CleanTechnica Examined: The Ride1Up Prodigy XC Electrical Bike
Ride1Up set itself aside on this planet of e-bikes by delivering premium parts and performance at extraordinarily reasonably priced value factors for full dimension electrical bikes. They bundle this enticing bundle in superbly designed bikes with approachable frames wrapped in fashionable paint schemes.
Most of Ride1Up’s e-bikes are aimed on the lots however in its quest to proceed disrupting the e-bike house, Ride1Up got here up with a mid-drive bike that actually takes the sport to a brand new stage. Ride1Up despatched us their newest creation, the Prodigy, to tear round on and boy, have been we blown away.
Picture credit score: Kyle Area, CleanTechnica
The Prodigy packs the identical core parts onto three completely different configurations We examined out the cross nation (XC) construct of the Prodigy, which is setup for mild path use, with an aggressive entrance suspension fork and knobby Maxxis Forekaster tires. In addition they provide a extra commuter targeted construct referred to as the XR with the usual triangle body and a Step By way of body for straightforward entry and exit.
Each of those choices come configured with rear racks, fenders, and extra street-appropriate commuter tires for decrease rolling resistance. Commuter e-bikes proceed to be certainly one of our favourite classes in terms of throughout utility and the commuter construct of the Prodigy is an especially enticing choice on that listing.
Picture credit score: Kyle Area, CleanTechnica
Beginning beneath the hood, the Brose mid-drive motor is the core of the Prodigy household of e-bikes. It’s a premium motor that’s sometimes solely discovered on the bikes tipping the scales at twice that of the Prodigy. Ride1Up was in some way in a position to pull this clean, intuitive mid-drive motor into their lineup with out blowing the financial institution.
Up prime on the handlebars, the small Brose show exhibits the rider what’s occurring down beneath and permits the driving fashion to be tuned with a spread of help modes. All ship an especially pure, intuitive driving expertise.
Picture credit score: Kyle Area, CleanTechnica
The one draw back of mid-drive motor setups is the dearth of a throttle and that is true on the Prodigy as nicely. However, class 3 e-bikes just like the Prodigy aren’t speculated to have throttles on them, relying solely on the motor and pedal energy to get the as much as their assist-only prime pace of 28 mph. That’s shockingly quick in actual life, which is why they don’t seem to be allowed on most bike paths and even in bike lanes in most components of the nation.
On the vary entrance, the Ride1Up Prodigy is rated on paper to ship between 30 and 50 miles of help. In our testing, we largely discovered this vary to be achievable. As with every e-bike, vary will probably be impacted by the next components:
1) Help mode. Driving all the route in pedal help stage 1 alone interprets to a 50 mile vary (or extra) whereas driving in pedal help stage 5 leads to a spread of roughly 30 miles per cost. This baseline estimate should then be coupled with a number of extra variables.
2) Cargo weight instantly impacts the quantity of labor the motor has to do to get shifting. Use 150 kilos of cargo, human or in any other case, because the baseline for rated vary, adjusting vary estimates up or down for kind of weight being carried.
3) Elevation achieve. The extra elevation achieve, the decrease the vary as most e-bikes do not need the aptitude to get better vary on downhill sections with regeneration.
4) Climate. Cooler temperatures zap capability from the battery, with reductions of 10-20% in vary at decrease temperatures. Based on the user manual for the Prodigy, its lithium-ion batteries (and most e-bikes) ought to by no means be charged at or beneath freezing temperatures.
Picture credit score: Kyle Area, CleanTechnica
In our testing, it was straightforward to attain the rated 30 mi of help with quite a lot of help modes getting used on a 20 mile trip from up within the mountains all the way down to the seaside and again. However, we additionally had a number of take a look at rides the place we achieved decrease than the rated vary after we have been completely slamming the motor and battery with help spiking up massive hills and blasting round corners as solely an e-bike can do.
That is extra of a testomony to only how enjoyable and succesful the Prodigy is than a dig on its vary. The Brose motor and controller present a variety of help choices to assist riders get essentially the most out of their e-bike. You may squeeze out a ton extra vary by being tremendous environment friendly and cruising in a decrease help stage, however you can even flip them into absolute battery consuming machines if you take them out onto grime trails within the mountains or simply ripping round city on them.
The commuter builds of the Prodigy boasts a extra ergonomic, swept again handlebar that makes it attainable to trip in a extra upright place. That is the normal Dutch fashion and undoubtedly makes for a extra pleasurable expertise on your again when driving. As e-bikes enhance in functionality, they’re evolving into one thing way more just like the automobiles of yesteryear than the bicycles we grew up driving. Extra vary, extra peak energy, extra torque, extra options, and higher ergonomics are all indicators of this march ahead.
Picture credit score: Kyle Area, CleanTechnica
On the mechanical aspect of the bike, the Ride1Up Prodigy boasts hydraulic disc brakes which pack a really good punch when it’s time to decelerate. That is particularly good contemplating simply how enjoyable this bike is. We put it to the take a look at when blasting down the hills on our take a look at route and the strong response of the brake lever coupled with the 180mm rotors was at all times in prime type and able to assist.
The drivetrain of the Prodigy is comprised of an 8-speed chain pushed derailleur system with set off shifters up prime. It’s a pleasant sufficient system although it in all probability received’t win any awards for high quality, nor do you have to anticipate it to at this value level, however it’s a good contact in an area largely dominated by shifters sitting on prime of the bars which are arduous to get at and never terribly ergonomic to make use of. It’s a truthful compromise, particularly given the price range value the Prodigy comes with.
Picture credit score: Kyle Area, CleanTechnica
Ride1Up was clearly thrilled by the part set and motor bundle of the Prodigy, as evidenced by its packaging in a cross nation and commuter format. Each choices can be found in all kinds of trims and paints, with out of the field, fashionable choices all through.
For these on the lookout for a extra edgy design, the Prodigy can be configured with Ride1Up’s beautiful new chameleon paint, as featured on our evaluate bike. This new paint job is much like many high-end automotive paint jobs that change shade relying on the angle and the sunshine. It shifts from inexperienced to blue to purple, all with metallic undertones that make it a pleasure to take a look at and actually makes it stand out from the pack. Scroll by means of the pictures on this article and spot the way it shifts from one shade to the subsequent. It’s the proper paint job should you can’t choose only one shade to go together with.
The Ride1Up Prodigy XC with entrance suspension will set you again $2,395. The gorgeous chameleon paint job featured on our evaluate bike is an additional $50, bumping the configuration as reviewed as much as $2,445. The Prodigy XR is extra tailor-made for round city efficiency and does away with the entrance suspension, including in a rear rack, fenders, and a set of hybrid tires as a substitute. It is a little more price range pleasant at $2,345.
Lastly, the Prodigy Step By way of presents the identical options as because the XR, however in a neater to entry low step body. It’s the most reasonably priced within the household, at $2,295. Step-By way of bikes proceed to be our best choice round right here in terms of packing in as a lot utility as attainable right into a single bike. As enjoyable because it is likely to be to swing your leg over a excessive step bar, that enjoyable shortly diminishes with a rear rack loaded up with groceries is added to the combination.
Whereas the Prodigy is just not as reasonably priced as among the decrease priced financial system bikes on the market, it doesn’t try to be. It brings premium options beforehand sometimes solely out there for twice the value to a very new phase of riders. That’s noteworthy and can absolutely pull in loads of patrons on specs alone.
A a direct to client product, meeting is required to get it out of the field and up and working round your neighborhood. This consists of easy duties like attaching the handlebars airing up the wheels and attaching the entrance wheel to the entrance fork. Anybody comfy with altering a flat tire ought to have the ability to assemble it, however for these intimidated by the bike or not conversant in fundamental upkeep could need to have the bike direct shipped to an area bike store for meeting.
For extra details about the Ride1Up Prodigy or to buy one, head over to Ride1Up’s site.
Disclaimer: Ride1Up offered the Prodigy to the writer for the needs of this evaluate.
