Ride1UP Portola Review | Awesome E-bike for $1000???

[@ElectricBikeReport]

E-Bike Question of the Day ⚡🚴 What do you think of the value of the Ride1up Portola? Let us know in the comments below 👇🏼👇🏼👇🏼

[@kevinnashskitchen3517]

I don't think anyone ever buys a bike and does not want to unlock it at least to see the top speed for a day or 2. I would test the class 3 just for more complete video information.

[@chamby1953]

Thanks for the great review. I just bought the Black Friday special Portola with 10.4 AH because the 13.4 was out of stock. However, I did purchase the spare 14 AH battery pack listed in accessories. I read the specs on many folding bikes before deciding on this one. I am 70 and don't want to load a a 70 to 80 pound ebike into the back of my Tahoe. This seems to be one of the lightest at 60 lbs with good dimensions for stowage. My wife rides and etrike that we load into the back of the Tahoe first and there will be enough room for the Portola in front of that. Have been lugging the Aventon Aventure around on a rack for two years and it seems I am on borrowed time for ending my perfect record of loading and unloading with no mishaps. This will be much better for travel with less worries of damage and theft from my bike being on a rack while on the road. Again, thanks for being thorough! Best to you!

[@ElectricBikeReport]

Thanks Charles! We hope you enjoy it!

[@cjbono1]

How do you like it so far?

[@chamby1953]

@@cjbono1 So far so good CJ. Frozen tundra around Chicago land has me grounded at the moment. Looking forward to spring so I can give it a good test.

[@smashleybreaks]

I just got a portola yesterday and I have no idea what I'm doing. This may be a ridiculous question, but do you have to pedal to get the throttle to work? When I am pedaling the bike it doesn't feel like anything is happening when I use the throttle while pedaling. Really it doesn't feel like anything is ever happening when I push the throttle lol@@chamby1953

[@Kayte...]

You must have missed the reviews of the Blix Vikat Flex which would be my second choice. It weighs in at 50#. Maybe can be your wife's ebike replacement.

[@jimmyjames8736]

I have an XP 3.0. It has been a good bike to have around for friends or family to use. I think this new Portola looks like a better value though. More torque, externally removable battery, lower step thru, no key hanging out the bottom, better adjustability of display settings, and I think it is better looking. The main advantage of the XP is its ability to fit taller people.

[@ElectricBikeReport]

You make a lot of great points there!

[@yfz450manny]

I have a 3.0 also. Mainly for my wife but I ride it every now n then as well. I agree with u! I think i'm gonna pick one of these up! We have a passenger kit on the 3.0 and my 3yr old loves it! I also just put a Kinekt suspension seat post on the 3.0 and man, what a difference!

[@chow-chihuang4903]

A great value, and I like that it has 20x3in tires instead of the ubiquitous 20x4in tires. Nimbler handling, less weight and bulk for folding it up and loading it into and out of cars. I’ve got one with 20x4in tires and while the ride is cushy, it feels slow and wallows through turns. And nice little touches like the strap for keeping the bike folded show Ride1Up has been listening to users who have asked for a reliable solution to this yet if any solution has been provided before, it’s the flaky magnetic coupling mechanism. I want this bike but I really want UL certification. I need it for being able to use this bike in NYC when I visit. When they get it, I will be buying it to replace my Espin Nesta!

[@brucegaylord1318]

3"tires might fit on a bus rack too if you run out of battery

[@ElectricBikeReport]

UL certification should be on the way soon. Agreed on your points. We're often surprised how so many folding e-bikes don't think to include a way to make keeping it folded easier - a definite sign of doing some homework.

[@MelissaThompson-h5x]

I love my Portola! I have only ridden it for 12 miles, but I found it to be more than adequate to get around my mountain town. I was able to get up hills that my Bandit XTail Lite couldn't handle.

[@ytpremium7649]

I'm 5'4 and need to commute 4 miles to work on mostly throttle, some hills involved My regular bike takes me 45 minutes and I'm exhausted upon arrival Any recommendations?

[@angieamarillo]

Just ordered one!..super excited!

[@rener90]

If I may ask, what is your pants/leg inseam? The reports (including yours, where you say you're 6'1" and can't extend the seat enough) that taller rides can't get the seat high enough for efficient riding is putting me off, but I can't find any info about what inseam measurement would work to get the efficient riding position in which the leg is almost but not quite fully extended with the foot flat on the pedal at the bottom of the pedal stroke. (Or: What is the maximum measurement from top of the pedal at the furthest away from the seat to the top of the seat? (Or to the seat rails/seat clamp.) Thank you for the thorough review!

[@chartaylor-i2s]

I'm only 4'9"-I ride an aventon pace now but feel it's too big-am looking to get something with 20" wheels. I'm not so interested in the folding part-so am wondering if the handlebars can be switched out for something more confortable-a bit wider and closer to me given my limited reach. any thoughts anyone?

[@MSF769]

Ride1Up Portola vs Lectric XP 3.0? It'll be an interesting competition.

[@ElectricBikeReport]

Oh it will happen soon :)

[@nospark333]

Still waiting @@ElectricBikeReport

[@TheRealDlo]

​@@ElectricBikeReportLet's see it! 😊

[@TheRealDlo]

Please

[@AmyPeil]

I like the this bike because of the folding capabilities and 20x3 inch tires. This was a great review, though just curious on the size of the person riding up the hill. How would it perform with someone around 220 lbs on the hill test?

[@chow-chihuang4903]

I forgot to mention, but if you don’t like the stock PAS power settings, Ride1Up lets you adjust the power delivered at each PAS level from the advanced menu. It’s something they enable for most, if not all, their models, and something I took advantage of on my LMT’d.

[@ElectricBikeReport]

True, you can edit and change those.

[@jasondelarosa5457]

One of the few that is a current based system so the wattage is constant versus speed cutoffs.

[@theviolingeek]

I have one that looks just like that and has the longer range, and it is a "BEAST"!!!😊❤

[@majorbrighton]

Your second peddle free run up your slope was a bit lame, given how hard he was peddling? I got no real idea of how much power was at hand? The second battery sits where, when in use? How does it fair in the wet. Hardly ever see this info, yet am mainly only interested in the design of the mud guards.

[@Kayte...]

By the time I'm in the position to purchase this bike, I hope it will have upgraded to adjustable handlebars and improved display. I can't imagine a bike with fixed handlebars.

[@cherilyon4692]

Hello, It rains in Boston and I still have to commute. The rep at Ride1Up told me it's best not to ride their bike in rain. My questions are: 1) is there a folding ebike, with similar offerings, that can withstand some rain? And 2) Would I be better off going with a non-electric like Dahon Mariner?

[@LevelUpLegion727]

I’m really stuck between buying this and the lectric xp 3.0. Wish there was more comparison videos between the two.

[@nospark333]

As am I. Going to get a couple of folding bike for my wife and I. I think you can't go wrong with either the XP 3.0 or the Portola...

[@TheRealDlo]

The reach on the 3.0 is like 20 so 2 inches longer. It's the only negative I can think of so far

[@chillypickles14]

Someone posted a comparison between the two. Look it up on YT

[@GillanJaime]

Cant seem to find any pics or reviews with child passenger. Any opinion on how comfortable it would be for a 9 year old on the back? Looks like the seat slightly overhangs the rear rack compared to lectric 3.0

[@indirababyyy]

I carry my 22 year old cousin through all of downtown Denver ! They bike will do good, just buy the passenger basket thru them

[@timmayr3267]

Will this fit in the back of a regular sedan? (subaru WRX) or atleast in the backseat of a standard sedan?

[@kevinnashskitchen3517]

A VICTRIP Titan S is similar to this bike .. Has a 32 ah battery with a 30 mph top speed. Passenger area with a back rest. $1,400

[@brucegaylord1318]

They have the Victrip Janus for less

[@kevinnashskitchen3517]

@@brucegaylord1318 for less..But

[@kevinnashskitchen3517]

It's a 20 ah battery 500 watt bike. 5 mph less top end.. I would think $400 more will be a good choice after a year or 2 worth of thinking. Just my thoughts .

[@tingletips]

I'm 5' and would need to lower the seat, can you lower the handlebars to make it more comfortable?

[@keeponkeepinon76]

What did you think of the cadence sensor?

[@alfonsomartinez1657]

Thank you for the review. People that are new to the bikes, we do not know what do you mean when you mentioned class A, B, C, or any other things. Some times you are too technical. Also, It is a foldable, but never show how it is fold or where it can fits.

[@sativagirl1885]

Q: Can you get a carbon fiber water-bottle attachment device for the down tube?

[@ElectricBikeReport]

Bosses are on the seat post.

[@a.patrickzalamea7436]

Thanks I’m looking into this bike! Hey I’m in STG where are some of these bike paths? Especially the ones by the rivers and that one that’s by the freeway?

[@ElectricBikeReport]

Look up the Virgin River Trail! There are some other branches that split from the main path, and a few other paths elsewhere, but this is the main one that runs through town.

[@brianpalmer6385]

I don't see spare battery for this model on their website.

[@chow-chihuang4903]

Site was recently updated so you can buy additional battery packs. What’s interesting is this accessory pack is listed as having more capacity and uses Samsung cells versus the ones that come with the bike. Update: looks like they exhausted their stock of the 14Ah packs, which were the original 700 series packs. The spare packs are now the same as the 13.4Ah pack built with Yiwei cells that come with the extended-range Portola.

[@RobDelisa]

I've done some research on torque sensor bikes vs. cadence sensor. I am afraid the cadence sensor will not feel as natural as a torque sensor bike. I've only ridden the torque sensor models at bike rentals and have really liked the feel of them. How does this one feel, being that is a cadence sensor?

[@ElectricBikeReport]

Ride1Up recently started using a current-based cadence system that feels much more natural than a traditional cadence sensor (where speeds are limited in each assist setting). But nothing quite matches a torque sensor!

[@chow-chihuang4903]

You can increase the number of PAS levels to 9 so the jumps between them are smaller. Still not quite the same as a torque sensor ebike, though a current-setting PAS style is closer than a speed-setting one.

[@MsToxicavenger]

It’s $200 more for the larger battery now. 😢

[@kevinnashskitchen3517]

Portolable👍

[@ElectricBikeReport]

Can't believe we didn't think of this :)

[@codasteve]

Which is the 14Ah battery on their site? The one for the 700 series?

[@chow-chihuang4903]

When you’re on the page for the Portola, choose the one with the 13.4Ah battery.

[@codasteve]

I actually did that, but he described how due to a shortage, they were sent a 14Ah battery that is also available to purchase separately. The one that looked most compatible was the one for the 700 series. So I was asking for that to be confirmed.

[@jasondelarosa5457]

They just updated their website, its has its own link now.

[@chow-chihuang4903]

What’s interesting is the accessory pack is listed as having more capacity and using Samsung cells versus either of the packs that come with the bike. Update: You’re probably right. I think it’s the same as the 700 pack that uses the 18650 cells. They list for the same price, and both are Reention Rhino packs. Apparently the larger capacity Reention Rhino pack for the 700 that uses 21700 cells isn’t cross-compatible with the pack that uses 18650 cells, so wouldn’t be compatible with the Portola. Second update: the extra pack is now 13.4Ah. Guess they exhausted their stock of old 14Ah 700-series packs.

[@keeponkeepinon76]

Portola vs Velotric Fold 1?

[@ElectricBikeReport]

They're both great, but we found the Fold 1 to be better for taller riders.

[@nospark333]

Did you happen to mention the weight of this bike? Usually you talk about it while folding it, must have missed it.

[@TheRealDlo]

It's under 60lbs

[@jeromewaites5364]

Can you tell me the seat post size

[@ElectricBikeReport]

The seatpost is 31.6mm x 350mm

[@jeromewaites5364]

Can it be unlocked to class 3

[@ElectricBikeReport]

Yes it can!

[@jeromewaites5364]

What t try he top speed with throttle only

[@maryl.7226]

@@jeromewaites536420 mph

[@maryl.7226]

@@jeromewaites5364 20 mph

[@minimutt1000]

Hi Can this bike be converted to class 3? How? Thanks!

[@derekjacobsma1]

yes, you can unlock off road mode which will be class 3 speeds of up to 28mph

[@ElectricBikeReport]

Through he handlebar display. Hold down the plus and minus buttons to enter setting and adjust speed from there. Make sure to comply with local laws though!

[@markmurto]

So whats top speed unlocked? Thats what we all want to know.. Gotta be better than Lectric with bigger motor?

[@maryl.7226]

28 mph technically, though other reviewers have hit 30 in PAS 5, pedaling hard on flat ground (not downhill).

[@CristianMuniz-x2c]

Now direction lites

[@ElectricBikeReport]

Hmm?

[@nikkilesley2525]

Turn signals, you mean? 👍😁