The Ride1Up Portola takes some getting used to even if you're coming from another e-bike, and is an excellent blend of features, performance, and price.
I love biking. I've talked about this extensively in the past.
In 2023, I received the Gravel edition of the Roadster V2, a "stealthy" e-bike from Ride1Up. Before that, I hadn't hopped into the bike saddle since I was in high school.
It was a major game-changer for me. I went from being fairly sedentary to verifiably active.
Not only was I biking more, but I could also bike to the gym. This means that I was biking about 15-20 miles a day, weather permitting, and hitting the gym four or five times a week.
So when Ride1Up asked if I wanted to check out another one of their bikes, I enthusiastically said yes. Here's what I thought about Ride1Up's most popular models, the Portola.
Ride1Up Portola review: On the surface
Unlike the Roadster, the Portola certainly looks more like what I think of when I think "e-bike." It has a thick frame, wide tires, and a built-in rear rack capable of carrying 150 pounds.
The one I have here is in the Sea Turquoise color, which I think is a nice change-up from what I normally see. But it isn't the only option. There's a glossy charcoal, a matte indigo, and a gorgeous vintage-inspired warm gray.
As I see it, there are two selling points of the Portola. The first is that it's a step-through frame.
As a member of the under-5-foot-5 club, I appreciate the step-through design. That being said, it did trip me up for my first several rides, and I am so used to swinging my leg over the top, not just my seat, but the cargo rack of my Roadster.
Ride1Up Portola e-bike review: Pretty, but kind of difficult to move without a top tube
I assume you may not have that problem.
The second major advantage of this bike is that it's foldable. You can simply fold it in half and tuck it away when not in use.
Of course, Ride1Up suggests that this also makes it more portable — a real commute bike for city folk. I'm not entirely sure if I agree with that assertion.
At 59lbs, this bike isn't exactly light. Again, for comparison, the Roadster is 33lb, which is light enough for me to maneuver one-handed if need be.
The Portola is a full 26lbs heavier. And not only is it heavier, but there's also a considerable amount of bulk.
One thing I wasn't expecting was how much I use the top tube of a bike to move it around. The Portola, being a step-through, is missing a key grip point.
I have to maneuver my bikes up and down a small set of stairs if I want to take them out or store them. With the Roadster, that's relatively easy, as I can just pick it up at the center and carry it where it needs to go.
I couldn't find a comfortable way to carry the Portola, unless I folded it up first. This actually works somewhat well when you're storing it in a house or taking it on the bus.
It works less well if you need to maneuver it a few feet. This led to a bit of awkwardness when it came time to chain it up at the bike rack while running errands.
That isn't to say that the Portola isn't a great bike. It is just something to keep in mind if you're someone who might not be able to lift that weight easily.
Ride1Up Portola e-bike review: The battery is easily removable, but also locks securely in place.
I also want to take a moment to appreciate the fact that the Portola's battery is removable. That means you can remove the battery and store it inside during the colder seasons, extending the battery life.
Ride1Up Portola e-bike review: Under the hood, so to speak
I'm not "hardcore" as far as bikes go. I'm far from an expert, though I have to assume that the e-bike craze is full of casual riders.
That being said, I'll give you a quick list of components that may help you decide whether or not the Portola is for you.
- Motor: 48V 750W geared hub motor
- Controller: 48V 20Amp DMHC Sine-wave
- Battery: 48V 10.4Ah Reention Rhino - 500w ($1095 model) or 48V 13.4Ah Reention Rhino - 643wh ($1,195)
- Display: KD21C Adjustable Speed Display
- PAS Sensor: Ride1Up R1CBC
- Brakes: Dual Piston Hydraulic Brakes, Electric Cut-Off Sensor
- Tires: 20"x3" Cross-Country Low-tread Puncture Resistant Tires
- Shifters: Shimano Altus 8-speed trigger shifter
- Gearing: 48T Front Alloy Chaining
- Freewheel: 11-32T Freewheel
- Derailleur: Shimano Altus RD-M310
- Chain: KMC Professional 8-Speed Chain
- Saddle: DDK City Comfort Saddle
But, you might be asking, "what does that translate to for a normal rider?" And that's a fair question, so I'll cover the stuff that I personally noticed.
The first is that this bike takes a little time to get used to if you're coming from a bike with a top tube. Not only is it different to mount, but it also handles a bit differently — I'll cover that a little bit later.
A multi-speed bike offers a lot of versatility that a fixie doesn't. You can tackle more types of terrain and reach top speed much more easily.
But, because it's both a multi-speed and also boasts a chain, this bike is hardly maintenance-free. I'll admit, I got spoiled on my carbon-belt, single-speed Roadster.
Ride1Up Portola e-bike review: A closeup of the chain and cassette
If you're comfortable doing your own maintenance, bike chains aren't the end of the world. But if you're looking for something that is maintenance-free, I'd argue you're not gonna do much better than a carbon-belt single speed.
The motor on this bike has a decent amount of kick. I found that it didn't take a long time to hit top speed — which is about 28 miles per hour if you're relying on the motor alone.
Ride1Up Portola e-bike review: The throttle system
The throttle is on the left side of this bike and is controlled by your thumb. I like this setup quite a bit, considering I tend to signal with my right hand rather than my left.
But all of that doesn't talk about actual performance.
Ride1Up Portola e-bike review: Putting rubber to road
I'm not going to lie, there were plenty of growing pains with the Portola. It took me a while to find a comfortable seat height, that didn't leave me completely unable to reach the ground.
It's also heavy. I'm sure that anyone who has ridden a more traditional e-bike like this wouldn't bat an eye at it.
But I didn't realize just how much that would change not only the way it was handled, but also my center of gravity. I never crashed the Portola, but I did find that I swung wide and a bit unsteady in the beginning.
Like anything else, it just takes practice. If you've never ridden a bike like this before, I'd suggest taking it to an empty parking lot and getting your bearings before heading straight out for a 20-mile city ride.
Once I got used to it, I enjoyed riding it quite a bit. I do mostly flat-level city riding, so I can't speak to how well it would handle trails or particularly aggressive terrain, but it didn't have any problems with the occasional bump or pothole.
As far as battery life goes, it's always near impossible to report back on that. So much of it depends on the terrain, rider weight, ambient temperature — just about anything, really.
My 20-mile ride ate a little over half the battery, which makes sense. The temperature was about 70 degrees, the terrain was largely flat, and I didn't have the pedal assist up terribly high — I rarely ride with it above two.
People also really took notice of the Portola. I think the biggest reason is the color — I got a lot of compliments on it.
The other is that it looks like the kind of bike that would be fun to ride. The seat Ride1Up has chosen to include is surprisingly comfortable — a huge jump from what was included on my Roadster.
The rear rack is also begging to be used. As someone who had to add a rear rack onto her bike afterwards — to the tune of $200, I might add — I appreciate the fact that this just comes with it as part of the bike frame.
Ride1Up Portola e-bike review: The extremely useful rear rack
I didn't buy anything for the rear rack, but Ride1Up has a whole lineup of accessories that fit the Portola. Including panniers, coolers, baskets, pet carriers, and even a spare seat for a passenger.
If you bike a lot, that's worth considering. Especially if you're like me, and your bike is your primary mode of transportation.
The one thing that sets the Portola apart from other bikes I've tried is the amount of thought put into the design.
Ride1Up Portola e-bike review: The built-in headlight is positionable
Ride1Up clearly knew that this was going to be a city bike. Making it foldable means it's well-suited for inter-transit travel, even if it is a bit heavy.
It also means you won't have to store it outside in the weather. You could bring it into the office and store it under your desk, and apartment dwellers won't have to give up precious square footage to keep their bike with them.
There's also the addition of a built-in headlight and a functional tail/brake light. I wasn't expecting the tail light to be as big a deal as it is, but if I'm being honest, this is kind of a game-changer for night riding.
Ride1Up Portola e-bike review: Who it's for, and who may want to pass
Like anything else, e-bikes are really a matter of personal preference more than anything. The Portola is a good bike, though it might fall short for some folks in some aspects.
If you don't care about weight but still want something that folds up for easier storage, this is the bike for you. If you want something lighter-weight or something that doesn't scream "electric bicycle," you may want to look towards stealthier options.
Ride1Up Portola e-bike pros:
- Step-through frame
- Folds for convenient storage
- Built-in rear rack
- Multi-speed is good for varied terrain
- Comes in an array of attractive colors
- Built-in headlight and tail-light
Ride1Up Portola e-bike cons:
- Low center of gravity may require some getting used to, especially if coming from other bikes
- 59lbs is heavy, though not especially for an e-bike
- Chain means more maintenance over a carbon drive belt
Ride1Up Portola e-bike rating: 4 out of 5
Where to buy Ride1Up Portola e-bike:
If you're interested, you can snag your own Portola from Ride1Up's website for $1,095 for the 10.4 AH model, and $1,195 for the 13.5 AH version. At the time of publication, there's a sale that knocks a bit off both of those prices.
