2019 Ride1Up 700 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 third and most expensive model that Ride1Up launched, the company began in September 2018 and has grown quickly. They sold electric skateboards for a time but decided to stop and focus on ebikes
• The 700 Series comes in two frame colors with black accents, they offer it in high-step and step-thru with 19″ and 16″ frame sizes respectively, the handlebar, stem, and pedals are different between the two bikes
• 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:

• Low price is one of the big draws for Ride1Up and I feel that their $1,449 price point is a great value considering the two frame styles and integrated battery design, 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
• Trusted Samsung battery cells, name-brand Shimano derailleur and hydraulic disc brakes, premium Schwalbe Super Moto-X tires with puncture protection lining, solid one year warranty with good customer support (based on feedback from owner comments on YouTube and the EBR Forums)
• Suspension fork reduces wrist, arm, and shoulder fatigue when paired with the comfort saddle, grips, and slightly larger 2.4″ tires here, I like that this fork has black stanchions to match the look of the bike, that it doesn’t have branding stickers on it, and that it offers progressive compression adjust with lockout
• Nicer rims on this model help to support the wider tires, they match the black spokes beautifully and tie in with the back hub and hub motor just like the black fork
• Rust resistant chain and sturdy alloy chainring guard should hold up well over time, I’d love to see a full chainring guide to prevent drops, but didn’t have issues during my test rides
• Both brake levers have motor inhibitor cutoff switches for safety, this is important since cadence sensors often delay a bit when you stop pedaling and the motor is fairly powerful
• Very cool display panel, I didn’t think I’d like it at first, but the readouts are engaging and it’s easy to read in bright sunlight, you can set a password and there’s even some haptic buzzing and gentle noises when you interact with it… I didn’t find the noises annoying but there is a way to shut them off in the settings!
• It’s nice that the battery pack is removable, to reduce weight, the new Reention Rhino looks great in the downtube and lowers the standover height of the step-thru model
• 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
• Decent drivetrain, the 11-32 tooth freewheel is rust resistant and provides a good range of pedal speeds for starting, climbing, or riding at higher speeds, which is great because this ebike can get up to ~27mph in the highest level of assist
• Great accessories, this ebike comes with everything you need for commuting including wide sturdy aluminum alloy fenders, a nice rack with triple bungee strap and pannier rods, and integrated front and rear lights
• I like that the 700 Series has bottle cage bosses on both frames, this is a feature that was missing for the 500 series and it’s just so handy to be able to reach fluids when riding… or use it for a folding lock or mini pump etc.
• The motor on the 700 series can get up to ~27 mph compared to the 500 series, which tops out around 25 mph, it also peaks around 1,000 watts vs. 750 watts and uses a 22 amp controller vs. 18 amps… simply put, it’s more powerful and faster, but it does still produce some zipping noises so maybe it uses a square wave controller? I appreciate that the motor is about the same weight and size, it’s a perfect choice for this bike
• The minimum saddle height on the step-thru frame is very low at ~31″ for people who actually want to be able to stand-over the saddle when mounting or stopping at lights and stop signs etc. just loosen the bolts in the bottle cage mount to go all the way down… I like that the rear rack is far enough back not to block it
• The battery charging port and locking cylinder are mounted high up on the side of the frame, so you don’t have to bend way over to reach them, and they won’t get bumped by the pedals or cranks as easily. Nice job there!

Cons:

• The center-mount kickstand is adjustable and keeps the bike stable, but it can cause pedal lock if you’re moving the bike with it down, I tend to prefer rear mounted kickstands… especially if there’s a rear rack that could be loaded up with gear
• No USB charging ports on this ebike, which is too bad given the higher capacity 672 watt hour battery pack, the more affordable 500 Series model from Ride1Up does have a USB port built into the side of its battery pack
• As with many direct-online electric bikes, there is some assembly required here (more than average)… you’ll need to mount the fork, add the spacers and stem, get the handlebar straight and then mount the front wheel, the front fender, 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
• Minor complaint, the lever that shifts gears higher is a one-way design, so you must pull it with your pointer finger vs. being able to push it with your thumb… Shimano does offer a shifter that allows both levers to be actuated with your thumb and that’s my preference, but it probably costs more and could raise the price of this ebike
• While the bike is classified as “Class 3” speed pedelec, my experience was that it really topped out closer to 27mph unless you really pedal hard. That’s just fine for me, it’s close enough, and it’s actually faster than the cheaper 500 Series which only reaches ~25mph in the highest level of assist
• I love that the bike offers hydraulic disc brakes, but the rotors are average size at 160mm. Given the higher weight of 62.2lbs and higher top speeds, I think a larger 180mm front rotor would cool faster and provide improved stopping power
• Minor consideration here, the lights are more “be seen” than truly lighting the path, still, I was impressed with how well the headlight performed during the night ride of this review
• My experience removing and then re-installing the battery pack was that I had to use both hands and turn the front wheel slightly, it’s a tight fit due to the larger tires and front fender… the fenders are quiet and wide, but the front one didn’t go down as far as it could to truly protect feet and ankles in wet conditions
• The right chainstay didn’t have a slap guard, so it could get some chips in the paint over time 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)
• The display panel doesn’t go dim when you activate the lights, you can enter into the settings by holding M and then manually lower the brightness, but this takes time and effort vs. being automatic like some other displays I’ve seen
• The step-thru frame isn’t as stiff as the high step, so you could experience a bit of frame flex if you’re a heavier rider and have that rear rack loaded up, I didn’t notice any speed wobble though