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Serial 1 RUSH/CTY Step-Thru Review

2022 Serial 1 Rush Cty Step Thru Electric Bike Review

2022 Serial 1 Rush Cty Step Thru Bottom Bracket Cranks Harley Davidson Sticker

2022 Serial 1 Rush Cty Step Thru 529wh Battery Pack Removed

2022 Serial 1 Rush Cty Step Thru Low Rise Handlebar Ergo Grips Bell Display

2022 Serial 1 Rush Cty Step Thru Transflective Lcd Display

2022 Serial 1 Rush Cty Step Thru Adjustable Kickstand Rear Rack Active Saddle

2022 Serial 1 Rush Cty Step Thru Brose Mid Drive Motor S Mag

2022 Serial 1 Rush Cty Step Thru Enviolo Automatiq Cvt

2022 Serial 1 Rush Cty Step Thru Front Fender And Rack

2022 Serial 1 Rush Cty Step Thru Gates Carbon Drive Belt Drivetrain

2022 Serial 1 Rush Cty Step Thru Left Side

2022 Serial 1 Rush Cty Step Thru Modular Battery 529wh

2022 Serial 1 Rush Cty Step Thru Reflective Schwalbe Tires Front Rack Rigid Fork

2022 Serial 1 Rush Cty Step Thru Trp Hydraulic Disc Brakes 203mm Rotors

2022 Serial 1 Rush Cty Step Thru 4 Amp Battery Charger With Proprietary Plug

2022 Serial 1 Rush Cty Step Thru 42 Volt Ebike Charger

An approachable step-thru city electric bike, available in two color schemes and three frame sizes. Feature complete with wide plastic fenders, minimalist racks for pannier bags, and bright integrated lights. The headlight is sturdy, and well positioned. The proprietary rear lights are visible from multiple angles, and go bright based on accelerometer feedback when stopping!
High volume Schwalbe tires provide improved stability, vibration dampening, and overall comfort with a lower attack angle. They offer puncture protection, and reflective sidewalls for improved durability and safety. Wide Boost hub spacing provides sturdier spoke bracing angle, and thick axles improve overall toughness and stiffness. Name-brand Praxis crank arms.
Excellent kickstand is adjustable without tools. Comfortable saddle has an integrated handle at the rear for easy lifting. Locking ergonomic grips look and feel great. Wires and cables are especially well hidden through the handlebar, stem, and frame. Speed sensor and magnet are hidden and protected at rear wheel. Locking Glovebox storage compartment on downtube is handy. Unique SIM chip for security and GPS with Google maps integration is very cool.
Lower 10kg 22lb weight capacity on front and rear racks may limit use, not compatible with child seat. Chunky bottom bracket design keeps weight low but isn't as aesthetically pleasing. Charging port and locking cylinder positioned very low on the left side, in the path of the crank arm. Enviolo hub increases weight and price, optional app required to adjust cadence. After two years, subscription is required to continue SIM chip use for tracking and security.

Make:

Serial 1

Model:

RUSH/CTY Step-Thru

Price:

$4,999

Body Position:

Forward

Suggested Use:

Urban, Commuting

Electric Bike Class:

Pedal Assist (Class 1)

Learn more about Ebike classes

Warranty:

Two Year Comprehensive, 5 Year Frame

Availability:

United States, Canada, Europe

Model Year:

2022

Total Weight:

60.5 lbs (27.44 kg)

Battery Weight:

6.2 lbs (2.81 kg) (Optional 706wh 8.4lbs)

Motor Weight:

6.56 lbs (2.97 kg)

Frame Material:

Aluminum Alloy

Frame Sizes:

15 in (38.1 cm)18 in (45.72 cm)20 in (50.8 cm)

Geometry Measurements:

Medium: 17.75" Seat Tube, 22.5" Top Tube, 16" Reach, 17.5" Standover Height, 31" Minimum Saddle Height, 25.75" Width, 45.75" Wheelbase, 75.5" Length

Frame Types:

Step-Thru

Frame Colors:

Gloss Serene Blue with Matte Black Accents, Gloss Black with Matte Black Accents

Frame Fork Details:

Rigid Aluminum Allow, Boost 110mm Hub Spacing, 15mm Thru-Axle 5mm Hex Bolt

Frame Rear Details:

Boost 148mm Hub Spacing, 12mm Thru-Axle with 5mm Hex Bolts

Attachment Points:

Rear Rack Bosses, Fender Bosses

Gearing Details:

1 Speed 1x∞ Enviolo AUTOMATiQ Continuously Variable Transmission 380° Gear Range Equivalent to 11-42 Tooth Cassette (Fully Automatic Electronic Shifting System), 22 Tooth Rear Cog

Shifter Details:

Optional Enviolo Automatiq Control Pad, Optional Enviolo Smartphone App to Adjust Pedal Cadence or Gear Ratio Equivalent

Cranks:

Praxis Aluminum Alloy 170mm Crank Arms, 50 Tooth Chainring Gates Carbon CDX Chainring, Plastic Chainring Guard

Pedals:

Wellgo Aluminum Alloy BMX, Black

Headset:

Integrated, Sealed Cartridge, Tapered 1-1/8" to 1-1/2"

Stem:

Proprietary, 75mm Length, 0° Rise, 31.8mm Diameter, One 5mm Spacer, One 10mm Tapered Base Spacer

Handlebar:

Aluminum Alloy, Low-Rise, 650mm Length

Brake Details:

TRP Hydraulic Disc with 203mm x 2.3mm Heavy Duty Rotors, Quad Piston Calipers, Three Finger Levers with Adjustable Reach

Grips:

Rubber, Ergonomic, Inner Lock Ring

Saddle:

Active Saddle with Integrated Handle, CroMo Rails

Seat Post:

Aluminum Alloy, Dual-Bolt Integrated Clamp

Seat Post Length:

350 mm

Seat Post Diameter:

27.2 mm

Rims:

Double Wall, Aluminum Alloy, 584x35, Tubeless Ready, 28 Hole Front, 32 Hole Rear

Spokes:

Sapim Stainless Steel, 14 Gauge, Adjustable Nipples, Black

Tire Brand:

Schwalbe Super Moto-X, 27.5" x 2.8"

Wheel Sizes:

27.5 in (69.85cm)

Tire Details:

Schwalbe 30 to 55 PSI, Performance GreenGuard Puncture Resistant, Reflective Sidewall Stripe

Tube Details:

Presta Valve

Accessories:

Serial 1 Badge Running Light, Integrated BAF Headlight (900 Lumens, Aimable, Alloy Housing), Integrated Rear Light with Brake Activation (Accelerometer Activated, 2 LED), Flick Bell Near Right Grip, Custom Plastic Fenders with Rack Support (76.5mm Width), Front Rack (10kg 22lb Max Load), Rear Rack (10kg 22lb Max Load, Bungee Loops), Tool Free Adjustable Length Kickstand

Other:

1.9lb 42 Volt 4 Amp Charger, Max Weight Limit 275lbs, ABUS Keyset with Plus Code for Keyed Alike

Motor Brand:

Brose S Mag (Magnesium)

Motor Type:

Mid-Mounted Geared Motor

Learn more about Ebike motors

Motor Nominal Output:

250 watts

Motor Peak Output:

750 watts

Motor Torque:

90 Newton meters

Battery Brand:

21700 Cell Size

Battery Voltage:

36 volts

Battery Amp Hours:

15 ah

Battery Watt Hours:

529 wh

Battery Chemistry:

Lithium-ion

Charge Time:

4.7 hours

Estimated Min Range:

35 miles (56 km)

Estimated Max Range:

105 miles (169 km)

Display Type:

Brose Display Allround Transflective 1.5" Color LCD Display Control Pad, Fixed, Buttons: Power, Select, Lights, +, -, Walk Mode, Lights: Press Light Button, Walk Mode: Hold Walk Button Then Hold - Button

Readouts:

Lights Indicator, Charge Level Indicator (5 Bars), Current Speed (MPH or KMH), Assist Level (Off, Eco, Tour, Sport, Boost), Trip Time, Trip Distance, Avg Speed, Max Speed, Odometer, Clock, Walk Mode Indicator

Display Accessories:

Light Sensor on Control Pad, 4 Bar Charge Level LED Indicator on Battery, Optional Serial 1 Smartphone App (iOS, Android), Optional Enviolo Smartphone App to Adjust Pedal Cadence or Gear Ratio Equivalent (iOS, Android), 5 Volt 2 Amp USB-C Charging Cable at Stem

Drive Mode:

Advanced Pedal Assist (Measures Rear Wheel Speed, Pedal Cadence, Pedal Torque)

Top Speed:

20 mph (32 kph)

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Make or Model

Model Year

Body Position

Suggested Use

Frame Type

Drive Mode

Availability

Price Range

$0 (0 €)$18,000 (16,920 €)

Total Weight

0 lbs (0 kg)227 lbs (103 kg)

Top Speed

0 mph (0.0 km/hr)50 mph (80.5 km/hr)

Battery Watt Hrs

0 watt3,456 watt

Frame Size

0 in (0.00 cm)432 in (1,097.28 cm)

Motor Power

0 Newton meters250 Nm

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This review was provided for free using a demo bike. My goal is to be transparent and unbiased with you, this video and writeup are not meant to be an endorsement of Serial 1 products. I welcome your corrections, additions, and feedback in the comments below, and the Serial 1 electric bike forums.

Observations:

The Serial 1 brand name is a reference to the first Harley Davidson motorbike called the Serial Number One, which was a pedal start moped. The brand is actually a Spinoff from Harley Davidson, which remains a stakeholder, and they operate independently. You can find Serial 1 ebikes being sold through many physical Harley Davidson dealers, over 120 independent ebike shops (including Reckless Shipyards in North Vancouver where I filmed) or buy them direct online.
Serial 1 has a special partnership with Google, using their Cloud AI, SIM chip, and mapping technology. This allows for accurate GPS mapping with street and bike path data, as well as security features like bike tracking and remote disable with flashing lights. The service is free for two years, then requires a service fee. You’ll need the Serial 1 smartphone app to fully utilize these features. Note that these features were not available on the 2021 models, and I was told that those older ebikes cannot be retrofitted. The best way to tell 2022 models and beyond is that they will have a USB-C cable at the stem.
The RUSH/CTY model originally came in both high-step and step-thru in 2021, but in 2022 they discontinued the high-step version. However, you can get a high-step RUSH/CTY Speed that is more expensive because it’s Class 3 and goes faster.

Pros:

The bike looks amazing, very professional and refined. Notice the premium paint and two color choices, the black highlights that make the frame look thinner, the hidden wires that route through the handlebar, stem, and body.
It comes with everything you need for riding in all sorts of conditions. The plastic fenders are sturdy, relatively quiet, and wide and long enough to provide good coverage. The lights are bright, visible from multiple angles, and run off the main battery pack. The tires are puncture resistant and have reflective sidewall stripes!
Many ebikes come with a rear rack, but this one also has a front rack! I think they would work well for trunk bags and panniers, but the rear rack also has a bungee loop for a simple tie down. Note that overloading the front rack could impact steering because it’s fork mounted vs. steer tube mounted.
The weight isn’t too bad at roughly 27kg 60lbs considering it includes so many accessories, is using a CVT hub, and has Boost hub spacing with plus sized tires. The weight is positioned lower and more centrally than most other ebikes I’ve tested. It’s sturdy, stable, and compliant.
It’s easy to miss if you don’t know bicycle brands and parts, but the Praxis crank arms, Sapim spokes, locking ergonomic grips, tool-free adjustable kickstand, Wellgo platform pedals, and sealed saddle with integrated handle are all upgrades that improve durability and ride quality.
The Gates Carbon Drive belt is quieter, cleaner, and more durable than a traditional chain. The way it’s configured, the frame tubing and right chainstay act as a chain cover, protecting pant legs or dress ends from touching and snagging. Serial 1 was smart about their frame design, they configured it with a belt drive in mind so there’s no break in the frame to get it on, instead the rear dropouts hang lower than the seat stay. This improves strength and frame stiffness.
Wires and cables are almost completely hidden, being routed through the handlebar, stem, and main body of the frame. This looks beautiful, but also reduces snags. Note the headset has oversteer protection, so you can’t twist it all the way around and strain or break the cables inside! This is an awesome little touch that would be easy to miss.
Serial 1 was creative with the frame design, adding a little “Glovebox” compartment above the battery bay. It’s fairly large, and locks securely with the same key as the battery. This would be a great place to stow a lightweight jacket, tool set, folding lock, and anything else you’d like to bring along for utility or safety!
I love that the bike comes in three frame sizes! This improves fit and makes riding more comfortable. Apparently the entire frame and parts like the handlebar scale up, so it feels “right sized” at each level.
The motor is extremely quiet and smooth. It uses a Gates Belt Drive inside, so there’s less whirring and buzzing than some competing products. It activates and rides smoothly too, because of the multiple sensors (rear wheel speed, pedal cadence, and pedal torque). Note the rear wheel sensor and magnet are tucked in near the disc brake rotor vs. using an exposed spoke magnet.
In my opinion, the brakes are overkill for a Class 1 city model like this, but they just used the same ones as the Class 3 RUSH/CTY Speed… and that’s a good thing! The larger rotors and longer quad piston calipers provide leverage and cooling benefits, the adjustable reach levers will fit a wider range of hands, which pairs nicely with the multiple frame sizes.
The headlight is excellent! It’s large and bright, putting out 900 lumens, and the housing is sturdy aluminum alloy. I love that the mounted it high and center on the stem/handlebar area. It’s easier to see up there, isn’t blocked by the fender or rack (or a small trunk bag if you mounted on there), and points where you steer.
In addition to the headlight, there’s also a “running light” head tube badge. This increases your visual footprint because it’s more visible from the sides than the headlight itself, which does not have side cutouts like some other lights I’ve seen.
The battery pack design is modular, so you could always upgrade from the 529 watt hour to 706wh for roughly $1,100 to increase your range… or you could share batteries between family members. I was told that Serial 1 is using the fanciest cells available, the 21700 size that are high density (so lighter without taking as much space).
I am glad that Serial 1 chose a fancier display for this model than the MOSH/CTY, because it’s easier to read and provides a lot more feedback. There are dedicated buttons for the lights, it has walk mode, and the transflective LCD is easier to read in bright conditions than the tiny LEDs on the other model. It’s easy to reach, and the buttons are intuitive once you explore it a bit, so you can press to change assist levels without looking down.
The Google partnership for maps on the optional smartphone app means you get some of the best routing data, including bike paths and greenways. The remote locking and tracking system should increase your chances of recovering the bike if it gets stolen.
The battery charger is great, offering higher speed 4 amp output, and the right angle plug won’t get snagged by the left crank arm when it’s plugged in. It’s also fairly compact and light, feels very solid for the performance level.
Serial 1 has a great warranty with two years comprehensive, five years on the frame, and since they have a wide range of products sharing similar parts (battery, fenders, racks, displays, chargers) I suspect they will have some longevity and repairability.

Cons:

To me, the frame looks a bit chunky at the bottom bracket area. Serial 1 designed a modular battery pack that sits lower on the frame, and I think this contributes to the aesthetic. In short, this line of ebikes isn’t as stealthy as some of the competing products I see… but the upside is that more weight is positioned low.
Both the charging port and locking cylinder to release the battery are located low on the left side of the downtube, very close to the left crank arm. In my experience, they require more energy and flexibility to reach… and it’s easy to bump your head on the left handlebar when getting back up. I noticed the rubberized cover for the charge port can be a little tricky to line up and set.
It appears that the only Serial 1 ebike model that includes bottle cage bosses is the SWITCH/MTN. I like having these mounting points to make it easy to bring fluids or mount a folding lock… but at least the RUSH/CTY models have racks and a little cubby “Glovebox” that could be used . Consider a handlebar cup holder or trunk bag with bottle holder as an alternative.
The Enviolo Automatiq is preconfigured to offer a 75 RPM target cadence, which I find a bit slow. In order to change this, you have to download the Enviolo app vs. having a physical shifter like most traditional bicycles. This is in addition to the Serial 1 smartphone app for mapping and ride stats.
The LCD display panel that comes with the bike is called the Brose Allround. It shows battery charge level, but isn’t super precise (5 bars vs. percentage), and doesn’t have a range estimate tool built in. I appreciate that it’s color and transflective, making it easier to read in bright conditions, but it is fairly small and could be difficult to read for some riders.
The rear lights are positioned very low on the frame, which could make them harder for cars to see. I have a helmet with a built in light and often attach another light to my backpack to be extra safe. At least the rear lights both have two LEDs, are visible from the sides, and go bright when the accelerometers detect that you’re stopping!
Although this model comes with two integrated racks, they both have relatively low 10kg 22lb weight ratings. The rear rack also specifies that it is not designed to support child carriers. While these racks look clean and help to support the fenders, I feel like some utility is being lost compared to other products I’ve tested.
Because Serial 1 is connected to Harley Davidson, they have a relatively large network of “dealers” but they also sell online and ship direct. If you go this second route, there will be some unboxing and assembly involved. Also, since the bikes are very proprietary, it might be difficult to get parts and service from traditional shops. Even if a Harley dealership is nearby, I wonder if they have the tools and support staff to handle bicycles at this stage?
I love that the bike is using a fancier locking core from ABUS, and the keys can be matched to other lock accessories! However, I asked if Serial 1 sells pre-configured locks and was told “you have to do that through a 3rd-party ABUS retailer, as we are not currently set up to sell those locks” but they did provide a link with instructions here.
It sounds like you’ll need a 2022 or later model to get the USB-C port, SIM chip, and smartphone app compatibility. I would double check for this at time of purchase if you’re buying from a dealership, make sure it has the USB-C port at the stem, because this adds a lot of utility.
The bike is fully rigid, there’s no suspension fork or seat post suspension here. The benefits are lower cost, improved stiffness, and reduced weight. They chose high volume “plus sized” tires to dampen vibration and improve ride quality, but you’ll have to spend extra on your own to get more comfort. Consider any 27.2mm suspension seatpost if you have a sensitive back, shoulders, or neck, but note that it will raise the minimum saddle height by a few inches.

Useful Resources:

January 29, 2024 (11 months ago)

Serial 1 MOSH/CTY Review

MSRP: $3,799
MODEL YEAR: 2022

A single speed city cruiser electric bike available in two color schemes and four frame sizes. Includes a premium integrated headlight offering 900 lumens, and two integrated tail lights with accelerometer based bright mode for braking. BMX inspired decals, approachable sloped top tube, reinforcement bar and gusset for added strength.. High volume Kenda or Schwalbe tires provide improved stability, vibration dampening, and overall comfort with…...

Read Review

Serial 1 RUSH/CTY Speed Review

MSRP: $5,599
MODEL YEAR: 2022

A dynamic Class 3 electric bike available in two color schemes and four frame sizes. Feature complete with wide plastic fenders, minimalist racks for pannier bags, and bright integrated lights. The headlight is sturdy, and well positioned. The proprietary rear lights are visible from multiple angles, and go bright based on accelerometer feedback when stopping!. High volume Schwalbe tires provide improved stability, vibration dampening, and overall comfort with a lower…...

kmaruska

2 years ago

Really HD… Class 1? Are you practicing defensive development such that your ebikes don’t move too many riders from motorcycles to ebikes for urban mobility. GM did that with their Ariv ebikes and look how well that went for them. I know it’s hard but you have to keep marketing and bean counters away from design decisions.

Court

Most of their models are Class 1, but they do have the RUSH/CTY Speed that is Class 3. It’s very similar to the step-thru but comes in one additional frame size, is a high-step, and costs a bit more. By the way, I’m publishing the video to go along with this review in the next hour or so. You can see the RUSH/CTY Speed in some of the shots, and I’ll have a full review of it up in a few more days :)

kenM

These ebikes do look really nice and are smartly configured. While I’m not fan of the 3 class state regulation system it’s nice to see HD having a Class 3 option.

Robert Kyhn

Good review Court. I have a 2021 Rush Cty Speed and agree with all of your comments (Pros/Cons) about Serial 1. I’ve put 3K miles on it in less than a year (I ride 6K miles per year total) and the Serial 1 has been solid and maintenance free as advertised. I use the Serial 1 for recreational riding with family and friends so the default cadence works fine for me, but when I let others ride it they complain about ghost pedaling due to the cadence being too high. As the adjustment is only through the time consuming Enviolo App and requires bluetooth pairing, It isn’t the “anyone can hop on and ride” bike I thought it would be.

The “new version” 2022’s ride app was “in development” and promised to me by Serial 1 support before I bought it. Their questionable decision to not make the app backwards compatible with the original models and their deception about it was disturbing.

So yes, I’m happy with the form and function of the bike and I think HD (Serial 1) almost got it right. But it has turned out to be literally useless for one of it’s intended use cases which was to let other less serious riders hop on it and ride. This is due to the difficulty in changing the default cadence. Not having the cadence set right changes riding the Serial 1 from a very pleasurable experience, to a I really don’t like it type bike ride experience and unfortunately that limits my intended use case for the bike e.g. letting others ride this otherwise very easy to ride, shift free ebike.

My other ebike is a 2019 Riese & Muller Delite GX dual battery Rohloff equipped, 100 mile range bike and no one but me gets to ride that bike. :-)

Hi Robert! Yeah, it was interesting to learn that the 2021 models did not have the USB-C or SIM chip and app compatibility. I think Serial 1 did an excellent job out of the gate, but the cadence adjustment is something I noticed and was important to me. I would be using the Enviolo app to adjust it. I can see why you keep the R&M Delite GX to yourself, that’s a beautiful (expensive) model. Good choice! Thanks for sharing your perspective with us here, I hope your RUSH/CTY Speed gets some love and use, or maybe it’s time to sell and get the newer version to share with friends?

I suppose it appears I have champagne taste but actually, I was able to get the R&M (floor model) for slightly over half of the retail price. Considering the nice Black Friday $1,000 discount on the Serial 1, you must agree I am at minimum an astute shopper of expensive things :-).

If I sell the Serial 1 (and I might) it will be to get a bigger fat tire ebike I can ride on sand and trail as my backup bike. I’ve had that type bike it in the past and it was really fun to ride but it annoyed traditional cyclists. Currently riding two fast, capable throttle less ebikes that are more stealth, I think it would fun to start annoying those cyclists again a big, powerful fat tire bike.