Ride1UP Prodigy V1 ST E-Bike Review, 2024
A Great Motor at a Desireable Price That’ll Keep Active Riders Happy
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.
- Great quality motor. One of the most affordable bikes you’ll find that spec’s a Brose motor.
- Controlled power and speed. The bike adds speed and helps up hills while still letting the rider feel they’ve earned their climb/pace.
- Efficiency! The battery very much goes beyond advertised range in our experience of testing two different Prodigy bikes.
- Reliable brakes for controlled stops. 4 piston brakes are uncommon, but appreciated, on an affordable lighter-weight commuter.
- The Prodigy ST maneuvers very well. The lightweight frame, rigid fork, and tire tread lend itself to good handling on paved surfaces
- Sure it’s subjective, but the new white paint job is well done. Thick and glossy helps the eye-appeal without screaming for attention either.
- The stated 5’1” – 6’3” assumes riders assumes riders in that range are okay with a tight reach. Taller riders might be better suited for the XR variant instead.
- Battery: 504Wh lithium-ion
- Display: Brose color LED
- Motor: 250W Brose mid-drive motor, 90Nm torque
- Headlight: Buchel 80 Lux
- Taillights: Integrated
- Peal Assist: 4 PAS levels
- Range: 30-50 mi., estimated
- Throttle: N/A
- App: N/A
- Weight: 56.2 lbs w/battery.
- Maximum rider weight: 300 lbs.
- Maximum load on the rear rack: 40 lbs.
- Brakes: Tektro Orion 4-piston hydraulic disc brakes, 180mm rotors
- Fenders: yes
- Fork: Hydroformed 6061 aluminum
- Frame: Hydroformed 6061 aluminum
- Drivetrain: 9-speed Microshift, 11-34t cassette, 46t chainring, trigger shifter
- Grips: Velo ergonomic, lock-on
- Saddle: Selle Royal Viento
- Handlebar: no rise, 23° sweep
- Kickstand: Included
- Pedals: Alloy, w/reflectors
- Tires: Schwalbe G-One Speed 27.5 x 2.0-in.
Ride1UP Prodigy Review: Speed Test
The Ride1UP Prodigy showed remarkable efficiency in our speed test with no motor. I was able to pedal comfortably at 13.1 mph. In Eco, I saw my pace rise to 15.2 mph and then in Tour it gave a nice boost up to 17.6 mph.
When I bumped the controller up to Sport, the Prodigy really began to show what it was capable of, assisting me up to a speed of 23.2 mph. With Turbo it really opened up and I hit a cruising speed of 27 mph—worthy of a good Class 3 e-bike.
Because the Ride1UP Prodigy is a mid-drive e-bike with a fairly wide gear range. I didn’t experience any ghost pedaling so long as I tried to keep up with the pace of class 3, 28 mph speeds. As long as I was in a higher gear switching between different PAS levels saw immediate results.
The Microshift Advent drivetrain features a 9-speed cassette with a wide-range 11-34t cassette and the trigger shifter was quick and precise; it also allows riders to downshift multiple cogs at a time. This is a drivetrain ideally suited to anyone who needs to climb lots of hills.
Riders who tend to back off pedal pressure before shifting will notice a reduction in motor output thanks to the torque sensor, but as long as the rider isn’t in a full sprint or mashing the pedals in a big gear, shifting under load isn’t an issue.
Ride1UP Prodigy Review: Range Test & Battery Performance
Before we get to the results of our range test, a word about mid-drive motors. Because mid-drive motors tend to be lower wattage and offer increased efficiency due to the way the torque sensor applies power, you’ll get surprisingly long battery life thanks to the increased emphasis on rider input. The point here is that we commonly see impressive range numbers with e-bikes featuring mid-drive motors.
A 504Wh battery may not seem like it offers the capacity necessary to become a long-range champ, but when it’s paired with a 250W motor, good things can happen.
We previously reviewed the XC version of this e-bike and when we did, in our long-range test with the controller set to Eco, the Prodigy delivered a ridiculous result (ridiculous in a good way)—we covered more than 90 mi.
For our long-range test this time around, we decided to use Tour mode; we recorded a distance of 73.6 mi., covering that distance at an average speed of 14 mph. It’s an outsized performance for a 504Wh battery, but that’s a testament to just how efficient mid-drive motors can be.
When we performed the second test, in Turbo mode, we cruised along at 18.9 mph, a very respectable pace, and yet we still covered nearly 32 mi.
Ride1UP deserves serious praise here. We always hope that a company’s stated range will be close to our results, and to their credit, they are accurate where max PAS is concerned. But their 50 mi. estimate is, well, modest, and while there’s no downside to accuracy, it’s always nice to see a manufacturer over-deliver. It can help reassure a buyer that they aren’t cutting corners elsewhere.
Ride1UP Prodigy Review: Hill Test
Our hill test on Hell Hole, a 1/3-mi., 12 percent climb will challenge any e-bike. E-bikes with mid-drive motors wait for the rider to tell them how hard to work by how hard they pedal, unlike e-bikes with hub motors which will go however hard the PAS selector tells them to go. Also, most mid-drive e-bikes don’t feature a throttle, so we made only one ascent of Hell Hole.
When Justin made the climb, he arrived at the top in 1:34, which gave him an average speed of 11.5 mph. Given our history with e-bikes featuring motors in the 250-350W-range, that’s a terrific result.
We’ve been using Hell Hole for years now and I’ve lost count of how many times I’ve watched someone walk a bike up that hill or been totally out of breath at the top. Thanks to the Brose motor, the Prodigy gives people a reasonable amount of assistance, and does it while remaining quiet.
Ride1UP Prodigy Review: Safety and Brake Test
In our brake tests, we consider more than just what the e-bike’s stopping distance is. We consider the overall feel of the brakes, how the levers feel in our hands as well as how noisy they are.
One of the reasons we do three stops with each e-bike is not just to make sure we are performing the test the same way, but also to check if the brakes perform consistently, i.e., reliably.
With the Ride1UP Prodigy ST, we averaged a stopping distance of 20 feet 8 inches. That’s a full foot less than our current average for commuter e-bikes. This is one reason we like e-bikes in the 50-lb. range, rather than the 60-lb. range. That reduction in weight makes a measurable difference in stopping distance.
There’s a reason why the Prodigy ST performed so well: These were no run-of-the-mill hydraulic disc brakes. The Tektro Orion brakes feature a 4-piston design that gives braking power a big boost while requiring less of a squeeze from the rider’s hands.
Ride1UP Prodigy Review: Ride Quality
In our testing, we found very few flaws in the Ride1UP Prodigy ST. One regard in which this e-bike did come up a tad short was in comfort. I’m tall guy and the Prodigy ST had limited adjustability outside of saddle position.
The XR and XC both have a 588mm top tube, while the ST has a 560mm top tube—a nearly 3cm difference. The value in that is that the ST is truly a smaller e-bike than the XR. Often, the traditional frame and step-thru model have the same effective top tube length, but the shorter reach on the ST is a reason for smaller riders to take a hard look at this e-bike. I’d have been more comfortable on the XR, which isn’t surprising; it’s made for bigger riders.
The 2-in.-wide Schwalbe tires and aluminum fork make for a crisp ride on the road, and that solid feedback makes cruising through turns lots of fun. The downside here is that bumps will be a bit more jarring than on an e-bike with bigger tires and a suspension fork. You’ll want to be out of the saddle a bit to take in larger bumps.
Mid-drive motors really change the riding experience by adding to your effort, not replacing it. That’s great for riders who want a workout, but don’t want to find themselves burnt out with miles to go before getting home.
If I could change one thing about this bike it would be to offer a step-thru version, but with a longer top tube. I wasn’t uncomfortable, but more room between the handlebar and me would have been welcome. I’d have been more comfortable on the XR, but I prefer step-thru frames. Still, have to grant that the shorter top tube on the ST is good news for riders who have found other e-bikes too big.
Ride1UP Prodigy Review: Summary / Where to Buy
I’ll be honest and say that testing e-bikes is fun, always. Even so, some e-bikes are more fun than others. That was the case with the Ride1UP Prodigy ST. It was a joy to pedal around and caters to the wants of active riders who like making the wheels turn themselves, but with a measure of motor help to get going quicker.
Yes, I’d have been more comfortable on the XR than I was the ST, but I wasn’t uncomfortable; it’s not like I was on a kids’ bike.
What made the Prodigy so enjoyable was its particular combination of relatively low weight and the Brose mid-drive motor. Thanks to its torque sensor, the Prodigy ST rewards your effort by adding more power, which gave me a decidedly Superman feeling. Accelerating on an e-bike with a mid-drive motor is the sort of fun that sells itself.
If the Prodigy ST came in a larger size, I’d be inclined to make this my daily driver. But I have to admit that if someone asked me what I disliked about this e-bike, my first, and one of my only criticisms would be that I could use a little more room between the saddle and the bar. So 6′ riders should take a hard look at the XR, but under 6′, you’ll love what the Prodigy ST has to offer.
Looking back at its test results, there’s no question this is a solid performer. We often see an e-bike falter in one of our tests; after all, making an e-bike that’s good at everything is likely to drive its price up.
The Ride1UP Prodigy ST is priced more than fairly – it’s a flat out good buy. We respect that most buyers set their budget carefully, and our usual advice is to simply review a number of e-bikes at that price point. For buyers looking at e-bikes approaching $2000, our advice is to consider stretching your budget for the Prodigy ST. Ride1UP has created an e-bike that stretches your dollar like it’s in yoga class.
Happy Riding! Make sure to let us know if you have any questions down in our comments section or if you think we left anything out in this review of the Ride1UP Prodigy ST.
Groucho says
You say this bike will appeal to commuters. It probably will, but they will not need nine gears. My first ebike (Woosh) had six gears, and that was four too many. That is why the Nexus 3-speed is so common on hire bikes in cities.
Griffin Hales says
For some, maybe. For others, maybe not. We all commute differently and use more or less motor. I’d be angrier at not having enough gearing than having more than I need 🙂
Groucho says
I have posted comments but they never appear. Is it censorship, or some sort of technical problem?
Griffin Hales says
Spam filter is working too hard it seems. Sorry about that!