Ride1Up Portola Foldable Bike Review

Name:  Ride1Up Portola Foldable Bike
Website:  Ride1up
Price: Starts at $995

Ride1Up is a major player in the electric bike direct-to-consumer market. The company is known for producing high-quality, affordable e-bikes with cutting-edge technology. The Portola is a new entry into the foldable bike market.

What are the benefits of a foldable bike?

The major benefit of a foldable bike is the obvious one: by reducing the size profile of the bike, it is easier to store when living space is limited, or for commuters who wish to bring the bike on public transportation for a portion of the ride. Another advantage is often a lighter weight. The Portola comes in at 60 lbs, which is not particularly light. The non-foldable V2 by comparison also weighs approximately 60 lbs. One more advantage is that the likelihood of theft can be lower because the compact nature allows storage in smaller possibly more secure spaces that might not work for a regular frame bike. As you would expect, the pedals fold as well as the frame.

This bike is customizable

There are a few options available for this bike. Color choices include charcoal-gloss, indigo-matte, and sea-turquoise. The battery comes in two options: 48V x 10.4Ah Reention Rhino – 500wh (range 20-40 miles) or the 48V x 13.4Ah Reention Rhino – 643wh (range 25-45 miles).

The motor is a 48V 750W hub-mounted version that produces 65Nm torque, which is not the most powerful, but certainly produces adequate power. Like many electric bikes, the Portola has a cadence sensor in the pedal assist mode, which provides assistance based on the pedal speed of the rider.

What class is this bike?

This bike is considered a Class 2 e-bike with throttle control. However, the controller allows the user to downgrade to Class 1 or upgrade to Class 3 with higher speeds, allowing compliance with the range of local laws.

What about other features?

Like most high-quality bikes, the Portola comes with hydraulic disk brakes. The derailleur and shifter are high-quality Shimano and the cassette is 8-speed Shimano. Included are front and rear lights, a rear rack, and 20”x3” Cross-Country Low-tread Tires. The bike’s folded dimensions are W x H x L 19″ x 29.5″ x 33″.

Pros:

• User selected Class
• Very affordable
• Easy to store or transport
• Good for commuting
• Two battery options
• Step-over frame is good for mobility limited users

Cons:

• Not particularly light
• Commuting is the only realistic use (the range is not that long)

Verdict 4.5/5 Stars

This is a great affordable choice for a foldable commuter bike. 60 lbs is a bit heavy for a lot of people to carry, though.

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