{"id":237106,"date":"2021-04-28T03:28:19","date_gmt":"2021-04-28T00:28:19","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/en.buradabiliyorum.com\/ride1ups-roadster-v2-is-a-1045-stealth-ebike-that-weighs-just-35-lbs\/"},"modified":"2021-04-28T03:28:19","modified_gmt":"2021-04-28T00:28:19","slug":"ride1ups-roadster-v2-is-a-1045-stealth-ebike-that-weighs-just-35-lbs","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/ride1ups-roadster-v2-is-a-1045-stealth-ebike-that-weighs-just-35-lbs\/","title":{"rendered":"#Ride1Up\u2019s Roadster V2 is a $1,045 stealth ebike that weighs just 35 lbs"},"content":{"rendered":"

“#Ride1Up\u2019s Roadster V2 is a $1,045 stealth ebike that weighs just 35 lbs<\/strong>”<\/p>\n

Electric bikes are an essential part of a greener future, but they are not without their caveats compared to good old acoustic bikes.<\/p>\n

They\u2019re usually heavy, for one. They\u2019re general<\/a>ly thief magnets because they\u2019re so easy to spot in the wild. And they cost a ton too.<\/p>\n

I\u2019ve tested lightweight and stealthy ebikes, and I\u2019ve tested affordable models, but never anything that quite combines all<\/em> these factors.<\/p>\n

The Ride1Up Roadster V2<\/a> does just that. I weighed my unit at 35 lb \u2014 a featherweight by ebike standards. The battery is neatly integrated into the frame, and most people won\u2019t notice it\u2019s an ebike without close inspection. And as of publication, it costs just $1,045 (retail is $1,095) \u2014 cheaper than most decent ebikes despite being equipped with a grease-free belt drive.<\/p>\n

\"\"
<\/a>The belt drive, even if not an extra fancy Gates Carbon Drive, is super rare to find in this price range.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

First, a disclaimer: This isn\u2019t a full review. I\u2019ve only done about 15 miles on the Roadster so far, so I haven\u2019t been able to fully test range or see how the bike holds up to regular use. But I wanted to write about it because so far, there is a whole lot to like.<\/p>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

The Roadster V2 is a minimalist\u2019s ebike. It\u2019s a single-speed model that could easily be mistaken for a hipster bike here in Brooklyn, although the inclusion of a belt drive stands out. The belt is presumably not as durable as a Gates Carbon Drive on the Priority Current I just reviewed, but it\u2019s just as quiet and grease-free.<\/p>\n

The downtube \u2014 which contains the 252 Wh battery \u2014 is a little thick, but that\u2019s far from uncommon in modern bikes. That battery isn\u2019t hot-swapp<\/a>able, but it\u2019s at least user-removable with just a few screws. Ride1Up even sells replacements at a refreshingly reasonable $190<\/a>\u00a0\u2014 rare to see on stealth ebike. Meanwhile the 350W rear hub motor might give the electric nature away, but from a distance, it just looks like an internal gear hub.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n

Stealthiness aside, it just looks<\/em> nice as a bike too. I really dig the matte silver finish on my review unit, and the welds are smooth \u2014 it looks a good deal more premium than most ebikes in this price class, stealthy or not.<\/p>\n

I marvel at the light weight. After getting so used to back-breaking ebikes, the Roadster V2 is a pleasure to manuever when\u00a0not<\/em> riding the bike. At 35 pounds, it\u2019s one of the rare ebikes you can actually hang up on a wall without worrying it\u2019ll come crashing down, and you can reasonably carry up to a walkup apartment or down to a subway. Sure, I\u2019ve tested otherebikes\u00a0near this weight, but they cost over $3,000.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n

\u00a0<\/p>\n

There are some caveats to this minimalism though. The bike doesn\u2019t come with a kickstand or fenders, for one. You can add those later, at least. More annoying is that the bike doesn\u2019t come with integrated lights, for one, which I find super annoying for an ebike. Yes, you can add these later as well, but I\u2019m loathe to need to charge yet another gadget.<\/p>\n

The bike also comes with mechanical rim brakes rather than the disk brakes you\u2019ll see on the vast majority of ebikes. That\u2019s actually fine by me. Rim brakes are easier to adjust and maintain, and after riding the bike down a few hills in a drizzle, it has more than enough stopping power for my not-insignificant weight.<\/p>\n

\"\"
<\/a>Rim brakes are a rare site on an ebike, and while they do have a bit less stopping power, these get the job done.<\/figcaption><\/figure>\n

The ride itself is pretty great so far \u2014 assuming you like to pedal (but why are you looking at this bike otherwise?). The 350W motor isn\u2019t the zippiest in the world, tuned for a smooth power delivery rather than major acceleration. And with a cadence sensor rather than torque sensor, it takes a bit longer for the motor to kick in than on some of the more expensive bikes I\u2019ve tested. This is compounded by high gearing which I found most comfortable pedaling once you hit around 15-20 mph, but that\u2019s to be expected on a single speed.<\/p>\n

But still: you have a motor. It got me up steep hills I would never be able to traverse with a normal single-speed, and I could comfortably reach the bike\u2019s speed limit of 24 mph, even if I had to put in some work. Not everyone wants an ebike that\u2019s just an electric moped, after all. The Roadster V2 nicely strikes me as an excellent option for someone who want a motor to help them up hills, but still appreciates getting a workout too.<\/p>\n

\"\"<\/figure>\n

Unfortunately, I\u2019m not quite ready to give a full review on the bike just yet. I need to take it further and see how it holds up to extended use, particularly for range tests. Range so far seems in line with Ride1up\u2019s claimed 20-30 miles, which is nice to see given the relatively small battery, but I need more time.<\/p>\n

As of now though, the Roadster v2 looks like a tremendous deal for those who want an ebike that doesn\u2019t actually look like an ebike. Stay tuned for my full review.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n