Ride1Up’s 700 Series is listed as a commuter, but with its impressive combination of specs and features, I could see it being a great all-around e-bike for anyone looking for a good deal.
This sleek looking e-bike comes with a 750W rear hub motor, a 720Wh battery, and a range upwards of 50 miles if you take it really easy on the motor.
But with Class III speeds, that’ll be easier said than done.
Hydraulic brakes, a suspension fork, and an included 8-speed shifter all add to the 700 Series’ performance as well, making it a well-rounded bike for all uses.
And with a lighter-weight frame, it’s easier to haul around than a lot of the other powerful e-bikes in this class.
Overall, I think the 700 Series is a fabulous electric bike, but we’ve got a lot of options to choose from in this price range, so you really need to do your homework before making a purchase.
And it just so happens this is exactly what I’m here to help with.
In this review, I’ll go over and explain all the most important specs and features this e-bike has to offer, but I’ll also compare it to some of the other top options in this price range.
This way you can really see how the 700 Series stacks up against the competition.
After reading, you’ll know once and for all whether or not this electric bike is worth investing in.
Off we go.
Quick Stats
| Motor | 750W rear hub, 60Nm torque |
| Top Speed | 28 mph |
| Battery | 720Wh |
| Range | 30 - 50 miles |
| Weight Limit | 300 lb |
| Weight | 62 lb |
The Ride1Up 700 Series
Ride1Up’s casually becoming one of the go-to brands for people looking for reasonably-priced electric bikes.
Yup, the days of having to drop over $3k for a quality e-bike are over and we have Ride1Up to partially thank for this.
From day one, their mission has been to offer high-quality components and reasonable prices, in an effort to get more people using electric bikes.
I don’t doubt they’re making a healthy profit, but when you think about it, electric bikes are win-win for everyone: fun to ride, good for the environment, less traffic on the roads…
All good stuff.
And with options like Ride1Up’s Rift, I would have to imagine it’s getting easier to convince people to give electric biking a try.
Anyway, Ride1Up has several models to choose from and the 700 Series we’re here to discuss now is their take on a commuter bike.
Pros
- 750W rear hub motor
- 720Wh battery
- Top speed of 28 mph
- 30 – 50 mile range
- Comes in frames
- 8-speed shifter
- 5 levels of PAS
- Color console
- Large tires
- Hydraulic disc brakes
- Front suspension fork
- Front/rear lighting
- Fenders
- Rear rack
- Thumb throttle
- Reasonably-priced
Cons
- Assembly is more involved
Motor
Motors and power are probably the most interesting aspects of a bike to talk about, so I always like to start here.
The 700 Series comes with a 750W rear hub motor that can reach a top speed of 28 mph with pedal assist (PAS) or 20 mph on throttle alone (making it a Class III e-bike).
In terms of sheer power, 750W is realistically as strong as we can expect in this price range, although Juiced Bikes is known for the 1,000W motors they use on some of their bikes.
But at 750W, the 700 Series is packing a lot of muscle.
When comparing e-bike motors, I think it’s also a good idea to compare the amount of torque different bikes come with as well because this is another helpful spec to consider when it comes to performance.
This isn’t a physics class or anything, so we don’t have to get too technical, but just keep in mind that torque (measured in Newton-meters) refers to the rotational force the motor can provide.
And with e-bikes, seeing higher levels of torque usually means the bike will have better acceleration and better hill climbing capabilities.
With this in mind, the 700 Series’ motor comes with 60Nm of toque, which is pretty solid for a commuter.
Not all brands openly disclose the torque of their motors, so it can be tough to compare this spec, but most e-bikes in this class come with torque somewhere in the 50 – 80Nm range.
Rad Power Bikes’ RadCity 5 Plus, for example, comes with 58Nm of torque and Juiced Bikes’ CrossCurrent X comes with 80Nm of torque (both come with 750W motors).
So, in terms of torque, the 700 Series is kinda right there in the middle, but it should still be enough to power you through most moderate slopes.
Overall, this e-bike comes with a powerful motor that can comfortably reach top speeds and even though it doesn’t offer the most torque for its price range, it still has enough for adequate hill climbing.
Battery
The batter is another crucial aspect to consider because this is what’s largely responsible for the range you’ll get between charges.
Of course motor power, terrain, rider size, conditions, and a bunch of other things will influence real-world range as well.
When looking at e-bike batteries, you can drive yourself crazy comparing voltages (V), amps (A), number of cells, and several other specs.
But most find it easiest to simply compare the Watt-hour (Wh) ratings.
This spec combines the influence of voltage and amp-hours (Wh = V x Ah) and it gives us an easy measurement to use when comparing batteries.
Generally speaking, seeing a higher Wh rating should mean the battery should have a larger capacity.
Well, the 700 Series comes with a 720Wh battery, that should get most riders somewhere between 30 – 50 miles per charge.
This is pretty good for a commuter in this price range.
In order to get anywhere near 50 miles, you’ll have to plan on doing some pedaling of your own, but a range of around 30 miles on throttle alone is impressive.
For the sake of comparison, Aventon’s Level.2 comes with a 672Wh battery, as does the RadCity 5 Plus mentioned earlier.
The CrossCurrent X has ’em all beat with an 811.2Wh battery, but at 720Wh, the Series 700’s battery can hold its own with most e-bikes in this price range.
Oh, and I’d also like to point out that the 700 series comes with a fully integrated battery, meaning the battery hides inside the frame for a much sleeker look.
Frame
The 700 Series comes in 2 frame choices: the ‘XR’ (step-over) or ‘ST’ (step-through).
I like having the choice to choose my frame and depending on your height, one option may make more sense than the other.
The ‘XR’, for example, can fit most riders between 5’5″ – 6’4″, making it a better choice for the taller folks out there, while the ‘ST’ is able to fit most riders between 5′ – 6’2″, making it a little better for shorter riders.
This is because of the shorter stand-over height the ‘ST’ frame offers (17″ vs 29.5″).
Regardless of which frame you go with though, both bikes weigh the same at roughly 62 lb and both come with the same 300 lb weight capacity.
In terms of weight, this is pretty average based on the comps.
The RadCity 5 Plus, for example weighs 65 lb, the CrossCurrent X weighs around 67 lb, and Aventon’s Level.2 weighs 62 lb.
So, based on these comps, the 700 Series is actually one of the lighter commuters out there.
And having a lighter bike makes it easier to handle and move around, something that could be pretty important if you live in upstairs apartment.
Warranty
Ride1Up offers the following warranty on their 700 Series E-Bike:
- 1 year
Yeah, not a lot of warranty info to go over here – Ride1Up basically just says they’ll guarantee everything will work for a year after purchase.
This sounds pretty short, but it’s not that out of the ordinary for moderately-priced e-bikes.
Juiced Bikes also only offers 1 year warranties, as does Rad Power Bikes.
Aventon does a little better, offering 2 year component warranties (and a frame warranty that’s upgradable up to a lifetime warranty by registering with ’em).
Overall, a 1 year warranty isn’t great, but it’s pretty common for this price range.
Features
The Ride1Up 700 Series comes with the following included features:
Color display- this bike comes with a 2.2″ color console that makes it easy to see what PAS level you’re in and how fast you’re going, as well as a few other stats like power output, battery level, and distance.
8-speed shifter- with 8 gears at your disposal, you’ll have more control over how hard you have to pedal to assist that motor (which’ll come in especially handy when tackling hills and reaching top speed on flat terrain).
5 levels of PAS- the 700 Series comes with 5 different levels of PAS, allowing you to control how much motor assistance you get with each ride.
Cadence sensor- I think I forgot to mention this earlier, but this e-bike uses a cadence sensor to let the motor know when you’re pedaling. With a cadence sensor, the motor turns on whenever you start pedaling (this is opposed to a torque-sensor, that controls motor output based on how hard you’re pedaling).
Thumb throttle- there’s a thumb throttle mounted on the left handlebar, giving you easy access to full motor power anytime you want it.
Hydraulic disc brakes- with hydraulic brakes, you won’t have to worry about having enough stopping power, even when traveling at full speed.
27.5″ x 2.4″ tires- speaking of speed, the large tires make it easier for this bike to gain speed and even though they aren’t “fat”, they’re wide enough for optimal stability over various surfaces.
Suspension fork- the included suspension fork adds shock absorbing to make for a smoother ride when riding over rougher terrain (100 mm suspension travel) and can be locked out as well.
Rear rack- the included rear rack gives you a place to attach cargo and comes with a weight capacity of 50 lb.
Front/rear lighting- the 700 Series comes with a bright headlight and integrated rear light for added safety on the road.
Front/rear fenders- and the included fenders will help keep you clean, regardless of road conditions.
Comps
As I’m writing this, Ride1Up has the 700 Series listed for the following prices, depending on which frame you go with:
- XR: $1,495
- ST: $1,695
For the sake of these comps, I’m gonna use the ST price because I’m not sure how long Ride1Up will keep the XR at that lower price (but it’s a pretty sweet deal, so hopefully it’ll last).
Anyway, I’ve been mentioned the biggest competitors at this price range throughout this review – Juiced Bikes’ CrossCurrent X, Aventon’s Level.2, and Rad Power Bikes’ Rad City 5 Plus.
The CrossCurrent X costs $1,999 and comes with similar motor/battery specs (750W rear hub, 811.2Wh capacity) and similar included features.
The CrossCurrent X is a few pounds heavier, but it comes with a 9-speed shifter and comes with an upgraded cadence/torque sensor.
But personally, I find the 700 Series to be quite a bit sleeker.
Aventon’s Level.2 is priced competitively at $1,799 and it comes with a 500W (sustained) rear hub motor, a 672Wh battery, and also offers an 8-speed shifter.
The features are pretty similar on this bike as well, but the Level.2 does come with a torque sensor and has a slightly better warranty.
The Rad City 5 Plus is priced at $1,999 and it comes with a 750W rear hub motor, a 672Wh battery, and also uses a cadence sensor.
The weight limit on this bike is only 275 lb though and it only comes with a 7-speed shifter (but it too is a very good looking commuter).
Final Thoughts
Ok, I think that about sums it up for the 700 Series.
As moderately-priced commuter bikes go, there’s not much to complain about when it comes to the 700 Series.
This e-bike comes with a strong motor, large capacity battery, and it includes a lot of great components/features.
I didn’t mention it earlier, but the biggest downside is probably the assembly – Ride1Up tends to leave a bit more of the assembly up to the customer than some other brands.
This means you’ll have to spend a little more time getting the 700 Series ready to ride than some of the other brands mentioned.
But, this may help ’em keep costs a little lower, in which case I’d say it’s worth it.
And based on the comps mentioned above, I’d say the 700 Series holds its own quite well for this class.
Its biggest competitor is likely Aventon’s Level.2 with its torque sensor, but torque sensors aren’t always the best way to go -especially if you’re not looking to pedal as rigorously.
Folks who like to get instant motor assist regardless of how hard they’re pedaling will likely prefer the cadence sensor found on the 700 Series.
All things considered though, I think Ride1Up’s 700 Series is a great e-bike for the price.
