Ride1Up Vorsa review: An affordable, do-everything e-bike for the masses
Ride1Up has carved out a name for itself in the e-bike world by delivering sleek, well-equipped electric bikes that punch well above their price tag. Their latest model, the Ride1Up Vorsa, takes that formula and beefs it up into something more versatile… literally.
The Vorsa is Ride1Up’s answer to the growing demand for SUV-style e-bikes – those do-it-all electric rides that can handle your commute, your grocery runs, your kid-hauling trailer, and your backroad detours without flinching. And at $1,595, the Vorsa might just be the most affordable ticket into that category right now – at least for an e-bike that still includes a pile of interesting and high-value tech features.
To see what I mean, check out my video review of the Ride1Up Vorsa below. Then keep reading for the full details on this highly versatile ride.
Ride1Up Vorsa video review
Ride1Up Vorsa Tech Specs
- Motor: 750W and 95Nm rear hub motor
- Top speed: 28 mph (45 km/h) on pedal assist or 20 mph (32 km/h) on throttle
- Range: 30-60 miles (48-96 km)
- Battery: 48V 15Ah (720Wh) UL-certified with Samsung 50GB cells
- Weight: 65 lb (29.5 kg)
- Load Capacity: 440 lb (200 kg)
- Frame: Aluminum alloy 6061
- Brakes: Star Union hydraulic dual-piston disc brakes on 203 mm (front) and 180 mm (rear) rotors
- Extras: Shimano Acera 8-speed derailleur, new highly-detailed color LCD display, two frame styles of step-over and step-thru, semi-integrated rear rack with optional rack extender, and a wide range of other accessories
- Price: $1,595
Goes anywhere, does almost anything
E-bikes are getting more versatile, but the Vorsa takes versatility to the extreme.
This is already a powerful e-bike capable of 28+ mph Class 3 speeds (though ships out of the box with a Class 2 setting of 20 mph) from its 750W motor capable of a heart-thumping 95 Nm of torque. That means its a fast hill climber and ready for just about any challenge that a high-performance e-bike should be.
But then, on top of that, the bike’s design allows it to tackle very different styles of riding, from cargo needs with its semi-integrated rear rack to touring and trekking style rides with its 27.5×2.6″ Schwalbe touring tires.
That means the same e-bike you use to take the kids to school at in the morning can transform into your commuter bike to work and then into your single-track bike for weekend recreational riding.
And with a 720 Wh battery (UL-compliant, no less), you’ll have plenty of charge to do all of those things in the same day!
It’s par for the course at Ride1Up, something I learned when touring their factory last year and seeing firsthand just how important a combination of quality, practicality, and affordability are to the company. It’s obvious that the folks at Ride1Up want to give us riders as much battery, as much performance, and as much versatility as they can while keeping the price reasonable.
Packed with tech, but only the good stuff
It’s fun to see more tech enter the e-bike space, but some companies don’t seem to understand that more isn’t always better. It’s only a net benefit to me if it’s stuff I’ll actually use. Ride1Up has eschewed smartphone apps and other things that don’t add much usability and has now given us the stuff that actually matters.
For example, the new display on the Vorsa is much more involved, with more than just a higher-resolution color display. It shows metrics that actually mean something to me, like how much time I spend in different riding modes. This helped remind me to not only use the highest power modes but also drop the pedal assist down a few notches for more exercise.
There’s also built-in Apple FindMy tracking now, which is a HUGE added value for me. It’s not a guarantee that you’ll get your bike back if it’s stolen, but it’s a major headstart in recovering it. It may not be as helpful for you Android phone users out there, but for us iPhone folks who are held captive by Apple’s golden handcuffs, it’s a great system for finding just about anything, especially your e-bike. From my phone, I can see where my Vorsa is, and I can find it if someone tries to abscond with it.
Then there’s the new torque sensor from MiVice, which is honestly one of the most responsive torque sensors I’ve ever had the pleasure of pedaling. It’s fast, and it feels like my legs are just extra strong that day. Throttle-only riders won’t really benefit from it, and in fact may want to use the sensor selector option to put the bike back in cadence sensor mode to enable more of a ‘foot throttle’ feel, but most of us will prefer the torque sensor because of how impressively dialed in it feels.
Hardware design
That technology is nice, but it needs to complement good hardware, not replace it. In this case, the design of the Ride1Up Vorsa complements the tech, adding versatility and value without jacking up the price.
The semi-integrated rack is a really cool design that helps the bike achieve its 440-lb weight capacity. There’s even a rack extender that helps turn the bike into a longtail cargo bike, even if that tail sticks out in a slightly funny way.
Then there are the other nice upgrades over the usual suspects we see on $1,500-range electric bikes. Instead of plastic fenders, we get nice metal alloy fenders that look and feel better quality. Instead of a cheap 7-speed Shimano Altus derailleur, we get a nicer 8-speed Shimano Acera derailleur. Instead of a basic suspension fork, we get a longer travel 100mm fork. Instead of a compliance stem, we get an adjustable stem to dial in the handlebar angle to our liking. You name it, the upgrades are there.
The LED lighting, including the fender integrated lights, is also clearly higher quality than you’d expect on a value e-bike, making this an even higher value.
What’s not to like?
Don’t get me wrong, the Ride1Up Vorsa is great. It sets a new high watermark in what can be delivered at this price, especially considering the rampant inflation in e-bike prices brought on by new tariffs. But I can always complain about something, and so why stop now?
The Ride1Up Vorsa brings us a lot of cool tech and new hardware, but it comes at a cost, and that cost is weight. At 65-70 lb, depending on how many of the cool add-ons you install, the bike isn’t lightweight. You’ve got chunkier tires, a bigger battery, a more powerful motor, a more robust frame, a larger fork, metal fenders, and other parts that all add to the weight.
Next, Ride1Up has again played it incredibly conservatively with the color options. Your typical dark gray is there, then you get a fairly nice blue, and lastly, you’ve got a slightly confusing two-tone sage grayish-green option. There are no bright colors to choose from, which isn’t a departure for Ride1Up, but still a bit disappointing to me. Go wild, guys! Throw caution to the wind! Hit me with some color someday!
And lastly, Ride1Up continues to ship in smaller boxes that require the fork to be installed by the owner. This isn’t a complicated task when you’ve done it 100 times like it’s your job, which it is for me. But most people have done this zero times, and the ones who have can probably count the instances on one hand. This is an essential step in bike assembly and one that has very little margin for error, so most new owners would be advised to have a bike shop do it if they aren’t comfortable following Ride1Up’s clear and welcomed assembly video.
So I have my complaints like normal, but none are insurmountable. And to be honest, at $1,595, the price is so fair that I can overlook the limited color options and the longer at-home assembly. When it comes to the weight, that’s just the price we riders pay to have more performance and features included in our bikes.
I absolutely recommend the Ride1Up Vorsa to anyone looking for a ‘normal’ style e-bike (i.e., not a folder or a moped) but who wants the versatility to head in highly divergent directions, including everything from cargo hauling to recreational riding and daily commuting. It’s a winner and they stuck the landing on the Vorsa.
FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.
Tesla (TSLA) board members have received a wake-up call letter from eight state treasurers, asking them to fulfill their duties and supervise the company’s CEO, Elon Musk.
Will they ignore this warning as well?
There have been concerns about Tesla’s board sleeping at the wheel for a while now.
Their job is to oversee Tesla’s management for the benefit of shareholders, but Tesla’s stock is down almost 40% this year while the CEO is splitting his time between 6 different companies and projects while alienating most of Tesla’s consumer base.
Yet, the board hasn’t said a word about it.
The situation lends weight to the argument that the board is entirely under Musk’s control, which is the main point of contention in Tesla’s $55 billion CEO compensation case.
Now, eight state treasurers have joined forces to raise their concerns with the board. They wrote in a letter addressed to Robyn Denholm, chair of Tesla’s board:
We are increasingly concerned that Tesla’s recent performance signals deeper governance and leadership challenges that, if left unaddressed, could have serious consequences for the company and its stakeholders. In the first quarter of 2025 alone, Tesla’s stock declined by 36%. The company missed delivery targets, recalled a substantial number of vehicles, and experienced a surge in trade-ins for competing brands. Meanwhile, CEO Elon Musk continues to divide his attention across multiple companies and a high-profile advisory role within the federal government. These external commitments raise serious questions about whether Tesla’s leadership is fully engaged in addressing the company’s core challenges.
In the letter, the treasurers remind Tesla’s board of its duty “to provide strong oversight, uphold fiduciary standards, and ensure that the company’s leadership is aligned with the long-term best interests of the company.”
They are directly asking the board three questions:
- How is the Board ensuring that Mr. Musk and Tesla’s leadership team are devoting adequate time and focus to resolving recent performance issues and guiding the company’s future direction?
- In light of the company’s underperformance, how is the Board evaluating whether executive compensation remains aligned with shareholder value and corporate accountability?
- How does the Board plan to communicate its strategy for navigating this period of uncertainty and restoring investor and public confidence in Tesla’s leadership?
Tesla is going to release its Q1 2025 financial results today, hold its earnings conference call, and have a “live company update.’ Maybe some of these questions will be answered.
Here’s the letter in full:
2025-04-17 Letter to Tesla Board Chair
April 17, 2025
Robyn Denholm
Chair of the Board
Tesla, Inc.
1 Tesla Road
Austin, TX 78725
Dear Chair Denholm,
We are entrusted with promoting the long-term economic health and financial stability of our states and the people we serve. Tesla, Inc. is not just one of the world’s most valuable companies—it is a major player in the clean energy economy and a leading force in emerging technologies such as robotics and autonomous driving. The company’s success or setbacks have significant implications for workers, regional industries, and innovation ecosystems in our states.
We are increasingly concerned that Tesla’s recent performance signals deeper governance and leadership challenges that, if left unaddressed, could have serious consequences for the company and its stakeholders. In the first quarter of 2025 alone, Tesla’s stock declined by 36%. The company missed delivery targets, recalled a substantial number of vehicles, and experienced a surge in trade-ins for competing brands. Meanwhile, CEO Elon Musk continues to divide his attention across multiple companies and a high-profile advisory role within the federal government. These external commitments raise serious questions about whether Tesla’s leadership is fully engaged in addressing the company’s core challenges.
We regularly interact with stakeholders across our states, including institutional investors, industry leaders, workers, and small businesses. We are hearing increasing concern about Tesla’s direction, not only from financial professionals but from those who have looked to Tesla as a leader in clean energy innovation and American industrial renewal. If Tesla falters, the effects won’t be confined to shareholders—they will ripple through regional economies, workforce pipelines, and public confidence in the energy transition.
At a moment when American industrial leadership is facing stiff global competition, it is essential that companies like Tesla are governed with focus, discipline, and clarity of mission. The Board’s role is especially critical now—to provide strong oversight, uphold fiduciary standards, and ensure that the company’s leadership is aligned with the long-term best interests of the company. Public officials like us do not take the step of raising these concerns lightly except when the obvious risks demand it.
We believe the Tesla Board has a responsibility to act decisively to ensure the company returns to a stable and focused trajectory.
We respectfully request the Board provide clarity on the following:
- How is the Board ensuring that Mr. Musk and Tesla’s leadership team are devoting adequate time and focus to resolving recent performance issues and guiding the company’s future direction?
- In light of the company’s underperformance, how is the Board evaluating whether executive compensation remains aligned with shareholder value and corporate accountability?
- How does the Board plan to communicate its strategy for navigating this period of uncertainty and restoring investor and public confidence in Tesla’s leadership?
Finally, we strongly believe Tesla’s Board would benefit from engaging with public sector stakeholders who share an interest in the company’s long-term value and societal impact. We welcome the opportunity to speak further about these concerns and discuss how the Board can take swift and transparent action to restore investor confidence and public trust in Tesla’s leadership and the company’s future.
We welcome a response and the opportunity for continued dialogue.
Signed,
Mike Pellicciotti, Washington State Treasurer
Deborah B. Goldberg, Massachusetts State Treasurer and Receiver-General
Michael W. Frerichs, Illinois State Treasurer
Erick Russell, Connecticut Treasurer
Laura M. Montoya, New Mexico State Treasurer
David L. Young, Colorado State Treasurer
Mike Pieciak, Vermont State Treasurer
Malia M. Cohen, California State Controller
Electrek’s Take
Tesla is a $700 billion publicly traded company that is run like a family business by Musk, who owns just 13% of the float.
The board, which was so handsomely rewarded that it had to return almost $1 billion worth of compensation as part of a shareholder lawsuit, is letting Musk do whatever he wants without any objection.
It’s clear that they have a quid pro quo with Musk, whereby they receive compensation at a rate several times higher than any other similarly sized company in exchange for allowing Musk to run Tesla as if it were his private company.
While I am glad they sent this letter, I doubt that a group of state treasurers will convince Tesla’s board to do anything.
At this point, they are either completely fine with Musk destroying Tesla or they believe his claims about self-driving technology.
FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.
Chevron is not seeing signs that the U.S. is close to a recession even as President Donald Trump’s tariffs weigh on expectations for oil demand, CEO Mike Wirth said Tuesday.
“There’s no signs that we see at this point that we are in or close to a recession,” Wirth told CNBC’s “Squawk Box.” “There are signs that growth may be slowing and we have to always be prepared for that.”
The International Monetary Fund on Monday cut its growth outlook for the U.S. this year to 1.8%, down from 2.7% previously.
The oil market is expecting reduced demand as a consequence of Trump’s tariffs and the decision by OPEC+ increase production faster than expected, Wirth said. Chevron isn’t changing its capital spending plans in response to drop in prices, the CEO said.
U.S. crude oil prices have fallen about 11% since Trump announced his tariffs on April 2. West Texas Intermediate was last up about 72 cents at $63.80 per barrel. OPEC and the International Energy Agency have cut their demand outlooks for this year.
Wirth said U.S. onshore oil production in patches like the Permian Basin is likely to pull back if prices hit $60 per barrel. Offshore production likely won’t be affected, he said.
“That’s an area where if we were to be at a $60 price or even lower you’re likely to see activity pull back in this sector and you’ll see the production response over a few months,” Wirth said. “That’s what we should watch, not so much the deep water activity.”
Chevron is not expecting a major direct impact on its business from Trump’s tariffs as energy has largely been exempt from the levies, Wirth said.
“The effects that we feel are likely to be more the macroeconomic effects as they flow through the economy,” Wirth said. “The bigger issues would be what would it mean for growth, and global trade and how does that evolve.”
Executives at oil and gas companies were scathing in their criticism of Trump’s tariffs in an anonymous March survey by the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas, warning that steel tariffs were raising their costs and low prices could impact their activity.
Get Your Ticket to Pro LIVE
Join us at the New York Stock Exchange!
Uncertain markets? Gain an edge with CNBC Pro LIVE, an exclusive, inaugural event at the historic New York Stock Exchange. In today’s dynamic financial landscape, access to expert insights is paramount. As a CNBC Pro subscriber, we invite you to join us for our first exclusive, in-person CNBC Pro LIVE event at the iconic NYSE on Thursday, June 12.
Join interactive Pro clinics led by our Pros Carter Worth, Dan Niles, and Dan Ives, with a special edition of Pro Talks with Tom Lee. You’ll also get the opportunity to network with CNBC experts, talent and other Pro subscribers during an exciting cocktail hour on the legendary trading floor. Tickets are limited!
Little is known about super-secretive EV startup Slate, but the fledgling brand is rumored to be backed by Jeff Bezos and determined to shake up the existing electric order with an affordable lineup of compact SUVs and pickups with that golden $25,000 price tag.
Now, at least, we know what it’s gonna look like. The battle of the billionaires is on!
Redditor jonjopop over at the spotted subreddit spotted what looks like an early prototype of an unbranded SUV with bizarre “CryShare” wrap. CryShare, as a concept, seems to combine the functionality of a ride sharing app like Uber or Lyft with the familiar (to parent, anyway) idea that small babies will often sleep better in a moving car than in their own cribs … but that’s not what’s important here.
Instead, focus on the vehicle itself – parked on Abbot Kinney Boulevard in Los Angeles without explanation or fanfare, this is our best look yet at the kind of vehicle(s) Slate is likely to reveal in the coming days.
Stumbled upon the Bezosmobile [Slate Automotive…idk?] being revealed with an absolutely bizarre marketing campaign
byu/jonjopop inspotted
Other local automotive journalists caught wind of the public unveiling, too – and our friends at The Autopian (Hi, Matt!) sent their own David Tracy out on the streets of LA to check it out. Tracy took the following video and posted it to Instagram.
The Slate breaking cover and causing buzz just ahead of what’s sure to be a painful Q1 earnings call for Tesla is a masterstroke of marketing – especially as doubts surrounding the viability of a “less expensive” Tesla Model Y or Model 3 continue to mount amid the uncertainty of Trump’s tariffs and declining sales of the brand’s more profitable models both at home and abroad.
As with so much involving Slate, however, there is nothing here written in stone – or even cast in cheese. Nothing has been announced, nothing is promised, and for all we know this might have more to do with the affordable Rivian brand launch, a new BYD, or be a viral marketing bit from some local Art Center design student in (relatively) nearby Pasadena. In fact, about the only thing I think we can say about Bezos (?) new Slate project with confidence today is this: Elon could probably use that drink.
SOURCES | IMAGES: Reddit, The Autopian.
If you’re considering going solar, it’s always a good idea to get quotes from a few installers. To make sure you find a trusted, reliable solar installer near you that offers competitive pricing, check out EnergySage, a free service that makes it easy for you to go solar. It has hundreds of pre-vetted solar installers competing for your business, ensuring you get high-quality solutions and save 20-30% compared to going it alone. Plus, it’s free to use, and you won’t get sales calls until you select an installer and share your phone number with them.
Your personalized solar quotes are easy to compare online and you’ll get access to unbiased Energy Advisors to help you every step of the way. Get started here.
FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.
-
Sports2 years ago‘Storybook stuff’: Inside the night Bryce Harper sent the Phillies to the World Series
-
Sports1 year agoStory injured on diving stop, exits Red Sox game
-
Sports1 year agoGame 1 of WS least-watched in recorded history
-
Sports2 years agoMLB Rank 2023: Ranking baseball’s top 100 players
-
Sports4 years ago
Team Europe easily wins 4th straight Laver Cup
-
Environment2 years agoJapan and South Korea have a lot at stake in a free and open South China Sea
-
Environment2 years agoGame-changing Lectric XPedition launched as affordable electric cargo bike
-
Business3 years agoBank of England’s extraordinary response to government policy is almost unthinkable | Ed Conway