives up to its name in the e-bike world. It’s valued at $2,295 but is well worth your money. Once you make one lap around the block on this e-bike you will never want to go back. It has torque sensors, is a class 3, ranges up to 50 miles (80 km), and has a silent drive system. This allows you to ride through all of your favorite nature trails without disturbing the peace with your motor.
Overall, any bike you purchase from Ride1Up will not disappoint with its smooth, sleek, and quality ride, perfect for any occasion or destination.
Learn more about the Ride1Up Prodigy.
Consumers’ Perception of Ride1Up
Generally, most people, who have given Ride1Up’s models a try, consider the brand as very promising, and generous in its features (especially that all-encompassing 1-year warranty on all their budget-friendly e-bikes).
It’s a brand that has set itself up as one that prioritizes contemporary aesthetics, efficiency, and innovation. And it has succeeded in doing so, to say the least, judging by the majority of favorable reviews it has gotten.
Furthermore, a lot of people like the company’s ethics and its CEO’s down-to-earth vibe, which serves as a breath of fresh air in the e-bike industry where a lot of household brands tend to make moves that prioritize profits over rider satisfaction. We only hope that the brand remains steadfast in that stance as it continues its ascent.
What Countries Does Ride1Up Ship To?
Presently, Ride1Up ships to 48 states in the US for free. Internationally, its shipping is limited to Canada and Mexico.
If you’re curious to know more about Ride1Up or want to look through its inventory, you may visit its official website here.
Read also: Check out the most popular e-bike brands.
Take a look at this short video introducing the Ride1Up 700 series:
Igor is a sustainable mobility and green energy advocate. His mission for Easy E-biking is to help make electric cycling simple, practical, and fun. Follow him on Facebook and LinkedIn.
