The Ride1Up Prodigy v2 Assessment – CleanTechnica Examined

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Ride1Up has been disrupting the world of electrical bikes with edgy designs that take a number of the similar reasonably priced parts discovered on different e-bikes and bundes them collectively in extraordinarily reasonably priced packages.

The Ride1Up Prodigy was probably the greatest values within the mid-drive electrical bike sport for years. So we had been excited when Ride1Up reached out in regards to the new and improved model 2 of the Prodigy.

Meeting

As a full-sized electrical bike, the Ride1Up Prodigy v2 comes 85% assembled in a big field. For those who’re comfy placing collectively IKEA furnishings, placing the previous few items of the Prodigy collectively shouldn’t be an issue.

Alternatively, when you’re not feeling nice about using round on one thing you constructed, it’s value making a number of calls to discover a native bike store that may assemble it for you. Professional tip: organize this forward of time and have the bike shipped on to them. They’re professionals in relation to receiving and assembling bikes. And as a bonus, you gained’t have to determine find out how to match the outsized field it is available in onto or into your automobile.

After dropping the entrance tire on and connecting up a number of bits, we aired up the tires and threw it on the charger. E-bikes usually ship with a half cost, so it’s undoubtedly good apply to get it totally charged up earlier than your first journey. That units the battery up for fulfillment and allows you to expertise what the bike is like at its finest in your first journey.

The Using Expertise

After a number of hours on the charger, it was time to hit the tarmac. Heading out on the Prodigy v2, the tires instantly stood out. The 27.5″ diameter tires are mild and have an ideal strategy angle whereas their 2.25″ girth supplies each elevated floor space for higher traction and extra cushion. They one way or the other really feel greater than they’re in relation to each traction and luxury.

This mix is delivered fantastically by the Maxxis Rekon Race two-tone tires. They function a pure rubber look on the sidewalls with the extra conventional black rubber on the tread. The fashionable design of the tires complemented the matte black body on our evaluate bike and actually gave it an aesthetic but fashionable look.

In all places we took the Prodigy v2, it was the star of the present due to its appears. That’s not widespread for us in Southern California and we journey dozens of e-bikes round on native streets and trails. There’s one thing particular in regards to the look of the Prodigy v2’s newly redesigned body that individuals simply gravitate towards. The matte black body’s modern, fashionable traces are the right showcase for this technological marvel.

Ripping down the hills in direction of the seashore, the Prodigy v2’s Tektro Orion 4P hydraulic brakes had been a number of the finest we’ve examined. They function 4-piston calipers that had been clearly designed for greater than we might throw at them as a result of they did a implausible job of bringing the bike beneath management. Braking is made simpler by the Prodigy’s light-weight design, tipping the scales at simply 58 kilos / 26.3 kilograms, which is a pleasant change in comparison with most of the outsized, obese fats tire e-bikes in the marketplace.

The thinner profile bike is a results of an entire overhaul by the Ride1Up crew that basically took the already spectacular, class-leading Prodigy to the following degree. When it initially got here out a number of years in the past, it was essentially the most reasonably priced e-bike we might discover with a reputation model mid-drive motor package deal.

The brand new Prodigy v2 additionally incorporates a Brose mid-drive motor which has been upgraded with the addition of a brand new rear shift sensor. This ties into the motor controller, permitting it to chop energy to the motor when the rear derailleur is shifting. That is enormous for maintaining the bike in tune and maintaining the derailleur alive. We’ve personally seen derailleurs get digested by overly excited e-bike powertrains once they attempt to shift whereas the motor is laying down the facility.

When using the Prodigy v2, feeling the motor minimize out is an odd sensation, however after a number of miles of placing the motor to work on a few of our native hills, it began feeling extra pure. Many greater finish mid-drive motors are beginning to add this function as a result of it will increase the longevity of the bike’s core parts, and it was good to see it on the Prodigy v2.

The Prodigy v2 now comes with a entrance air shock in all configurations, which is an improve from its authentic type. It’s not a record-breaking fork by any stretch of the creativeness, however it’s a very nice addition to have on a trail-friendly bike just like the Prodigy v2. The redesigned body additionally consists of an built-in rear rack that has maybe our favourite design factor in it.

The rear LED was molded immediately into the rear curve of the rack and it provides the complete bike a futuristic, Blade Runner look. If you plug the bike in to cost, the lights pop on, and seeing cool white mild blasting out the entrance and a blast of pink curving seamlessly across the again brings a smile to my face nearly each time.

Up prime on the handlebars, the Brose management module and show dwell on the left facet of the handlebars. It’s a compact unit with the hidden energy button up entrance. Importantly, the up-down button to alter pedal help ranges is straightforward to seek out on the facet of the show closest to the rider. The crisp shade show is compact however straightforward to learn, although we did discover the help degree title to be difficult to see at a look when touring at greater speeds.

Brose makes use of names like Eco and Sport for its pedal help ranges, so not solely do it’s important to discover the textual content on the show, it’s important to learn it and perceive what that degree means earlier than issues click on. Having ranges 1-5 in a single, daring nook of the show is less complicated and requires much less processing, although this could possibly be simply private choice.

The Prodigy v2 is nicely suited to consumers searching for a trail-ready bike kitted out with mid-tier parts and the lighter weight they arrive to the social gathering with. The high-step diamond body is correct consistent with what the mountain bike crowd is searching for, and the Maxxis tires are greater than as much as the duty when it’s time to get soiled.

With the rack out again, a set of fine wanting alloy fenders and LED lights, it’s additionally an ideal choice for commuters, although we’d suggest a set of hybrid tires (just like the Schwalbe Tremendous Moto X) on it if that’s what you’re after.

Total

Ride1Up continues to ship a number of the finest values on this planet of reasonably priced e-bikes, and it’s nice to see how they rounded off a number of the tough edges on the Prodigy on this second model. The tuning of the motor along side the built-in torque sensor and shift sensor delivers one of the vital intuitive rides we’ve skilled this yr.

Its full-sized body is mild and agile with appears to match its spectacular efficiency. The Brose mid-drive motor with its 90Nm of torque pushes out loads of energy once you need it, although it does drink closely from the battery when you lean into it. Our vary different from 20 to 45 miles per cost, which was decrease than anticipated as a result of we had been leaning closely into the motor “for science.”

For extra details about the Ride1Up Prodigy v2, take a look at the specs beneath or head to the official Ride1Up Prodigy v2 web site.

Ride1Up Prodigy v2 Specs

• MSRP as examined: $2,395 (on sale on the time of publication for $2,295)
• Motor: Brose TF Sprinter German-made mid-drive motor with 90 Nm torque
• Sensor: Brose Built-in Torque Sensor
• Battery: 36V, 14 Ah Phylion BN21 battery pack constructed with Samsung Cells
• Vary: 30-50 miles relying on rider weight, terrain, incline, degree of help, and so forth.
• Class: Class 3 electrical bike, with 28 mph pedal help
• Body: Aluminum alloy
• Tires: 27.5″ x 2.25″ tubeless Maxxis Rekon Race tires
• Included Equipment: Entrance and rear LED lights, rear built-in rack, entrance and rear alloy fenders
• Mechanical Drivetrain: microSHIFT RD-M619M Introduction 9-Pace derailleur and cassette with shift sensor
• Weight: 58lb

Disclaimer: Ride1Up offered the Prodigy v2 to the creator for the needs of this evaluate.