Ride1UP Prodigy XC - Brose Mid-Drive Motor E-Bike Review | BikeRide.com

Check out this review on BikeRide.com : www.bikeride.com/ride1up-prod...
A class 3 mid-drive bike with trail-friendly geometry, 27.5” wheels, Maxxis rubber, quality components, and an air suspension front fork with 120mm of travel. Coming in at a price point that makes it seem almost too good to be true - the Prodigy definitely needs to be seen to be believed. So let’s take a look at this exciting offering from Ride1UP and see if the Prodigy is as exceptional as its name implies.
Chapters
Intro 00:00
What is the Ride1UP Prodigy XC? 00:50
Pro & Con 01:47
Pro 1 01:53
Pro 2 03:19
Pro 3 04:38
Con 1 06:25
Con 2 07:08
Con 3 07:33
What does it do best 08:08
Who Should Buy It? 09:15
Who Should Not Buy? 10:06
Frame 10:47
Motor 11:45
0-20 Test 12:33
Hill Climb Test 1 12:46
Hill Climb Test 2 13:04
Cockpit: 13:20
Battery 15:32
Battery Range Test 16:05
Charger and Key 16:26
Drivetrain 17:16
Brakes 18:06
Brake Tests 18:39
Wheels 18:51
Contact Points 19:37
Conclusion 20:55
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[@daniellubben6814]

I find your review to be spot on. I noticed the seat right away and had to swap it out for a larger seat to fit my butt. Feels like my regular mtn bike and gives me the right amount of power for uphill situations. Can't wait for the snow in the mountains to melt so I can give it a good workout on Colorado trails. As far as riding on my local bike path I found no regulations that prohibit me from using it and other ebikes are quite common.

[@BikeRidecom]

Awesome this is what we love to hear! Very happy that your experience is true to ours. The Prodigy was a blast to ride, but yes that seat is awful! I guess if money needs to be saved the seat is the place though...saving up for the Brose Motor I guess!

[@shawndiesel007]

Excellent review sir! Your deserve more subs. 8 months later have you found anything similar you'd prefer instead of this?

[@BikeRidecom]

Thanks! The Prodigy is consistent and reliable fun. We have not had a chance to test any other mid-drive units that feature a similar frame style so it is hard to compare it to others. The Prodigy is a great hardtail E mountain bike that would be a top competitor for my recommendation, its hard to find much to complain about with the bike.

[@m33pr0r]

Amazing thorough review thank you, just ordered the prodigy, thank you!

[@BikeRidecom]

So glad we can bring you the info you needed to get the right bike. Come back after your first ride and let us know what your favorite feature of the bike is!

[@nikom8824]

Best review I've seen on the Prodigy XC. I own this ebike. You're spot on with your pros/cons.

[@BikeRidecom]

Thanks! This is what we hope for when producing the reviews. We will keep bringing honest opinions so you can know what bike will be your perfect fit! The Prodigy was a blast to ride, and its great to see so many owners commenting here!

[@m.hughes2521]

Great review dude.

[@BikeRidecom]

Thanks!

[@Dustinrhoades]

Solid review

[@BikeRidecom]

We are excited to bring you this review on the Ride1Up Prodigy XC. Do you have a question about the bike? Let us know! Or if you would like to see some other data, or testing included in the next review, leave us a comment to get your voice heard. We are always looking for new ways to test the bike and bring your the best information on new bikes.

[@steveh7108]

Did you give a price on that bike in the video ? I must have missed it I even went back and watch the beginning again thinking maybe you said it at the very beginning. But I couldn't find it

[@BikeRidecom]

@@steveh7108 I don't mention price in the video because they can fuxuate over time. If you check out www.bikeride.com/ride1up-prodigy/ We have a cool feature showing you the current prices at retailers, so you know your getting the best deal. It looks like the bike is on for $2245.00 usd on the Ride1Up website.

[@spunkush]

This review made me buy the Prodigy XC. I have a Juiced ebike, but i love mountain biking. This is going to be great on the XC trails near me. I guess i gotta upgrade the fork and derailer if i want to take it on some of the morw technical trails.

[@BikeRidecom]

Love to hear this! Let us know what you decide to upgrade the derailer and front fork with. As well as how the trails feel after those upgrades

[@spunkush]

@BikeRide yah I'll take my time since I upgraded my regular hardtail last year. Do you think the wheels will be fine with tubes, or do I need to think about tubeless-ready wheels with presta valves?

[@BikeRidecom]

@@spunkush You will get away with tubes just fine, but be aware of tire pressure to avoid pinch flats, and carry and tube, pump and tire levers. If you ride in an area with lots of thorns, or other sharps and find yourself getting flats often consider going tubeless. Tubless benefits from the ability to use a lower tire pressure without the fear of pinch flats, but you do expose yourself to rim damage and burping if too low with no tire insert. Personally I love tubeless, but also find traditional tubes are not inconvenient until they go flat, which can be rare. The XC rims do not state they are tubeless ready, but most rims can be easily converted with some rim tape, and new valves. Just be carful applying the tape, and not to damage it while getting the tire bead back on. I have been meaning to go tubeless on our test model, if we do I will update you with the results.

[@spunkush]

​@BikeRide I got the bike. And noticed they changed the groupset to a microshift advent and also moved the shift-sensor wiring to the top, acting as additional frame protection from the chain.

[@BikeRidecom]

@@spunkush Great info! what did you think of the new groupset?

[@livemike410]

Best review of all. I was about to buy an XC till you revealed that unlike the Prodigy XR, the XC is unable to adjust pedal assist levels.🤬 Doesn’t make sense. Aren’t they the same motor controller combo? Maybe someone from Ride1Up can explain the thinking behind this.

[@BikeRidecom]

Thanks for the comment! I am very glad that it was helpful. The lack of the custom assist level function on the unit may be due to local regulations, and it could be the same with the XR depending on location. We will contact Ride1UP for more info on this and report back. In general though, the XC provides some nice upgrades to the XR, most noticeable is the front shock. If you plan to go offroad the XC is a solid choice.

[@dzembassy]

@@BikeRidecom Hello, great review on this e-bike! Any update on this question about adjusting the pedal assist levels on the Prodigy XC yet?

[@BikeRidecom]

@@dzembassy We have not received an update yet, It seems that all USA models have not had this feature activated.

[@mbonadio]

Anyone have any thoughts on the prodigy xc vs the prodigy 2 (non-belt version or chain) with the TD sprinter model brose. Looking for a lighter affordable emtb - not wanting 26” fat tire 80# bikes anymore. The prodigy xc is lighter but the prodigy 2 has some nice improvements - I won’t use this as a commuter - maybe some mixed mode - want to do some intermediate trails in Florida.

[@BikeRidecom]

We have not had a chance to try the Prodigy V2 but I have personally ridden the XC on intermediate mountain bike trails and it performs well. It's best climbing and riding dh on smoother flow trails, or even steeper terrain so long as you can keep the wheels on the ground mostly. Jumping or riding in very rooty or rocky areas will show the bike's weaknesses quickly. Which are chain movement and some internal clunking from something in the frame, as well as that hardtail rear with the additional weight. I was impressed with the Prodigy, and for the price, it's definitely capable of getting you out on beginner and some intermediate trails. It's capable of much more; you can jump and put it through its paces, but I cannot report on longevity if you really start pushing limits.

[@richarde1355]

I am considering this and the Aventon Ramblas as my do-all bike - light trail riding and recreation/around town/commmuting. Price aside, which of these two bikes would you pick, and why? Thanks!

[@BikeRidecom]

I have not had a chance to ride the Aventon Ramblas yet, but I am working hard to get one into the studio! I loved the Ride1Up Prodigy, its a great bike with little to no downsides in my opinion. I still enjoy riding it more then a year after the review. Great geometry, the Brose motor is a gem and it has all the features you would want for a trail/commuter bike. Having said that! If I had to choose between the two I would probably choose the Aventon Ramblas. between Aventon and Ride1up I have found Aventon to be a bit more consistent between bikes; they are slightly more expensive than Ride1up but bring high-quality levels. Ride1Up has had more fluctuation with quality for other models. The Ramblas is also newer, and was designed as a E-MTB specifically, so the geometry is probably going to be slightly improved over the Prodigy.

[@theepimountainbiker6551]

After spotting a Canada Post office I must ask, how do you make this a class 2 legal bike for Canada then? Most bikes you can change the top speed from the display unit, can you do that with this? I want 1 for trail and commuting in Northern Ontario

[@BikeRidecom]

They have an app allowing you to adjust the speed limit and power output for various settings. Technially the new transport Canada regulations still do not allow this bike to enter Canada, but you should be fine riding it with no issue. New regulations for import this year do not allow any e-bike that can be unlocked to travel faster then 20 mph (32Km/h) they must be hardwired to 20 mph speed limit and 500W motor to be imported.

[@jasondelarosa5457]

The power settings missing is a deal breaker, one of the main reason I would want the prodigy. Wonder why it was missing on this model.

[@BikeRidecom]

It's a good note that you can access those power settings via the app, and some other users in the comments below have listed different ways to make that app work, depending on your device. The prodigy is a great bike overall, so if the power settings are all that hold you back the issue could be solved!

[@edwardcating]

It was my understanding that the Android or iPhone app is required to adjust the power settings. Aventon does the same thing in order to change the as-shipped configuration from Class 2 to Class 3. Fingers crossed.

[@BikeRidecom]

I did a little dive and it seems the Brose app is only available in Germany and Austria currently. We have seen this on other brands and models though, and you are correct that often the app is required to change these settings. The user manual for the Brose Allround indicates you should be able to find these settings and adjust them in the display menu. It does have a disclaimer that some settings may be unavailable due to local regulations. We are still waiting to hear back from Ride1UP with some info to share, so I will update you as soon as we have more info!

[@grzegorzlecki3139]

@@BikeRidecom you can sideload it, it is easy and it works very well. It is a good app! I use it for most of my rides, it is 100% reliable

[@steveh7108]

​@@BikeRidecom it's a real pity that "local regulations" have any say-so whatsoever how a manufacturer builds their bike or how the consumer wants to order the bike. Big Brother government has got their nose and too much personal business. I thought the government was trying to encourage the development and Improvement of electronic vehicles and Battery Technology. Instead they are going to put chains on them😡

[@johnheydenrych7006]

You can side load the Android app to customize the power assistance 😊

[@BikeRidecom]

@@grzegorzlecki3139 Great note thanks!

[@kevinnashskitchen3517]

So 90Nm = 500 watt mid drive? Since I didn't hear that part.

[@BikeRidecom]

The motor's nominal output is rated for 250W @ 36V, and it produces 90Nm of torque at peak output. but this can be misleading when compared to a hub motor using only the W rating. A better representation is the fact it can provide up to 380% power assist with a top speed of 28MPH. The efficiency of the motor means lower wattages are needed for power output levels. This bike was able to accelerate and handle hills better than many 750W hub motors.

[@paulbrown7798]

show us@@BikeRidecom

[@nathlang2314]

What's the shortest person(female) can ride on this ebike comfortable. Thanks.

[@BikeRidecom]

Ride1up sizes the bike for riders between 5'6" and 6"4. We have had a female rider, 5'3" ride the bike and find it very comfortable, so I would say shorter riders with a slightly longer reach would also find the bike sizing comfortable. The brand does supply a geo chart so follow the link to see the bike and learn more. www.bikeride.com/ride1up-prodigy/

[@srobeck77]

If your short like the midgets in the clown circus, the Aventon Pace step-thru, size small frame is worth looking into

[@user-dn6np4ec9x]

mokwheel basalt or ride1up prodigy??

[@BikeRidecom]

I have not used the Mokwheel Basalt, but I can see it has a 750W rear hub motor, it claims the use of a torque sensor but regardless the mid-drive Brose motor on the Prodigy will provide more natural response and better service on the trail IMO. The Mokwheel also has a coil suspension fork, and the Prodigy has a Air suspension fork, a significant upgrade. I think these two aspects make the Prodigy more capable on singletrack trails then the Mokwheel Basalt.

[@BikeRidecom]

If someone has ridden the Mokwheel Basalt please let me know in the comments and let me know how it is!

[@user-dn6np4ec9x]

@@BikeRidecom thank you

[@BikeRidecom]

@@user-dn6np4ec9x No problem!

[@kevinnashskitchen3517]

I would think fenders off road are a plus .. They only weigh 8 ounces each.

[@BikeRidecom]

A small front fender would definitely assist with debris headed for your face. Not seeing any rear fender on an XC mountain bike is pretty common. The main reason is the fender's ability to make contact with the tire repeatedly when riding offroad. Riding this on the road without fenders in rain, sand and gravel is enough to convince you to add them though, it spits water everywhere. Like you mention its not a large weight gain.

[@vulcan4d]

Nice bike. Why would they make an off-road ebike with no clutch!

[@BikeRidecom]

It's tough to say, but since Ride1Up is bringing a nice motor, display, brakes and air shock they probably needed to save some money on other components. Leaving us the lack of a clutch, and uncomfortable seat. It's not uncommon to see budget-minded bike builds leave out a clutch, I would be surprised to see one on most bikes in this price range.

[@srobeck77]

You mean a manual throttle?

[@srobeck77]

I wish it had a belt instead of a chain

[@BikeRidecom]

Personally, I enjoyed the bike's performance with its chain and traditional drivetrain. It also features a shift sensor which switches of the motor when you change gears, this significantly reduces the chances of breaking a chain. Currently, I am only sold on belts for some purposes; despite the benefits of reduced maintenance and increased longevity (of the belt), traditional gearing systems are tried and true. The big negative for belts is removing the derailleur and forcing all gearing to be taken care of by the motor.

[@gordonv2456]

I want high power and a throttle.

[@BikeRidecom]

Looking into an unrestricted e-bike may be the best bet for you. Most Bikes that are classified as a class 3 e-bike are required to not have a throttle and only operate on pedal assist. You may also prefer a hub motor, as these mid-drive units are not as nice to use with a throttle. Most class 2 750W bikes are unlockable to 28mph (class 3) in the settings.

[@daviddevault5269]

I really wish you would not move your hands so much when you talk Dude.

[@BikeRidecom]

kzbin.info/www/bejne/j4vXmneApruMrc0

[@Z33dott]

@@BikeRidecomI’m hoping to see a troll review where you don’t move your hands at all.

[@BikeRidecom]

@@Z33dott If I get a straightjacket I might just manage it!