2022 Ride1Up Core5 Review

Video Review

Written Review

What is up awesome peeps? Today we’re taking a look at the Ride1Up Core-5. This is a fantastic value for an electric bike that gets you down to the basics, for a phenomenal price. The Core-5 is like a pared down Limited model from Ride1Up, which we’ve reviewed on Electrified Reviews, where it was awarded the 2020 electric city bike of the year. With this Core-5, the toned down specs met with a drastically lower price, making for a very compelling offering. Currently the Core-5 comes in at $1,045 USD with free shipping to the lower 48 states. That is a huge value, and you are getting a lot of bike for that price. The first thing that stood out to me on the core-5 was the fit and finish. Like the other Ride1Up eBikes, the Core-5 doesn’t skimp on the quality of the build and frame. They have a few colors and I really like the way this matte theme is complimented through the whole bike. The black line across the frame works to subdue the larger bottom tube, and matches the bike’s overall athletic design perfectly. One last thing on the frame, I like the textured chainstay guard, and also the super shiny Ride1Up badge on the font. This frame is a winner, in my book.

I know I said I would move on from that beautiful frame, but we gotta talk about this sleek battery inside the bottom tube. The battery hides extraordinarily well inside this casing and is held in place by a unique key. The battery fits flush with the frame, making for a clean and minimal look on the trail. At first glance, you’d hardly know it’s electric. 

This a 48v 10.4Ah battery that can get around 20 to 40 miles of range, depending on how you ride it. The Core-5 includes a throttle, which, if you use this all-out, will see more like 20 miles without pedaling. If you use the 5 levels of pedal assist, you’ll see more like 40 miles on a single charge. 

Keeping you informed is the monochrome display on the handlebars. This display shows you the battery level, pedal assist level, and speed in real-time, taking out the guesswork of tracking miles. Oh yeah, and it also counts mileage with an odometer and trip-set. All of these electric components funnel down to the rear hub motor, rated for 750w, and pumping out a max of 60 Newton meters of instant torque. This internally geared motor can power the Core-5 up to 20mph on full throttle, and 28mph in maximum pedal assist. This makes the Core-5 one of the most affordable Class 3 eBikes on the market today, and makes it legally classified as an electric bike in most states, including here in California.

One of the downsides of having a super competitive, fast and dazzling electric bike, is some of the extra assembly. Standard for the whole industry, we had to not only put on the handlebars, pedals, seat and front wheel. Also, we had to assemble the front fork and the chainring with the chain assembly. Here at Electrified Reviews, it was no trouble at all, maybe an extra 10 minutes at most. But this can be a bit intimidating for a first timer. Ride1Up has support articles and staff on-hand to get you through the process, if need be.

It’s hard to believe we’ve gone this far without talking about how it rides! The Core-5 put a dash of comfort on an otherwise tight controlling bike. Although the Core-5 has a solid fork and solid seatpost, there are some comfort points on the bike that are easy to miss at first blush. First is the tires. These are 27.5 x 2 tires, which offer great balance, and also great comfort. The mid-range volume of air inside these puncture resistant tires also offer a little bit of cushion, which is definitely a plus. Next is the overall shape of the bike. The rider can sit in a much more relaxed position with the seat riding fairly low, emulating a more natural sitting position. 

Coming in at 49lbs, the Core-5 is equipped with a pair of 180mm mechanical disc brakes. These have a great deal of stopping power relative to the bikes size and weight, and are a good choice for ease of maintenance. Powering the drivetrain is a full set of gears, with a Shimano Altus derailleur, and a 12-32 cassette featuring 7 unique gears. This drivetrain is a great mix of climbing power for hills, and a higher speed application capable of seeing that top electric speed of 28mph.

Before we show off this beautiful bike on the ride, let’s touch on the company perks offered by Ride1Up. Ride1 Up is offering a 30 day trial period on the bike, so if you try it out and it doesn’t fit your needs for some reason, you can contact them to get it sent back. On top of that, the bike includes a 1 year warranty against defects, and they have free shipping to 48 states, and good rates for Alaska and Hawai’i, I’m told. They also have a payment option through Paypal if you want to get riding as soon as possible. 

See the Ride1UP Core-5 website