Ride1Up 500 Spec Review – 2021

In-Depth Review

Frame

The Ride1Up 500 Series is a 6016 aluminum alloy eBike, just like many other eBikes on the market. 6061 aluminum alloy is used due to its lightweight, durable, and affordable characteristics, making it popular for eBike, boat, and aircraft construction. The full assembly weight of the Ride1Up 500 series is about 55.7 lbs, which is about the average weight for a solo bicycle of this caliber.

With a stand-over and step-thru design and other customization options, short and tall cyclists alike will enjoy the Ride1Up 500 Series. You can also buy the eBike in Black or Gold, giving you two cool options for the color as well.

Motor & Battery

The Ride1Up 500 Series is a class 3 eBike, with pedal activated motor assistance up to 28 MPH.

The Shengyi rear geared hub motor has a 750 W / 50 Nm torque output, a solid performance that’s sufficient for most riding environments. The engine will help you quickly accelerate if you’re sticking to smooth roads and light to moderate trails.

One area where it struggles is when traveling uphill. Furthermore, the motor is also noted to be very jerky when you first turn it on by multiple reviewers, even by the standard choppy nature of many rear-gear hub motors. While these are issues we hope are corrected in a future release, we think they’re worth putting up with if you are shopping for an eBike on an extreme budget.

We forgive the few issues the motor has because we’re satisfied with the battery and charger arrangement. Mounted on the central downtube, the battery has a 500 Wh capacity that will help you travel over 50 miles on a single charge if you stick to low pedal-assist mode settings.

Included is a 2 amp charger with the 500 Series, which will charge from 0% to 100% in about 4 to 5 hours. Because it’s a removable battery, you can charge it while still mounted on the bike, or you can take it off and charge it indoors. If you keep your battery full and topped off by putting it on the charger as you begin your workday, you”ll have more than enough time to fill up the battery by the time you head home.

Display/Assist Modes

Mounted on the left handlebar, you will find the KD21C adjustable speed 2.25’’ LCD display, which you’ll use to adjust your motor settings. Furthermore, the LCD provides a good mixture of riding readouts and metrics, a list of data you don’t often find on an entry-level eBike display.

The LCD display competes with other premium displays even better once you consider the USB Type-A port, which you plug your phone into for charging while riding. While there are bigger and better displays out there, this is a fantastic inclusion given the price of the 500 Series eBike. A full list of riding readouts and metrics included with the KD21C display are as follows:

Ride 1Up 500 Series KD21C LCD Display Readouts, Metrics, and Settings:

• Current Speed
• Average Speed
• Max Speed
• Pedal Assist Level (Ten Levels + Walk Mode)
• Battery Level (Five Bars)
• Timer
• Power Output (In Watts)
• Trip Meter
• Odometer

You have ten pedal-assist levels to choose from, a broader and more precise range than what you’ll find even on many premium level eBikes. Pick a higher pedal-assist level if you want powerful acceleration and motor output at the expense of draining the battery quicker.

You can also prioritize range by minimizing the battery drain, though you’ll have slower acceleration and less overall motor power as a result. Changing your pedal-assist mode is easy, and can be done while riding, so make sure you do so to optimize your riding experience.

You can also use the throttle system for a quick boost, but be aware that it will always be set to max power and can only help you accelerate to 20 MPH before the pedal-assist system takes over.

Handling

• On Streets- The Ride1Up 500 Series is a hybrid style eBike, meant for riding on light to moderate trails and commuting on city streets. If you’re an urban rider, you will enjoy the suspension system, which helps when riding over bumpy and uneven terrain. While the wider tires mean you won’t accelerate as fast as real city commuters, the motor power makes up for it and ensures you can keep up with your friends. The tall and wide tires also have excellent traction support, with puncture protection that’ll help you stay on the road and in control–even at high speeds–while minimizing the risk of a flat. If you live in an urban environment but have some rough sections on your way to work, the Ride1Up 500 Series is an option you should consider purchasing.
• Turn Radius-The Ride1Up 500 series indeed have wider tires than expected for a true urban eBike, but it still has a reasonably tight turn radius. While you might have to take a bit more time navigating down tight alleyways or a narrow doorway, you’ll be able to get through them without much trouble. Furthermore, the extra width helps cut corners, helping you make sharp turns without tipping your eBike over. The added motor and electronic weight will make eBike newcomers feel a bit unsettled on the 500 Series. Still, after a few rides, you’ll find its overall turning ability to be sufficient.
• Low-Speed Handling- At 55.7 lbs, the Ride1Up 500 Series isn’t the easiest eBike to handle when you’re trying to ride at low speeds. Fortunately, there are a couple of ways you can make low-speed handling easier as long as the motor is on. The wide-ranging pedal-assist settings have several levels great for low-speed handling, providing a small boost so you can shift your focus from pedaling to controlling your bike. Alternatively, you can also dismount from the eBike and turn on the walk mode instead, helping you push your bike along the road without having to pedal. While both of these recommendations will drain battery power, the drain is small and will have little impact on your overall riding range.

Gears/DriveTrain

Next, let’s discuss the 8-Speed drivetrain, one of the significant areas of improvement over previous versions of the Ride1Up 500 series eBike. The drivetrain now consists of a Shimano 11-30T cassette with a 44 T chainring, a KMC eBike optimized chain helping hold the drivetrain together.

The larger cassette increased the gearing options from 7 to 8, providing more gradual shifting for you to find a more precise cadence to ride while navigating busy streets and challenging trails. We’re happy to see more gear options and delighted by the aluminum alloy chain and derailleur guards included with the stock model. Besides keeping the drivetrain clean and clear of debris, the guards also help guide the chain while you ride, minimizing the risk of a chain drop even when shifting at high speeds.

The 500 Series is compatible with fenders, and for $100, you can add both a rear cargo rack and full fender coverage to the Ride1Up 500 series eBike. We think this is a great value and highly recommend it to everyone interested in purchasing this electric bike, whether you plan to stick with city riding or get trail experience as well.

Brakes

There are many excellent components on the Ride1Up 500 Series, but one of the few areas where the eBike could use an upgrade is the braking system.

The 500 Series has Tektro Aries mechanical disc brakes, with 160 mm sized rotors. These rotors are smaller than what we typically like to see on an eBike. And while they provide good stopping power on flat surfaces, they tend to struggle when stopping while riding downhill, especially at high speeds.

While the frame and suspension fork are well suited for trail riding, we recommend sticking to light to moderate trails partly due to the underwhelming brakes. However, we appreciate that the brakes cut off the motor automatically, ensuring that they aren’t competing against each other and helping you come to a stop quicker.

Suspension

Hybrid and city commuter entry-level eBikes typically don’t have much in terms of suspension. So it’s a major addition to have a Suntour XCT Coil Spring 100 mm travel suspension fork. The spring suspension fork also has preload adjust, helping you customize your suspension response whether you’re heading to work or tackling your favorite trail.

As a result, those riding in the city will have a much better time as they ride over gravel, cobblestone, and other loose terrains than dedicated city commuter bikes. The frame itself and the wide, tall tires also provide some natural suspension too, further reducing the shock you’ll experience while riding the Ride1Up 500 Series electric bike, making you more comfortable.

Pedals

Pedals play a larger role in rider comfort than you might anticipate. We’re glad to see that Ride1Up decided to go with premium oriented Wellgo full alloy platform pedals. These pedals are more durable and have more generous traction support than plastic platform pedals, which are more common for your typical entry-level eBike.

There are also reflector panels embedded into the pedals, a critical component of rider safety. Reflector panels make it easier for others riding towards or behind you to spot you on the road, increasing your rider profile and reducing the risk of a collision, making you safer.

Grips and Saddle

The Ride1Up 500 Series is available as both a stand-over and step-thru eBike, which will change the type of handlebars you get to accommodate different rider heights. The stand-over model has a mid-rise style better suited for taller cyclists, while the step-thru model has swept-back handlebars for those with a shorter reach.

Both handlebars come with high-quality puncture-resistant faux leather grips, with extra padding helping you ride longer without irritating your hands. Lastly, there’s a Selle Royal Freeway Plush Comfort saddle, designed to provide comfort to light and heavy cyclists alike. Overall, the Ride1Up should be a very cozy eBike to ride, but go with the stand-over design if you’re 5’8’’ and taller or the step-thru design if you’re 5’7’’ and shorter.

Wheels and Tires

The last major component we feel is worth discussing is the wheel setup. You can look forward to K-shield puncture resistant Kenda Kwick 27.5’’ x 2.2’’ tires, mounted on 36 hole aluminum alloy double-wall rims.

The spokes are reflective Black steel rims, with a sturdier 13 gauge wheel up front and a lighter 12 gauge wheel in the back. The tires have a recommended PSI range of 30 PSI to 55 PSI, with 30 PSI better suited for trail riding, while 55 PSI is excellent if you want to ride faster on paved roads.

The K-Shield puncture protection protects your tires against debris you find on the road and has the added benefit of reducing the risk of a blowout at high speeds. With quick-release mounting, helping you take off the wheels in seconds to service them, the wheels are another great area where the Ride1Up 500 Series stands out from other affordable ebikes.

Accessories/Upgrades

While this is one of the lowest-priced eBikes we’ve reviewed, the Ride1Up still comes with several great accessories that further increase the bike’s incredible value. While the fenders and rear cargo rack are optional add-ons, the stock 500 Series has a headlight, tail light, and kickstand; all included in the base model.

With great comfort and safety features both included, you hardly need to buy anything else for the Ride1Up 500 Series eBike. However, suppose you want to make your riding experience even better. In that case, we recommend considering one of the spare battery upgrades available from Ride1Up, along with the phone mount or rear cargo rack compatible pannier bags.

Recommendation

The Ride1Up 500 Series is one of the lowest-priced eBikes we’ve ever reviewed, and it stands out even more once you consider the great value provided by all its good features.

The strong 6061 aluminum frame is designed for short and tall cyclists alike, with adjustable components and a step-thru and stand-over design to accommodate different rider heights in comfort.

The motor and brakes struggle with hills, but they both have enough power to provide a smooth riding experience if you stick to urban roads or light to moderate trails. The removable 500 Wh lithium battery helps you travel over 50 miles on a single charge. And if you plug it in when you get to work, you’ll conveniently have a fully recharged battery by the time you head home.

The drivetrain is a significant area upgraded with the latest 500 Series model. You’ll now have an 8-Speed eBike instead of the 7-Speed design utilized in the past. The other accessories and components are all above average, including padded faux-leather grips, a cushy saddle, aluminum platform pedals, a headlight, tail light, kickstand, and more.

If you’re shopping for an eBike on a budget, and are especially interested in one that will help you get to work quickly, consider buying the class 3 Ride1Up 500 series electric bike!

Thank you for reading our spec review of the Ride1Up 500 series electric bike. If you have any questions or would like to see a performance or video review from our team, please be sure to let us know by leaving a comment below!