Skip to main content

[Update: it’s live] Ride1Up to unveil stealthy, light $995 belt-drive e-bike

Ride1Up will soon unveil a slick new belt-drive e-bike known as the Ride1Up Roadster V2.

The bike will debut for an extremely tempting price of $995.

[Update: Ride1Up has now launched the Roadster V2 for pre-order, with shipping starting September 10. Full details below.]

Ride1Up has unveiled several interesting new electric bicycles over the last year, but the company’s latest e-bike will be one of its most affordable yet.

Replacing the previous version of the Ride1Up Roadster, the new Roadster V2 offers a stealthy package that could easily pass as a non-electric bike.

That design is possible due to the frame-hidden battery, which is becoming a popular design choice these days. The 36V and 7Ah battery has a capacity of 252Wh and an estimate range of 15-30 miles (25-50 km).

The bike sports an 500W peak (350W continuous) rear hub motor that is powered by pedal assist (no throttle on this one). The motor helps the bike a top-speed of 24 mph (38.6 km/h). The lack of a hand throttle helps the bike achieve reasonable range despite the smaller battery.

Instead of a chain drive, the Ride1Up Roadster V2 offers a single-speed belt drive.

The single speed nature completes the fixie-like urban commuter look, though the bike does have a freewheel and thus isn’t a true fixie.

Unlike most e-bikes these days that offer disc brakes, the Ride1Up Roadster V2 sticks with the fixie-look and opts instead for Tektro’s R315 dual-pivot V-brakes. They offer plenty of stopping power while evoking more of that hipster street-bike look.

Keeping with the minimalist design, the Ride1Up Roadster V2 sports a minimalist display on the left side of the narrow 550 mm handlebars.

The small LCD display outputs current speed, battery life, and distance. With minimalist everything, the e-bike weighs just 32 lb (14.5 kg).

Until now, Ride1Up’s e-bikes have started at $1,095. The Ride1Up Roadster V2 now ushers the company into the sub-$1k market.

Other major brands are making similar moves. Rad Power Bikes, the largest e-bike company in the US, recently announced the RadMission single-speed commuter e-bike priced at just $999. The RadMission also offers a more minimalist design, yet includes a larger removable frame-mounted battery and a throttle.

How will the Ride1Up Roadster V2 compete against the RadMission and other sub-$1k commuter e-bikes? Let’s hear your thoughts in the comments below!

FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.

Bluetti solar 2000W Power Station
Stay up to date with the latest content by subscribing to Electrek on Google News. You’re reading Electrek— experts who break news about Tesla, electric vehicles, and green energy, day after day. Be sure to check out our homepage for all the latest news, and follow Electrek on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn to stay in the loop. Don’t know where to start? Check out our YouTube channel for the latest reviews.

Comments

Author

Avatar for Micah Toll Micah Toll

Micah Toll is a personal electric vehicle enthusiast, battery nerd, and author of the Amazon #1 bestselling books DIY Lithium Batteries, DIY Solar Power, The Ultimate DIY Ebike Guide and The Electric Bike Manifesto.

The e-bikes that make up Micah’s current daily drivers are the $999 Lectric XP 2.0, the $1,095 Ride1Up Roadster V2, the $1,199 Rad Power Bikes RadMission, and the $3,299 Priority Current. But it’s a pretty evolving list these days.

You can send Micah tips at Micah@electrek.co, or find him on Twitter, Instagram, or TikTok.