Ride1UP Prodigy Review, 2023 | XC Variant For Dirt Riding

A common question riders ask when considering which e-bike is, “how many miles will the battery take me?” Our range test results helped explain the design the Ride 1Up engineers used for this e-bike. In our short range high PAS test, the bike took us 25.6 miles, at an average speed of 14.6 mph, using the Boost mode – the highest pedal assistance level.

This is close to the average range of heavier e-bikes. So they found a way to go lighter without compromising range, while enabling the rider to use the highest pedal assist level – impressive!

For our long range low PAS test we made two test runs. In our first test the Prodigy carried our test rider 90.4 miles, average speed of 12.3 mph, using the Eco mode (PAS 1). When the motor is in Eco mode it engages with the rider’s pedaling, but depending on your weight and riding conditions, you might want to use the Tour mode (PAS 2) to get a little more power assistance.

Normally, we choose PAS 2 in most of our tests because that is where most e-bike motors engage constantly. But then we thought with the Prodigy, riders are probably choosing this lighter bike because they want to go farther and contribute more when pedaling.

Thanks to the lighter 6.7 lbs Phylion BN21 battery, the Ride 1Up Prodigy is lighter than most other all-terrain e-bikes, and easier to pedal. That means your pedaling contributes more to moving the Prodigy forward than on heavier e-bikes. So, when thinking about the range you’re going to get when riding the Prodigy, it really depends on how much pedaling you’re willing to commit.

When considering a mid-drive motor’s performance on hill climbing, it is important to remember that mid-drives assist your pedaling, it cannot replace your pedaling (like hub motors can). So, we were curious how the Prodigy’s 250w motor would perform in our hill climb test.

Our hill is extreme, and an e-bike’s overall value is not measured by whether or not it makes it to the top. Since the Prodigy doesn’t have a throttle we couldn’t do the throttle-only test. That left us with doing just the high PAS test.

The high PAS hill climb test lets us know the bike’s capability when the rider is supplying a minimal amount of pedaling, and is relying mostly on the motor. Our test rider, Justin Taylor, used the Boost mode, the highest of the four PAS modes. The Prodigy made it to the top in 1:24, at an average speed of 12.5 mph. A perfectly respectful result in the world of mid-drives up the dreaded Holl Hole trail.

We weren’t too surprised by this. Basic physics – Newton’s Law of Motion – dictates that a heavier object traveling at the same speed will take longer to stop than a lighter object.

Our brake test is very uniform and consistent. We use the same rider, Griffin Hales, to take the bike up to 20 mph, then he hits the brakes at a specific point. We measure the distance from where he activated the brakes to where the bike came to a complete stop. After the third time, we calculate an average and use that as our result.

Knowing how well the brakes performed in our brake test, I had to see for myself when I took this bike out. I’ve tested a lot of e-bikes, and the Prodigy’s stopping ability is impressive. When you consider how e-bikes go faster than regular bikes, it’s crucial to have brakes you can trust. The Tektro brakes gained my trust, and that makes the ride all the better.

Seated rides on the Prodigy were more comfortable for me on longer rides than most bikes, thanks to the Selle Royal Viento saddle. It’s a little wider than standard sport seats, but padding has a better mix of soft comfort while also being weather resistant. I tend to spend more time actively pedaling and standing on the pedals, instead of sitting, so if you plan to mostly sit, you might want to consider adding a pullover silica gel seat cover.

One point of concern we have with this e-bike, like all other e-bikes featuring a mid-drive motor and derailleur system, is how the high torque wears on the chain and cassette. Replacing the chain and cassette system with a band and internal gear hub would make this bike more expensive, but we would pay more to have this as an option. Also, we would like to see Ride 1Up offer a larger display unit. The current one is small, making it hard to read and hard to adjust settings when riding.

Aside from those two items, Ride 1Up offers a great set of features on the Prodigy, making this a bike you ride for a wide range of purposes, like commuting to work, running errands, riding with a little one and, when you want a little more adventure, riding on the easy mountain bike trails. The real benefit is the Brose motor powering this e-bike. This German manufacturer has over 100 years of experience building electric motors, and they take pride in their work. After riding close to 200 miles on this bike, we found the motor performed really well consistently, making this the best part of the bike.

The design and engineering team at Ride 1Up had a challenging project on their hands when trying to make a 50 lb e-bike feel and ride light, and to make it perform well on and off road. But they pulled it off with the Prodigy. Certainly, there were some gives-and-takes that they had to weigh when deciding what to add and what to leave off on this bike. But their out-of-the-box thinking paid off when you look at this e-bike as a whole.

Finding a happy medium to satisfy a variety of tastes – and riding goals – the Prodigy is also priced very competitively, upping the chances of more riders feeling they got a lot of value for their money with this e-bike.

Ride 1Up’s Prodigy e-bike is ideal for the rider who wants an e-bike that’s very similar to a city/commuter e-bike, but can also be ridden on the dirt trails outside town. You can expect to ride 30 – 50 miles before you need to recharge the battery. This bike comes with a 1-year warranty, but you probably won’t need it with the motor because of the fine German engineering involved.

If you buy one of these e-bikes, remember to pay special attention to how you shift, and avoid wearing out your chain and cassette by always starting out in a low gear. With that all said, you should find this to be an easy e-bike to ride, and a fun one. For more information on availability and latest prices, please click the “Check Best Price” button aboce.

‘Happy Riding, make sure to let us know if you have any questions down in our comments section or if you think we left anything out in this review of the Ride1Up Prodigy.