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Griffin Hales

Burley D’Lite X Review 2024

Best of All Worlds: Can Carry Up to 2 Passengers on the Bike or as a Stroller, Also Converts as a Cargo Trailer

Do you need a trailer that can carry cargo and your little ones? Burley’s D’Lite X bike trailer can do that and more. We had the chance to test and review the accessory; we share our thoughts in this Burley D’Lite X review.

This trailer comes in two versions: the single is the narrower, lighter version that carries one child, and the double can carry two children, up to 40 lbs per child. Total capacity for the single is 75 lbs, and 100 lbs for the double.

Providing more versatility of use, the seats on both can be lowered so you can carry cargo, including bulky items that won’t fit on a bike’s rear rack. With the Double you’ll need to load at the front because the passenger seat recline bar is mounted in the center near the rear opening.

Ride1UP Prodigy V1 ST E-Bike Review, 2024

A Great Motor at a Desireable Price That’ll Keep Active Riders Happy

One of the easiest ways to show off the premium quality of an e-bike has been to equip it with a mid-drive motor. Hydraulic disc brakes all look alike from 10 ft. away—same for drivetrains. But a mid-drive motor stands out, even at a distance. And because they have generally appeared on e-bikes around closer to $3000 and up, seeing one has meant that the e-bike in question is a step up.

But what if an e-bike with a mid-drive motor didn’t have to be that expensive? That’s where the Ride1UP Prodigy ST comes in. This is an e-bike that doesn’t skimp on quality. It’s built with a Brose mid-drive motor, hydraulic disc brakes, a 9-speed drivetrain and comes with a full accessory package including fenders, rear rack, lights and kickstand. In our Ride1UP Prodigy ST review we’ll look at how these choices affect the ride and just what sort of value proposition this e-bike offers.

Ride1UP is a company with a reputation for building high-value e-bikes; your dollar goes a long way with them. In addition to the Brose mid-drive motor, they chose a 500Wh battery which might seem to be a modest capacity, but when paired with a 250W motor, you’ll see just how much performance you can get with it.

So who will this e-bike appeal to? Primarily commuters, though that shouldn’t be a surprise, in part due to the included accessories. It will also appeal to riders who want finer control over the motor’s output and don’t mind getting more of a workout as they ride – but you can make any amount of work light too.

Ride1UP makes the Prodigy in not one, not two but three different versions. The XR and ST are both set up as commuters, with the difference being that the ST is a step-thru frame, rather than a traditional diamond frame, and it runs on the smaller side. The Ride1UP Prodigy XC opts for knobby tires, a suspension fork and lower gears for off-road riding. It also skips the fenders and rack.

Ride1UP suggests that the Prodigy ST will fit riders from 5 feet 1 up to 6 feet 3, while the XR and XC will fit riders from 5 feet 6 up to 6 feet 4. In nearly every instance a fit range of more than five inches is optimistic and riders at the high or low end of the size range may need to change out the stem and/or handlebar for optimal comfort, though they can manage with the bike as is.

At just 50 lbs (for the frame)., the Prodigy ST is notably lighter than most commuters we encounter. Even so, it has a total weight capacity of 300 lbs., and the rack will hold up to 40 lbs.

Let’s get into our testing and review to see how the Prodigy ST stacked up, and if that premium motor makes the rest of the bike worth while (spoiler alert: it does).

*Looking for the latest on the Prodigy? Check out the Ride1UP Prodigy V2 LX review.

Ride1UP 700 Series ST Review | Commfortable Commutes

Keep up with friends or with traffic on this affordable commuter.

Of the many pieces of advice consumers regularly hear, “You get what you pay for,” is common enough to be a cliche. The thing is, it’s not always true, which is why shopping for any major purchase can become a hobby. Ride1UP’s e-bikes have served as consistent examples of e-bikes that deliver more per dollar than most. When we look at e-bikes that are comparable to Ride1UP’s models in terms of spec and features, what we generally find is that the Ride1UP model saves buyers $100-$200. In our Ride1UP 700 ST review we will showcase what makes this e-bike such a terrific value.

Riders looking for a commuter that can keep up with the flow of traffic will find the Ride1UP 700 ST to be a satisfying experience; it didn’t have any trouble reaching a cruising speed that would allow a rider to keep up with the flow of traffic from light to light. This step thru variant makes popping forward at stops all the easier too.

A 750W brushless, geared Bafang hub motor provides the muscle necessary to reach 28 mph on pedal assist, which is no small feat (and uncommon for me, speaking as a 230 lbs rider). Powering it is a 720Wh battery that provides plenty of range but is also light enough that this e-bike weighs less than 70 lbs.

The Ride1UP 700 ST is a ready-to-go commuter, coming equipped with front and rear lights, alloy fenders and a rear rack. Just add saddle bag.

Hitting value-oriented price points usually comes with a trade or two. It may come in the form of getting a more powerful motor but not receiving a rack or fenders. With Ride1UP, we can usually determine where they made their trades to hit the price point, but the sacrifices tend to be minor and feel like no real loss. The 700 ST only really lacks sizing options, and the assembly isn’t harder than most, but includes a few more steps than the average.

The overall spec on the Ride1UP 700 ST delivers a reliable ride again and again thanks to features like an 8-speed Shimano Acera drivetrain and Tektro hydraulic disc brakes. We also like that Ride1UP chose 27.5-in. wheels which roll faster and handle better at speed than smaller wheels.

It’s a great ride on it’s own, but feels better when considering its price tag. For all the Ride1UP 700 ST has going for it, read the full review below.

Himiway Big Dog E-Bike Review

Every Himiway bike like the Big Dog we’ve reviewed has a theme; many of the direct-to-consumer e-bike brands produce a stable of models that run the gamut from cruisers to commuters to all-terrain models and more. In some cases, the approach has seemed a bit like spaghetti-at-the-wall. And in this environment, it’s not that hard to find something that will stick. Himiway Electric Bikes has gone in a different direction. They have a definite design philosophy.

Looking across Himiway’s line, three recurring themes emerge: Big tires, big motors, and big batteries. Every bike in their lineup, including the Big Dog, shares these priorities, and yet each model is noticeably different from the others. In our Himiway Big Dog review we will look at what separates it from the other Himiway models and how this cargo e-bike stacks up among the other e-bikes we review.

The Himiway Big Dog earns its stripes as a cargo bike thanks to its payload capacity of 400 lbs. To handle all this weight, the Big Dog is built with oversized aluminum tubing, a heavy-duty rack and ultra-strong, cast aluminum wheels.

With a 750W brushless hub motor and a 960Wh Samsung/LG battery, this is one e-bike with the power necessary to haul a full load. It’s built with a 7-speed drivetrain, disc brakes, front and rear lights, as well as fenders, this is a full-featured e-bike that can handle a trip to Home Depot.

Let’s dig into what makes the Himiway Big Dog a cargo e-bike worth considering.

3 E-Bike Safety Tips When Riding

*We receive a lot of requests to write for Electric Bike Report. We don’t typically let others write content for us very often, but we appreciated the advice of this article and agreed to publish it.

E-bikes are racing ahead in the clean-transportation revolution, with approximately 1.1 million imported into the United States last year. But even with the best electric bikes came collisions.

Between 2017 and 2021, the US saw a staggering 127 percent increase in injuries related to micromobility devices, totaling 77,200 cases and resulting in 119 deaths. These statistics are only getting worse. New York alone recorded ten fatalities resulting from cyclist collisions in the first quarter of 2023 — the same number of accidents that occurred throughout 2018.

Evidently, as the e-bike takes to our urban streets, there is a vital need to prioritize rider safety and encourage responsible use. An e-bike subscription platform for last-mile delivery drivers Whizz emphasizes three fundamental safety rules that every urban e-bike rider should follow. By embracing these guidelines, riders can roam their cities in a safe way — both for themselves and those they share the roads with.

E-Bike Safety Tip #1: Always Wear a Helmet

If there’s one piece of gear you should never ride without, it’s a good helmet. Not only are they proven to be highly effective in preventing fatalities, but they also reduce the risk of head injury by 69%.

To be certain that your helmet will hold up during an accident, ensure it meets safety benchmarks such as the CPSC (Consumer Product Safety Commission) Bicycle Helmet Standards. This certification ensures that it has undergone rigorous testing to provide suitable protection.

Your headgear should be constructed from high-quality materials such as polycarbonate, which offer durability and impact resistance. Additionally, helmets with an expanded polystyrene lining provide excellent shock absorption. Some helmets also offer extended coverage at the back for additional safety, while others incorporate technologies like MIPS (Multi-directional Impact Protection System) to reduce rotational forces during angled impacts.

While safety should be your top priority, comfort is important too. Look for a helmet that comfortably fits your head, with adequate ventilation to keep your head cool during long rides. Preferably, it should have adjustable straps, or a dial or retention system at the back that allows you to fine-tune the fit. Not only will a snug fit deter you from removing your helmet to alleviate discomfort, but it will stop it from slipping off at the worst possible time.

Often, new e-bike riders splash out on a dependable bike and battery but overlook the importance of a high-quality helmet. Sure, settling for the cheapest option may save you a few dollars, but is that worth risking your life for?

Understandably, not everybody has the money to invest in high-end gear. To address this, Whizz has taken the initiative to provide free helmets to delivery drivers in New York City as part of its ‘Ride Safe’ campaign. Anyone with an active delivery service account can claim one on Whizz’s website — and protect themselves as they shuttle our orders around the city.

Cero One E-Bike Review – 2024 | A Compact Cargo E-Bike

Substituting an e-bike for a car for some, if not most trips, is a terrific way to improve our health as well as do the planet a good turn by pumping fewer greenhouse gasses into the atmosphere. It’s a win-win, for sure. But when we talk to e-bike owners who have struggled to use their e-bike instead of their car, the number one complaint we hear every time is that they have a tough time carrying anything more than a backpack, so stopping at the store to pick up a few ingredients for that night’s dinner doesn’t work so well. Same for dropping kids off or picking them up from school.

The CERO One is a solution to that problem. It’s a cargo e-bike that can carry a rider, a kid and a couple of bags of groceries. In our CERO One review we will take a look at what makes this e-bike different from other e-bikes and what makes it suited to someone whose commute includes a kid and some groceries, not the whole Little League team.

Cargo e-bikes are easy enough to dream up, but much tougher to design. Just how much does it need to carry? Where will the load be carried? How adaptable does it need to be? How powerful does it need to be? The CERO One’s sweet spot is rider + kid + stuff. Armed with a Yepp child seat in back and a front basket, a rider can tote themselves, a child and a couple of bags of groceries and stay below its 300-lb. weight limit.

Blix Dubbel E-Bike Review – 2024

E-bikes offer a realistic alternative to driving a car. Whether someone chooses to buy one for environmental reasons or health reasons or even economic ones, the reasons to ride an e-bike are pretty compelling. But not every e-bike can serve as a suitable substitute for a car. Car’s provide a ton of utility afterall. But our review of the Blix Dubbel will consider how much utility an electric bike can provide when thoughtful design meets practical function.

The Blix Dubbel is a response to the varied needs we have for driving a car. In addition to driving to work, we usually drive to go anywhere with a child and running errands to places like the grocery store call for the ability to transport more than can fit in a backpack or a pair of panniers.

And there’s more to a good e-bike than just carrying capacity. Load junior on the back and put a gallon of milk in the front basket along with jars of peanut butter and pasta sauce and those additional pounds have the potential to change the handling of the e-bike. The Blix Dubbel is designed to take any reasonable load without blinking.

But it’s not all about what it can be outfitted to do. It’s also just a wildly fun e-bike with sportier than you’d expect feel. Let’s take a look at some of the highlight features and impressive data the Electric Bike Report team collected during our Blix Dubbel review.

*Blix no longer sells the Dubbel, but you might try looking into our Blix Vika X review instead.

Ride1UP LMTD Review, 2024

Ride1Up has a new LMTD out for sale: The LMTD V2. Click here to see that review, as this model is no longer available for sale.

There are so many competitive e-bikes in the $1500-$2000 price range, it can be hard to build a bike that stands out from the competition. With the LMT’D, Ride1UP made an e-bike with a set of priorities different from what we see with the average commuter or city e-bike.

What we will explore in our Ride1UP LMT’D review is how this is an e-bike more focused on performance than function. It’s an affordable muscle car of an e-bike. It features a powerful motor, a sizable battery, a high-quality suspension fork, quick-rolling tires, an 8-speed drivetrain and perhaps most notable is that it uses a torque sensor to control the motor rather than a cadence sensor.

All added up the Ride1UP LMT’d just feels like it’s a performance tier above its price tier which is certainly no small feat to accomplish. To achieve this there were some concessions made by omitting a few standard features, but everything you DO get included adds up to a sensational ride.

For all of our thoughts on the total package on the Ride1UP LMTD head further down into our comprehensive review.

Eunorau Defender S Electric Bike Review, 2024

The emergence of direct-to-consumer e-bike companies has shaken up just what an e-bike can or should be. When we look at the legacy bicycle companies we see a lot of very traditional thinking in traditional models like commuters, cruisers, road bikes and mountain bikes. The D2C companies have often taken that thinking and tossed it out the nearest high window. Thank heaven. That’s 100% the case with the Eunorau Defender S we reviewed – it’s an e-bike that is anything but traditional or found in a common mold.

The Eunorau Defender S is a bike that a company like Giant or Cannondale would never have made. That’s not to say it’s not a worthwhile e-bike; but it required someone thinking about what an e-bike can be in a fresh way in order to see this rig to market. In our review of the Eunorau Defender S we will look at what makes this e-bike so different from most of the bikes we see with big, knobby tires.

The first, most obvious difference between the Defender S and other e-bikes is that this uses two-wheel drive. Yes, you read that correctly. Both the front and rear wheels drive this bike. We will get into just how this works later in our review.

At root, though, this is an all-terrain e-bike with full suspension to smooth out rough roads and rocky ground. It is equipped with hydraulic disc brakes and a 9-speed Shimano Alivio drivetrain, which gives it an increased ability to take in big hills. It also comes in two sizes in order to better fit buyers.

QuietKat Villager Electric Bike Review, 2024

QuietKat is known for being a hunter or outdoorsperson’s kind of e-bike maker, but in our QuietKat Villager review we found an e-bike made with appeal for that crowd while producing a capable commuter bike.

So, what happens when an e-bike maker best known for powerful all-terrain designs decides to make a commuter? In the case of QuietKat, that means building it with a 500W Bafang hub motor and 614Wh battery, spec’ing it with 3-in.-wide tires for comfortable road riding and light offroad riding, a 7-speed Sram drivetrain to conquer hills, plus lights, fenders and a rear rack to give it commuter functionality.

We took the QuietKat Villager on roads, bike paths and even some smoother unpaved roads and trails to see just how versatile this e-bike is for ourselves.

While the QuietKat Villager isn’t meant to be a backwoods explorer delivering sportsmen (and women) to their favorite hunting blind or fishing hole that its stable-mates are, it accommodates a broad number of uses and many of QuietKat’s accessories can be added to give the Villager optimal versatility.

For this review of the QuietKat Villager we subjected the bike to all the same tests as we’ve done for its off-roading siblings.

Griffin Hales

Senior Writer | Edtior

Favorite Style of E-Bike

Favorite E-Bikes Reviewed

Current Bikes You Ride/Own

Favorite New E-bike Tested

Hobbies

Burley D’Lite X Review 2024

Best of All Worlds: Can Carry Up to 2 Passengers on the Bike or as a Stroller, Also Converts as a Cargo Trailer

Ride1UP Prodigy V1 ST E-Bike Review, 2024

A Great Motor at a Desireable Price That’ll Keep Active Riders Happy

Ride1UP 700 Series ST Review | Commfortable Commutes

Keep up with friends or with traffic on this affordable commuter.

Himiway Big Dog E-Bike Review

3 E-Bike Safety Tips When Riding

E-Bike Safety Tip #1: Always Wear a Helmet

Cero One E-Bike Review – 2024 | A Compact Cargo E-Bike

Blix Dubbel E-Bike Review – 2024

Ride1UP LMTD Review, 2024

Eunorau Defender S Electric Bike Review, 2024

QuietKat Villager Electric Bike Review, 2024

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Griffin Hales

Senior Writer | Edtior

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Favorite Style of E-Bike

Favorite E-Bikes Reviewed

Current Bikes You Ride/Own

Favorite New E-bike Tested

Hobbies

Griffin Hales

Best of All Worlds: Can Carry Up to 2 Passengers on the Bike or as a Stroller, Also Converts as a Cargo Trailer

A Great Motor at a Desireable Price That’ll Keep Active Riders Happy

Keep up with friends or with traffic on this affordable commuter.

E-Bike Safety Tip #1: Always Wear a Helmet

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