Ride1Up is a well-known brand when it comes to offering affordable cruiser electric bikes in the US. Ride1Up Lmt’d and 700 are two amazing cruiser ebikes offered by the brand. In this Ride1Up Lmt’d vs 700 comparison, we’ll compare the key features of these two models so that you can decide which commuter ebike is suitable for you!
The Ride1Up Lmt’d features a torque sensor and offers 95Nm of torque. In comparison, the Ride1Up 700 has a cadence sensor! The power is also limited to 60Nm which is significantly lower than the Ride1Up Lmt’d.
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Best Alternatives to Ride1Up LMTD and 700
Ride1Up LMTD and 700 are decent ebikes but lack UL certifications for battery and other electrical components. Consider the following ebikes if you need a safer alternative.
1. Velotric Discover 2
Velotric Discover 2 is the most premium option in this category and price range.
Key Features:
- UL 2271 Recognized Battery
- Responsive Torque sensor
- Works with Apple Find My
- 48V, 706Wh Samsung Cells
- 750W (75Nm Torque) Hub Motor
- Hydraulic Disc Brakes
- 8-speed Shimano Drivetrain
- Tektro Hydraulic Suspension Fork
- 75 Miles of Max Range
- 28mph Top Speed
- 3A Fast Charging
- IPX6 Water Resistance
- 440 lbs of Weight Capacity
- Kenda 27.5″x2.4″ Puncture-resistant Tires
2. Velotric Discover 1
Velotric Discover 1 does not compromise on safety as it features the UL-2271 recognized battery which can be easily verified on UL’s official database.
Key Features:
- UL 2271 Recognized Battery
- 48V, 14.4Ah Samsung Cells
- 500W (900W Peak) Hub Motor
- Hydraulic Disc Brakes
- 7-speed Shimano Drivetrain
- Hydraulic Suspension Fork
- 65 Miles of Max Range
- 3A Fast Charging
- IPX6 Water Resistance
- 440 lbs of Weight Capacity
- 26″x2.5″ Puncture-resistant Tires
We’ll go into more depth in the next sections of this Ride1up 700 vs Lmt’d comparison, but here’s a peek at our hand-picked accessories for both these electric bikes.
Recommended Accessories for Ride1Up Lmt’d and 700 Series
Ride1up Lmt’d vs 700: Electrical Specs & Key Features
| Feature | Ride1Up Lmt’d | Ride1Up 700 |
|---|---|---|
| Motor Power | Rear Hub Motor Nominal Power: 750W 95Nm Torque | Rear Hub Motor Nominal Power: 750W 60Nm Torque |
| Top Speed | 28 MPH | 28 MPH |
| Battery | 48V, 14 Ah Removable Battery | 48V, 15Ah Removable Battery |
| Maximum Range | 50 Miles (Pedal Assist) | 50 Miles (Pedal Assist) |
| Sensors | Torque Sensor | Cadence Sensor + Electric Cut-Off Sensor |
| Pedal Assist | 5 Levels | 5 Levels |
| Throttle Mode | Thumb Throttle | Thumb Throttle |
| Charging Time | 4-6 hours | 5-6 hours |
| Charger | 48V 2 Amp | 48V 2 Amp |
| Ebike Class | Class 3 | Class 3 |
| App Support | No | No |
| Headlight | Integrated Headlight | Integrated Headlight |
| Taillights | No | Integrated Rear Light |
Motor Power:
Although both Ride1Up Lmt’d and 700 models feature a 750W rear hub motor, the Lmt’d ebike offers you up to 95Nm of torque. The Ride1Up 700, however, can offer you a maximum torque of 60Nm. So, the Ride1Up Lmt’d is more powerful than the 700 ebike.
Both of these commuter electric bikes offer a top speed of 28mph at pedal assist. The max speed with throttle is limited to 20mph as required by the regulations.
Torque vs Cadence Sensor:
Another notable difference between these two commuter ebikes from Ride1Up is that the Ride1Up Lmt’d features a torque sensor which you’ll rarely see in affordable ebikes.
Aventon Level 2 is another commuter ebike in the affordable category that comes with a torque sensor. But even the Aventon Level 2 is underpowered in comparison to the Ride1Up Lmt’d.
Ride1Up 700 features a cadence sensor which you’ll get with most entry-level ebikes. It does, however, come with a motor cut-off sensor to avoid the response delay you see in some cadence sensors.
So, the Ride1Up Lmt’d offers a more responsive pedaling experience than the 700 Series electric bike.
Battery & Range:
There is a very minute difference between the battery capacity of these two cruiser electric bikes from Ride1Up. Both Ride1Up 700 and Lmt’d offer a maximum range of 60 miles in the pedal-assist mode.
This is only possible in ideal conditions and in the lowest pedal-assist mode. Generally, you should expect to get around 30-40 miles from both of these electric bikes.
The Lights:
As you may have noticed, there is no rear light on the Ride1Up Lmt’d. It does however come with an integrated headlight. The 700 series comes with an integrated headlight and rear light out-of-the-box.
If you ride in low light frequently, we recommend getting a third-party headlight for a safe riding experience.
Ride1up Lmt’d vs 700: Design, Dimensions, & Weight Limits
| Feature | Ride1Up Lmt’d | Ride1Up 700 |
|---|---|---|
| Frame | Step-Through Step Over(XR) | Step-Through Step Over(XR) |
| Color Options | Sandstone Midnight Gray | Graphite Gray Cloud White Indigo, Matte |
| Bike Weight | 53 lbs | 62 lbs |
| Max Payload | 300 lbs | 300 lbs |
| Rider Height | ST: 5’1″-6’2″ XR: 5’6″-6’4″ | ST: 5′-6’2″ XR: 5’5″-6’4″ |
| Stand-over Height | ST: 457mm XR: 737mm | ST: 431mm XR: 749mm |
| Min Seat Height | ST: 813mm XR: 813mm | ST: 787mm XR: 838mm |
| Max Seat Height | ST: 1016mm XR: 1016mm | ST: 965mm XR: 1016mm |
The Ride1Up Lmt’d is 9 lbs lighter at 53 lbs than the 700 Series which weighs around 62 lbs. So, the Ride1Up Lmt’d is more maneuverable in sharp turns as compared to the 700 Series.
And if you ever need to load the ebike onto a rack or something similar, you’ll definitely feel this 9 lbs difference.
Ride1up Lmt’d vs 700 Series: Other Components
| Feature | Ride1Up Lmt’d | Ride1Up 700 |
|---|---|---|
| Brakes | Tektro Hydraulic Disc Brakes 180mm rotors | Tektro Hydraulic Disc Brakes 180mm rotors |
| Rear Derailleur | Shimano Altus | Shimano Acera |
| Shifter | 8-Speed Shimano Acera Rapidfire Plus | 8-Speed Shimano Acera Rapidfire Plus |
| Tires | 27.5″x2.4″ | 27.5”x2.4” |
| Fork | Asteria Air Suspension 80 mm travel | Mozo Hydraulic Suspension 100mm Travel |
| Seatpost | Standard | Standard |
| Rear Rack | Not Included | Included |
| Fenders | Not Included | Included |
Shimano Altus vs Acera:
The Ride1Up 700 features the Shimano Acera derailleur which is very common in entry-level ebikes. But the Ride1up Lmt’d offers a Shimano Altus drivetrain which gives a smoother riding experience.
Both electric bikes feature the 8-speed Shimano Rapid Fire Plus shifters that are good enough for such an affordable ebike. We have seen cheaper components like SiS-index shifters in similar ebikes with the same price tag.
So, Ride1Up has definitely done a great job by including such quality components in these affordable ebikes.
The important thing to note here is that the Ride1Up Lmt’d has a better drivetrain than the 700 Series.
Brakes & Suspension:
Both Ride1up Lmt’d and 700 Series feature the Tektro hydraulic disc brakes which offer a great braking experience. Many ebikes from other brands in the same price bracket come with mechanical disc brakes. So, we have to appreciate the Ride1Up here as well.
If we look at the suspension, both Ride1up Lmt’d and 700 feature a front suspension fork. The Ride1up Lmt’d has an Asteria air suspension fork with 80mm travel whereas the 700 series features a Mozo hydraulic suspension fork with 100mm of travel.
Both hydraulic and air suspension have their pros and cons and the choice rests on the rider’s preference. But we prefer the hydraulic system over air suspension based on our own experience.
If you don’t understand the minute differences between these two suspension systems, don’t stress yourself. Both will offer you a good riding experience and you’ll adapt yourself to either of these after riding for a few miles.
Rear Rack and Fenders:
The Ride1up Lmt’d doesn’t come with a rear rack or fenders. In comparison, you are getting these accessories with the 700 series without any additional price cost.
Ride1up Lmt’d vs 700 Series: Price
| Ride1Up Lmt’d | Ride1Up 700 | |
|---|---|---|
| Regular Price | $1695 | $1695 |
| Current Price | XR: $1395 ST: $1545 | XR: $1645 ST: $1445 |
| Shipping | Free | Free |
The pricing structure of Ride1Up is as confusing as it could possibly get. The current prices for both of these ebikes are lower than the listed prices. And, the price is different for each frame type as well.
Nevertheless, we think that the current $1395 price for the step-over(XR) variant of the Ride1Up Lmt’d is a great deal. Make sure to check the current prices before you make a decision as these prices keep changing.
Ride1up Lmt’d vs 700 Series: Our Verdict
The Ride1Up Lmt’d is an overall better commuter electric bike than the 700 Series. The luxury of having a torque sensor with a more powerful motor is just too good to ignore. Moreover, the Ride1Up Lmt’d is lighter and offers a better drivetrain than the Ride1Up 700 Series.
As we write this Ride1up Lmt’d vs 700 comparison, the step-over variant of the Lmt’d is $250 cheaper than the 700 Series step-over model. So, we cannot think of any possible reason one may decide to go for the 700 Series instead of the Ride1Up Lmt’d ebike.
The only benefit the Ride1Up 700 series has to offer here is that you don’t have to pay anything extra to get a rear rack and fenders. You can get both of these for less than $100 from Ride1Up.
So, Ride1Up Lmt’d is our clear winner here!
Read More: Best Fat Tire Electric Bikes Under $1000
