Ride1Up rolls out suspension version of its popular low-cost e-bike
Ride1Up is expanding one of its most popular lightweight commuter e-bikes with a new version aimed at riders looking for a bit more comfort on rougher roads and longer rides. The company has now officially begun shipping the new Ride1Up Roadster V3 Suspension model, adding front suspension to the sleek urban e-bike while keeping much of what made the original such a hit.
The new model is based on the existing Roadster V3 platform, which has already earned a strong following for delivering an unusually lightweight and responsive ride at a relatively affordable price point of just $1,395. At around 40 lb (18 kg) for a Class 3 e-bike, the Roadster V3 stood out in a market increasingly filled with bulky commuter e-bikes tipping the scales closer to double that weight.
That lighter weight, combined with a 500W MIVICE rear hub motor capable of supporting speeds up to 28 mph (45 km/h), gave the bike a ride feel that landed somewhere between a traditional bicycle and a modern commuter e-bike. Instead of feeling oversized or sluggish, the Roadster V3 felt nimble and efficient while still offering enough power for fast urban riding and hill climbing.
One of the biggest highlights of the bike – and one of the features I praised most in my earlier review – was Ride1Up’s use of the MIVICE torque sensor system. The sensor delivers impressively smooth and natural pedal assist, avoiding the jerky or overly aggressive feel that can plague cheaper cadence-sensor commuter bikes. It made the Roadster V3 feel refined in a way that punched well above its price category.
Now Ride1Up is adding a 35mm air suspension fork to the formula, complete with 12mm thru-axle for an even more rugged and higher quality ride.
The addition of front suspension may sound relatively minor on paper, but it significantly changes the type of riding the bike is suited for. While the rigid fork version excelled on smoother pavement and efficient city riding, the new suspension model should make rough streets, cracked pavement, gravel paths, and longer commutes noticeably more comfortable.
For riders who loved the speed and lightweight nature of the Roadster V3 but hesitated because of the firmer ride quality common with rigid forks, this new version could be the sweet spot. And with just a $50 premium for the nice air fork, the $1,445 Roadster V3 Suspension model still cuts an affordable line for a fast and refined e-bike.
The bike also retains many of the original’s commuter-friendly features, including integrated lighting and fenders, hydraulic disc brakes, a removable UL-certified 360 Wh battery, and fast-rolling 700x45c tires. Buyers can also choose between single-speed belt and 9-speed microShift drivetrain configurations, depending on whether they prioritize simplicity or wider gearing, though it appears the suspension option is available only with the 9-speed.
At a time when many commuter e-bikes continue getting heavier and more moped-like, the Roadster V3 Suspension appears to double down on the lightweight urban-bike formula that helped make the original so appealing in the first place.
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