Ride1UP Prodigy V2 LX Review, 2023

Our rule of thumb for solid range is a 1:1 ratio of motor wattage to battery capacity in watt/hours. So with a 500W motor, we’d want to see a 504Wh (a typical size) battery. With the Ride1UP Prodigy V2 LX, the Brose mid-drive motor produces just 250W, which is in keeping with the majority of other mid-drive motors. So matching a 250W motor with a 504Wh motor means that range anxiety can go take a nap.

We’ve tested this exact setup on multiple Prodigy e-bikes and have covered upwards of 90 miles. Pack the charger with a couple of changes of clothes in some panniers and someone could do an inn-to-inn tour on this setup.

Rather than do the same old maximum range test in Eco mode, we decided to do a range test in Tour mode, which gives riders a more satisfying pace. In Tour, the Ride1UP Prodigy V2 LX still turned an impressive result, covering 65.3 miles. That’s better than many e-bikes in Eco or PAS 1.

When we ran the test in Boost mode, we zoomed along for 31 mi., a respectable result. That’s enough for most of us to commute for a couple of days before needing to charge the battery.

Ride1UP estimates the Prodigy V2 LX’s range as between 30 and 50 mi. They are pretty on-the-mark with Boost mode, but we don’t often see e-bikes beat a manufacturer’s range estimates so distinctly as we did with covering 65 miles in Tour mode; that number would be even bigger had we performed the test in Eco. It always pays to under-promise and over-deliver.

Before I get to our result in the hill test—which was impressive—I want to note that the Ride1UP Prodigy V2 LX performed well everywhere I rode it. Long hills, steep hills, fast flats—this is an e-bike that didn’t exhibit any obvious weaknesses.

Still, there’s no result like taking an e-bike up Hell Hole. At ⅓ of a mile and climbing at a pitch of 12 percent, we see e-bikes not finish this climb from time to time. Justin did our test and he climbed the hill in 1:44 for a pace of 10.4 seconds. That’s a pretty mid-pack finish for a 250W mid-drive motor.

E-bikes with mid-drive motors don’t tend to show all they have in this test because of their torque sensor. We want our results to reflect what the e-bike will deliver under an average person’s effort. When we climb Hell Hole, we’re working, but we’re not killing ourselves. In this setting, the e-bikes with cadence sensors tend to perform better than e-bikes with torque sensors.

The point here is that the Ride1UP Prodigy V2 LX performed well, but for the rider in a full sprint, this e-bike has the capability to deliver much more.

Hill testing is one area we felt the Enviolo Trekking CVT shine too. The diagram on the shifter is neat – just match it to the terrain in front of you for the best results. But a lot of the micro annoyances that exist with a traditional drivetrain are eliminated with this system: shift whenever you want (under a load, or while at a complete stop), get a larger than usual amount of customization in the feeling, etc. It’s a nice system that really proves itself when you’re making adjustments on a long hill climb, and it has the range necessary (380%) to even let you pedal down the other side of the hill.

Where the Ride1UP Prodigy V2 LX is clearly trying to take on some heavy-hitters in the e-bike world, I’m glad to see they went with a nicer brake set. Not only did Ride1UP choose hydraulic disc brakes, they chose Tektro’s Orion calipers, which feature a very powerful 4-piston design.

We typically find 4-piston disc brakes on eMTBs and cargo e-bikes. Their inclusion here is a pleasant surprise, but its the sort of touch that burnishes this e-bike’s off-road abilities.

With the Ride1UP Prodigy V2 LX we arrived at a stopping distance of 21 feet 9 inches in our brake test. That puts it smack-dab on our average results of e-bikes we’ve tested over the last 12 months. Certainly, this is an e-bike that will perform well in a panic stop, but stopping distance isn’t the only criteria by which brakes should be judged. I found that the Tektro Orion brakes perform well when modulating speed for turns.

I want to take a moment to discuss the Ride1UP Prodigy V2 LX’s drivetrain. The Enviolo Continuously-Variable Transmission isn’t like other drivetrains. This is an internally geared hub and rather than a shift lever, it features a twist shifter in the grip. The tiniest turn of the grip results in a small change in the gearing. It’s never fun to be riding along and feel like one gear is too hard, but the next gear down is too easy. This is Goldilocks in a machine. And the gear range is 380 percent, almost double that of most e-bikes in this price range. This is a decidedly premium feature that we don’t ordinarily see on e-bikes retailing for less than $3000.

The decision to go with a Gates belt, something the Enviolo CVT hub makes possible, offers a few benefits. First, no more chain lube. Second, no stains on pants or car interiors. Third, as I mentioned, it’s quiet, surprisingly so. Fourth, on the occasions the Ride1UP Prodigy V2 LX does need to be washed, the job will go quickly.

Ride1UP did a nice job with outfitting the Prodigy V2 LX. They included front and rear lights, full fenders, a rear rack and a kickstand. All it needs is a pannier or two to be ready for a daily commute.

One word of caution for riders planning to go off-road. The clearance between the knobby tires and the fenders is adequate to keep the tires from rubbing the fenders, as you’d expect, but should someone go for a ride on a muddy road or trail, if the tire picks up any mud, the clearance is tight enough that mud could rub the fenders.

Ride1UP makes the Prodigy V2 in both a traditional frame (the LX we tested) and a step-thru (LS), but in terms of reach, the two bikes are the same. That means anyone who would prefer the step-thru version doesn’t have to worry that they’ll feel confined compared to the traditional frame. I’d have liked a longer reach to the bar, but I’m on the taller side, at 6 feet 1. Riders with an inseam greater than 32 in. may have trouble reaching adequate saddle height though, which could leave some riders feeling a bit cramped.

We’ve reviewed a number of Ride1UP e-bikes, and we keep reviewing them because they never fail to impress us with the value inherent to their e-bikes. I’m inclined to say the Prodigy V2 LX is my favorite of their bikes … so far. I should be smart and leave room for them to keep topping themselves.

The appeal for the Ride1UP Prodigy V2 LX comes in the ride experience. Everything about this e-bike is a cut above. The mid-drive motor, the air-spring fork, the Enviolo drivetrain, the premium brakes, the battery that will outlast most sets of legs, the name-brand tires—they all add up to an e-bike that begins to approach the level of quality we see from the big legacy bike brands like Specialized. The one thing those e-bike brands offer is a choice of sizes (and maybe more color choice). If you’re sized between the bike’s recommendations, and you’re happy with the colors offered, you’re looking at saving a lot more going this route though.

What stands out most in the Ride1UP Prodigy V2 LX is the combination of the Brose motor and Enviolo CVT. It makes the e-bike’s overall operation smoother, more seamless. It’s nice enough to make a seasoned cyclist happy, and will impress a newcomer who might be surprised that an e-bike can be this nice.

Ride1UP deserves credit for going with name brand parts—from the motor and battery to the drivetrain and brakes, heck, even the tires and saddle are name brand; the only exception is the air-spring fork, which gives a premium ride, even if it lacks a fancy sticker.

This is an e-bike for a rider who will relish an e-bike with better ride quality. The reality is, our testing didn’t really capture some of what makes this e-bike so great. However, anyone who takes this e-bike for a ride would immediately feel the difference between this and a less-expensive ride.

We’re still not sure how Ride1UP was able to create an e-bike of such exceptional value, but this is one of those e-bikes that ticks all the quality boxes that could hope to be ticked without costing a thousand—or thousands—more. The Ride1UP Prodigy V2 LX is so enjoyable we expect its owners will ride more than they planned to.

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 V2 LX.