The Ride1Up Roadster has long been a masterclass in lightweight, efficient e-bike design, offering extremely high bang for your buck in the minimalist electric bike space. Now the company has returned with the latest edition of the popular e-bike, launching the Ride1Up Roadster V3 for an impressive US $1,295.
Weighing in at a mere 39 lb (17.7 kg), the Roadster V3 is designed to be as lightweight as it is easy to ride.
The bike comes with two drivetrain options, either a carbon belt drive or a 10-speed Shimano Deore chain drive. The former is better for riders seeking a low-maintenance solution and who enjoy the simplicity of a single-speed bike. The latter is intended for riders with steeper hills or who prefer the ability to dial in their precise pedal cadence at different speeds.
The Roadster V3 also offers three frame styles/sizes of Low-Step, Small, and Large.
Powering the bike is a 500W rear hub motor from Mivice, a manufacturer known for extremely precise and well-made electric bicycle drivetrains. That 50 Nm motor is paired with a torque sensor “with an ultra-responsive yet smooth programming that is crafted by the same engineers behind the renowned BOSCH eBike drive systems,” explained the company.
Torque sensors are generally found on higher-end electric bikes. While slightly more expensive, they usually offer a more refined pedal assist experience. However, for riders who prefer to have the insurance policy of a hand throttle, the Roadster V3 also includes that much sought-after feature. Hand throttles, permitted on Class 2 and Class 3 electric bicycles in the US, allow riders to operate the motor up to 20 mph (32 km/h) without pedaling.
With selectable settings of Class 1 through Class 3, the Roadster V3 is capable of reaching even higher speeds of up to 28 mph (45 km/h) on pedal assist when operated in Class 3 mode.
A 36V and 10Ah battery using Samsung cells is integrated into the frame yet is still removable for charging off of the bike, or replacing with a spare battery. A second auxiliary battery shaped like a water bottle can also be added to the bike, increasing the bike’s stock range (20-40 miles or 32-64 km) by an extra 70%.
The Roadster V3 also includes dual-piston hydraulic disc brakes, an alloy metal fender set, built-in LED lighting, Selle Royale Vivo saddle, and 700x45c Schwalbe G-One RS gravel tires.
Priced at US $1,295, the bike comes in two color options of Onyx Black or Mint Green. It is now available for order, with deliveries estimated to begin by next week.
Electrek’s Take
I’ve been a Ride1Up Roadster fan since the very first model, which many readers may not realize actually rolled out back in 2018 as the Roadster Ghost, before being followed by the Roadster V2 and now the Roadster V3. It’s come a long way and gotten even better with each update.
Now with a torque sensor, hydraulic disc brakes, removable battery, built-in metal fenders and LED lighting, and both a chain and belt option, the bike is going to meet the needs of a lot of riders seeking a lighter and more efficient ride.
Sure, you can still get more watts for less dollars elsewhere, but it’s not always about a dollar-per-watt comparison. Lightweight e-bikes absolutely have a place in this market, and not everyone needs a 75-lb and 750-watt electric bike. I love that I can toss this one on my shoulder and jog up a set of stairs, yet I can still pedal up to 28 mph when I want to.
And when it comes to build quality, I can vouch for this bike. I actually visited Ride1Up’s e-bike factory and Mivice’s drivetrain factory earlier this year, and saw the attention to detail that both companies place in building their complete e-bikes and their drive systems. This is going to be an epic new model in the lightweight e-bike market, and I couldn’t be more excited!
In fact, I actually got my hands on a Roadster V3 a couple of days ago and have already begun putting the miles on. I need more time to give you guys a full review, so be on the lookout for that coming soon, but the early feedback is that this bike rips and it feels great while doing it!
Lectric Ebikes appears to be preparing for a major new product launch, teasing what looks like the next evolution of its wildly popular folding fat tire electric bike. Based on the clues, it looks like a new Lectric XP 4 could be inbound.
In a social media post released over the weekend, the company shared a minimalist graphic reading “XP4” along with the message “Tune in 5.6.2025 9:30AM PT.” That date – this Tuesday – suggests we’re just hours away from the big reveal of the Lectric XP 4.
If true, this would mark the next generation of the most successful electric bike in the U.S. market. The current model, the Lectric XP 3.0, has become an icon of accessible, budget-friendly electric mobility. Starting at just $999, the XP 3.0 offers a foldable frame, fat tires, a 500W motor, a rear rack, lights, and hydraulic brakes – all packed into a highly shippable design that arrives fully assembled. It’s the kind of package that has helped Lectric claim the title of best-selling e-bike brand in the U.S. for several years in a row.
With the XP 3.0 still going strong, the teaser raises plenty of questions. Will the XP 4.0 be a modest update or a major leap forward? Could we see new features like torque-sensing pedal assist, a location tracking option, or upgraded performance? Or is Lectric preparing a more comfort-oriented variant, maybe even with upgraded suspension or even more accessories included standard?
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The teaser image, which features stylized stripes in grey, blue, and black, may hold some clues. One theory is that the colors represent new trim options or component upgrades. Another possibility is that Lectric is preparing multiple variants of the XP 4.0 – perhaps targeting commuters, adventurers, and off-road riders with purpose-built versions. We took the liberty of a bit of rampant speculation late last year, so perhaps that’s now worth a revisit.
At the same time though, Lectric’s penchant for launching new models at unbelievably affordable prices has never run up against such strong pricing headwinds as those posed by uncertainty in the current US-global trade war fueled by rapidly changing tariffs for imported goods.
Previous versions of the Lectric XP e-bike line have seen sky-high sales
Whatever the case, Lectric’s knack for surprising the industry with high-value, customer-focused e-bikes means expectations will be high. The brand has built a loyal following by delivering reliable performance at a price point that few can match, and any major update to the XP lineup is likely to ripple across the market.
As a young and energetic e-bike company, Lectric is also known for throwing impressive parties around the launch of new models. It looks like I may need to hop on a red-eye to Phoenix so I can see for myself – and so I can bring you all along, of course.
Be sure to tune in Tuesday at 9:30AM PT to see what Lectric has in store – and you can bet we’ll have all the details and first impressions as soon as they drop.
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Logo of the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC)
Andrey Rudakov | Bloomberg | Getty Images
U.S. crude oil futures fell more than 4% on Sunday, after OPEC+ agreed to surge production for a second month.
U.S. crude was down $2.49, or 4.27%, to $55.80 a barrel shortly after trading opened. Global benchmark Brent fell $2.39, or 3.9%, to $58.90 per barrel. Oil prices have fallen more than 20% this year.
The eight producers in the group, led by Saudi Arabia, agreed on Saturday to increase output by another 411,000 barrels per day in June. The decision comes a month after OPEC+ surprised the market by agreeing to surge production in May by the same amount.
The June production hike is nearly triple the 140,000 bpd that Goldman Sachs had originally forecast. OPEC+ is bringing more than 800,000 bpd of additional supply to the market over the course of two months.
Oil prices in April posted the biggest monthly loss since 2021, as U.S. President Donald Trump’s tariffs have raised fears of a recession that will slow demand at the same time that OPEC+ is quickly increasing supply.
Oilfield service firms such as Baker Hughes and SLB are expecting investment in exploration and production to decline this year due to the weak price environment.
“The prospects of an oversupplied oil market, rising tariffs, uncertainty in Mexico and activity weakness in Saudi Arabia are collectively constraining international upstream spending levels,” Baker Hughes CEO Lorenzo Simonelli said on the company’s first-quarter earnings call on April 25.
Oil majors Chevron and Exxon reported first-quarter earnings last week that fell compared to the same period in 2024 due to lower oil prices.
Goldman is forecasting that U.S. crude and Brent prices will average $59 and $63 per barrel, respectively, this year.
In a bid to keep up with the rapid growth of EVs, Chicago Department of Transportation (CDOT is currently seeking public feedback on a plan called “Chicago Moves Electric Framework.” The city’s first such plan, it outlines initiatives that include a curbside charging pilot through the city’s utility, ComEd, and expanded charging access in key areas throughout the city.
Unlike other such plans, however, the new plan aims to focus on bringing electric vehicle charging to EIEC and low income communities, too.
“Through this framework, we are setting clear goals and identifying solutions that reflect the voices of our residents, communities, and regional partners,” said CDOT Commissioner Tom Carney. “By prioritizing equity and public input, we’re creating a roadmap for electric transportation that serves every neighborhood and helps drive down emissions across Chicago.”
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Neighborhoods on the south and west sides of Chicago experience a disproportionate amount of air pollution and diesel emissions, largely due to vehicle emissions according to CDOT. Despite that, most of Chicago’s public charging stations are clustered in higher-income areas while just 7.8% are in environmental justice neighborhoods that face higher environmental burdens.
“Too often, communities facing the greatest economic and transportation barriers also experience the most air pollution,” explains Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson. “By prioritizing investments in historically underserved areas and making clean transportation options more affordable and accessible, we can improve both mobility and public health.”
The Framework identifies other near-term policy objectives, as well – such as streamlining the EV charger installation process for businesses and residents and implementing “Low-Emission Zones” in areas disproportionately impacted by air pollution by limiting, or even restricting, access to conventional medium- and heavy-duty vehicles during peak hours.
The Chicago Moves Electric Framework includes the installation of Level 2 and DC fast charging stations in public locations such as libraries and Chicago’s Midway Airport, “supporting not only personal EVs but also electric taxis, ride-hail and commercial fleets.”
Chicago has a goal of installing 2,500 public passenger EV charging stations and electrifying the city’s entire municipal vehicle fleet by 2035.
Electrek’s Take
ComEd press conference at Chicago Drives Electric, 2024; by the author.