Testing the Ride1Up Rift E-Bike in Jackson, WY | Photo Tom Wuthrich Mountain Weekly News
Ride1Up has been busy over the last few years making relatively affordable e-bikes. The Rift is their newest adventure bike, built with the comfort of long range rides in mind. Coming in at $1,895.00, the Ride1Up Rift E-Bike is comparable in price with the Aventon Aventure 2.0.
Complete with thumb throttle, five pedal assist settings, and cargo rack, this bike is ready for a hefty ride.
Mike Hardaker, Author and Gear Tester Talks about the Ride1Up Rift E-Bike
Ride1Up Rift Motor
E-bike brands have been continually improving performance and capability. The Rift is no exception, having a very impressive range of 45-60 miles. The 750W geared hub motor has incredible power, which I found to be very reactive. Using the thumb throttle, I could accelerate from 0-15MPH in about 5 seconds. The pedal assist felt pretty similar, being touchy on the down stroke. This was great for getting out of a stop, but would surprise sometimes when I had the highest assist setting since the PAS cadence sensor was so sensitive.
Settings can be accessed on the large display located on the left side of the handlebar. Here you can adjust the assist levels, monitor battery levels, and track how far you’ve ridden. There is also a neat walk assist feature which engages a low level assist mode for moving the bike. I didn’t find this display distracting, and the overall headset did not feel crowded.
There is a speed governor that caps the thumb throttle for 20 mph top speeds and the pedal assist at top speeds of 28 mph brining this into class 3 bikes category. One problem I did notice was that utilizing the thumb throttle and pedal assist at the same time would occasionally kill any assistance
Ride1Up Rift Drivetrain
One of the biggest selling points for this bike in particular, is that without any assistance you can simply ride this bike as is. Some e-bikes have a drivetrain, but it is impossible to bike on your own power. The Rift does not have this problem.
With 8 gears (Shimano 11-32T cassette), there is no fear of when the battery runs out. The shifting itself was smooth and flawless.
Frame, Fork, and Tires
This Ride1Up E-Bike is built on a rugged alloy frame with internal cabling. The headtube angle is fairly slack, and the wheelbase is quite long. It is heavy with 84.5 lbs, but it is capable of moving 350 lbs.
The fork is supposedly 120mm with lockout. When I rode this bike, I noticed that the unbranded fork would bottom out at 50mm. I am unsure if it is just with this kind of fork, but the stanchions did not compress to where they would look like they would. Honestly, I don’t foresee needing 120mm of suspension, and the 50mm was plenty.
The fork combined with the Kenda Krusade Anti-puncture fat tires gives the bike a supple ride. I found no pothole or curb that this bike couldn’t take. This also makes the Rift a great all-season bike. The 180mm brake rotors make this heavy bike stop on a dime.
Bells and Whistles
There are no bells and whistles on the Ride1Up Rift, but there are lights and a durable rear rack for holding cargo. There is both a headlight and brake light. The lights can be operated through the display. This makes the Rift great for night cruises through town.
The cargo rack is impressive with a 150lb weight capacity. Not only could you have gear or supplies strapped to the back, but you might even be able to fit a passenger on it.
Ride1Up Rift E-Bike Pros & Cons
Pros:
- Long Range: 45-60 mile on a single charge
- Powerful Motor: 750w geared hub motor
- Responsive Pedal Assist: Five settings for power
Cons:
- Heavy: Weighs 84.5 lbs
- Touchy PAS Sensor: May provide bursts of power
- Unbranded Fork: Quality may not be high
Overall Impression
The Ride1Up Rift ($1,895.00) is a very well built bike. It has a large battery pool, excellent acceleration, and good suspension which makes for an overall pleasant ride. The strengths of this bike lie with its comfort and ease of riding. There are some drawbacks with the PAS cadence sensor being a little twitchy, but nothing to deter someone from purchasing this bike at the price of $1895.00.
To me this e-bike is ideal for people who have long commutes through mixed terrain or perhaps a food delivery person trying to maximize their cargo load.
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