Ride1UP 500 Series Review

Available in ST and XR frame types

The 500 Series by Ride1UP is one of the best value e-bikes on the market performing well above its entry-level price.

This bike is lightweight, maneuverable, and built to be comfortable over long distances on almost any terrain. The 500 series packs a powerful motor that assists riders over distances of 25-45 miles and up to 28mph.

Ride1UP’s 500 Series is undoubtedly a great choice for anybody who enjoys a premium ride feel without the hefty price tag. If you are in search of a stylish e-bike under $1,500, then look no further.

In this article, we will cover in detail each of this bike’s features, showing you why the 500 series has proven to be a top performer compared to every other bike in this price category.

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Table of Contents

1. Overview

2. Performance

3. Design & Features

4. Comparison

5. Conclusion

Overview – Ride1UP 500 Series

Ride1UP’s 500 Series comes with impressive components. This includes Suntour XCT fork suspension, mechanical disc brakes, Kenda Kwick Seven.5 reinforced puncture-resistant tires, and a powerful motor all packed into a lightweight frame that weighs an impressive 53lbs.

Both the XR and ST models of the 500 Series e-bike are supremely comfortable, using upright comfort-style geometry that ensures smooth and controlled riding in most conditions. Note that this bike comes in versions with or without a pannier rack and fenders.

Who Should Get the 500 Series?

Ride1UP clearly focuses on making the 500 Series a universally attractive choice in the electric bike market.

The bike is stylish, comfortable, and powerful enough for most users. The ST version is optimized as a smooth commuter or touring bike option, while the XR model is slightly more suitable for its maneuverability and performance on light trails.

Either way, the 500 Series is an excellent pick for any rider buying an electric bike for the first time or even upgrading from a basic, budget e-bike.

Performance

Motor and Battery

48V 13Ah removable integrated battery and 48V 2A charger.

The 500 Series electric bicycle helps you along with levels 0 to 9 of pedal-assist mode, up to impressive speeds of 28mph. If you feel like resting, you can still hit speeds of up to 20mph using just the throttle.

Even at such a low price, this bike has a perfectly acceptable battery capacity, with the ability to upgrade the battery as an extra purchase. Using its pre-installed 13Ah, 48V battery riders can expect full assistance between 25 to 45 miles in total while also powering an integrated LED headlight and LCD monitor. The distance depends on factors including the rider’s weight, weather conditions, terrain, and incline.

Brakes and Gearing

In terms of brakes, this bike performs well in all weather with high-quality Tektro mechanical disc brakes. These brakes are designed to handle high speeds achieved by the powerful motor. One advantage of these brakes is that they are easier to maintain at home and are less prone to failure than hydraulic alternatives.

The 500 Series uses the dependable Shimano Acera derailleur and shifters system with an 8-speed Shimano cassette. These components are functional and durable, offering a perfectly wide range of gears for users to choose from.

Rims and Tires

K-Shield Flat Protection. Reflective tape on the sidewall for better nighttime visibility. Premium quality comfort, commuting, or trekking tire.

Ride1UP takes care to include the best components possible while maintaining an unbeatable sale price. The rims used have the perfect strength to weight ratio using double-wall construction, providing excellent durability over time.

Additionally, a standout component on the 500 Series is the 650b Kenda Kwick Seven.5 27.5″ x 2.2″ tires. They integrate ceramic particles with the rubber to reinforce the tire. This innovative puncture resistance gives extra protection and provides riders with peace of mind while traveling over rough roads or on trails. The tire sidewalls also have extra reflective material to help you stay visible and safe.

Ride Quality

It is clear that the Ride1UP 500 Series MTB style electric bike over-delivers on its budget-friendly price tag, with a 4.9/5 star rating across 438+ user reviews.

Because of the careful consideration that has gone into component choice and design, this bike feels and performs as well as if not better than any of the competitors in its price range.

For us, there are two things that really highlight the 500 Series’ ride quality. The first is the lightweight, compact design which allows you to maneuver easily, making quick, sharp turns safely because of the grippy tires.

The second is the smoothness of riding. Wide tires, a Selle Royal Freeway memory foam saddle, front fork suspension, and upright comfort geometry all combine to deliver a premium ride. All this paired with great motor and battery mean you don’t need to break a sweat if you’re not in the mood.

Design and Features

Cockpit

On the cockpit, the 500 Series comes with a convenient handlebar-mounted LCD screen. This allows you to control your front headlight and pedaling assistance level. It also lets you keep an eye on ride metrics including speed and distance covered, as well as battery level so you know when to start heading home to charge.

Alongside the display on the left side is the thumb-operated throttle. Using this throttle you can reach speeds of up to 20mph.

See all the details about the display from the video above.

Dimensions and Sizing

Ride1UP categorizes their e-bikes as either XR or ST. Both models are the same, except for the frame dimensions, stem size, and handlebar shape.

The company optimizes the XR for performance and speed. However, the XR is still very comfortable and uses a moderately relaxed geometry common in hybrid or mountain bikes. Because of this, it uses a normal step-over top tube, as opposed to the more comfy step-through version. This style is suitable for users with heights of 5’5″ to 6’4″.

The ST version is optimized for comfort instead of performance. It does so with a convenient mount step-through frame, easier to reach cruiser-style handlebars with a longer stem, and slightly more upright frame geometry. This model is for riders of heights 5’1″ to 6-2″

To compare, the stand-over height of the XR is 28.5″ vs 15″ on the ST model. The reach to the handlebars is only 18″ on the ST, half a foot less than the XR at 24″.

Ride1UP 500 Size Recommendation

XR – 5’5″ – 6’4″
ST (Step-Through) – 5’1″ – 6-2″

Ride1UP 500 Series Comparison

Ride1UP 500 Series vs Rad Power Bikes Radcity vs Aventon Pace 500

500 series → RadCity 4 → Pace 500

As evident from the table below, all of the bikes are quite similar in the level of components.

However, given that the RadCity and Pace 500 are $350 or $250 more expensive respectively, it is our view that the 500 Series slightly edges the competition because of its price.

3 Key Differences

1. The RadCity is less powerful, providing only 20mph max speed, likely due to having the heaviest base weight.
2. The Pace 500 has better hydraulic disc brakes (although they are only slightly better than mechanical for the average user), but a lower battery size.
3. The 500 Series has nine pedal assist options compared to five in its competitors. 🏆

Other than these distinctions, the rest of the features are so similar that the choice may simply come down to the look of the bike, which we believe also goes to the Ride1UP bike. In the end, any of these bikes would be an excellent choice e-bike, competing well with any of the household names in the electric bike market.

Ride1UP Series vs Rad Power Bikes RadCity vs Aventon Pace 500

Other Ride1UP E-Bikes

Conclusion – Is Ride1UP 500 Series Worth the Money?

It’s clear to us that Ride1UP’s 500 Series electric bike would be a great buy for most e-bike riders, new or experienced. As the bike comes in a performance or comfort model, the bike can appeal to a wide variety of riding styles.  You can also buy the bike with or without fenders and a rear rack, depending on how you plan to ride.

This bike would be best suited for use on light trails, for commuting, or for bike touring trips. If you are hunting for your next e-bike, you will not be disappointed with the comfortable and durable 500 Series.

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About the Author

Jordan Grimes

Jordan Grimes is an avid cyclist who loves to travel and has found his bike to be perfect company on road trips in the USA, through national parks, and in countries such as Canada, Ireland, and Spain.

His passion for travel and work in the tourism and hospitality sector has allowed him to live in incredible places like Ireland, Canada, the USA, and the Cayman Islands. He has since relocated to southern Spain, where he works as a freelance writer, practicing Spanish and cycling in the famous Sierra Nevada mountains. He specializes in writing cycling blog articles, health and performance-related topics, and other informative pieces. You can contact him on Linkedin.