Ride1UP Turris Review: First Look at the New Touring E-bike

Ride1UP Turris Spec Review: Bike Overview

We are seeing an increasing number of good quality e-bikes going for less than $1500. Until very recently, an e-bike that retailed for less than $1500 was going to skip the premium features to hit the price point. We are seeing more and more e-bikes in the $1000-$1500 price range that include some very premium features.

The Ride1UP Turris is being introduced with a suggested retail price right at $1300. For this kind of money, we would typically expect a 500W brushless, geared hub motor and mechanical disc brakes. The Turris defies expectations with its 750W hub motor, which can assist riders to a maximum speed of 28 mph. While we do see 500W motors that are capable of Class 3 performance, the Turris’s 750W brushless, geared hub motor produces 60Nm and should offer riders better acceleration, quicker climbing and more consistent pacing at top speed than a 500W hub motor.

We’re also impressed that Ride1UP chose Zoom hydraulic disc brakes with 180mm rotors rather than less-expensive mechanical disc brakes. In our opinion, this shows great forethought on their part. An e-bike with a motor powerful enough to go 28 mph ought to be equipped with brakes powerful enough to give the rider quick braking and confident control. The best way to do that is with hydraulic disc brakes and rotors that are at least 180mm in diameter.

This is one performance equation that is straightforward: Ride fast. Stop fast.

Digging into the details

For the shopper who will scrutinize a spec sheet, there are plenty of surprises in store. Another premium feature we find on the Ride1UP Turris that surprised us is the 100mm-travel suspension fork. In the specs they mention “hydraulic lockout” which suggests that this fork uses an air spring rather than a coiled steel spring, and is the mark of a better-quality fork.

We will often register some mild criticism of an e-bike if the motor’s wattage figure is greater than the battery’s watt/hours figure. In this case, the battery is noticeably smaller than the motor—a 750W hub motor is paired with a 614Wh battery with LG cells. Considering the price of the Ride1UP Turris, we would ordinarily be praising an e-bike in this price range that was spec’d with a 500W hub motor and a 614Wh battery. What we see with the Turris is a real upgrade. Ride1UP estimates that riders will typically manage 25 to 45 mi. of range on a charge, depending on rider weight, terrain and PAS level. Again, when we consider the price, this is a very respectable achievement.

The reasons to like the Ride1UP Turris don’t end there. It’s spec’d with a 7-speed Shimano Altus drivetrain—no surprises there. But what is a surprise is the wider gear cluster. We usually see a 14-28 set of gears in the rear, but Ride1UP chose a 12-32, which will do riders real favors. These gears will help the Turris climb more easily as well as hit top speed more easily. It’s a small detail easy to overlook, but one that will make a difference in the rider’s experience.

As if a touch like that wasn’t enough to satisfy the folks at Ride1UP, they chose to equip the Turris with a front light for lower-light conditions as well as front and rear fenders. The value grows with each new detail.

Finally, Ride1UP took one additional step to make the Turris as attractive as possible. Not only do they offer this e-bike in three colors, they make the frame in both traditional and step-thru designs.

EBR’s Take on the Ride1UP Turris

Much will be determined in on pending hand’s on review of the Ride1UP Turris. One thing we can definitively tell you now though is that while this pricepoint isn’t new for Ride1UP, the amount of features you’re getting certainly is.

We don’t need to listen to the blathering of economists to tell us that inflation is making life more expensive. A trip to the grocery store didn’t used to come with sticker shock. The Ride1UP Turris is a surprising introduction, a defiant argument for value over shareholder dividends.

The Ride1UP Turris wouldn’t be a bad e-bike with a 500W motor, coil-spring fork, mechanical disc brakes, a narrower range of gears and no fenders. That would be a reasonable value. Ride1UP chose to upgrade each of those components and the result is an e-bike that should sell like eggs at $1/doz.

We pride ourselves on being experts and being an expert means being able to see around the corner and telling folks what to expect. We didn’t expect an e-bike with this much packed into it at this price. The Ride1UP Turris stretches the buyer’s dollar so far it makes bungee cords envious.

We’ll have our full in-depth review of the Ride1up Turris out in the coming days, so stay tuned as we’ll have more on the data we’re collecting for you very soon.