“That’s an eBike?”…”Sure is“

At first glance, the Ride1UpRoadster V2 Gravel Edition hides most evidence of being an electric bike. With an integrated battery in the downtube and a sleek aluminum frame, this lightweight offering from Ride1Up delivers Class 3 power through a flat bar single-speed setup.

It’s not often enough that I get to ride a commuter directly from downtown to the trails for single track adventures and fire road exploring. Ride1Up brings the Gravel Edition to the Roadster V2 and let’s you do just that. Equipped with gravel tires for offroad traction, a Gates belt drive for quiet and maintenance-free operation, and Tektro mechanical disc brakes, the Roadster V2 Gravel Edition is as simple as it gets to keep your eyes ahead and have a great time riding without breaking the bank.

With a top speed of 28 miles per hour and a range of 20-30 miles on a single charge, this bike is perfect for longer rides and commuting. The 350w rear hub motor with a custom tune for Ride1Up, has a 500W peak output and 40nm of torque, making it easy to tackle hills and rough terrain as well as cruise around town with some real speed.

The integrated 252Wh battery provides a sleek and streamlined look while also keeping the weight down. For those concerned with range, Ride1Up also offers an external battery for $375 to give your Roadster V2 500Wh of battery.

The Roadster V2 Gravel Edition has a compact LCD display with a thumb throttle located on the left side of the handlebars. This makes it easy to not only reach the thumb throttle but to also quickly navigate the 5 levels of pedal assist.

This is a Class 3 electric bike with pedal assist up to 28 mph using a single speed belt drive. Belt drives are not only quiet drivetrains but more durable across the season and maintenance free.

Wtb Resolute 700x42c tires keep you prepared for gravel adventures and offer fantastic grip on paved roads as well. The bike is made complete with Tektro mechanical disc brakes and 160mm rotors. A neat feature we see on the brake levers is an integrated bell into the left (front) brake lever, great for alerting other people of your presence on the same path.

“Is that an electric bike?”

I hear this more often than not and that speaks to the low profile stealthiness of the Ride1Up Roadster V2 Gravel Edition. Most single speed bikes have that appeal with few components and less cables running everywhere. It’s easy for the Roadster V2 to blend in and be discreet amongst other bikes around town. Where the Roadster V2 doesn’t miss is comfort, weight and maintenance.

Comfort is the first thing to notice on any bike. It takes seconds to know if you want to ride that bike all day. Ride1Up put a really comfortable sporty saddle on the Roadster V2. The saddle isn’t a bulky “comfort” saddle seen any most other electric bikes in the sub-$2k category. It’s a slim low profile saddle with a cutout that is comfortable to ride for hours on end.

Over the last few months of riding, we have seen the bottom of the battery only a couple of times after hours of riding nonstop. This has us seeing the benefits of this lightweight platform. Even though a dead battery is something you don’t want on your eBike, the range extender is a great solution to be prepared for those longer days. Time and time again we would argue, for most riders, that using 100% of your battery on a bike that’s lightweight and fun to ride is better than using 30% of your 700Wh battery on an electric bike that is heavy and not as enjoyable to ride.

One of the most notable details of the Roadster V2 is the single-speed drivetrain. Ride1Up’s spec of the Gates Carbon Belt Drive is one of our favorite details on the Roadster V2. Gates systems are not only extremely quiet compared to a chain drive, but they are essentially maintenance-free. From a commuting standpoint, that means no chain grease on your pants and no need to lube your chain. EVER. Aside from needing to properly set tension on the belt if the rear wheel needs to be removed for any reason. The Gates belt drive is as great a choice as there can be for a single-speed electric bike.

After getting ample miles both on and off road, our testers agreed the handlebars were just too narrow for the 58cm frame, at 6’ tall and average shoulder width, the bars feel too tight which is less noticeable around town with busy traffic, but we lean towards running at least a 620mm bar allowing for more control, stability and comfort on rougher terrain. 

A common topic we find ourselves returning to in regard to single speed electric bikes, is gear ratio and chain ring size. The Roadster V2 has a rather large chain ring, which wouldn’t seem out of place on a strictly city or track bike, however, next to other gravel bikes it is noticeably out of place. The 63T chain ring and 22T rear cog come just shy of a 3:1 gear ratio, which is the sweet spot for most riders on more neutral terrain. Despite the 500w of peak output, lowering the gear ratio, would allow for better pedaling performance on technical terrain and limit the amount of power output from the drive unit, and would conserve more battery over extended use.

The Ride1Up Roadster V2 Gravel Edition is a top-notch electric bike that offers a great combination of power, style, and versatility. It is perfect for riders who want a bike that can handle any terrain, while also providing a smooth and comfortable ride. Other electric bikes from Ride1Up, like the Turris and Core-5, sit below that $2000 price point, if you’re looking for an e-bike that will take your riding experience to the next level, the Roadster V2 Gravel Edition is definitely worth checking out. 

Price: $1245
Sizes: 52cm, 58cm
Weight: ~36lbs (58cm)
Website: ride1up.com