Ride1UP Rift ST Review, 2024

As described in the graphic above, we performed Range Tests with the Rift ST in both PAS 1 and PAS 5 to determine the two extremes of its capabilities. Ride1UP advertises a range of “45-60 miles depending on rider weight, terrain, incline, level of assist, etc,” which did not sound out of place for a bike with the Rift’s motor and battery specifications.

The company’s advertised figures line up almost perfectly with our own results; we achieved a distance of nearly 44 miles with maximum assistance and nearly 62 miles when drawing the minimum amount of power from the battery.

The Ride1UP Rift ST comes equipped with a relatively large battery for a bike of its price and style; it uses a 48V, 20 amp-hour (Ah) or 960 watt-hour (Wh) power source with enough capacity to power the bike for an extended period of time with or without cargo. Judging by the numbers, we expected to pedal in its maximum-assist setting for roughly an hour and 15 minutes; we traveled almost two and a half hours – twice as long!

Even without further analysis, a range of 45-60 miles is excellent for such a large, powerful, and heavy e-bike. When compared to other fat tire e-bikes we’ve tested, the Rift’s results in PAS 5 are among some of the best we have measured when drawing the maximum amount of battery power.

It’s worth noting that we performed this test with the bike in its factory settings; unlocking the Rift ST to Class 3 mode allows it to reach faster speeds, but also requires more power from the battery to reach and sustain. As such, the range the bike could achieve in PAS 5 would likely differ significantly from our results.

For our Hill Test, explained above, we chose a relatively extreme local trail to evaluate every bike’s uphill capability. The Ride1UP Rift ST performed admirably in both sections of this test, with a time of 1 minute and 13 seconds and an average speed of 14.9 mph using just its throttle. When pedaling up the slope in PAS 5, we were able to make the climb in 1 minute and 7 seconds, with an average of 16.2 mph.

These results line up closely with our expectations for a fat tire bike with a 750W rear hub motor that can peak at much higher wattages; this comes into play more on inclines than on flat ground. The motor’s maximum 95 Nm of torque is certainly on the high end of the spectrum, so that gives the bike the force needed to accelerate uphill.

Both of our climbs were comfortable and smooth; this is an enjoyable and relaxing hallmark of e-bikes with punchy rear hub motors and cadence sensors. The Rift’s time and speed in PAS 5 do not quite exceed the performance of some other fat-tire e-bikes we’ve tested, but regardless, the bike landed squarely near the top of the list. Its throttle-only results, however, were among the best we’ve seen from similar models, and prove that the motor’s 95Nm of torque is going to good use.

These results show that the Rift ST is not just a good hill climber on its own; they indicate that it has the potency to shuttle cargo and/or additional passengers in addition to the main rider. Additionally, with the proficiency the Rift ST showed on Hell Hole Trail, we feel confident in saying that it can easily handle just about any incline presented to it in the wild.

The process used for our Brake Test is described above; this was the method used to evaluate the Rift’s hydraulic disc brakes. The system on our test bike was made by LBN, and included 180mm rotors on both wheels.

We were surprised to note that the Rift ST uses a 4-piston brake system; 2-piston setups are generally much more common even on mighty (and heavy) fat-tire e-bikes in our experience. 4-piston systems are known for offering better overall braking power and speed modulation.

In practice, the Rift’s brakes performed well, with an average stopping distance of 22’-1”. This is slightly better than average when compared to the results of other fat tire e-bikes we have evaluated – though considering the bike’s 4-piston setup, we expected to see a slightly shorter distance. Regardless, the average that we calculated is a solid result, and should more than adequately compensate for faster speeds in Class 3 mode.

There is one feature of the brakes that I consider to be especially important on the Rift, and that is their motor cutoff function. This is an altogether great safety feature that is present on many e-bikes, which prevents the motor from overpowering the brakes if/when you want to slow down or stop. On the Rift, I found that it can have a more important interaction relating to the bike’s responsiveness. I mentioned previously that the Rift’s motor engages swiftly thanks to the sensitivity of its cadence sensor, but when coasting, the motor can remain engaged for a couple of seconds. In off-road environments where quick response time can make or break your success, the use of the Rift’s brakes (and motor cutoff feature) can compensate for that lag.

Other safety features include the bright 80 lux headlight and the taillight with brake light functionality, as well as the Kenda Krusade anti-puncture tires.

The ride comfort of the Rift ST was generally good, with some areas that could use improvement. In terms of contact points, the pedals were fine, the ergonomic rubber grips felt appropriately soft, and the KNUS Ergo Gel MTB saddle was supportive, well-shaped, and soft enough to absorb some serious bumps from off-road riding.

In general, the Rift ST performed far better than I expected when riding on rough and rocky dirt paths. It’s not uncommon for fat-tire e-bikes of similar design to be (mis)labeled as all-terrain e-bikes, and while the Rift ST does not fit the bill for what we consider to be a bike of that description (namely due to the fact that it lacks a rear suspension), it’s about as close as we’ve seen for a hardtail. The bike’s tires grip loose ground effectively, its handlebars are wide enough for good control, and its front suspension fork offers a surprising 120mm of travel; significantly greater than we typically see on similar e-bikes.

On paved surfaces, the bike performs just as well; it’s a large bike that feels its size but it corners smoothly and maneuvers well thanks to its 26”x4” tires.

In my opinion, Ride1UP succeeded in making a fat-tire e-bike that successfully stands out in a relatively crowded market. The Rift ST model takes a refreshing approach in being a hybrid utility/adventure e-bike that can take a beating in tougher environments while also handling a serious amount of cargo and even an additional passenger.

There’s a few ways it could be improved. We appreciate that the Rift is available in a more accessible step-thru frame as well as a step-over design, but an adjustable stem would increase the bike’s comfort level for riders around 6’-0” and above. Additionally, while it’s likely a tradeoff with the large frame members and corresponding carrying capacity of the bike’s integrated rear cargo rack, the placement of the Rift’s kickstand could use some work to avoid heel scraping for riders with big feet.

That said, we think the Rift is a capable adventurer, commuter, cargo carrier, or passenger hauler; it’s an excellent option for riders who want to do a bit of everything, while bringing a respectable amount of gear – or a friend!

When compared to other Ride1UP e-bikes we’ve tested, the Rift may not quite have the same level of competitive pricing, but the value it provides is real. There’s not quite another e-bike like the Rift, and for what it brings to the table – great performance in all our tests and its rear cargo rack and passenger capacity – you’d have a difficult time finding a similarly-spec’d e-bike for less.

Personally, I am drawn to this style of e-bike for its level of practicality, but also just because of its power. I greatly enjoyed testing the bike in its Class 3 settings and really getting a feel for what it can do at top speed, but even as a Class 2 e-bike, the Rift proved itself to be an awesomely functional machine with excellent responsiveness and capabilities both on- and off-road. It has heaps of speed and uphill power, and a fantastic amount of range; that combination makes for a supremely fun bike to ride… plus, you can’t deny that its name is just badass!

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 Rift.