What we think about the Ride1Up Prodigy XC
There is a lot to like about the Prodigy XC.
For one, it has a great motor. The Brose mid-drive motor of the Prodigy XC has a natural feel and is very responsive. Even though we originally tested this bike nearly two years ago, it still holds a top 10 result in our hill test among mid-drive e-bikes. It’s clearly got power, but it’s the subtle delivery of it that makes it great.
That’s not its only top-10 finish, though. The battery range tested went 90 miles in our PAS 1 test, which is one of the longest we’ve ever seen.
The rest of the bike comes together nicely. The frame geometry is comfortable, the Maxxis tires do a great job on varied terrain, and the 120mm air suspension fork makes the journey easy on the rider.
As a nice bonus, Ride1Up has even improved its value since our review of the Prodigy XC, as it now comes with the trusty Tektro Orion four-piston brakes (our tester had two-piston brakes).
The ‘XC’ part of the name means you can definitely take it on light cross-country adventures, but don’t underestimate the Prodigy XC’s do-it-all potential. This bike does great on city paths too for being your daily ride.
This bike was a good value in the $2k range, but at $1495, it feels like a steal.
What to know about Ride1Up
Ride1Up launched in 2018. Normally, such a short track record makes it hard to formulate a sense of the quality of the company’s products and how well they support their products after a purchase. With Ride1Up, we’ve seen the brand grow from just a few e-bikes to a dozen different models.
Considering the effort involved in launching a new product, it is evident that Ride1Up is both competent and thorough. They have also delivered on a level of quality high enough never to have issued a recall.
As we mentioned before, Ride1Up has a proven track record for introducing e-bikes that maximize value to a degree we find surprising; they occupy a tier of high-value e-bikes that few brands can claim to achieve. Even before this sale, they were offering some of the most affordable e-bikes on the market with 8-speed drivetrains and hydraulic disc brakes. Some of their models include a rear rack integrated into the frame, which increases its carrying capacity.
What’s the secret to providing high-quality bikes without the need for retail markup? Ride1Up attributes that to a concentrated effort on keeping costs down to pass savings along to the consumer. That means operating with minimal overhead, largely focussing on the DTC model, and manufacturing at scale.
