Riide Electric Bike: Keeping It Simple & Lightweight [VIDEO]
Riide just hit the electric bike scene with a big splash on Kickstarter with a simple and lightweight e-bike.
The Riide is an electric bike with a 350 watt rear hub motor, a 36V 9ah lithium ion battery integrated into the frame, a single speed drivetrain, disc brakes, and it has a stated range of 25 miles.
Also, Riide electric bikes are assembled in the USA.
The Riide e-bike is $1,799 on Kickstarter but that price may change after that campaign is over.
Here is a video from their Kickstarter campaign that will give you an idea of what the Riide electric bike is all about:
The Riide Electric Bike Details
The Riide electric bike; keeping it simple and lightweight.
The lithium ion battery and controller are housed in the down tube of the aluminum frame to keep the weight low and centered.
Riide claims that the weight of their bike is 35 lbs.
This is the 350 watt direct drive rear hub motor that peaks at 600 watts. Also note the single speed drivetrain to keep things simple.
The Riide uses Avid mechanical disc brakes. The Riide also features regenerative braking.
A twist grip throttle is used to add assistance.
Claimed charging time is 2-3 hours.
What do you think? Are you interested in the Riide electric bike?
Please leave your comments in the section below.
Thanks!
-Pete
P.S. Don’t forget to join the Electric Bike Report community for updates from the electric bike world, plus ebike riding and maintenance tips!
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[…] Riide is a new electric bike making a splash on Kickstarter with their new simple and lightweight electric bike. […]
The battery should be removable so you don’t have to leave it in the hot sun since heat kills batteries. Your bike could get stolen and the battery is the most expensive part.
Mu USA made Busettii has a removable battery, it’s also USA made and light weight. It even folds into my trunk!
Hi Jim, the battery is removable but it doesn’t sound like it is a super quick process. Here is more information:
https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/riide/riide-the-bike-has-evolved-lighter-faster-electric/comments
I to believe it is essential to remove the battery not only because of theft. But during winter I noticed that if I left the battery on my bike while it was exposed to the cold. It would discharge considerably faster
My concern is how many ebikes now come equipped with mechanical disc brakes. I have an earlier style ebike that ways around 70lbs. I way 184 lbs. My mechanical brakes will not hold you back coming down a steep decent. Are all mechanical brakes created equal? Or is there a brake pad that would do better? Or should one just upgrade to hydraulic disc brakes?
Hi Rob
I have used the Avid mechanical disc brakes on other bikes and they work very well. Not all mechanical disc brakes work as well.
Pete
Kinda interesting–maybe for completely flat places. Here in San Francisco (or anywhere with any hills) a single speed is not going to make it at all–what were they thinking–maybe the same thing they were thinking when they included pics of peeps riding this bike with high heels–absurd.
I ride various ebikes daily and have been for years. I shift often on an ebike, maybe 1/2 to 1/3 as much as on a pedal bike when riding on hills. There is no way I could do well without having the option to change gears. I can’t understand this concept. No the addition of the motor does not eliminate the need to be in a more efficient gear.
Simply add a 7, 8 or 9 speed derailer to make it a viable option. Only about 100 million bikes have derailers.
Thanks Pete. I notice a lot of companies advertise disc brakes, but don’t specify whether they are hydraulic or mechanical. I’ve tried hydraulic disc brakes, and they seem to me to have superior power
Good quality mechanical disc brakes can be excellent. I have several ebikes with good quality hydraulic discs–These are excellent but many complain that if they need tuning or bleeding they can be problematic. Bike shops that do it everyday sometimes have better luck fixing all the little quirks hydraulics can have. When your brakes work perfectly for several years you don’t get much practice working on them. Cheap mechanical or hydraulic can be dangerous and hard to work on.
Hi Rob, in general hydraulic disc brakes are superior to mechanical disc brakes, but the Avid mechanical disc brakes have surprising power and modulation. I used them on multiple mountain bikes (non electric, but very demanding riding conditions) for years and I was happy with them. Mechanical disc brakes are nice because they can be adjusted and maintained easier than hydraulics.
On the other hand, if you want a lot of power and that solid brake “feel”, hydraulic disc brakes are the way to go. They generally cost more and maintenance is probably best done by a bike shop. Like all products, there are varying degrees of quality of hydraulic disc brakes.