Ride1UP LMT’D Review – 2024

Ride1UP LMT’D Review: Intro

The sub-$2000 price tier is the most highly competitive one in the world of e-bikes. As the price drops below $1500 it becomes increasingly hard to make a quality e-bike. But in that $1500-$2000 range, the sheer diversity in features means that no matter what a rider’s priorities are, there’s an e-bike to fit someone’s needs.

Were we to point to the single greatest difference between most hub-driven e-bike and most mid-drive e-bikes, the difference that most anyone would notice, we would point to the torque sensor found in mid-drive e-bikes. We hardly ever see this feature on an e-bike retailing for less than $2000. Most hub-driven e-bikes use a cadence sensor, which means that the motor doesn’t engage until a rider makes half to three-quarters of a pedal stroke. With a torque sensor, the motor engages when the rider begins pedaling. More important, with a torque sensor, the harder the rider goes, the harder the motor goes. We will discuss this more in our review of the Ride1UP LMT’D.

In broad strokes, the Ride1UP LMT’D is a super-capable Class 3 commuter powered by a 750W brushless, geared hub motor that produces 100Nm of torque. Its battery is a 48V, 672Wh unit that Ride1UP says will give riders a range of between 30 and 50 mi., depending on PAS level and rider weight.

The appeal of Class 3 e-bikes is that aside from just being quicker than other e-bikes, they have the ability to keep up with traffic on roads with a 35 mph speed limit. As long as the distance between lights isn’t too great, a Class 3 e-bike can cover the stretch between two lights quickly enough to stay in sync with the lights.

Ride1UP chose to offer the LMT’D in both a traditional frame and a step-thru, as they have with their other models, to better fit more riders.

E-Bike Category: Flat-bar road bike

Who the Ride1UP LMT’D Electric Bike Is For:

The Ride1UP LMT’D is great for anyone looking for a fast and more responsive commuter.

Ride1UP LMT’D Review: E-Bike Specs

• Battery: 48V, 14ah Samsung Cells, Smart BMS
• Expected Range: 30-50 miles on average
• Motor: 48V750W Geared Hub Motor
• Pedal Assist: 0-5 level pedal assist
• Display: LED
• Headlight: N/A
• Taillight: N/A
• Frame: 6061 Aluminum
• Fork: Air Suspension 80mm Travel
• Fenders: N/A
• Kickstand: Included
• Handlebars: aluminum, 51mm rise
• Grips: Ergonomic Locking Rubber Grips
• Drivetrain: Shimano 8-speed
• Brakes: Tektro HD-M285 180mm Hydraulic
• Pedals: Included
• Saddle: Selle Royal Freeway Plush Gel
• Tires: WTB Groov-e 27.5″x2.4″

In-Depth Ride1UP LMT’D Review

Ride1UP LMT’D Review: Comfort, Handling, and Ride Qualities

Thanks to choices like an 80mm travel suspension fork, the Selle Royal Freeway Plush Gel saddle, ergonomic grips and the 27.5 x 2.4-in WTB Groov-e tires, the Ride1UP LMT’D is a comfortable e-bike with an upright position conducive to keeping the car parked. The component choices are meant to tame the worst bumps and smooth the roughest roads.

Because it is offered in two frame sizes—traditional and step-thru—the Ride1UP LMT’D will fit a broader cross-section of riders than single-size e-bikes will. They claim a range of 5 feet 1 inch up to 6 feet 4 inches, but we always suggest that riders exercise caution if they are at either extreme of the size range.

Handling on the Ride1UP LMT’D is calm but not lazy. It is made to negotiate places like bike paths and parking lots and thanks to its upright position it’s easy for a rider to keep an eye on everything around them.

It’s not uncommon for an e-bike with this much power to tip the scales at more than 60 lbs., but the Ride1UP LMT’D weighs in at just 53 lbs., making it a relatively lightweight option for an e-bike with this much kick.

Ride1UP LMT’D Review: Motor, Battery, and Drivetrain Performance

The 750W brushless, geared hub motor produces 100Nm of torque. The combination of the two means that the Ride1UP LMT’D should have the power not just to reach 28 mph and hold it, but to also climb hills without struggling.

Motors that are this powerful can be surgery when it comes to acceleration, sometimes surprising the rider with how fast they are moving. Because the Ride1UP LMT’D is equipped with a torque sensor—a feature unusual to e-bikes in this price range—its power output is tied to how hard the rider is pedaling. That means no surprises when starting out. Possibly even more important is that when a rider eases their pedal stroke, making a reduced effort, but not stopping their pedaling, the Ride1UP LMT’D will also reduce its output, actually allowing the bike to slow.

The upshot is that the LMT’D will provide a much more natural pedaling experience than e-bikes with a cadence sensor. This difference between the LMT’D and other e-bikes in this price tier is more important than the 8-speed drivetrain, the hydraulic disc brakes, the many accessories available or any other feature included.

Because this is a Class 3 e-bike, riding in PAS 5 will definitely draw the battery down more quickly than in PAS 1. Ride1UP estimates that the LMT’D will cover 30-50 mi., depending on rider weight and terrain. That’s a solid range considering how powerful the motor is.

We’re glad to see an 8-speed Shimano drivetrain spec’d with the Ride1UP LMT’D. As motors become more powerful they need components that can stand up to the wattage and while not universally true, generally as drivetrains go up in the number of gears they have, the quality goes up as well.

Ride1UP LMT’D Review: Braking, Safety, Customer Service & Warranty

he Ride1UP LMT’D is equipped with Tektro hydraulic brakes with 180mm rotors. It’s a terrific brake that will provide the necessary stopping power for an e-bike going 28 mph. Rider safety demands that an e-bike have as short a stopping distance as reasonably possible.

Lights are an important part of making a bike rider safe. Lights are often much more useful in terms of letting drivers know they are present than making sure they can see every pebble on the road. The Ride1UP LMT’D does not include either front or rear lights and that is one of the only details about this e-bike that we would criticize. Sure, riders can add lights as an accessory, but for an e-bike likely to be ready in mornings and evenings as a commuter, we believe that lights are critical to a rider’s safety.

While we have no direct experience with Ride1UP’s customer service, they have more than 100 reviews of the LMT’D and nearly all are four and five star reviews. The warranty for the LMT’D is a fairly standard one year for the frame, fork, components and labor.

Ride1UP LMT’D Review: Recommendation/Final Verdict

The Ride1UP LMT’D is an original take on a commuter bike. By choosing to spec the bike with a torque sensor to control the motor, they created an affordable e-bike that will respond to a rider with a much more proportional output. Consider that any time a rider is pedaling on a bike with a cadence sensor, if their pedal stroke slows to a stop, the bike’s power output won’t trail off like the rider’s effort. Instead, it will continue to put out the same amount of power until it senses that the rider has stopped pedaling, at which point the motor simply cuts off. This isn’t a terrible experience by any means, but the ride experience on an e-bike that will put out power in a way that is proportional to the rider’s effort is much more satisfying. There is a seamless feeling to the way an e-bike with a torque sensor increases and decreases its power output.

Even if we look past the fact that very few e-bikes retailing for less than $2000 offer a torque sensor, what we see is an intelligently designed bike. The brakes are first rate and the 8-speed drivetrain provides better components than what most bikes in this price range are equipped with.

The air/oil suspension fork is yet another nice touch on the bike; riders won’t suffer the bouncing that comes with a simple steel spring fork.

That the e-bike comes in both a traditional frame and a step-thru design is yet another point to applaud. Not only does it help more riders to fit on this e-bike, but because the step-thru frame has a fairly low standover height of 18 in., this is an e-bike that will be worth considering by riders who have reduced flexibility, which makes it harder to get on and off the e-bike.

Before we criticize this bike, we’re going to offer its defense. An e-bike that retails for less than $2000 can only offer so much. For every premium feature an e-bike provides, it must give up another. With that said, the only items missing from this bike are core commuter needs: lights, fenders and a rear rack. Fortunately, these are all easily purchased aftermarket. Plus, a rider who plans never to ride in the rain doesn’t need to drop the money on fenders.

Bottom line: it’s hard to criticize this bike because it positively drips with value.

Anyone considering the purchase of a Class 3 commuter absolutely needs to consider the Ride1UP LMT’D.

Thank you for reading through our review of the Ride1UP LMT’D. Still have further questions? Wondering how it compares to a similar bike? Leave us a question in the comments below and the team at BestElectricBikes.com will answer!