2019 Ride1Up 500 Series Review

To run the forums, host the website, and travel, I charge a universal service fee for my reviews. This in-depth review was sponsored by Ride1Up electric bikes. My goal is to be transparent and unbiased with you, this video and writeup are not meant to be an endorsement of Ride1Up products. I welcome your corrections, additions, and feedback in the comments below and the Ride1Up electric bike forums.

Observations:

• This is the first product that Ride1Up launched when they opened in September 2018, it’s their most popular model because it offers good quality at a relatively low price
• The 500 Series comes in two frame colors with matching accents (either brown or black saddle and grips), you can choose a mid-rise handlebar or swept-back Dutch style handlebar which is unique for an affordable product
• Ride1Up is based in San Diego, California but has a warehouse in Sparks, Nevada where products are shipped from. The bikes fit into a smaller box and require more assembly than a lot of the other models I’ve tested… you need to put the fork onto the frame, assemble the headset and mount the stem, mount the front wheel, and add the seat post and saddle. It would help to have a bike stand, but they do include a basic toolkit and have good tutorial videos here (under the instructional guides tab)

Pros:

• Lots of great accessories at impressively low prices, the fenders and rack for just $100 is amazing! I liked the double-pannier accessory with reflective fabric and insulation is great, the phone mount is fairly high quality
• Low price is one of the big draws for Ride1Up and I feel that their $1,099 price point is a great value considering the two color options, matching accessories, and handlebar choices… they even offer a $40-off coupon for people who pledge to reduce their drive commute by two trips per month, how cool is that?!
• Good choice on the cadence sensor here, the sealed 12-magnet design is responsive and durable, it performed well with the 9-settings of pedal assist… the lower levels didn’t feel too abrupt or overpowering
• I appreciate that they mounted the kickstand at the rear of the frame so it won’t cause pedal lock, it didn’t collide with the disc brake rotor and didn’t cause heal-strike when I was riding, good job!
• Proven Reention battery pack design with quality LG cells, trusted Bafang hub motor should last and perform well (though it does produce more zip sound than some competing models), solid one year warranty with good customer support
• Suspension fork reduces wrist, arm, and shoulder fatigue when paired with the comfort saddle, grips, and slightly larger tires here… I was told that the Kenda tires have a puncture protection layer to reduce flats
• Rust resistant chain and sturdy alloy chainring guard should hold up well over time and in varied conditions, I’d love to see a full chainring guide, but didn’t have issues dropping the chain during my test rides
• Black spokes look great, notice the thicker 12 gauge rear spokes to support the motor and added weight of the optional rack, I like that the suspension fork is just matte black with no logos… the bike looks great for not costing a lot… good cable wrapping and internal routing
• Both brake levers have motor inhibitor cutoff switches for safety and I like the rubberized edge, even though they are a very affordable “Wuxing 5 Star” make/model, I also like the compact display because it provides plenty of readouts and lets you adjust settings
• It’s nice that the battery pack is removable and has a USB port built into the side so you can use it for backup power, it would also be nice to have a USB port up on the display so you could use it more easily while riding
• I was amazed that they offer free shipping in the contiguous USA and only charge $25 for Canada. They also shop to Hawaii and Alaska for just $125 extra and even Mexico… that’s kind of rare for electric bike companies because it requires more effort
• The throttle works at full power (up to 20mph / 32km/h) in assist level zero as well as all nine of the pedal assist modes… this is great for people who want help starting off and zipping up to speed regardless of their assist setting, it requires fewer button presses and feels empowering to me, it’s my favorite setup!
• One the one hand, having nine levels of assist requires extra button presses… but I like that the lower levels of assist feel more gentle and natural, and I think you can update the number of assist levels in the settings men, so you an take it to just 3 or 5 if you prefer that

Cons:

• As with many direct-online electric bikes, there is some assembly required here… you’ll need to mount the fork, add the spacers and stem, get the handlebar setup and then mount the front wheel, finishing with the seat post, saddle, and pedals… it would help to have a bike stand, some chain lubricant, some poly grease, and I’d expect it to take from one to three hours depending on your physical flexibility, strength, tools, and the setting. What you save on money here, you may spend in time and effort compared to some ready-to-ride models or shop ebikes
• Very basic freeewheel here with limited 14 to 28 tooth sprocket range, this limits your pedal cadence options and requires more effort to start in the lowest gear and faster pedaling to keep up in the highest (considering this is a speed pedelec). I was told that they are considering an 11-30 tooth cassette in the future
• While the bike is classified as “Class 3” speed pedelec, my experience was that it really topped out closer to 25mph unless you really pedal hard. That’s just fine for me, but don’t expect 28mph here or you’ll be disappointed
• One of the trade-offs with this, and many affordable ebikes, is the mechanical disc brakes with smaller 160mm rotors. They require more hand effort (especially the rear brake), and the cables can stretch and get gunked up over time compared to hydraulic disc brakes
• It’s hard to complain too much about this, but there isn’t a rear light… only a headlight. I love that the headlight is wired-in to run off of the main battery pack, it’s more of a “be seen” light, but isn’t all that bad
• My experience removing and then re-installing the battery pack was that I had to use the key to open the lock mechanism vs. just clicking it back in key-free… this required a bit more hand dexterity and coordination
• The right chainstay didn’t have a slap guard, so I noticed some nicks in the paint from the chain bouncing up and down while riding on bumpy sections at higher speeds (usually when the chain is on the smallest sprocket, closest to the chainstay)
• No bottle cage bosses on this frame, some competing bikes with similar frames have added them on top of the top tube but that can look a bit cluttered and if you actually use those bosses, the folding lock, bottle cage, or other accessory is in a vulnerable spot, raising the standover height and potentially racking you if you have to hop forward and off unexpectedly