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Ride1UP Rift First Look Review: Real Off-Road Ability

The e-bike lineup for Ride1UP has grown once again. Their new model, the Rift, takes many of the features common to Ride1UP’s other e-bikes and gives them a fresh twist in this new package. The Rift is a fat-tire e-bike with 4-in.-wide tires; a 48V, 960Wh battery; a 750W brushless, geared hub motor producing 95Nm of torque, an 8-speed drivetrain and 4-piston hydraulic disc brakes, all for less than $2000.

Trickle-down may not work in economics, but in manufacturing it does. As tooling ages, the cost to produce parts from those tools drops. This is why two years ago a sub-$2000 e-bike might include a big battery or a powerful motor or an 8-speed drivetrain or premium hydraulic disc brakes, but it wouldn’t include all four. In our review of the Ride1UP Rift we will dig into the details that make this a very exciting addition to the Ride1UP lineup.

*Ride1Up has discountinued the Rift, but here are some other e-bikes from the brand worth checking out:
Ride1Up Portola Review
Ride1Up CF Racer 1 Review
Ride1Up Turris Review

Ride1UP Rift Spec Review: Bike Overview

The Rift is aimed at a rider other than those who have been buying Ride1UP e-bikes. Until now, their models have been aimed at riders who planned to stick to the pavement. Thanks to a 750W hub motor that produces 95Nm of torque, knobby 4-in.-wide tires and a suspension fork, the Rift is intended to go places a lesser bike wouldn’t handle.

We see a great many fat-tire e-bikes that make bold claims about off-road abilities suitable to the Red Bull set. The fact is, many of these e-bikes won’t ride well on anything more rigorous than a crushed gravel path. The Ride1UP Rift isn’t an eMTB, but it may be one of the most off-road capable sub-$2000 e-bikes we’ve encountered.

E-Bike News: Great Value New Models from Ride1Up and Aventon, Garmin Radar, Volt E-folder and Much More!

The trickle down effect is a term used quite widely in economics but it can also be applied to the e-bike industry and its use seems very apt this week in relation to two new e-bikes from Aventon and Ride1Up that look great value.

Once upon a time features such as hydraulic disk brakes and torque sensing were considered as premium priced e-bike features. Nowadays hydraulics are pretty standard, having ‘trickled down’ from higher priced models and torque sensing is certainly appearing on more and more reasonably priced bikes. Whilst the Ride1Up Rift actually lacks torque sensing and the Aventon Sinch .2 lacks hydraulics, at $1895 and $1799 they offer great value for e-bikes with large capacity batteries and a list of features as long as your arm, including some rarely seen on e-bikes such as the Aventon’s turn indicators. Long may the trickling down continue!

In this week’s e-bike news:

Ride1Up get into e-fat bikes with the Rift
Aventon Sinch .2 gets major upgrades
Meet the Volt Lite – a lightweight e-folder with belt drive
Garmin Vario brings ‘plug and play’ vehicle radar detection to e-bikes
Rad Power battery recycling now available
60+ mph e-bike in Germany stopped and confiscated

The Sea Otter Classic: Day 3’s Coolest Stuff

The Sea Otter Classic, by virtue of having started as a mountain bike race, sees more eMTBs displayed than any other category of e-bike. That’s not to say we don’t see plenty of commuters, city e-bikes and even some cargo e-bikes—we do. In many company’s tents their e-bikes were front and center, often occupying the single most prominent display space available.

Marin Bikes gets our nod for the best eMTBs at Sea Otter. Sure, there were lighter eMTBs and ones with more sophisticated suspension, but with both the Rift Zone E and the Apline Trail E being equipped with Shimano STEPS EP6 motors and 10-speed drivetrains and going for $4499, we didn’t see a better opportunity for someone wanting to purchase their first eMTB.

RedShift is a component/accessory maker that produces a variety of shock-absorbing products, like stems, grips and seatposts. They also produce pedals with rechargeable blinking lights that automatically change color to orient the white light forward and the red light to the rear. It’s one of the smartest uses of blinking safety lights we saw.

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We’ve seen a number of fat-tire e-bikes touted for their off-road abilities, but often, they are better as commuters than they are on the trail. With the Specialized Turbo Tero X 4.0, we have a full-suspension eMTB capable of tackling technical terrain, but also equipped with fenders and a rear rack to allow owners to commute to work when they aren’t on the trails.

Bafang had a booth in which they showed off their motors, batteries and controllers. More interesting was how they showed off some of the diverse range of e-bikes their motors are spec’d in. This police-issue e-bike recalls some of the fat tire e-bikes we see from companies like Aventon and Himiway.

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Vinka is a Chinese maker of e-bike motors, batteries controllers and more. They one division within a giant manufacturing concern that produces appliances and automotive products in addition to e-bike electronics. Vinka has responded to the rise in popularity of pairing hub motors with bottom brackets that incorporate torque sensors by making their own. The device in the lower right is an example of a bottom bracket with a torque sensor. The cranks mount to the spindle and when the rider begins pedaling, the sensor in the bottom bracket detects the forces on the spindle and translates that into an electric signal that goes to the controller.

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Vinka not only makes hub motors, they make mid-drive motors, batteries, controllers and displays. This 36V mid-drive motor produces 250W and 80Nm of torque.

One of the more eye-catching designs we saw was the Miku Retrolax, a motorcycle-styled e-bike. The Retrolax comes equipped with a 750W hub motor, offers a range of up to 40 mi. (claimed), a maximum speed of 20 mph and tackles hills with the help of a 7-speed Shimano drivetrain.

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Sea Otter Classic: Day 3’s Coolest Stuff

The Pole Voima was another bike and brand new to us. Pole is a Finnish brand and the Voima is made through a most unusual process. The frame is constructed by CNC-machining two mirror-image halves and then welding those two halves together. Buyers can order either a frameset or a completely built e-bike, and, yes, the gold finish is an option.

Pytes is a company known for making battery packs for homes, medical equipment and personal care products (like toothbrushes). They also make a number of batteries for e-bikes and showed off a wide range of their 36 and 48V batteries.

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Specialized brought a whole fleet of their new Globe Haul ST to the Sea Otter Classic to allow people a chance to take them out for test rides. Riders returning from spins praised the Globe Haul ST for terrific acceleration, great handling and good on-the-bike comfort.

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QuietKat Rubicon Review, 2024

A High Quality, Heavy Duty Hauler for Romping Around Rough Terrain

In the following review about the QuietKat Jeep Rubicon electric bike, you will learn what makes this e-bike such a monster riding through the wilderness, as well as the technical details and notable features. We tested this e-bike’s performance in speed and acceleration, handling on and off the roads, stopping power and control, battery range, and climbing hills. After 200 miles of test rides, we really learned what this e-bike is about.

At first glance at QuietKat’s Jeep Rubicon and you see a monster of a fat tire bike that can go where no other e-bikes have gone before. Decorated in an emblematic army green color, this bike makes no bones about how it’s built: 1000-watt motor that can haul 300 lbs and tow another 135 lbs, monster-size 26” x 4.8” tires, and a quality full suspension set up that will tackle the terrain you take it on. This fat tire full suspension e-bike can quietly stroll across some of the toughest terrain you will ever encounter on an e-bike, and take on journeys you never thought possible.

This e-bike is QuietKat’s response to the consumer demand for an ATV that’s quiet enough for hunters to use, and powerful enough to carry their game. Have no doubt, the QuietKat Jeep Rubicon is made for doing the dirty work you’d never see most other e-bike doing. Once you climb aboard and control this beast out on the dirt trails you will quickly discover a bike like no other. Keep reading and you will discover what makes this e-bike tick and why the EBR team thought it was a blast to ride.

The Sea Otter Classic: Day 2’s Coolest Stuff

The Italian motorcycle and e-bike brand Fantic had a huge display of their e-bikes on hand. They make eMTBs across a wide range of off-road use including: hard tails, trail, all-mountain, enduro and downhill, as well as a number of different city/commuter e-bikes. All feature mid-drive motors, but they source those motors from a variety of manufacturers, including Brose and Yamaha.

Thiis is Fantic’s Seven Days Living, a very sharp city e-bike with a Brose mid-drive motor putting out 75Nm of torque. It’s spec’d with a SRAM 12-speed drivetrain and Rock Shox fork. It comes in two sizes, and this is but one of five different city e-bikes they offer.

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This is a prototype of a new enduro e-bike from GasGas. It’s has 29-in. Wheels and 170mm of travel front and rear.

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This is the eMTB that GasGas’s sponsored pros will soon be on and will use SRAM’s XO transmission and will be powered by Yamaha’s PW-X3 motor.

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Troxus had a sizable presence at Sea Otter and while they are a brand that is new to the US, they have an exciting lineup of different e-bikes. The Lynx features 20 x 4-in. tires for a very cushy ride. Add to that a suspension fork for even more rider comfort. Thanks to the high-rise handlebar, the Lynx can be more easily adapted to fitting a broad range of riders than many e-bikes.

Troxus showed off a new full-suspension all-terrain e-bike, the T-Rex. The name seems deserved as this one is a beast, thanks to a 1000W mid-drive Bafang motor. It’s has a 10-speed Shimano drivetrain, hydraulic disc brakes, full suspension (120mm front and 140mm rear). It goes for $3299.

Sponsor

The Sea Otter Classic: Day 2’s Coolest Stuff

The T-Rex will be available with two different wheel sizes, either 26 x 4.8 wheels/tires, or 27.5 x 3.

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This is the new Timp Peak from Fezzari. This model is aimed at enduro riders with 170mm of travel front and rear rolling on 29-in. Wheels. It’s powered by a Shimano EP8 motor producing 85Nm of torque. It is available in six different spec levels from $5999 up to $9999.

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E-Bike News: EBC’s 28mph Model J, more Motor E-bikes, Velotric Lightweights, Denago Mid-drives and More!

How much e-bike can you get for how little money seems to be the question posed by this week’s crop of new releases. EBC’s model J is a 28 mph e-bike for only $1199 whilst the triple battery option of the Eunorau gives you 2,808Wh of capacity. Engwe have also added to the moto e-bike fray with the option of a 1,248Wh battery model for $1599.

Of course people love big batteries and low prices but the question for the future is how far you can push the envelope in both directions. With battery safety concerns certainly making waves in the wider media the answer seems to be only so far. As we’ve mentioned before, some kind of battery standards would be a welcome move for many in the industry.

In this week’s e-bike news:

EBC’s Model J – a 28 mph moto style model with huge customisation options
More moto e-bikes from Engwe and Eunorau
Velotric’s lightweight Thunder range
Denago’s first mid-drives
NY’s e-bike subscription service Whizz gets a serious cash injection

The Sea Otter Classic 2023: Day 1’s Coolest E-Bike Models and Accessories

The Sea Otter Classic in Monterey, California, is the world’s largest participatory bike event. They have races and rides for the young, the old, the in-between and for road riders, mountain bikers and … even e-bikers.

It’s also the bike industry’s de facto trade show. There are a number of companies here in the expo who are showing off new bikes and new gear.

Denago E-Bikes

Case in point: Denago. A year ago they had one bike in their line. Now it’s more than a half dozen. At Sea Otter they are showing two new mid-drive mountain bikes.

Denago also showed off this new cruiser. It comes in three colors—including pink and gold—and goes for $1099.

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The eXC2 is Denago’s top-of-the-line eMTB and it is well-equipped; it includes a suspension fork and a dropper seatpost. Suggested retail for the eXc2 is $3199, and the eXC1 goes for $2749.

1UP’s E-Bike Racks

1 Up USA showed a new e-bike-specific hitch rack. The XD comes as a single rack for $850 and can hold an e-bike weighing up to 150 lbs. An add-on goes for another $600.

It features an integrated rack to roll the e-bikes into place.

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Turkish Brand Ape Ryder

Ape Ryder is a Turkish brand new to the US. They make a full line of e-bikes, including motorcycle-style e-bikes with bench seats and suspension. All of their e-bikes are banned for endangered apes; the model above ids the Bononobo. No word yet on pricing.

They even do one with a step-thru frame. This is the Gibbon.

Ape Ryder mounts the batteries on top of the top tube to emulate the feel of a motorcycle’s gas tank.

Knog’s e-bike friendly adaptable headlights

Australian accessory maker Knog showed off lights that can be run off an e-bike’s battery. The easiest option is to plug it into a phone charging port.

Knog introduced a product called Scout which serves as an alarm/tracker, like Apple Airtags. It’s using Apple’s FindMy app, rather than a GPS subscription. Scout can be mounted beneath a bottle cage to keep it inconspicuous.

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BULLS’ Off Road Models

Bulls showed off a very cool bikepacking e-bike. The Copperhead EVO HD 750 features a Bosch Performance Line CX motor and a 750Wh battery; it goes for $4499. The owner of this e-bike reports that he can get as many as 80 miles in a tour before needing to recharge.

Bulls also showed off a very interesting road e-bike, the Desert Falcon EVO, built with a Bosch Performance Speed motor and paired with a 500Wh battery and goes for $4599.

Step-thru eMTBs aren’t common, but Bulls does offer one. The Copperhead EVO 2 750 Wave pairs a Bosch Performance Line CX with a 750Wh battery. Other notable features include an 11-speed drivetrain and an air-spring fork for real off-road abilities.

Yamaha Making More Than Just Motors

Yamaha showed off the Wabash a very interesting drop- bar commuter e-bike with their new PW-X3 mid-drive motor (250W, 80Nm torque).

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The Crosscore RC city e-bike has real versatility; it would be great on dirt and gravel roads thanks to a 9-speed dictating, 27.5 x 2-in. tires and a 60mm-travel fork.

GasGas eMTBs

European brand GasGas brought a range of eMTBs featuring Yamaha mid-drive motors. They make five different models, all of which feature full-suspension and 11 or 12-speed drivetrains; prices range from $4399 to $6999.

Husqvarna

Perhaps best-known for the chainsaws, Husqvarna came with some very cool full-suspension eMTBs. They feature mullet setups (29-in. front wheel and 27.5 rear) and either 150mm of travel front and rear or 170mm front and rear.

Specialized’s Globe Brand Shown Fully Decked Out

Specialized showed off the Globe Haul ST decked out for commuting.

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Specialized offers a wide-range of accessories for the Globe Haul ST.

The E-Bike Bike Stand on Our Own Wishlist

Feedback Sports is known for making some of the best repair stands in the industry. They just introduced this new heavy-duty repair stand stout enough to hold an e-bike thanks to a max weight rating of 70 lbs

Canyon’s eMTB

Canyon came equipped with a number of their eMTBs. While they use Shimano motors, they designed their own battery so that it could be positioned lower and flatter in the down tube to help lower the e-bike’s center of gravity. The new battery is spec’d on the Spectral ON CFR. They start at $5299 and go as high as $8999.

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From Mountain Bike Pioneer to E-Bike Innovator: a Conversation With Gary Fisher

Gary Fisher was one of the originators of the mountain bike, in Marin County, back in the 1970s. In addition to making the first production mountain bike and helping to popularize the sport, Fisher can be credited with many of mountain biking’s greatest technical advances—everything from bigger wheels to four-bar-linkage suspension. For many years, Fisher Mountain Bikes were where new ideas got laughed at … before everyone adopted them.

Trek Bikes purchased Fisher and for many years Fisher worked with Trek to continue improving mountain bikes before he decided it was time to part ways with the company. Even before his departure, Fisher saw the promise the e-bikes offered. While many might assume that the former racer (he raced against Greg LeMond back in the day) would tout the health benefits of riding an e-bike, Fisher’s emphasis has been on the ability of e-bikes to transform cities, making them more livable, simplifying transportation and reducing greenhouse gas emissions.

In March of 2023, Fisher announced a new venture, the e-bike company Morelle, which will be a division of the battery technology company Ionblox. Until now, Ionblox’s batteries have been used in ultra-high-end electric aircraft. Fisher has said that Ionblox’s batteries will be smaller, lighter, offer greater range and will fully charge in a half hour. We visited him at his home in Marin County to chat about his company named for the tasty mushroom.

When people talk mountain bikes and OG, your name is one of the first mentioned. Given your history in the sport, why shift your focus from the fun of mountain bikes to the practicality of e-bikes? (He has spoken of wanting to do more with bikes to help communities and the planet. He has young kids.)

Gary Fisher: Well because I’ve got something there, and I know it. In the mountain bike world, a lot of [the technology] has moved on, and honestly, I’m happy with that, because I think e-bikes are the greatest need right now. One is entertainment and a lot of self-satisfaction. The other is the whole family of humans—we need this.

Even before you and Trek parted ways you had begun speaking at micromobility conferences and at symposia on e-bikes. If we rewind two or three years, where did you think you were headed?

I wasn’t thinking about my own personal moves. I was just really excited about something with so much momentum, with so much power.

E-Bike News: Mavic Ultralight Motor, Dost, Watt Wagons and Fiido New Models and More!

It’s that time of year when e-bike announcements of new products come thick and fast as e-bike companies vie for the attention of a riding public who are (in the northern hemisphere at least) eager to get out and about riding as the weather improves.

There’s a good mix of e-bike prospects here both long and short term, from exciting sounding systems from Mavic and Porsche still clearly very much in the development pipeline rather than nearing the factory floor, and imminent releases from Watt Wagons and Fiido plus a very functional sounding e-cargo model from Dost slated for sale at the end of 2023.

In this week’s e-bike news:

Mavic developing ultra-light high-tech mid-drive
Distinctive and contrasting e-cargobikes from Dost an Watt Wagons
Fiido’s value for money lightweight E-gravel model imminent
Bosch announce new Smart System features
Porsche reveal first real world testing of proprietary motor system

HeyBike Brawn Review

A fat tire e-bike with a burly build, a beastly amount of power, and broad range.

Many e-bikes are specifically designed for a singular purpose: some have extended frames for hauling cargo, and others collapse and fold for compact storage. Some, like HeyBike’s Brawn, just want to go fast, come Hell or high water. We’ll take a look at this burly e-bike’s ability to handle itself in those sorts of strenuous situations in our review of the HeyBike Brawn.

With bold, aggressive styling and the power to back it up, the Brawn is made for grit and speed. It is immediately capable of pedal-assisted speeds of 28 miles per hour – something that many other e-bikes require some tweaking to reach.

The bike’s signature headlight and dual crown fork are clear nods to motorcycle design, which add to the bike’s already sturdy and powerful appearance. A single glance makes it clear that this bike doesn’t mess around.

The Brawn is highly capable in its weight capacity too; this is an e-bike made for moving larger people. Its sturdy frame is designed for riders between 5’ 8” and 6’ 6”, and is capable of handling up to a 400 lb payload.

Did the Brawn live up to our expectations for such a robust fat-tire e-bike in our testing?
Does the bike provide good performance in relation to its price point?
Did it take us a few minutes to unclench some muscles after our first exhilarating ride?

Sit down and strap in while we examine our experiences with the bike in this HeyBike Brawn review!

[Read more…] about HeyBike Brawn Review

Ride1UP Rift First Look Review: Real Off-Road Ability

Ride1UP Rift Spec Review: Bike Overview

E-Bike News: Great Value New Models from Ride1Up and Aventon, Garmin Radar, Volt E-folder and Much More!

The Sea Otter Classic: Day 3’s Coolest Stuff

QuietKat Rubicon Review, 2024

A High Quality, Heavy Duty Hauler for Romping Around Rough Terrain

The Sea Otter Classic: Day 2’s Coolest Stuff

E-Bike News: EBC’s 28mph Model J, more Motor E-bikes, Velotric Lightweights, Denago Mid-drives and More!