Ride1UP Turris E-Bike Review, 2023
Economical Explorer E-Bike with Desired Features
Whether you’re looking for a bike to commute daily for work or school, take a relaxing cruise on, or explore areas more closely on your off-time, the Turris has a lot in common with its more expensive counterpart e-bikes, but without the higher price. Examples include the powerful motor for passing impediments and climbing hills, halting via hydraulic disc brakes, a battery designed to go 50 miles, and suspension forks for a smoother ride.
This class 3 e-bike (throttle up to 20 mph and pedal assist up to 25 mph) has the look and feel of a big bike, with 27.5 inch wheels, and a large 19” step-thru frame. Wowing us with the details, we were a little skeptical about whether this bike can be what it was meant to be. If you’re looking for a full size e-bike to get around town, and beyond, and have a similar price point. then keep reading and find out if this is the e-bike for you.
- Overall bundle of features, for under $1500 makes this e-bike a steal of a deal.
- 750w motor engages smoothly with the rider’s pedaling.
- Good stopping power from the Zoom hydraulic brakes.
- Smooth ride thanks to the 100mm travel suspension forks
- A light frame makes this bike easier to pedal, uses less motor & battery power.
- Good 50-mile battery range with a 12.8 Ah battery.
- Comfortable ride and easy fit from the ergonomic design.
- Entry level components used for keeping the price down might need servicing sooner.
- Class: Class 3, throttle up to 20 mph, pedal assist up to 25 mph
- Motor: 48V Geared Hub Shengyi motor 750w sustained
- Battery: 48V12.8Ah / 614.4 Wh Reention prism LG cells, Smart BMS
- Torque: Up to 60Nm
- Range: 25 – 45 miles
- Display: KD21C adjustable speed LCD
- PAS Sensor: Integrated sensitive cadence sensor
- Controller: 48V22A Lishui Sine-wave
- Front Light: 60 lux front light
- Weight capacity: 300 lbs
- Bike weight: 55 lbs
- Seat Tube: 19″
- Minimum seat height: 32″
- Maximum seat height: 42.5″
- Wheel base: 43”
- Total length: 71.5”
- Height range: 5’6″-6’4″
- Stand-over height: 30”
- Handlebar reach: 15.5″
- Handlebar height: 43″
- Brakes: Zoom 180mm hydraulic disc brakes w/ cut-off sensor
- Fork: Hydraulic suspension, 100mm travel, with lockout
- Tires: Kenda K1227 27.5″x 2.4″
- Throttle: Left side thumb throttle
- Handlebar: 31.8mm riser bars, 50mm rise
- Grips: Ergonomic locking rubber grips
- Shifters: Shimano Tourney 7-speed SL-TX30
- Gearing: 46T Prowheel alloy chainring
- Cassette: Shimano 12-32T
- Derailleur: Shimano RD Altus
- Chain: KMC Z7.3 7-speed chain
- Spokes: Black stainless steel, 13G
- Saddle: KNUS Ergo gel MTB saddle
- Seat Post: 400mm x 31.6mm dual bolt
- Stem: 45mm Ext. 31.8mm bar core
- Rack: Available as accessory purchase
- Additional: Water bottle bosses and chainstay guard
E- Bike Overview: Ride1UP Turris
Looking at the Turris’ core components, we can see examples of how this seems like an above -$1500 e-bike: 12 amp-hour (Ah) battery to take you 45 miles. The powerful Bafang 750-watt rear hub motor – not something you normally find on a $1300 e-bike – generates 60 Newton meters (Nm) of torque, good for hill climbing and getting us past walkers and slower bikes.
If the Turris only had rigid suspension and mechanical brakes, then the price would seem more realistic. But add the 100mm travel forks and the Zoom hydraulic brakes – with dual piston calipers and 180mm rotors – then you might start to think the accountant at Ride 1Up forgot to add some costs when coming up with the price. This was no mistake.
But that’s not all. The frame ergonomics makes this a comfortable ride. The cockpit design features aluminum levers, rubber grips and a display unit that’s easy to manipulate data from and commands to.
The lightness of the frame made the Turris easier to pedal and maneuver, feeling more like a regular bike. The lightweight also helps with motor power and battery range.
Powering along with the Bafang 750w motor, this bike has good low and mid range, and decent top end.
The frame integrated 11.4Ah battery tucks nicely inside the bottom tube, while providing enough power to ride up to 50 miles on one charge.
On our first ride, we agreed that this sporty, stylish bike is comfortable to ride, and makes you look good, whether you’re riding to work in a business suit, or riding for fun in jeans and t-shirt.
Considering the gamut of what the Turris offers, it appears to be a winner. So, we were ready to put this bike to the task of taking us through a series of performance tests, to show us how well the Turris performs. Does it live up to being a “do-all” bike without the do-all price? Read on to find out.
Circuit Speed Test Review: Ride1UP Turris
Perusing the chart above, you will notice that this Class 3 e-bike (pedal assist up to 25 mph), with a 750w Bafang motor, provided consistent engagement and a balanced range of acceleration at each of the PAS levels.
We here at EBR are big supporters of torque sensors, instead of cadence sensors. But the cadence sensor on the Turris worked well with the Shimano Tourney 7-speed and 12-32T gearing. The Turris motor delivered balanced acceleration and speed caps, spaced about 2 mph apart between PAS 1 and 4, and no ghost pedaling at top speed in PAS 5.
For everyday riding around the city, I found PAS 3 to be the optimum level for most of my riding. It provided me with a good mix of averaging around 17 mph, which was a good speed on the bike path, and my battery charge didn’t drain as fast as it would if I was in PAS 5 most of the time. I found that I only needed PAS 4 or 5 when passing.
The Turris’ motor showed us in the Circuit Test that it can deliver power at levels that will likely satisfy most riders, regardless of riding skill or style. The riders on our team were happy with the way the Turris performed in our Circuit Test.
The motor engagement with the pedaling was balanced and consistent. We like it when bikes like this don’t surprise us with sudden surges or serendipitous stalls
12-32T gearing mostly eliminated ghost pedaling at top speed, while providing balanced power distribution to the rear wheel.
Front and rear fenders are a nice addition for protecting the rider and his/her clothes from wearing the dirt and grime you rider over.
Range Test & Battery Performance Review: Ride1UP Turris
One of the most common questions we get here at EBR is, “How far will this bike take me on a full battery charge?” Variables like weight, weather and road conditions prevent establishing a consistent distance. So we come up with an estimate, having a test rider use the same general area for the ride.
On the PAS 1 test our test rider, TJ, rode 51.47 miles, in a time of 4:06, averaging 12.55 mph. Ride1UP claimed a range of 45 miles, so our result was even better. We like seeing conservative estimates from manufacturers because this adds to their credibility.
On the PAS 5 test, I rode a total of 20.45 miles, in a time of 1:03, averaging 19.4 mph. This is a little less than the 25 miles estimate from the bike builder, but since so many factors affect range, we consider it close enough. If you want to pedal harder while riding on PAS 5 the whole time, you’re likely to come closer to the 25-mile range.
Considering that this bike uses a 614 Wh battery, with a 750W motor, these results are really good compared to similar e-bikes we have tested. The chart above shows the comparison with comparable e-bikes. One factor that enabled the Turris to post these distances, with a hungrier 750W motor, and smaller battery than the others is its lightweight 6061 aluminum alloy frame. Our test bike also lacked the optional front and rear racks that you might decide to add in order to enhance your adventure. Keep the weight factor in mind if you want to add to this bike.
The Kenda Booster Pro K1227 tires, with its knobby tread, compromises some range distance. Street tires would’ve taken the bike a little further on our all-pavement range test, but it would’ve also reduced the bike’s terrain versatility. Setting aside this speculation, the Turris still has good range, which adds to its value as a price conscious e-bike.
Hill Test Review: Ride1UP Turris
On the throttle-only test, some bikes didn’t make it to the top, but the Turris did reach the top, in 1:50, at an average speed of 9.9 mph. The power output was adequate throughout the ride on this test. There’s one point on the trail that I can always tell whether a bike will make it, or not. The Turris was running good when we reached that point, so I knew we’d make it the rest of the way.
On the PAS 5 hill climb test the Turris accomplished the climb in 1:30, with an average speed of 12.1 mph. When we pedal on this test we provide a non-strenuous level of pedaling – the same consistency on each test, and no standing on the pedals.
An important takeaway from the hill climb test is that this bike is okay at climbing hills, but not great. The fact that it’s not one of the faster hill climbers lends itself to its affordability. E-bikes with more gusto are likely going to cost more, or skimp somewhere else. The Turris is built to offer a lot of features that are hard to come by at that price. We’ll happily trade the slower hill climb speed for the price. And best of all, this bike still proved it could conquer the Hell Hole Trail in both tests.
Clean design features elements of a classy cruiser, city commuter, and lightweight all-terrain ebike.
The 27.5” x 2.4” tires feature good tread for street ride control, and limited dirt road riding.
100mm travel suspension forks make the ride nicer when facing speed bumps, gutters & dips.
Safety and Brake Test Review: Ride1UP Turris
This is a little longer than the average for this type of bike (20’ to 22’). This again is one of the trade-offs for an e-bike with better components than other e-bikes in its price range. The Turris has hydraulic brakes, not mechanical brakes. Hydraulic brakes are safer because they don’t have cables that can stick, stretch, or fail from excessive use. Hydraulic brakes usually stop a bike faster than mechanical brakes. So, you’re getting hydraulic brakes with this bike, and I think that’s a worthwhile trade for the price.
This bike is better equipped for exploring on dirt roads than the typical commuter-style e-bike, but on pavement, the average braking distance is a little more than one foot longer. That’s not much of a difference, considering the increased flexibility with terrain. Our overall view of this bike’s safety and stopping ability, this bike is a good choice for riders who want an affordable bike that they can get a lot of miles out of
Ride Comfort & Handling, Cockpit, and More: Ride1UP Turris
The cockpit layout – the handlebar and controls mounted on it – all add to the overall comfort and rideability on this bike. The 685mm handlebars are sized just right for controlling the bike, while also not being so wide to get in the way when whizzing around pedestrians and fellow riders. The riders on our team who have narrower shoulders than me also liked the handlebar width.
The rubber grips are ergonomically designed to fit your palms better, prevent sweat buildup, and allow ventilation to prevent heating up. The aluminum levers are easy to activate and reliable for continued use. And the gear shifter was easy to operate and easy to see what gear I was in.
Helping greatly with this bike’s maneuverability are the 27.5” x 2.4” Kenda Booster Pro tires. The tire width adds more tire to grab the road when you hit the brakes, meaning it gives you better stopping power. The Booster Pro are also great tires to have when you’re on gravel or dirt roads. Sliding out and laying the bike down on wet roads are less likely when you’re riding on tread like these tires have. The knobbies are great for dirt and gravel – giving you more places to explore – without compromising the quality of your street ride.
The mono-color display unit is one of the standard kinds that’s often found with Bafang motors. We prefer color displays because they offer more contrast to make it easier to pick out the information items we need. But the basic nature of the display on this unit is one of the tradeoffs that help make this a great overall bike for the price, so we can’t really complain about this.
Good stopping power from the Zoom hydraulic disc brakes, with 180mm rotors & dual calipers.
Frame design, seat, grips, levers and handlebar arrangement make for a comfortable ride.
Safety headlight provides brightness when needed; warns other riders that you’re near.
Cockpit offers a safe home for controlling bike, along with levers, buttons and display.
Summary / Where to Buy: Ride1UP Turris
Since its 2018 formation, Ride1UP has established an identity as a company that focuses on offering affordable adult size, lightweight e-bikes for commuting, cruising and light off-roading. The Turris fills the company’s repertoire of bikes as a comfortable adventure bike that delivers a great experience without the higher price. The bike’s overall performance is good: the motor delivered on power when we needed it. The battery took me more than 50 miles on a single charge. It conquered the Hell Hole Trail both times. And it has hydraulic brakes and suspension forks. At around $1300, the Turris’ choice assortment of features and components exceeds what the market bears with most other e-bikes in that price range.
Ride1UP makes the Turris with the usual assortment of desired featres, like hydraulic brakes and suspension forks, that reside at the lower price range in their category. But they put together a really decent e-bike for the money. Our time with this bike, along with the test results, proved to us that you’re getting your money’s worth out of this bike.
Remember, at $1300 it’s hard to find an e-bike with a powerful 750w motor, has a battery range of up to 50 miles, is comfortable to sit on and operate, designed to take you through the city and to the outskirts, and is offered by a reputable company that has a technical support team you can call, email or text when need be. The Ride1UP Turris gives you a lot, without you having to give up a lot in return.
Every Ride1up e-bike comes with a 1-year warranty against manufacturing defects. Ride1UP doesn’t charge for shipping in the US contiguous 48 states ($100 to ship directly to Canada). The bike comes almost completely assembled – only the handlebar needs to be mounted after you remove the bike from the box.
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 Turris.