The Ride1Up Portola is the latest sensation in the world of electric bikes, and a true game-changer in the budget-friendly foldable eBike category. Priced at just $995, the Portola is here to revolutionize your daily commute and weekend adventures.
In this review, we’ll delve into what makes the Ride1Up Portola our favorite among budget foldable eBikes.
Click here for the current price of the Ride1Up Portola.
Ride1Up is offering an additional $100 off the first 50 orders of their brand-new Portola.
What I Love About the Ride1Up Portola
- Beautiful aesthetic for a folding ebike
- Great hydraulic brakes with thick brake discs
- Great cable management
- Battery that can be removed without having to fold it
- Strap to hold it in place while folded
- Shimano Altus derailleur where most budget bikes come with a Tourney derailleur
- 80mm of hydraulic suspension
- Climbs hills with ease
- Built-in rack with the ability to carry a passenger up to 130 lbs
- Comes in three colors to choose from
- Tail light with brake light
- Chao Yang tires offroad tires that are soft and grippy
- Metal fenders with adjustable arms
- Shimano 8-Speed trigger shifter
- Only $100 to upgrade battery size
Aesthetic Appeal:
The Portola boasts a sleek and eye-catching design, setting it apart from the crowd of folding eBikes. It’s not just functional but also beautiful. It reminds us of the Aventon Sinch but with metal fenders, higher top speed, and a built-in rear rack.
Superior Braking Paired With Grippy Chao Yang Tires:
The hydraulic brakes equipped with thick brake discs provide excellent stopping power and ensure your safety during rides. The excellent brakes paired with the Chao Yang tires help stop the Portola faster than the other folding ebikes we have reviewed in the past.
Enhanced Tires:
Chao Yang tires offer better grip and a smoother ride compared to the CST BFT tires commonly found on budget eBikes.
Cable Management:
Neat and efficient cable management ensures a clutter-free and organized look.
User-Friendly Battery:
The removable battery is a practical feature that doesn’t require folding the bike to access it. Convenience at its best. It is also built into the top of the frame so you don’t have to worry about it falling out when riding or transporting the bike on a rear rack.
Secure Folding:
The inclusion of a strap to hold the bike in place while folded makes it easy to carry and transport, adding to the bike’s overall user-friendliness. I’m surprised this is the first time we have seen a strap to secure a foldable ebike when folded.
Upgraded Derailleur:
Featuring a Shimano Altus derailleur instead of the common Tourney derailleur seen on most budget eBikes, the Portola offers smoother gear shifting and improved performance.
Impressive Suspension:
With 80mm of hydraulic suspension, the Portola effortlessly conquers uneven terrain, providing a comfortable ride. Most foldable ebikes we have reviewed in the past use coil suspension which makes a weird boing noise when riding on imperfect terrain or dropping curbs.
Built-in Rack:
The integrated rack not only offers storage space but also allows you to carry a passenger up to 130 lbs, making it a versatile choice.
Color Variety:
The Portola comes in three attractive colors, allowing you to choose the one that suits your style and preferences. I think the turquoise color will be a huge hit with female riders.
Safety Features:
The addition of a tail light with a brake light function ensures visibility and safety on the road. A lot of bikes have tail lights but only half double up as a brake light.
The Most Gears On A Foldable Ebike:
The Portola is equipped with a 8-speed Shimano trigger shifter. This is the most gears we have seen on a foldable ebike allowing you more options depending on the terrain you are riding. Most budget ebikes come with 7 gears or less.
$100 to add 29% more range
Ride1up is offering the Portola in two battery variations. For only $100 more you can upgrade the 48V 10.4 Ah battery to a 48V 13.4 Ah battery allowing you to get 29% more range. Lectric allows you to upgrade your battery the XP 3.0, but it will cost you an extra $200.
Click here for the current price of the Ride1Up Portola.
Ride1Up is offering an additional $100 off the first 50 orders of their brand-new Portola.
What I Dislike About the Ride1Up Portola
- The front light isn’t that bright
- Wish there was an option to upgrade to a color display
- The weight capacity of built-in rack isn’t as much as the 150 lbs on the Lectric XP 3.0
- Onyx black color is more of a gray color
- The front brake line is too long
- Small thru-axle bolt.
- No derailleur guard
Dim Front Light:
The front light isn’t very bright. It could be brighter to provide better visibility in low-light conditions. However, I didn’t expect an amazing light on a $995 ebike.
A cheap an easy solution is buying this 5000 lumen handlebar light from Amazon.
Grayscale display:
Having the option to upgrade to a color display would enhance the user experience for those who prefer a more interactive interface. I didn’t expect a nicer display on a budget friendly bike but it would be nice to have the option to upgrade.
Weight Capacity of Rack:
Although the built-in rack is a great feature, it falls slightly short of the 150 lbs capacity of the Lectric XP 3.0‘s rack.
Color Variation:
The Onyx Black color option may not match everyone’s expectations as it leans more towards gray.
Front Brake Line:
The excessively long front brake line might lead to a less tidy appearance and potential entanglement. We had it snag on the front light and brake lever when trying to fold and unfold the bike. It doesn’t need to be as long and I would hope they would shorten it on future production models.
Thru Axle Bolt:
I find the thru-axle bolt smaller than preferred, potentially impacting durability. I didn’t have issues with it and a lot of bikes use thin thru axle bolts. However, a thicker thru-axle bolt would instill confidence in me when carrying precious cargo in the back like children.
No Derailleur Guard:
Most of the foldable ebikes come with a derailleur guard so it doesn’t get damaged during transportation or if the bike gets dropped on the side. I was surprised the Portola didn’t come stock with one but you can always buy an inexpensive derailleur guard from Amazon.
Click here for the current price of the Ride1Up Portola.
Ride1Up is offering an additional $100 off the first 50 orders of their brand-new Portola.
Conclusion
The Ride1Up Portola is an exceptional budget-friendly foldable eBike with a multitude of attractive features that far outweigh its minor drawbacks. With its striking design, robust braking system, advanced cable management, and versatile capabilities, the Portola excels in its category, even outshining competitors like the Lectric XP 3.0.
If you’re in the market for an affordable yet high-quality electric bike, the Ride1Up Portola is undoubtedly a top contender.
Ride1Up Portola pricing, disount, and coupon code
Click here for the current price of the Ride1Up Portola.
Ride1Up is offering an additional $100 off the first 50 orders of their brand-new Portola.
E-Bike Comparison Tool
Use our Freshly Charged E-bike Comparison Tool to evaluate this E-bike alongside more than 450 other E-bikes. Compare and organize bikes by factors such as price, pedal-assisted speed, battery size, weight, tire size, and more!