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Lemond Prolog Review | Lightweight Carbon City E-Bike

Lightweight and life-changing; this carbon fiber city e-bike leans toward loyal cyclists looking for a traditional bicycle feel.

Lemond Prolog Review
Subtle, minimal, sophisticated; these are the first words that came to mind when attempting to describe the LeMond Prolog. This elegant and alluring e-bike is one of two models released at the re-launch of LeMond Bicycles in 2021, and we were thrilled to finally get our hands on it! We take a look at this stylish, super-light city bike in this LeMond Prolog review.

A non-electric hybrid road/city bike lies at the heart of the Prolog’s riding experience, which is no surprise considering its brand’s heritage. Originally founded in 1990, LeMond Bicycles is the brainchild of Greg LeMond, the first American (and more broadly, non-European) winner of the Tour-de-France in 1986. The company has been through a lot since then ( our LeMond review hub includes a brief summary), but in its current form, focuses on creating highly functional, beautifully-designed carbon fiber e-bikes.

Weighing in at an incredible 26 lbs(!), the Prolog’s handmade carbon fiber frame (just one of many components on the bike) allows it to be one of the lightest e-bikes we’ve ever tested. This, along with a modest 250W rear-hub motor, gives it an extraordinary ride feel that we honestly struggle to find something to compare to; it’s fun in the sense of being somewhat life-changing.

With a ride experience that grants the sense of superhuman ability, a featherlight frame that is incredibly maneuverable, an array of impressive integrated technology, and unique visual appeal, it’s fair to expect that the Prolog would prove itself to be a prodigy.

Read on in our review of the LeMond Prolog to see if these elements combined to create an effective urban e-bike that met our lofty expectations!

[Read more…] about Lemond Prolog Review | Lightweight Carbon City E-Bike

Rad Power Bikes RadRunner Plus Review

Rad Power Bikes RadRunner Plus Review

Rad Power Bikes RadRunner Plus Review: Overview

The Rad Power BikesRadRunner Plus is a modern and intuitive Class 2 electric utility bike from Rad Power Bikes that combines a well thought out frame design with a powerful 750W motor and 48V, 14Ah battery.

If you’re looking for a clean and efficient alternative to your car, a good small cargo bike or you’re simply looking for an electric bike that will seat another person on the rear, the RadRunner Plus is a great choice.

During our RadRunner Plus review we put the bike through our hill climb test, brake test, circuit test and range test to give us a good idea of what the RadRunner Plus is made of. The Runner is a great bang for your buck e-bike with a lot of included quality parts and features, all while keeping the Runner around the $1,700 price point.

By the end of this review you should have a good idea of if the RadRunner Plus is the right Class 2 utility e-bike for you.

[Read more…] about Rad Power Bikes RadRunner Plus Review

Velotric T1 High Step Review | Cool Tech, Sleek Ride

Light, techy, and simple to ride.

Velotric T1 Review
The T1 from Velotric is a lightweight city e-bike that can be ridden as either a Class 1 or Class 3 e-bike and offers a very sporty ride. Thanks to built-in GPS and smartphone integration, you can track your e-bike’s location as well as unlock it with your fingerprint. In our Velotric T1 HS review we will look at how this city e-bike differs from many and the particular strengths that make it an exciting ride.

Most city e-bikes lean toward practicality. They offer a nice, upright riding position, fenders, lights and a rear rack to make commuting convenient and safe in low-light conditions. But not everyone is going to commute to work. Not everyone will ride when it’s raining or even when the streets are wet and some of us make sure we’re off the road before the sun goes down. Eliminate those needs and what we have is a different sort of e-bike. Enter the Velotric T1 HS.

What makes the Velotric T1 HS different is, well, everything. Let’s start with the basics. This is e-bike begins with a 6061 aircraft aluminum frame and fork—no suspension. It’s powered by a 350W brushless, geared hub motor and 353Wh battery. It features an 8-speed Shimano drivetrain and Tektro hydraulic disc brakes paired with 160mm rotors.

In a market where most manufacturers are touting the big wattage numbers for their hub, Velotric went in the opposite direction. The question is: Why? The answer is simple enough: With a smaller motor, smaller battery, fewer accessories that add weight and no suspension, Velotric was able to produce an e-bike that weighs just 37 lbs. We rarely see e-bikes that weigh less than 50 lbs., so this is an impressive achievement.

A lightweight e-bike changes the ride experience and because it’s so light, a 350W motor is far more effective than it would be on an e-bike that weighs twice as much. Velotric gave this e-bike another feature that makes it all the more appealing: a torque sensor. The torque sensor sends far more information to the controller than a cadence sensor does, and helps the motor to respond more quickly and in proportion to the rider’s effort, resulting in a sportier experience.

There’s a lot to consider with this exciting e-bike. Let’s dig into the details.

[Read more…] about Velotric T1 High Step Review | Cool Tech, Sleek Ride

Ride1Up CF Racer 1 Review | Carbon Fiber For How Much!?

This lightweight carbon fiber gravel/road e-bike features great specs, responsive handling, and an unbeatable price!

Ride1UP CF Racer 1 Review
With its carbon fiber frame and drop bars, Ride1UP has effectively raised the bar (pun intended) with the CF Racer 1. This entry-level gravel/road e-bike comes at a price point that had us picking our jaws up off the floor. In this CF Racer 1 review, we cover all the details of the bike’s real-world performance.

The CF Racer’s smooth carbon fiber frame is central to its ride feel; it weighs a grand total of… drum roll please… 29 lbs! With such lightweight construction, we found that it felt nimble, airy, and energetic. It was also incredibly easy to lift and load onto a bike rack.

A comparable e-bike from other prominent e-bike brands is likely to run upwards of $1,000 more than the CF Racer 1’s price point between $2,000 and $2,500. In many cases, this cost would still only equate to a traditional alloy frame with significant differences in handling, feel, and range.

The bike’s low cost and design do come with a few trade offs including limited sizing options and adjustability. Additionally, while we dig the cleanliness of its appearance, internally routed cables have the potential to increase maintenance costs when servicing the CF Racer at a bike shop.

Here at Electric Bike Report, we perform a series of standardized tests to evaluate motor power, battery efficiency, braking performance, etc. We continue our discussion in the context of the CF Racer 1’s test results in the full review below.

[Read more…] about Ride1Up CF Racer 1 Review | Carbon Fiber For How Much!?

Trek Marlin+ 8 Review | Electrifying A Popular MTB

A Bosch motor, air-spring suspension fork and 12-speed drivetrain make this no ordinary entry-level eMTB.

Trek Marlin+ 8 E-Bike Review
Part of Trek’s mission statement reads, “We…change the world by getting more people on bikes.” Electrifying an affordable hardtail mountain bike is undoubtedly a step toward achieving that goal.

If the name Marlin sounds familiar, it’s because it’s one of Trek’s most popular hardtail mountain bike lines. The “+” designation signifies Trek’s electrified models, and with the Marlin+ 8, Trek combines its well-loved aluminum frame with a Bosch Active Line Plus motor powered by a CompactTube 400 battery. The bike also features a full RockShox Recon Silver RL fork, a Shimano Deore 12-speed drivetrain, and 4-piston Shimano hydraulic disc brakes—all carefully chosen to balance affordability with performance.

While many e-bikes we review come in just one size or offer step-over and step-thru options with similar reach dimensions, Trek has taken a different approach. The Marlin+ 8 is available in five sizes, a welcome detail for riders outside the average height range. Whether you’re a more petite rider or on the taller side, there’s likely a Marlin+ 8 that fits you perfectly. Our large frame test bike felt like it was made for me.

Trek clearly understands what riders want in an eMTB. Despite aiming to keep this bike more affordable, they didn’t skimp on features. Tubeless-ready tires and rims, along with a dropper post, and solid suspension fork show that this bike isn’t just about appearances—it delivers where it counts.

At the core of the Trek Marlin+ 8 is its Bosch motor, which shines in both subtle and high-demand scenarios. Whether you need a noticeable boost or seamless integration with your pedaling, the motor excels. Its intuitive “set it and forget it” functionality is a standout feature.

There’s a lot to unpack with this e-bike. Let’s dive into how the Marlin+ 8 performed in our battery of tests.

[Read more…] about Trek Marlin+ 8 Review | Electrifying A Popular MTB

Ride1Up Revv 1 DRT Review | If The Road Ends, The Ride Won’t

The looks are killer, but the bike isn’t just style; off-road fun abounds on this speedy dirt bike-inspired ride.

Ride1Up Revv 1 DRT Review
The Ride1Up Revv 1 DRT was everything I didn’t know I wanted from the brand’s moto-styled speedster.

My previous experiences reviewing the HT and helping test the FS models already convinced me the Revv 1 was a great bike. Both were fun, fast, comfortable and just looked badass!

Now, enter the DRT with the best specs of any Revv1 model. Its enhanced suspension and duo-sport tires sent me further off the beaten path than I’d attempted on any previous Revv1. I immediately found myself enjoying the ride in a whole new light. If you want fun times on paved surfaces or in the dirt, the Revv 1 DRT is an excellent place to look.

I’ll state the (hopefully) obvious: It’s not a dirt bike. But if you want a versatile e-bike that allows you to commute on bike paths, enjoy some double-track, and even hit a smaller dirt jump or two, then the DRT can deliver.

The DRT packs all the hallmarks of a moped-style e-bike. It has a powerful motor, sufficient counterbalance with 4-piston hydraulic brakes, and a large battery for longer ride times.

But all of that is just the tip of the iceberg, and there is plenty more worth discussing. See how it did in our testing down below for all the details.

[Read more…] about Ride1Up Revv 1 DRT Review | If The Road Ends, The Ride Won’t

Rad Power Bikes RadTrike Review | Stable; Affordable

A stable, affordable e-trike for those who are in need of three wheels instead of two

Rad Power Bikes RadTrike Review
Rad Power Bikes is well-established as a leading e-bike brand having made and refined a large stable of affordable e-bike models over the past several years. But with our Rad Power Bikes RadTrike review, we have something entirely fresh to evaluate from the e-bike giant; creating an electric trike means Rad will be forging ahead on a new frontier for them on the greater e-mobility landscape.

So the question has to be asked, why make the RadTrike? Sure, electric bikes and trikes share handlebars, pedals, tires, motors, batteries, and more, but they have as many differences as they do similarities. There is a pretty large contrast in the way you ride and operate either one which requires experienced e-bike engineers to start from square one when going to develop a trike. So again, why did Rad Power Bikes do it?

“[The RadTrike] is something that the world hasn’t had but really needs. A low, stable, comfortable, and accessibly-priced micromobility product that can be pedaled,” chairman and founder Mike Radenbaugh told us during a review Q&A phone call.

If done right, an e-trike such as the RadTrike has the potential to make e-micromobility more available to all – especially those who aren’t comfortable on two wheels by providing the stability of three.

The RadTrike was built with people who have mobility or balance limitations in mind. Trikes have long been a favorite of seniors thanks to the platform being simpler to mount, and by their nature, they favor slower speeds that are easier to manage.

E-trikes are also highly useful as an alternative means of getting around thanks to higher payload capacities, basket attachments for storing all sorts of gear, and the stability three wheels provide to load and haul it all. E-trikes can be small but mighty, sort of like a “small pickup truck” as Radenbaugh went on to say.

In the world of e-bikes consumers have no shortage of options, but it’s fair to say that the models offered in e-trikes are fewer and further between, and oftentimes finding a quality one means higher prices. The RadTrike is aiming to be one of a small number of less expensive, quality electric trike options that could truly be relied upon in a daily capacity.

Clearly, the RadTrike is a worthwhile endeavor on many levels, but was the brand able to deliver a quality trike that would feel safe, useful, fun, and perform well? We spent the last three weeks riding and reviewing the Rad Power Bikes RadTrike to find out.

[Read more…] about Rad Power Bikes RadTrike Review | Stable; Affordable

Rad Power Bikes RadWagon 4 Review | The Iconic Cargo Ride

Now more affordable than ever, the faithful Rad workhorse offers great value for all your cargo needs.

Rad Power Bikes RadWagon 4 Review

The RadWagon 4 by Rad Power Bikes is a versatile cargo and commuter electric bike tailored for urban use. With a peak motor output of 750 watts, a 672 Wh battery, and a variety of available attachments, the RadWagon 4 is an impressively adaptable e-bike that could be an ideal solution for those looking to replace or reduce their reliance on a car. It’s a standout model, offering a different function and design compared to other Rad Power Bikes we’ve reviewed.

During our testing and review at Electric Bike Report, six team members collectively rode over 100 miles on the RadWagon 4. Without exception, every rider was pleasantly surprised by how much fun this e-bike is to ride.

At approximately 77 lbs, we initially expected a bike that would be difficult to handle and possibly underpowered. However, we discovered the opposite. The bike’s handling was excellent, even when loaded to its impressive 350-lb payload capacity with passengers and cargo. It tackled hills effortlessly, and the lower step-over height combined with the telescoping seat post made it accessible to riders of varying heights—from 5’4” to 6’5”.

Bottom line: If you’re in the market for a powerful, affordable e-bike capable of carrying cargo, passengers, and just about everything else, the RadWagon 4 by Rad Power Bikes is worth serious consideration.

[Read more…] about Rad Power Bikes RadWagon 4 Review | The Iconic Cargo Ride

Rad Power Bikes RadRunner 3 Plus Review | Thoroughly Tested

The “Be What You Want It To Be” E-Bike

Rad Power Bikes RadRunner 3 Plus Review
In this review of Rad Power Bikes’ RadRunner 3 Plus, we’ll explore how this model has evolved from its predecessors to become one of the best all-purpose e-bikes on the market. With e-bike popularity reaching new heights, more riders are looking for a versatile option that can handle everything from errands and school drop-offs to commuting and weekend fun. Multi-purpose e-bikes are in high demand, and the RadRunner 3 Plus rises to meet that need beautifully.

This is a Class 2 electric bike, capable of reaching speeds up to 20 mph with either pedal assist or throttle. Like its RadRunner siblings, it features a 750-watt rear hub motor and 20” x 3.3” tires. While all RadRunner models share a step-thru frame design, the RadRunner 3 Plus introduces a new and improved frame that enhances handling and increases its total carrying capacity to 350 lbs, making it a superior choice for hauling cargo compared to earlier models. It rode nice and stiff across my many many miles of testing.

Rad Power Bikes claims the motor has been modified to accelerate 10% faster on hills than the RadRunner Plus and to engage more effectively with the rider’s pedaling. The updated styling also sets the RadRunner 3 Plus apart, with a modernized look that includes a semi-integrated battery mounted on the bottom tube and aesthetics similar to Rad’s City and Rover models.

Rad also packs tons of accessory combinations. You can outfit the Runner 3 in a myriad of ways – I particularly liked the hard-shell paniers we were able to try out. They were useful for hauling camera gear – weather be darned!

Keep reading to learn more about the unique features that make this bike stand out, including real-world performance results in our RadRunner 3 Plus review.

[Read more…] about Rad Power Bikes RadRunner 3 Plus Review | Thoroughly Tested

Specialized Globe Haul ST Review | High-Bar for Hub Motors?

Specialized’s first hub motor e-bike is a homerun on performance, with enough ways to use it that anybody can enjoy it.

Specialized Globe Haul ST Review
Specialized is one of the biggest bike brands in the world, known for spearheading more innovations than most other brands combined. They were also the first of the major legacy brands to introduce an e-bike, showing their willingness to embrace the future. Watching the rise of direct-to-consumer e-bike brands, Specialized has proven its competitive edge once again by creating one of the best-performing e-bikes we’ve ever tested. To say our time reviewing Specialized’s Globe Haul ST left us impressed would be an understatement.

In our standardized series of e-bike tests, the Globe Haul ST excelled across the board. It wowed us with its hill-climbing ability, range, speed, and safety (braking)—all earning high marks. Beyond measurable metrics, the Globe Haul ST delivered a polished and refined experience that’s rare for a first-generation product. But then again, few gen-one models have access to the kind of R&D expertise that Specialized brings to the table.

As a Class 3 utility e-bike powered by a lively 700W hub motor (more on that later), the Globe Haul ST is built for versatility. Whether you’re commuting to work, running errands at Costco, or simply riding for fun, this bike adapts seamlessly to your needs, making every ride is enjoyable.

You could really tell that Specialized drew on its deep understanding of geometry and frame design to create a one-size-fits-all e-bike that truly lives up to the promise. The bike fits riders from 4’5″ to 6’4″, the Globe Haul ST provides an impressive fit for nearly everyone. The 20×3.5” Carless Whisper tires add to its appeal by offering a low center of gravity and easy balance, making it a comfortable ride even for those who haven’t been on a bike in years.

This is just the tip of the iceberg when it comes to how much the Globe Haul ST impressed our Electric Bike Report team. Continue reading for the full breakdown of what makes this e-bike so special.

[Read more…] about Specialized Globe Haul ST Review | High-Bar for Hub Motors?

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