Core-5 – Ride1UP | Best All-Around Affordable Electric Bike Review By Electric Wheelco

 PRO\’S

• Right away, we noticed that the
  Ride1UP Core-5 can move! It\’s a fast-rolling bike with or without a motor.
• We dug the Core-5\’s Looks. An absolute stunner for a budget e-bike. XR and ST versions look good, and the
  battery is integrated beautifully.
• The motor engages reliably, and at
  a ramped-up rate, so it isn\’t full steam instantly.
• The Core-5 had excellent
  handling; we had no problem leaning it into corners.
• The Core-5 surprised us with its
  braking capabilities. We think it\’s because the bike is lighter than
  some of its competitors.

CON\’S

• The battery life doesn\’t last
  particularly long.
• We noticed the motor is a tad bit
  noisy at top speed. Not a big deal at this price point, but it\’s there.
• The seat is too cruiser-oriented for
  the rest of the bike style. In our opinion, something more minor and more rigid would fit the
  looks and intended use of the Core-5.

DIMENSIONS AND SIZING

• Weight49lbs
• Weight Capacity275lbs
• Seat Tube19\”
• Minimum Seat Height (top of seat
  to ground) 32.\”
• Maximum Seat Height (top of seat
  to ground) 40.\”
• Total Length70\”
• Wheel Base43\”
• XR Frame Dimensions:
• Rider Height Range5\’6\”-6\’4\”
• Stand-Over Height28.5\”
• Handlebar Height42\”
• Handlebar Reach22\”

 

15 reasons to buy Ride1UP Core-5

1. The Ride1UP Core-5 is an
   affordable e-bike.
2. Experts agree that the step-thru
   frame option makes riding accessible to riders who cannot swing their
   legs over a traditional frame.
3. Swept back handlebars place
   riders in an upright, comfortable riding position on the Core-5.
4. The bike\’s aluminium frame is
   sturdy and well-built.
5. Users found the battery range on
   the bike consistent with Ride1UP\’s promised range of 20-40 miles.
6. The bike\’s battery is stealthy,
   with an integrated battery.
7. Experts and users agree that the
   seat of the bike is comfortable.
8. The Ride1UP Core-5 has a
   throttle.
9. The bike can carry riders up to
   275 lbs.
10. Mechanical disc brakes from
    Tektro provide sufficient stopping power and are easy to maintain on the
    Core-5.
11. There are mounts for a water
    bottle cage and rack on the bike.
12. Ride1UP\’s Core-5 has a maximum
    speed of 28mph with pedal assist. This allows riders of all abilities to use it
    for fitness or their commute.
13. The stem on the bike adjusts to
    allow riders to position the handlebars in a personally pleasant
    position.
14. Testers found it easy to attach
    fenders to the bike for wet and rainy days.
15. The Core-5 is available in two
    attractive colors: midnight grey and slate blue.

5 reasons not to buy Ride1UP
Core-5

1. According to users, the grips used on the Core-5 are
   not the most comfortable.
2. According to some users, the bike\’s battery cannot be
   easily charged off the bike. A key is required to
   remove it.
3. Users found it impossible to
   adjust the seat to the lowest position on the bike.
4. Many testers found the bike
   arrived scratched.
5. The bike is heavy at 49 lbs.

 

ELECTRICAL SPECS & FEATURES
OF Ride1UP Core-5

• Battery: 48V10.4ah Retention
  Eel Pro LG Cells, Smart BMS
• Display: KD21C Adjustable
  Speed LCD
• Motor: 48V Geared Hub
  Shengyi Motor, 28 mph (nominal rating of 500w)
• Pedal Assist: Levels 1-5,
  Integrated Sensitive Cadence Sensor PAS
• Range: 20-45 Miles
• Throttle: Left Side Thumb
  Throttle

WEIGHT & DIMENSIONS

• Battery weight: 9lbs
• Total bike weight: 49lbs
• Maximum rider weight: 275lbs
• Unfolded Dimensions: 70 x 32
  x 22 (Total Length x Minimum Seat Height x Handlebar Width)

ACCESSORIES

• Brakes: Tektro 160mm
  Mechanical Disc, w/ Electric Cut-Off Sensor
• Fork: Smooth Welded 6061
  Alloy
• Frame: 6061 Alloy
• Gearing: Shimano Altus 7
  Speed
• Shifter: Shimano ASLTX30R
  7-speed
• Grips: Ergonomic Rubber
  Grips
• Saddle: Selle Royal Freeway
  Plush Gel
• Handlebar: ST: Swept-back
  Ergonomic Cafe Bars. XR: 50mm Rise 640mm Width
• Kickstand: Adjustable Arm
  Chainstay Mounted
• Pedals: Plastic Platform
  Pedals w/ Orange Reflectors
• Tires: Kenda Kwick Seven.5
  27.5\” x2.2
• Additional: Water Bottle
  Bosses and Chainstay Guard
• Ride1UP Core-5 Review:
  Performance

ACCELERATION / SPEED

It didn\’t take long into our
review of the Ride1UP Core-5 to realize it wants to go fast. The speed was immediately apparent whether we were
engaging the throttle or using pedal assist.
The speed from the 500W rear hub motor stems
from the fast-rolling tires and the large 44t chainring that keeps the bike
moving forward.

We think those who want to know
and feel like they\’re riding an e-bike will like the feeling of the Core-5.
With its quick engagement and powerful motor, it doesn\’t take long for the
Core-5 to get above 20 mph.

RANGE TEST

It was apparent that the Ride1UP
Core-5 wasn\’t going to shatter any distance records, as it uses a decently
lightweight 48V, 10.4Ah battery. To get an idea of how long the 10.4Ah battery
would last, we rode using full assistance while pedalling.

After just over an hour, we
reached 21.58 miles, with a quick 21.3 mph average speed. While the Core-5
isn\’t going to go as far as some other e-bikes, it will be at the head of
the pack regarding its average speed.

We also tested the Core-5 on the
lowest assistance level to better understand the valid range and
battery life of the Core-5. After 46.14 miles, the battery finally died with an
average speed of 13.6 mph.

Motor and Battery

The Ride1Up Core 5 uses
a 48V Geared Hub Shengyi Motor (nominal rating of 500w) paired with a 48V10.4ah
Retention Eel Pro using LG Cells. The best way to break down what that means is
to say they are low-priced, on-the-shelf components from major Chinese brands.

Shengyi Motor has been around
since 2003. Depending on your experience with electric bikes, you may or may not have heard of them, but they are a major force in the market. The
brand tends to be more common with lower-priced offerings, competing
primarily on price. However, they are a brand that shows up frequently and does a good job. In the case of the Core 5, the motor in use is a rear hub motor
with a cadence-based pedal assist sensor.

The battery system needs
splitting into a few different pieces to properly discuss. The company
responsible for the casing and fitment is Retention. This is another major
Chinese electric bicycle component company; in this case, the Eel Pro model
is in use. Retention does not manufacture the battery cells and for those
pieces, it\’s an LG product. LG is one of the largest battery manufacturers in
the world, so this is a great choice.

The last piece of the battery
puzzle is the size of the battery. Some companies list the battery size in
terms of volts and amps. That\’s what you see here with 48V and 10.4ah. I find
that to be more confusing than watt-hours, but it\’s an easy conversion. The
formula is (Ah)*(V) = (Wh), and that gets us a battery size of just
under 500Wh. That also perfectly matches what I think is very
realistic, based on the numbers, a range of 20-40 miles.

Battery and motor discussion can
turn very technical quickly.

What\’s important to understand is
that Ride1Up is being smart with money spent. By sourcing off-the-shelf
components from quality companies, they can keep the price down. At the
same time, the performance is good, and for the consumer, it can be
nice to know that you could source parts without Ride1Up.

COMPONENTS

Motor 48V Geared Hub Shengyi Motor, 28mph (nominal rating of 500w)  Controller 48V22A Lishui Sine-wave (potential peak output of 1000w)  Battery 48V10.4ah Retention Eel Pro LG Cells, Smart BMS  Display KD21C Adjustable Speed LCD  PAS Sensor Integrated Sensitive Cadence Sensor  Fork Smooth Welded 6061 Alloy  Brakes Tektro 160mm Mechanical Disc, w/ Electric Cut-Off Sensor  Tires Kenda Kwick Seven.5 27.5\” x2.2  Grips Ergonomic Rubber Grips  Shifters Shimano ASLTX30R 7-speed  Gearing 44T Front Alloy Chainring  Derailleur Shimano Altus  Cassette Shimano 11-32T  Chain KMC Z7 7-speed Chain  Throttle Left side Thumb Throttle  Handlebars ST: Swept-back Ergonomic Cafe Bars. XR: 50mm Rise 640mm Width  Stem Promax 28.6mm, 90mm ext. 31.8mm Bar Clamp  Rims Power wheel P19H  Spokes Stainless steel, 12G rear, 13G front  Saddle Selle Royal Freeway Plush Gel  Seat Post Promax 350mmx31.6mm Angle Adjustable Seat Post  Rack Standard Rack Mounting Points  Kickstand Adjustable Arm Chainstay Mounted  Additional Water Bottle Bosses and Chainstay Guard

 

When I look at the components
that make up a traditional, non-electric bike, what I\’m looking at is less than
what\’s listed. A great example is Ride1Up lists a Promax stem. Promax is
actually a well-known American brand that makes great stuff. Aside from this
example, I\’m not really getting into the details. It\’s not important to
the ride experience. When talking about the ride experience, I look at the
shifter, gearing, crank, derailleur, and brakes.

When I look at the components
that make up a traditional, non-electric bike, what I\’m looking at is less than
what\’s listed.

The shifter is the most visible
piece as it\’s a touchpoint. It\’s right there in your hand all the time. Ride1Up
has gone with a Shimano Tourney piece in this location. The tourney is at the
bottom of the lineup for Shimano mountain bike components. Electric
assistance on a bike takes a lot of pressure off these components, but it\’s good
to know what you are getting.

There\’s plenty of power for that, but it will impact the range slightly.

Moving on from the shifter, the
next pieces are the gearing, crank, and derailleur. These three pieces
are a group because they all work together. The Core 5 is a 7-speed rear
cassette with a range of 11-32. An unnamed, square taper,
aluminium crank in the front with a single ring. The tooth count on the front ring is
44-tooth and makes for a 44-32 easiest gear. Changing those gears is a Shimano
Altus derailleur.

With gearing, you have to balance
a lot of things. The high-top speed of the Core 5 demands gears for dealing
with it. The 44-tooth front chainring reflects that compromise. If you are in
an exceptionally hilly area, that will put a lot of pressure on using the
electric motor. There\’s plenty of power for that, but it will impact the range slightly. It\’s unlikely that will be a real issue for many people, but a cassette is available with a 34-tooth max gear if you have worries.

Last up are the brakes. There are
disc brakes on the Core 5. They aren\’t hydraulic, but that isn\’t really
expected. At this price range, hydraulic disc brakes are unheard of, and
mechanical brakes work well. The Tektro 160mm brakes do a great job of stopping
the bike, although mechanical will mean they are a bit more finicky over time.
The inclusion of an electric cut-off switch is a nice touch.

Assembly and Delivery

The Ride1Up Core 5 ships in a
bike box like every other bike, and it comes mostly assembled. That last bit of
mostly is where things matter, though. I put together a lot of bikes, and this
one surprised me a little.

Ride1Up calls the Core 5 85% assembled
for shipping. That\’s less than many bikes on the market. Everything left for
assembly is simple, but you might come across pieces you aren\’t used
to assembling like me. In the case of most bikes, the fork is already through the frame
with the bearings installed. Attaching the handlebars is the standard, while
popping the bearings onto the fork is not. Similarly, installing the pedals is
typical but installing the crank is less.

None of the assembly required is
tough, but the included directions don\’t mention the bearings, and the videos
don\’t cover the Core 5.

I contacted support to
ensure I was installing the correct bearing in the correct location and
direction. Once you know those details, it\’s just a matter of sliding pieces
onto the steer tube. There\’s nothing more complicated than that, but you will
need a pedal wrench for the pedals.

Once I had the bearings in the
right location, the assembly was faster than some bikes. No hard-to-align pieces left me swearing, and things were quick and easy.

Conclusion

This is where I get to back out
of the details and talk about the experience of riding the bike. The Ride1Up
Core 5 is an amazing bike. There\’s no way to talk about it without discussing
the price, but at the same time, it\’s not only good because of the price. The
price dictates some choices, but the ride experience surpasses
budget constraints.

On paper, a 50-pound bike is
heavy. In-person the Core 5 does a great job of carrying that weight well. It
doesn\’t look heavy, and it doesn\’t feel heavy when riding. During assembly, I
picked up the bike\’s rear to turn the pedals and was surprised by
how heavy it was.

When I imagine the future of
electric bikes should be, it\’s a bike like the Ride1Up Core 5.

The bike\’s rear is the heaviest
part, and lifting a lightweight road bike to turn the pedals is a bit
tough, so that\’s very high praise.

Having recently tested a very
expensive, full carbon-framed electric bike, I compared the two.
At about a quarter of the price, the Ride1Up Core 5 was on par and, in some ways, superior. That exceptional ride quality depends on how smooth and easy it
is to ride. The expensive bike did a better job of being a high-end bike, but
for cruising around town with pedal assist, the Core 5 was better. Take-off is
powerful without any of the jerkiness some electric bikes have.

When I imagine the future of
electric bikes should be, it\’s a bike like the Ride1Up Core 5. It looks like a
bike, is not overly heavy, is smooth and comfortable to ride, and is
cheap. In short, it\’s a good buy.