Ride1Up Vorsa ST Review

Ride1Up built on the success of some of the best value electric bikes we've tested. The 700-Series, Turris, and Cafe Cruiser were all excellent bikes in their own right, but the Vorsa compiles the best of them all, adds some interesting new technology, and offers it up for an eyebrow-raising price. The bike has impressive specs on paper, so we put it through our comprehensive testing and spent the past several weeks passing it from tester to tester to see if it's as good as it seems. Our first bike had an issue with the Hall sensor that tech support couldn't fix, so Ride1Up sent us an entirely new bike, which is why you'll see photos of two different bikes in this review.

The general style and concept of the bike give it wide appeal. With a powerful motor, large battery, and utility rack that can carry a passenger, lights, and fenders, the bike doesn't skimp on utility features. It's available in two frame styles and several colorways. Ride1Up also gives it a torque and cadence sensor, an advanced battery management system, a UL-listed battery, iOS GPS, and a color display; read on to see how it stacks up against our favorite e-bikes.

Ride

Looking at the Vorsa, you can tell it will be a smooth ride. The suspension fork is touted as offering 100mm of travel, but we could only get 80mm of the available 95mm of travel out of it. It's still comfortable and has a small amount of adjustable preload that helps to isolate the rider from the road. The handlebars have a gentle 15-degree back sweep and 35mm of rise, giving the rider an upright, aware position. A 67.5-degree head tube angle gives the front end a relaxed feel with slow steering, and the adjustable stem allows you to trade some of the bike's length for additional height. The bike handles in a predictable fashion and encourages upright posture, giving you a favorable position to take in the scenery or navigate traffic. The pedaling position is also quite relaxed with the bike's 69-degree seat tube angle. This isn't great for power transfer, but the bike's powerful electric assist negates the need to be in the ideal power position.

While the high-volume, knobby tires and suspension fork give the Vorsa a mountain bike vibe, these components aren't intended for serious off-road use. The 2.6" Schwalbe Smart Sam (or Continental Ruban) tires create an air cushion between you and the ground, giving you some comfort and the bike a bit of utility when you stray from paved paths. Big tires and suspension might look like overkill for some, but these features provide comfort akin to driving an SUV. The bike uses hydraulic disc brakes that connect with oversized rotors to give it ample stopping power. If you're planning to ride for extended periods at or near the bike's weight limit of 440 pounds, you might consider additional stopping power either by increasing the rear rotor size or moving to quad-piston calipers.

Similar to the Ride1UP LMT'D, the Vorsa has a mild, upright seated position that is comfortable for cruising. “I loved the touch points on this bike; the ergonomic silicone grips and Velo Iron Bow saddle were comfortable for long rides, even without gloves or bike shorts,” commented one of our testers. Saddles can be a personal choice, and if you don't routinely sit on a bike seat, you may opt for something with more cushioning or padded shorts. The saddle has a scalloped design that ramps up in the rear, giving it a supportive, tractor-like feel.

The Vorsa can be purchased in two different frame styles that are slightly different sizes, the ST and XR. The ST (step-through) version we purchased has a step-over height of 18.6" and, due to its ease of entry, is the bike we'd recommend for most people. Ride1Up recommends the ST for riders between 5'2" and 5'11". The XR (step-over) has a step-over height of 31.3" and is recommended for riders between 5'9" and 6'4". If you're close to the lower end of that height, check your inseam to ensure you'll have clearance.

The components chosen for the Vorsa feel mostly appropriate for the price, and don't distract from the bike's overall quality feel. Star Union hydraulic disc brakes connect with a 180mm rotor in the rear and a 203mm rear rotor up front to effectively scrub your speed. A Shimano Acera 8-speed derailleur and Altus shifter give you access to an 11-34T cassette for a wide range of gearing. I'm not a fan of the derailleur used on this bike; while many e-bike manufacturers have moved to Altus derailleurs, this component feels like it sacrifices performance for some cost savings.

The Vorsa includes a 100 lux headlight and a fender-mounted tail/brake light that uses the bike's large battery for power. If the bike has power, you have lights; no need to fret over separate chargers or AA batteries. We tested the light at night and found it adequate for low-speed use and in places with some ambient lighting. There were many situations where we wished for more light; higher speeds, wet roads, and dark trails made us feel that more illumination would be beneficial.

Ride1Up says the fenders and rack are optional, but removing the rear fender leaves no mounting spot for the fender-mounted taillight. The fenders are effective at keeping you dry, but metal construction makes them noisier than we'd like when riding off-road.

One of the features we liked most was the bike's burly rack. With a hauling capacity of 150 pounds, you can use the bike to carry a (smaller) passenger with the passenger kit. Connect+ compatibility means you can add a wide range of modular attachments that connect quickly and easily. With this system, you can grab the accessories you want and swap them out for each ride. Ride1Up sells a rack extension that gives you an extra 10" of rack space. A special, non-axle attachment point at the dropout allows you to connect a bike trailer easily. The rack stands out on this bike, giving it some of the utility of a cargo bike without the bulk associated with one.

Range

To test the range of electric bikes, we use the same course, the same weight rider, and only the throttle to eliminate the variable of human input. Our course features gentle elevation changes and is predominantly pavement, but has some gravel and hard-packed dirt. We're aiming for a real-world scenario, so you know what to expect from one of these bikes. We use the bike's most powerful setting and inflate the tires to maximum pressure. We ensure that the battery is filled to capacity and that our test rider weighs exactly 180 pounds; this often involves packing a backpack with water bottles.

We were able to ride the Vorsa for 34.3 miles, which included almost 1800 feet of elevation gain/loss without pedaling. While falling short of the Segway Xafari in this metric, this is an outstanding distance to travel without pedaling. Of course, you'd travel much further using pedal assist; just how much would depend on your input and pedal assist setting. Ride1Up claims the bike can go 30-60 miles on a charge, and that might even be conservative if you're riding level terrain.

Power

The 750W AKM hub motor with 95nm of torque sits inside the 27.5" rear wheel and delivers smooth and relatively quiet acceleration. Pushing on the throttle from a standstill, the bike starts readily and accelerates faster than most could likely pedal. The throttle is the same type of thumb paddle that Ride1Up has used on other bikes, positioned near the grip on the left side of the handlebar. In our timed acceleration test, the Vorsa reached its top throttle-assisted speeds in 11 seconds. The bike accelerated quickly to 18mph and languished for a bit before hitting 20mph. On our testing hill, the Vorsa accelerated to 17.9 mph and dropped to 16.5 mph at the steepest incline section.

Five levels of pedal assist give you a broad range of pedaling support. Support increases as you toggle through the levels, with ECO giving a subtle push, and BOOST providing all of the motor's power. This bike uses a cadence sensor AND a torque sensor; you can swap between them using the display. As proponents of the more efficient torque sensors, the reasoning for this wasn't immediately clear, but cadence sensors have their place. A torque sensor detects the amount of pressure you exert on the pedals and signals the motor to add proportionate assist; this gives the bike an intuitive and predictable feel. Cadence sensors simply detect that the cranks are moving and add power, giving the bike a ghost pedaling feel or making it feel like it's moving on its own volition. There are times, however, when you might just want to sit and move your legs without doing much work or burning calories. Switching to the cadence sensor lets you kick back and feign pedaling while the bike provides the power.

We use a dynamometer to measure the power and torque of each ebike we test to assess the actual power being sent to the ground. When we tested the Vorsa, we measured 1200 watts at peak power and 45Nm of torque in the bike's most powerful “BOOST” setting. This is an impressive amount of power and torque; it is more than we find on most bikes we test.

For something new and somewhat controversial, the Vorsa can be speed unlocked in something called “off-road mode.” Ride1Up says this is only for use on private property, but there's no real way to ensure that is the case. To unlock this mode, you must contact Ride1Up and sign a waiver that limits their liability. In off-road mode, we were able to reach speeds of 36.5mph using the throttle and saw power numbers above 1500 watts. We hope that consumers will exercise discretion with this feature, as it feels far too fast for public bike paths.

Interface

Ride1Up uses a new all-in-one control/display for the Vorsa. The color display is touted as being the “most customizable” one-touch OLED display. The unit sits on the left side of the handlebars with two buttons on the left side that are within easy reach of the rider's thumb. We're familiar with the unit as it's the same one being used on the RadKick, but Ride1Up has customized it to give the user much more control over the ride. The display has Apple iOS AirTag integration, so you can set the bike up to be tracked through Apple's Find My.

A USB-C charging port built into the display allows you to charge a phone while you ride. If this sounds ridiculous to you, consider that you can mount a phone to your handlebars for navigation, music, or convenience, but to keep the screen active, you need to have your phone plugged in. Digging into the display, you'll find a vast array of customization options that allow you to adjust the power output for each PAS level, limit wattage, and change class modes. This is also how you access Off-road mode and change the bikes speed limit.

Ride1Up chose an all-in-one unit with the button controls and display combined next to the left grip, unlike many bikes with separate controls and displays. I prefer having a display centered on the handlebar for easier viewing but this combination unit's simplicity is appealing. Two buttons are conveniently situated on the left side, closest to your thumb, and are easy to use. The power button is located on top of the display, while the + and - buttons sit on the front and let you cycle between pedal assist modes. Holding the plus button turns on your headlight, while holding down the minus button enables walk mode, where the bike powers itself.

The 720Wh battery slips into the underside of the downtube and can be locked in place. To remove the battery, you insert a key into the lock on the side of the downtube. You can charge the battery on or off the bike via a port on the side of the battery. The battery and electronics are water-resistant, although directly spraying water on them should be avoided. The external charge port is really just a hole in the frame that aligns with the battery's charge port.

Assembly

The Vorsa arrives in a standard 90+pound cardboard box smaller than most consumer-direct bicycle boxes because the Vorsa requires a bit more assembly than others. You must install the fork, stem, handlebar, front wheel, fender, rack, pedals, and front brake. Ride1Up provides clear instructions and all of the tools you'll need; they also have an assembly video that walks you through the assembly steps. Since the bike's assembly is more involved than most, you might consider using your local bike shop to ensure that it's all done properly. That said, the assembly is not particularly challenging; it just involves more steps, and the order of operations is important.

Ride1Up includes an instruction card and all of the tools you'll need to complete the job. Our bike had a rear fender installed, but we removed it to get its weight without accessories. Without fenders and rear rack, the bike weighs a hair over 66 pounds; with the fenders and rack installed, the scale showed 70 pounds, 9 ounces. The headlight mounts to the stem's faceplate and requires some finesse to route the wires and cables around it.

Should You Buy the Ride1Up Vorsa?

The Vorsa is an excellent option if you're looking for a comfortable and reasonably priced all-around e-bike. The bike comes ready to commute, explore bike paths, or just cruise around in a comfortable position. With a relaxed ride, a large battery, and adventure-ready tires, the Vorsa can broaden your horizons. We're particularly impressed with how the rack on this bike can increase its usability and utility. Considering the bike's comfort and modular features, it feels like it's priced well and provides quite a bit of versatility for the dollar.

What Other Electric Commuter Bikes Should You Consider?

If you like this general style of bike, the Segway Xafari might also be worth a look. The Segway has a larger battery, more power, and more range; it's also quite a bit heavier. If you're not planning to transport the bike on a rack, that may not matter much. The Xafari has a shock that supports the rear end, giving it a bit more comfort, but it's also several hundred dollars more expensive. If you want something low maintenance and easy to store, the Lectric ONE is a belt-driven, compact commuter with a sealed Pinion gearbox. The ONE is a high-tech little bike that comes with everything you need to start commuting.