E-Bike Question of the Day ⚡ Why would you choose to ride a sportier fitting e-bike like the Roadster V2 over a more cruiser/comfort designed e-bike? Let us know in the comments below 👇🏼👇🏼👇🏼
This bike got to one my wish list after this review. Despite having a 0.8 mile 8% hill on my way home, I like the stealth look and light weight of the bike. What made a decisive factor is a the hill test in this video, saying it did power you up despite pedalling in a sitting position only. I am a road cyclist, but don't want to break sweat on my work commute - this bike looks like a great solution. Thank you guys for your detailed reviews - very helpful!
The majority of my bicycles look similar to this. I have a track bike, road bike, tri bike, aero road bike, endurance bike, and a mountain bike. Since I have a history of group rides and bike racing, this e-bike road bike doppelganger made sense to me as a avid cyclist who's recovering from injuries. Kudos!
I'm in love with this bike! It seems to be very sharp and it doesn't look like a spaceship. I keep thinking: If you happen to need/want to replace a part, like the seat or the breaks, you could do it yourself or in any neighbourhood shop, and i think thats nice
i'm a little confused as to how at max and min assist you got 16 mph average speed, with the mileage being 32 and 16 miles respectively. were you using twice as much effort on min assist?
Don't buy this bike. Spring for a better bike. Trust me on this. It has a malfunction. You can't ride it beyond a certain amount of miles. The cog and pulley DO NOT WORK. They strip the belt. And they do not honor the warranty. In fact they're sarcastic and passive aggressive if you even suggest they honor the warranty. I've never in my life seen a company behave this crappy. When you finally throw your hands up and tell them you'll just buy the belt. You don't care about the warranty. They send you links to why their belt doesn't work. Or how you can't climb hills. Or to parts you're not even asking for. And this is by design. They're just messing with you. These guys are testing the bikes very briefly. It's not a good bike or company. And God please don't rely on this bike or company if you're a courier. This is at best a backup bike if you're a courier. It's gonna break. And you'll be screwed. Perhaps screwed for quite a while.
I have a V2 Roadster, and I enjoy watching this review so much. I think I've watched this at least 5 times and the real world tests really make this a interesting video. Keep up the amazing reviews per usual. Kudos!
I bought the Roadster V2 based on this video review and it's been a nightmare to get it going. It came with at least 3 defects. 2 of them got fixed but the most major one (electronics not working) persists. Can't fault their tech support that's really trying to resolve this for me, but at the same time I'm pissed that a seemingly good bike had so many problems from the get go. I really need an e bike right now, so I would've gone with another model if I knew. If you're watching the video and decide to order the bike based on it, I wish that you're more fortunate than me. (Update: See below)
Update: I managed to fix the bike after several rounds of back and forth with the Ride1up support - turns out one of the components was defective! I feel like a bike mechanic now. In the end, Ride1up sent a replacement part that solved the problem. I love this bike and I thought the tech support person was super willing to help, but also, be warned, if you're unlucky, you may end up rummaging in the bike's guts for days, replacing the controller and the battery, or checking voltage with a multimeter. Definitely not something I expected to do.
When doing these reviews I think you should look into not only the bike but the customer service, access to battery, battery replacement, warranty follow up etc. These are pieces of information that are critical if buying online. Just my opinion.
Thank you for your review. A friend of mine was asking about ebikes tonight over dinner. And I was suggesting that he go onto YT and look for reviews. I decided to do a little research for him, and stumbled on this review. You sold me. I just ordered one. And the thing is, while I have some other budget ebikes (Ariel Rider D-class, Ariel Rider M-class, Juiced Hyperscorpion), most are just too heavy to use with a normal bike rack. I had been wanting something stealthy but often that is expensive. Your review convinced me that while this bike may make some compromises with cargo/comfort, it could still serve a great purpose as a take along bike for travel. So I hope to put it on the rear door of a camper van, and also use it on my daily commute. And at this price point, I don’t feel as vulnerable about losing it / damaging it as I probably would with some of the other stealthier ebikes out there. Cheers!
@@ElectricBikeReport I’m 150 miles into it. It’s been great. I’ve been gradually reducing power assist. (I noticed that PAS4/5 will deplete the battery quicker than i thought on level ground.) I use PAS3 to get over one particular half-mile hill. PAS1/2 on the street. I’m turning it off completely once i reach the greenway for exercise, which all along has been my motive with an ebike. I can get about 12-13 miles with the battery dropping one bar (due to that one long steep hill). I do recommend that folks spend some of the $ they saved to making the bike more tailored. New grips, handle bar stem, seat, mirror, kickstand, and lights won’t break the budget. The only concern i have with the bike is whether or not long stretches of no assist pedaling may harm the motor. I’m 240lbs, but the weight is coming off thanks to an ebike that’s keeping me honest. Thanks again for pointing me to the Roadster!
Great bike at an even better price. Question. How easy or difficult is it to pedal if the battery fully discharges and I'm still several miles from home? Thank you in advance for your answer.
Great review. Nothing wrong with rim brakes unless they are wet. I've riden 33lb bikes for 40years with rim clamps. Some are better than others, but they all stop you. Presently, I have the Ride1Up 700XR. So far, so good. The hydraulics on thatone will help you off the bike if you slap on the binders at full speed. And that's a 62lb machine. The thing is like a motorcycle. All that's missing is ABS.
Not sure I’m sold on the belt drive. The only advantage I see is that your pants don’t get grease on them if that’s a consideration as I’ve never had an issue with chain maintenance. On the other hand it leaves you with no gearing choices and is it more difficult to set up after removing the tire for repair? I’ve seen setting belt tension by audio frequency.
We purchased this Vivi 27.5” electric bike and a Tentaquil 26” electric bike for our 13 and 14 year olds. ru-vid.comUgkxUiL0GnyDjP32RJdd660sP8mZk4CRLTCJ The Vivi was much easier to put together. With the Vivi, there was a video link to assist with assembly which made the process easier to follow (we did put the handlebars on upside down, but it was a quick and easy fix). With the Tentaquil, the assembly was not as simple to follow, but after we messaged the company for an assembly video, it was easier and they did respond quickly. The other major differences were that the Vivi has a grip throttle on the right handle (like a motorcycle) and the Tentaquil has a push throttle that you use your thumb to activate. The monitors were also different, so if you’re looking for something specific in terms of changing the bikes functions, pay attention to what the monitor offers. We were really impressed with the overall quality and functionality of both bikes, but if you’re looking for more power and an easier assembly, definitely go with the Vivi!
We didn't put one on this bike. We have a few fixie purists on the team who can't bring themselves to put a kickstand on it. It's fairly light though so any well rated kickstand you find should do.
This bike kinda sucks. The wheels and tires it comes with are super cheap. Replacing the belt is literally impossible. This bike was designed for sales but not for reliability.
2:56 the problem with these open seat designs though is that on a hot day where you're riding with very short or no shorts, its surprisingly easy to get a testicle stuck in the seat, which is just embarrassing in public as you try to maneuver yourself at different angles just to dismount.
Amazing review! Will you be reviewing the FLX Babymaker2? It supposedly has a 70mile range, a minimal frame, and comes with a belt drive, which is an interest for me.
I would have chosen this as my first eBike if it could have handled my Clydesdale body. It's definitely on the top of my list for an inexpensive, simple, lightweight. belt drive design after I trim down.
Terrific review .. I bought the bike unfortunately to meet with some of the worst customer service I’ve ever encountered. ‘Steven’ informed me that a replacement for the display that came broken out of the box was not eligible for replace after 3 days (though they claim a one year warranty). That’s a lot of crap
@@fvvfvbbbb I added a stem riser and changed out the stem for the shortest one I could find. I put on swept back handlebars and a suspension seat post.
@@fvvfvbbbb I just realized that I didn't answer your 2nd question. It is now a pure joy to ride. The changes didn't take away from the basic nature of this bike at all. It is a wonderful bike to ride through the city and curves of my local bike paths.
Thanks for review appreciate did not want the whole thing most people everyone main top is how far will it go how fast it will go I did not watch the whole video got a little bored sorry
Ok I may sound dumb but I am ignorant to electric bikes. I saw an advertisement so I started looking into it and now I’m thinking about buying one, but I just don’t know. So, can I ride from one town to the next that’s 35 miles away? like how fast does it go? And is it just to help you if you get too tired after you ride a bike to get back or is it kinda like a scooter where you ride it instead of driving a car to get to the store??? Please help anyone
Our E-Bike Buyer's Guide answers all of these questions (see electricbikereport.com/how-to-buy-an-electric-bike/). . E-bikes can be complicated but we're here to help!
Which bike recommend overall Ariel rider ride 1 up, Lectric lite radmission, aventon what did I miss. I'm think want single speed but not sure. Aventon makes stealthy 7 speed. Not sure what's best 1 Guess it depends. Factors-price, range on 1 charge, how they ride, want 1 that can do most work vs 1 that needs a good bit of pedaling? Any input from you all is appreciated. Which will last the longest. I think one that can remove battery if run out charge and put 2nd battery in would be good unless the range on just 1 battery is significant-say like 25 miles or more.
Don't buy this bike. If you wanna see screenshots of how this company treats customers I'll provide them. So long as I have no reason to believe it is the company requesting them.
Great review. This bike is a class III ebike, when you were riding at level 5 in the circuit I’m surprised your speed was well under the 24 mph that they advertise. Do you spin like crazy with no resistance when you are getting up to 24 mph?
Thanks! 👍 We actually see very few bikes average close to their max assisted speed during the circuit tests (a small hill and four corners slow things down a bit). Our current all-time quickest lap on the circuit, for example, is a 26 mph average from a 750W mid-drive Class 3 e-bike, so the Roadster’s result is right around what we were expecting. Its gearing feels nice at 24 mph; you’re not spinning out and you’ve actually got plenty bite left in the gear to pedal beyond the motor’s 24 mph max, but you’ll be totally human powered past that mark. A side note: Be careful when looking at an e-bike’s class rating or its advertised maximum assisted speed because those numbers often do not equate to how fast a bike will cruise in real life. That’s not to say there aren’t bikes that won’t happily sustain 28 mph (or 24 mph in the case of the Roadster), but usually, those figures are communicating what legal category that particular bike fits into - not its average speed. The Roadster, for example, is a Class 3 e-bike because its motor will apply power up to 24 mph, not because it will sustain 24 mph. I personally found it liked to clip along at 21 mph at max assist, but keep in mind that results will change from person to person depending on body type, how they pedal and a myriad of other variables. In short: E-bike classes tell you where you can ride your bike, not how fast it will go.
@@ElectricBikeReport hold the "M" key for 10 seconds, and you can raise the assist to 28 mph. I'm 6'4" 280 lbs, so I've never seen it, but a normal sized rider might.
My LMT’d got stolen recently and while searching various places online to try to find it, I came across a mildly, used Roadster. I freakin’ love this bike and while I wish I had my LMT’d back, that’s mostly because of all the money I invested into it. The roadster fits me and my current lifestyle much better
That is the sort of bike you take a can of spray paint to to ugly it up a bit put a ripped but comfy seat on it and wrap some electrical tape around the grip or just tear up the end of the grip beat the hell out of the pedals so it looks like its a cheap beat up old thing and no one even takes a second glance at it. Maybe put a bunch of random stickers on it. Let them think its an old pos department store bike while it sits on a bike rack. Really cant wait until battery tech advances enough to get more power out of smaller cheaper batteries.
Yo Sam, great review! I was definitely sold on the geometric shape of the bike beforehand. But now after watching your video and learning about all the goodness, I'm sold.
Very nice video, good lighting and the drone footage~~saw this bike last black friday and I know this is my bike. However, bought lectric xp instead bc my wife also need to ride the ebike..I will wait for the V3..
Sam several modification questions: Motor cut outs for Brakes have you looked at adding these? Adding a bottle bracket battery for a additional range? Changing out the front wheels for a lightweight one? Carbon Fiber Fork and handlebars to handle the pavement buzz and also lose a bit of bicycle weight?
@@ElectricBikeReport ty ty, great vid, I think I'm gonna pull the trigger on the bike, I am in NYC and I mess around all day, so this might be just the thing... Can you also if you have a chance clarify whether, when on no assist (dead batt mode baically) like if it handles basically like a single speed on flats? Like if I used it primarily off assist and just used assist when needed, if it works for someone who'd be on it for like 8 hours at a time? lol thx!
At this time it doesn't look like Ride1UP ships to Europe, but they do recommend considering a shipping forwarder. support.ride1up.com/support/solutions/articles/65000167612-shipping-questions-for-your-ride1up-electric-bike We always recommend reaching out to the manufacturer to let them know there is interest in Europe to help get their bikes shipped there in the future.
It's a real shame you can't buy this in the uk, this would do really well over here and would make an ideal commuter bike. I would buy one tomorrow. Shipping to the UK for this bike is around £500 if you include insurance compensation for £1000. Making it economically unviable and the warranty is only valid in the US, so any problems you're on your own, so no longer an affordable e bike. (better off buying a cowboy or van moof).
@@mr.eproductions1160 are all the shipping forwarders that expensive? I have been looking at shop usa (the one suggested by the bike brand) and it looks cheap and trustworthy.
I would like to see a side by side compare between Ride1Up vs Babymaker. They seem very similar but have a $500-$750 price difference. I learned a long time ago that you get what you pay for -- but on the surface i cant tell why Babymaker gets the premium.
We haven't gotten our hands on the Babymaker yet, unfortunately. So we couldn't speak to why there is such a price difference. You can always send them a message letting them know you'd like Electric Bike Report to review their bike. It helps us bring them in when they hear from riders such as yourself.
For the money you gotta go with the core 5 instead. Bought one for a friend and after riding it i immediately bought one for myself and no longer ride my aventon sinch
Probably not ideal. Something with gearing options, or a motor that kicks in more assist would likely be better. You can check out R1UPs 500 series or core-5 if the brand has caught your eye though.
It's a little niche. Something this lightweight makes for an excellent city bike, or for those who just prefer replacing all quick drives with a nice little ride. But yeah, the 16 miles won't be for everybody.
I have a question I'm having a hard time finding an answer to. When riding with NO assist, to conserve battery, how much harder is it to pedal than a regular 30lb single speed bike. I have a 25 mile commute. Thanks.
I have the Roadster v2 myself. It's a fairly high gear to ride on without power assist. If you have lots of hills in your commute, you'll definitely have to put in a lot of effort. Ride1Up came out with a external battery attachment recently, which will extended the range. Will be back in stock in November
I like the bike. An unnamed belt drive brand concerns me. Ride1up does not offer replacements. Knowing the brand may also open up custom gearing options. It’s slow enough that it should be a class 1.
The brand is Toptrans. While certainly not a gates belt, the company appears to be a well established Taiwanese manufacturer that has mainly focused on industrial applications, but including some big names like continental and hutchinson. So I'm fairly confident it'll be reasonably durable. Hopefully ride1up starts selling them separately though
@napilopes said it very well! Toptrans is not a no-name company. We agree that hopefully Ride1UP offers replacements in the future. Fortunately, belts typically last longer than chains so worrying about replacement should be quite a ways down the road.
Great review for this and the Core 5, thank you! Of the two, which would you choose for a for a 5'5" gal who is a long-lapsed road cyclist (so the more aggressive riding position of the Rv2 is not a drawback, possibly even a plus) looking for a first ebike for recreational/commuter/fitness use in St George?
If you don't view the riding position as a drawback and you do want some fitness the Roadster might be a great choice for you. It doesn't have the top end speed of the Core 5, but you can definitely still get good assistance when needed. Several lovers of fixies on the EBR team. We're a tiny bit biased that direction :)
