The Ride1Up Revv1 DRT – CleanTechnica Tested – CleanTechnica

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Ride1Up made a name for itself early on with a line of e-bikes with beautiful designs kitted out with name brand parts at absurdly affordable prices.

With the introduction of the Revv1, they moved beyond the three classes of e-bikes into the scooter segment. The original Revv1 was designed for the street, and they’re back this year with the introduction of the Revv1 DRT.

It brings together the style of cafe racer motorcycles with touches of modernity, all built around a set of knobby dirt tires. The result is a beautifully functional vehicle for those looking to get out and play in the dirt on an electrified platform.

Disclaimer: Ride1Up provided the REVV1 DRT to the author for the purposes of this review.

From the factory, the Ride1Up Revv1 DRT is locked to class 1, class 2, and class 3 performance, but it can be unlocked to free up a special off-road mode that throws off the speed and power constraints of class 1-3 e-bikes.

The Riding Experience

On the flip side, it’s an extremely comfortable e-bike to cruise around town on. The full suspension means you glide over bumps in the road with adjustments for both the rear and front shocks that let you dial in the comfort. Both can be set to full squishy mode to fully locked out with many settings in between.

Being built around a motorcycle style chassis means the Revv1 DRT is less optimized for ergonomics when pedaling. This is a result of the frame design that locks the seat at a fixed height. It’s fine for casual riding but not well suited to longer rides.

The motorcycle style frame also means it weighs a bit more than your typical e-bike, tipping the scales at 91 pounds.

Getting out into the dirt, it doesn’t have enough power to make it as fun as a motorbike, but kicking it into off-road mode bumps the speed limit up to 35 mph, making it immensely more fun to ride. It’s important if you are going to unlock this mode and take it into the dirt to take extra precautions around safety, much like you would with any dirt bike.

Who Is It For?

The Ride1Up Revv1 DRT is clearly optimized to be more of a fun e-bike for the younger crowd. Its fixed seat height means it’s not as great for pedaling around town or commuting unless you don’t plan to do a lot of pedaling. This style e-bike is popular for buyers who don’t have a lot of experience or even interest in pedaling.

It’s perfect for someone who wants more mobility in their life but without all the hassle of getting a motorcycle license, registration, and insurance. Its flexible power options means you can dial it in for commuting as a level 2 e-bike, then throw it in to off-road mode when you want to get rowdy.

While more subtle, the Revv1 DRT also has a molle-style rack integrated into the frame. That’s a great way to strap on accessories for bike camping or longer distance travel. The option to add a second battery with its own mount lets you effectively double the electric-assisted range of the bike without having to stress.

Ride1Up also offers a center storage cage that can be added for more security if you want to keep goodies on the bike that might grow legs if you don’t lock them up. You can also add a rear rack or passenger kit to get the Ride1Up Revv1 DRT set up for whatever adventures you have planned.

Overall

The Ride1Up Revv1 DRT is a fun new addition to the world of e-bikes and will surely find a home with those looking to get out and play more in the dirt. While its geometry is not the best for long distance pedaling, the ability to kit it out with different accessories makes it a flexible platform to support a wide range of adventures.

Its knobby tires are best for playing in the dirt, but they also offer a more street-oriented build in the Ride1Up Revv1. Having a 1,000 watt rear hub motor puts it outside of the three classes of e-bikes on paper, but Ride1Up intelligently lets owners tune that down via software, although it’s unclear if this qualifies as an e-bike under the letter of the law.

For more information about ride one up or the Ride1Up Revv1 DRT, head over to their website.

Specs

• Top Speed: 28 mph / 45 kph
• Range: 30-60 mi / 48-96 km per charge
• Motor Power: 1,000 watt, 52 volt rear hub motor
• Battery cells: Uses 56 UL 2271 compliant Samsung 21700 cells
• Battery capacity: 52 V, 20 Ah pack
• Display: 3.5″ center mount BW screen
• MSRP: $2,595
• Warranty: 1 year