Ride1UP 500 Series Review: Versatile, All-Around Commuter E-Bike
A nicely built electric bike that delivers a comfortable ride and decent componentry, the 500 Series is Ride1UP's best-selling e-bike and an all-around commuter that'll appeal strongly to budget-minded riders...
CHECK PRICE:
JOIN THE DISCUSSION:
What is the Ride1UP 500 Series?
Headquartered in San Diego, CA, Ride1UP is a brand that enjoys a well-deserved reputation for building value-packed electric bicycles, and the 500 Series is the brand’s best-selling model to date. An incredibly versatile model that’s both lightweight and comfortable, the 2023 500 Series gives riders a high-quality, reliable ride at a very affordable price point.
In this Ride1UP Series 500 e-bike review, we’ll take an in-depth look at this best-selling model’s specs, features, performance, and the reasons why we think it’s a great bike for those who are searching for an excellent, all-around commuter.
PRODUCT DETAILS
| COMPANY | Ride1UP |
| MODEL | 500 Series |
| CATEGORY | All-around commuter |
| RANGE | 45 miles |
| RECHARGING TIME | 2-6 hours |
| WEIGHT | 55 lbs |
| MAX RIDER WEIGHT | 275 lbs |
| WARRANTY | 1-year |
| GUARANTEE | 30-day money-back |
| CUSTOMER RATING | 4.8/5 (683+ reviews) |
| COUPON CODE | See below |
| PRICE | Click here to see best price |
COMMUNITY RATING
PHOTOS
About Ride1UP
Founded in 2018 by Kevin Dugger, Ride1UP is a fast-growing, San Diego-based brand that delivers great value and an amazing user experience. Ride1UP prides itself on its customer-centric approach and customer satisfaction ratings, and the brand is widely known for its affordable, well-built e-bikes.
Ride1UP’s electric bikes feature solid componentry, good performance, head-turning aesthetics, and reasonable price tags. All Ride1UP models include a 1-year warranty which provides coverage in the event of a manufacturing defect and there’s a 30-day money-back return policy for added peace of mind.
Ride1UP also offers free shipping on orders to the lower 48 states and there’s an active online community of passionate Ride1UP riders that we highly recommend joining.
Specs
Components
- 6061 aluminum alloy frame
- Front fork suspension (not lockable)
- Shimano Acera 8-speed shifter
- Shimano Acera RD-M360 derailleur
- Suntour XCT coil spring front fork with 100mm of travel
- Promax stem
- Wellgo alloy pedals
- Selle Royal Freeway saddle
- Tektro Aries mechanical disc brakes
- Black steel spokes (13 gauge front, 12 gauge rear)
- 27.5″ x 2.2″ Kenda Kwick Seven.5 tires
Electronics
- 48V 22Ah Lishui controller
- 48V 13Ah Reention Dorado ID Plus battery (LG cells)
- 750W Shengyi rear hub motor (60Nm of torque)
- Buchel 50 Lux headlight
- Integrated rear taillight
- KD21C LCD display
- 12 magnet cadence sensor
Ride1UP 500 Series Review: E-Bike Overview
Ride1UP’s 500 Series e-bike is a great all-around ride for recreational riding and commuting. With 5 pedal-assist levels, this affordable electric bike packs a 750W geared hub motor and 48V 13Ah battery that delivers 45 miles of range. It’s a great alternative to the highly-rated Ride1UP 700 Series and ticks a lot of the same boxes at a slightly lower price.
This is a Class 3 e-bike that weighs in at a respectable 55 lbs, and it has a payload capacity of 275 lbs.
Stopping power is provided by Tektro Aries mechanical disc brakes, and they do a good job of slowing the 500 Series down. There’s also a front suspension fork with 100mm of travel for smoothing out bumps and improving overall ride comfort. The riding position on the 500 Series is slightly aggressive, yet comfortable. The step-through frame version of the bike features a more relaxed, upright position.
We’ve always been fans of the aesthetics of Ride1UP’s bikes, and the 500 Series is a nice-looking ride, as-expected. In addition to two frame variations, there are also a few color options to choose from and the bike can be outfitted with Ride1UP’s Utility configuration for an additional $100. The Utility package equips the 500 Series with front and rear fenders, as well as a rear cargo rack (highly recommended). We’re also happy to see the inclusion of integrated lighting on this commuter, something that is missing on Ride1UP’s Roadster V2.
A highly-capable ride that offers excellent versatility, the 500 Series performs well on the street and in light off-road usage, and the affordable price point makes it an attractive option for riders who are shopping for a quality e-bike that won’t break the bank.
Size and Weight
Weighing in a very respectable 55 lbs, Ride1UP’s 500 Series bike is 71″ long with a 43″ wheelbase and 28.5″ standover height. Ideal for riders between 5’5″ and 6’4″, the 500 Series features a 42″ handlebar height and 24″ reach. If you’re looking for a more minimalist urban commuter that’s lighter and is stripped of the extra trimmings, we recommend checking out the popular Ride1UP Core-5.
Features
1-year warranty
1 of 1448V 13Ah LG battery
2 of 14Rear cargo rack for hauling gear and supplies
3 of 14Front and rear fenders
4 of 14Kenda Kwick Seven.5 tires (27.5″ x 2.2″)
5 of 14750W rear hub motor (60Nm of torque)
6 of 14LCD display
7 of 14Left thumb throttle
8 of 14Tektro Aries mechanical disc brakes
9 of 14Buchel 50 Lux front light
10 of 14Integrated rear taillight for added safety
11 of 14Shimano Acera RD-M360 derailleur
12 of 146061 aluminum alloy frame
13 of 14Comfy Selle Royal Freeway saddle
14 of 14*click on hotspots for additional details
Performance and Ride
The 500 Series provides a comfortable riding experience and it’s an extremely user-friendly bike, particularly so with the step-through frame version which makes mounting and dismounting the bike a breeze. The 750W rear hub motor provides plenty of power, although the cadence sensor could be a bit more responsive in our opinion (we definitely prefer the torque sensor used in Ride1UP’s mid-drive Prodigy).Â
Additionally, the Kenda Kwick Seven.5 tires and front fork suspension do a nice job of increasing ride comfort. We do wish the fork was lockable, however.
Build Quality
As you’d expect from Ride1UP, the 500 Series’ build quality is on point and the bike arrives well packed in a 70 lbs box that measures 52″ x 30″ x 8″. The bike arrives approximately 85% assembled, and assembling the remaining parts of the 500 Series is easy thanks to the company’s detailed assembly video (see below).
Appearance
As mentioned, we’ve always been fans of the looks of Ride1UP’s bikes and the 500 Series is no exception. The bike has an attractive frame design and the color options are great for riders who prefer a more muted, modern look.
Included Accessories & Optional Add-ons
In the box is a heavy-duty kickstand, two keys for the bike’s anti-theft battery lock, 48V 2A charger, and an LED headlight. If you opt for the Utility configuration, you’ll also receive a rear rack and fenders. Of course, like many other brands, Ride1UP also sells a wide range of accessories that you can purchase to customize your bike. Some of the optional add-ons include spare batteries, front baskets, chargers, phone mounts, panniers, and more.
Warranty & Customer Support
The 500 Series comes with Ride1UP’s 1-year warranty and 30-day money-back guarantee. Ride1UP is a brand that stands behind its bikes and they don’t charge hefty restocking fees like many other companies if a bike needs to be returned.
Ride1UP’s customer service seems to genuinely care about the satisfaction of its customers in our experience, and they’ve always been quick to respond to our inquiries (we test the responsiveness of each brand’s customer service department whenever we do an e-bike review)…
Reader Reviews
SUBMIT A REVIEW
Have you personally ridden Ride1UP’s 500 Series e-bike? If so, please let others know what you think about it!
TIPS FOR WRITING A HELPFUL REVIEW
Here are some best practices that will really make your reviews stand out:
- Share personal, firsthand experiences
- Include lots of detail
- Pay attention to formatting – use paragraphs and DON’T TYPE IN ALL CAPS
- Be honest
ZERO-TOLERANCE POLICY
To safeguard our users and ensure that each review is relevant to our community, the RechargedRides.com compliance team manually assesses every customer review before it goes live.
Recharged Rides maintains a zero-tolerance policy for fake reviews, and companies cannot edit or delete reviews of their products at any time.
How to Assemble the Ride1UP 500 Series (VIDEO)
Price and Where to Buy it
At the time of our review, the 500 Series has an MSRP of $1,395 for the base model configuration and $1,495 for the upgraded Utility model. The bike is in-stock at the company’s online store and ships immediately. Ride1UP also throws in free shipping if you’re in the lower 48 states.
FAQs
Ride1UP's electric bikes are manufactured in China.
Ride1UP's 500 Series is a Class 3 electric bike.
Pros and Cons
PROS
CONS
- Extremely versatile design
- Excellent overall value as typically seen with Ride1UP's bikes
- Attractive styling
- Available in both step-through and step-over frames
- Front fork suspension delivers a comfortable ride
- Lighting provides excellent low-light visibility and improved rider safety
- Convenient rear cargo rack for hauling shopping bags, gear, and more
- Included front and rear fenders keep the rider clean and dry
- Comfy swept-back handlebars
- 1-year warranty
- 30-day money-back return policy
- Free shipping to lower 48
Final Thoughts
The Ride1UP 500 Series is a great all-around e-bike, but does it live up to the hype? In our opinion, it absolutely does — Ride1UP equipped riders with an extremely fun, versatile ride that delivers a lot of bang for the buck.
While there are a few things we’d love to see added or improved in future generations of the bike (namely, a better cadence sensor, front fork lockout, and relocation of the throttle to the right side), this is a wonderful bike that really offers riders a solid package — especially at this price range. Available in several optional configurations, it’s easy to customize the 500 Series to suit your personal riding style and interests.
All in all, if you’re searching for a well-priced, all-around ride that’s great for commuting and light off-road adventures, the popular Ride1UP 500 Series is one model that should be on your shortlist.
