Total Weight:
55.7 lbs (25.26 kg)
Battery Weight:
7.3 lbs (3.31 kg)
Motor Weight:
9 lbs (4.08 kg)
Frame Material:
6061 Aluminum Alloy
Frame Sizes:
19 in (48.26 cm)Geometry Measurements:
19" Seat Tube, 22.75" Reach, 28.25" Stand Over Height, 33.75" Minimum Saddle Height, 26.5" Width, 71" Length
Frame Types:
High-Step
Frame Colors:
Matte Gunmetal Gray with Black Accessories, Matte Taupe Grey with Brown Accessories
Frame Fork Details:
SR Suntour XCT Spring Suspension, 100mm Travel, Preload Adjust, 100mm Hub Spacing, 9mm Axle with Quick Release Skewer
Frame Rear Details:
135mm Hub Spacing, 12mm Threaded Slotted Axle with 19mm Nuts
Attachment Points:
Rear Rack Bosses, Fender Bosses
Gearing Details:
7
Speed 1x7 Shimano Acera Derailleur, Shimano MF-TZ500-7 Freewheel 14-28 ToothShifter Details:
Shimano Acera Rapid-Fire Triggers on Right (One-Way High Lever, Three-Shift Low Lever)
Cranks:
Forged Alloy Arms, 170mm Length, Square Taper Bottom Bracket, 48 Tooth Steel Chainring with Alloy Guard
Pedals:
Wellgo M248DJ Platform, Cage Style
Headset:
Neco, Threadless, Sealed Cartridge, Straight 1-1/8"
Stem:
Promax MA-45, Aluminum Alloy, 90mm Length, 10-Degree Rise, 25.4mm Clamp Diameter, 20mm Cone Spacer, Two 10mm Spacers
Handlebar:
Aluminum Alloy, Mid-Rise, 45mm Rise, 660mm Length, (Optional Dutch Cafe-Style Swept-Back Handlebar)
Brake Details:
Tektro Aries Mechanical Disc with 160mm Rotors, Four-Finger Levers with Rubberized Edge and Motor Inhibitors
Grips:
Padded, Stitched, Faux Leather, Non-Locking
Saddle:
Selle Royal Freeway Plush Comfort
Seat Post:
Promax, Aluminum Alloy, Forged Head Single Bolt
Seat Post Length:
300 mm
Seat Post Diameter:
27.2 mm
Rims:
Aluminum Alloy, Double Walled, 25mm Outer Width, 36 Hole, Black
Spokes:
Stainless Steel, 14 Gauge Front 12 Gauge Rear, Black with Nipples
Tire Brand:
Kenda Kwick Seven-5, 27.5" x 2.2" (60-100-23)
Wheel Sizes:
27.5 in (69.85cm)Tire Details:
30 to 50 PSI, 2.0 to 3.5 BAR, K-Shield Puncture Protection
Tube Details:
Schrader Valve
Accessories:
Integrated Blaze-Lite Headlight (Single LED, 300 Lumens), Steel Derailleur Guard, Rear-Mount Adjustable Kickstand, Optional Custom Rear Rack and Fenders ($100), Optional Insulated Water Resistant Reflective Panniers ($65)
Other:
Locking Removable Semi-Integrated Downtube Battery Pack (Reention Cylinder and Key), 9 Mosfet 18 Amp Current Controller, Sans 1.5 lb 2 Amp Charger, Basic Assembly Toolkit, Max Weight 275lbs
Nat
5 years agoHi! I absolutely love this website and all of your reviews. I’m a big fan. You do my favorite e-bike reviews, period. That being said, do you guys have any plans to review the Trek Verve+ 2? I am planning to purchase one next month, but haven’t really found any video reviews (or even any in-depth written ones). Would love to hear/read your take on it, especially since I haven’t been able to get my hands on one of these bikes locally. I am a little anxious to order one “sight unseen”. Anyway, thanks! Keep up the good work and happy holidays! :)
ReplyCourt
5 years agoHi Nat! We did film that bike and are working on processing it, hope to have the review up soon! The original Verve+ was great, and I think it sold out. Keep an eye out and hopefully we will get it up in the coming days or week. Thanks again!
ReplyNat
5 years agoHey Court! That is awesome! You have just made my day. Looking forward to it! I love Trek bikes, and have both an FX hybrid and an X-Caliber 8 mountain bike. As a very tall woman, their bikes seem to just “work” for me. Their men’s bikes seem to fit me perfectly. I have asthma that can get a little scary sometimes, so I’d rather have the option of pedal assist I ride any distances longer than 4-5 miles or so. I checked out your review for the first generation Verve+ a while back. That was a big part of what sold me on it. It just seems like there have been enough small changes/upgrades made with the latest one to make me a little nervous/curious about it. Glad to hear that you think so highly of it! Your opinion means a lot. I also had no idea that they sold out of the original one. Wow. Anyway, thanks again for your reply!
Arjan
5 years agoHi Court, is the Ride 1 up 500 better than the Lectric XP or the 700, as a daily commute in your opinion? Thanks and I’m a big fun of what you guys do.
Arjan
Michael Beltzer
5 years agoI’ve had this bike since June 2019 in NYC and I LOVE IT! I have put over 2000 hard miles on this bike and it has been super reliable and just damn fun and quick. I have replaced almost all my transit trips with it and I rarely feel any fatigue even on 1hr + trips.
I do weigh 190 pounds and ride hard, so my range is at or below the lower range (15-20miles) The battery cuts off almost exactly at the same range regardless of hills and even some wind so it’s been easy to plan my trips (I did buy a second battery, the new extended is my current one, the range on it is a little less than the bump up in ah over the included)
If you ride hard in urban area, expect to replace pads more often. I also have a companion bike seat that I ride my daughter and even my GF on! This bike performs like a champ even on hills with weight!
I would definitely recommend this bike, keep the tire pressure up and be amazed all the places you’ll go. I’ve had this bike since June in NYC.
ReplyCourt
5 years agoHi Michael, great testimonia! Thanks for sharing your personal stats about weight and range, very helpful. So glad the Ride1Up 500 has been working great for you. Hope it continues to perform well, feel free to share updates anytime :D
ReplyDoug
5 years agoOne of your best reviews ever, Court. Packed with facts, concise, included feedback with manufacturer, varied performance on ride. Really felt I got to know the bike. Good job! Doug
ReplyCourt
5 years agoYou made my day, Doug! Thank you… I’m doing my best and am back in the travel/review seat after some major programming projects this year that sort of took me off task. I did my best to get review help, but felt that we were a bit inconsistent and the quality was a bit lower. I’m excited for 2020 and am happy that this review in particular, resonated with you ;)
ReplyHoward
5 years agoIf you could only choose one, which would you choose among the RideUp1 500 Series, the rad bikes, or the lectric xp? Thanks.
ReplyCourt
5 years agoHmm, great question Howard. If budget was the focus, I’d probably get the Ride1Up 500 Series because I appreciate the lighter weight and more efficient tires compared to Lectric XP. Folding fat just isn’t necessary for my usage… but if you want more off-road in soft terrain and like the style and compact design of a folding fat, then Lectric XP might win. For the money, I think that Rad has some of the best products. I really like their new step-thru fat bike and the step-thru RadMini if you’re into fat tires. Their lights are great, the accessories are awesome, and I like how they look. The city bikes are decent, and have regenerative braking, but weigh a bit more because of the gearless motor. I think it’s close between the Ride1Up 500 and RadCity models, depending on your needs. For affordability, the RadRunner is awesome because it has medium sized 3.3″ tires, an adjustable saddle height for comfortable pedaling, and some very cool accessories, including a passenger seat option. There are so many directions that this conversation could go, it really depends on your needs. I hope this helps :)
ReplySuzanne
5 years agoHey! Love the information you have given on your site. I’m looking for ebike that will I use mostly on roads, pedaling about 20-25 miles, on country roads. I’d like a bike that I can easily charge the battery if need be, but also pedal if the battery dies out. I’d be comfortable pedaling with no battery assistance. And yes, budget is also an issue. I don’t have a big budget for one – Thought I’d get your opinion. Thx, Suzanne
ReplyCourt
5 years agoHi Suzanne, the Ride1Up 500 Series was great for the money. It uses proven, reliable parts, and has a fairly approachable frame (angled top tube). The people I met (including the founder) were very helpful and proactive. Yes, they are a smallish company, but they do a good job and really care. The biggest challenge may be getting one that can arrive quickly because I’ve heard that inventory is low due to so many people wanting to get out and bike! There are many similar products from Magnum, e-Joe, and Amego worth exploring too (Amigo has some cool paint colors worth checking out). So, I hope this helps you!
ReplyMaureen
4 years agoHi Court, I really like your reviews! I am planning on buying a low cost step-thru bike and am wondering if you plan to review the new Ride1Up 500 series Step Thru? Thanks!
ReplyCourt
4 years agoHi Maureen! Good choice, Ride1Up has been producing fun and very affordable products. I’d love to cover their new 500 Series Step-Thru, but travel has been limited lately, so I’m not sure when it will happen. I hope this and other reviews can help you to assess the bike just based on what they share on their website now. Good luck and definitely come back and comment if you get and ride yours before I get to test one out. I have a forum section for Ride1Up where you can post and even add pictures and stuff, if you feel like it :D
ReplyJohn Cerra
4 years agoCourt, You really know your stuff when it comes to these bikes. I have been an avid cyclist for years and as I age I just want to have fun and not worry about my avg speed or the pack. In fact, I want an e-bike now to use for some small commutes and on occasion mess w/ my more serious friend and motor pace them! LOL. I really like what you have to say about Ride1Up and Aventon. I am comparing the Core 5, the LTD, 700 series w/ the Level. I want the torque and power for the hills. This is my first e-bike so I do want some real biking experience, but also the power. I think that I will be more satisfied w/ the Ride1 Up LTD due to the torque sensor and extra battery. Are there any other brands out there at this price point that will fit the bill? Also, some of the threads indicate that Ride1Up may release an 800 in the fall. Local shop told me that there is a convention in Oct and a lot of manufacturers release new tech then. I am not in a hurry. Is this true? Again, thank you for your awesome reviews. It is nice to see someone so knowledgeable and passionate about biking! I am sure you have helped a lot of folks! Take care.
ReplyCourt
4 years agoHi John! yeah, Ride1Up has created some awesome products and really kept the price down. I do think there are ebike events scheduled, but it’s difficult to say with the COVID situation. I haven’t been invited to any since I’m locked up in Canada right now!! Ebikes are a lot like computers, in that the technology is rapidly improving. It’s very possible that an 800 could release, but if you miss the riding of the Summer/Fall, it might not be worth waiting for. Another consideration is availability, do they have stock of the LTD right now? I’d check in because many brands are sold out or backordered. Frankly, I feel like any of the bikes I covered would be worth owning, and enjoyable. The others look very good too, and I suspect I’d trust them even without seeing the next review. I like the founder, he’s a hard worker. There are other companies and bikes, like Aventon, Surface 604, Rad Power Bikes etc. but Ride1Up holds their own. I hope this helps, I realize it’s somewhat general feedback since I haven’t tried the new ones and am not fully up to speed with their inventory and launch schedule :)
ReplyDon Andrues
4 years agoHi Court, Your reviews are top of the line! Thank you! I’m considering the Ride1Up 500 or the Aventon Pace 500. I would be riding mostly on paved roads with some light to moderate unpaved service road use. Do you prefer one over the other? Thanks so much for your response. And again, what a great service you’re providing!
ReplyCourt
4 years agoHey, thanks Don! I really enjoyed meeting the founder of Ride1Up and feel that his products offer great value. I believe that Aventon is a larger company and sells through more shops. If you’re comfortable dealing on your own a bit and like what Ride1Up is offering with their 500 Series, I’d say go with it. I haven’t ordered either, so I’m not sure about unpacking and assembly, but some shops have said that Aventon requires more effort to unpack and assemble. Perhaps that could be a tie breaker for you? Whatever you choose, I’d love to hear how it goes!!
ReplyDon
4 years agoHi Court, What a nice guy you are to reply to my comment. I ordered a Ride1Up 500 the other day. I’ll post a comment on it once I try it out. I live near the Rose Bowl in Pasadena and plan to ride around it and on the unpaved service roads that spring off. Your videos are great. You’re doing a great service for folks. Thanks again.
Tom
4 years agoHi Court, thanks for the review. I really like the look of this bike. In addition to biking around town I was considering using this bike on off-road single-track trails; I know there are other bikes better suited for it, but I need an upright position and a relatively light bike. Do you think this bike could work in that situation? My thought was to swap out the tires for better off road grip. I am new to e-bikes and have just started shopping so if I’m missing something or there is a better option let me know. Also, the price definitely doesn’t hurt in my consideration.
ReplyCourt
4 years agoHi Tom! If you’re mostly going off-road, perhaps something like the Magnum Peak or Surface 604 Shred (which can accept a rack) will suit your needs? When you said that price doesn’t hurt your consideration, did that mean you are willing to spend more?
ReplyKatherine
4 years agoHi! I just wanted to share my experience with Ride1up because I did a lot of research through EBR to pick the right bike for my first ebike purchase and it has been a disaster. I will never buy from Ride1up again.
The 500 Series is a good bike for sure, but after the second day riding it my motor began to make a horrible grinding noise when using the throttle. I reached out to Ride1up immediately asking about it and what could be done. After a month of back and forth, answering unnecessary questions that seemed to imply I must have done something wrong within the first days of having it, they finally said they would take care of it by sending a new motor. However, putting a new motor in was exceedingly hard. They did send some tools to help with it which was appreciated but while replacing it we found that one of the screw holes for the motor was damaged so we couldn’t get the motor on properly. Now I can’t used the bike at all without fear of damaging the new motor. Again, this all came up after two days of owning the bike. If this was any of other company they would have sent a new wheel or a new bike. They offered me to send it back since it was in the return window but I would have to pay for shipping (close to $200 dollars) and any costs for repairing it to look new. Having ridden it for a few weeks while going back and forth on this issue, that would have been a cost I shouldn’t have to have spend after already spending $1,300 on this bike. Now it seems all that money was wasted. I would not recommend this company.
ReplyCourt
4 years agoOh man, that’s such a bummer Katherine! Thanks for sharing your experience in a constructive way. It seems like you’re being pretty level-headed about things and acknowledging the trade-off between lower price paid and lower support/service. I’m sorry that you had to be one of the unlucky ones. I’d be happy to send you $200 of my own money if you decide to send the bike back, to help pay for shipping. This way, you could start again with a different bike and actually enjoy it. I keep some marketing money aside to help people from time to time and it’s not a huge deal for me. I don’t know your situation, but given the global challenges right now, it’s one way I can spread some cheer. Just email me at electricbikereview at gmail and remind me of who you are, I’d have to use PayPal but am willing to help if you’re up for it.
ReplyKatherine
4 years agoWow. Court I am so blown away by your generosity and kindness! I would love to take you up on that but my return window closed this past week :(. I just got the new motor then too so I was hoping that would finally be the fix but then it turned out not to work. But it’s okay, I am glad others have had such a good experience with them prior, just wanted to make others aware of mine in case it happens again. I also really appreciate your site! All the information and reviews were very helpful to me, just happened to be one of the unlucky ones for sure. Thank you again for your kind offer! Just makes me happy to know people like you exist :).
Katherine
4 years agoYou are so kind Court, thank you! The new motor does work (I think), I actually have not been able to try it out because when we (my boyfriend and I) were replacing it we realized that one of the sockets for the motor is stripped so we could not get the new motor flush with the bike wheel. Therefore, I am concerned that water or other elements could get in (since there is a crack) and damage the new motor. We emailed and called Ride1up again asking for a whole new wheel, but that was not an option before and we have not heard back from them yet so it may just be a heavy bike. I could still try using it, but I don’t want to risk the motor getting ruined. Might try and sell it to a used bike shop to get some money for it and then get a different bike (if they don’t send a new wheel). I am not sure there is anything you can do to help, but I so appreciate you offering! I can also keep you updated on what happens.
ReplyCourt
4 years agoSounds good Katherine, I hope things work out. It sounds like you’ve got a couple of good options and are making progress. Good luck and I definitely welcome feedback… but only if you want to, no need to add work to your situation that is already a bit difficult ;)
Replywillow dowling
4 years agoHi, I would like to know which bike, the 500 or the core 5 would be better for a 5’2” woman. I plan on getting the step through in either model. I’m leaning towards the 500 but I’m worried it’ll be too big and heavy.
Thanks,
ReplyWillow
Court
4 years agoHi Willow! That’s an interesting question. My guess would be that the Core-5 has a heavier frame in order to support the internally mounted battery. That said, the 500 Series adds weight with fenders and the rear rack. Now, you could remove those accessories and the bike would probably be lighter than the Core-5. It’s cool that they offer both models in step-thru :)
ReplyAndy
3 years agoI bought one of these in the beginning (Oct 2017). I was able to test ride one in Davis, CA at Kevin’s mother’s house. I really liked it and ordered one.
The bike did have its issues.
Needless to say, I sold the bike at a loss as a re-lacing of spokes at my expense was not what I wanted in a brand new bike.
ReplyCourt
3 years agoHi Andy, thanks for the detailed feedback. It sounds like you’re fairly good with bicycles and were willing to take a few steps to make the Ride1Up 500 work. I’ve taken a loss on stuff like this before, sometimes it’s the best answer. I hope your next bike works out better for you.
Reply