Our friends at Ride1Up sent us their Portola model. It’s surprisingly powerful, amazingly portable, and totally foldable electric bicycle. At 59 pounds, almost anyone from 4’10’ to about 6’4″ tall (verified) can fold this up, toss it in the back of just about any car or SUV, and take it to places you’ve always wanted to ride a bike but were too far away to ride to. Ready to get your own super cool Portola? Use our affiliate link and support our blog (thank you). Want to know more? Watch our complete assembly and test ride video on YouTube below.
It’s a surprisingly peppy ride for a small foldable bike. I’m just under 6′ tall and felt comfortable pedaling Portola. It handled pavement, grass, gravel, and dirt surprisingly well. To be honest, I wasn’t super excited about the “Sea Turquoise” color Portola they sent us. It reminds me of a minty 1970s school gym green. As I took my first few test rides, my neighbors actually paid compliments! So many electric bikes are grey, black, and boring. In a sea of dull and dreary colors, Sea Turquoise shines proudly.
Ride1Up Portola: Assembly
Assembly was a breeze. Ride1Up Portola comes in a relatively small box for an electric bicycle. It’s folded as it ships. Unlike many other foldables we’ve assembled and tested, Ride1Up’s packaging is incredibly thorough and protective. They scored big points for being this thoughtful. Taking your shiny new bike out of its box for the first time and seeing gnarly scratches as a result of the bike’s trip half way around the world isn’t super satisfying. Portola looked perfect with absolutely zero dings, scuffs, or scratches in its minty green finish. And since it is foldable, the assembly was already 95% complete. All I had to do is attach the handlebars and adjust the seat. The fenders and headlight, one of my least favorite things to do, were already attached. The brakes and derailleur were already adjusted perfectly. The chain had popped off, but that’s an easy fix. Many people will find this 20 minute assembly process to be an enjoyable surprise.
Portola Electric Bicycle: Features
At under $1000 US, Ride1Up included several attractive features not commonly found at this price point. Front and rear fenders, front and rear LED lights, a 750 Watt motor, and a frame-based rear rack typically cost extra from many other electric bicycle manufacturers. There’s a complete list of features below.
There are two 48 Volt battery options, a 10.4 Amp-hour and a 13.4 Amp-hour. The upgrade is only $100 at the time of purchase, and worth it if you plan longer rides between charging. Ranges are extremely difficult to estimate because they vary depending on your weight, wind speed, incline, terrain, tire inflation, ambient temperature, and how much you pedal. We’re guessing the average user can expect somewhere between 20-40 miles between charges with the 10.4 Ah battery. Remember, first and foremost, Portola is still a bicycle, so get some exercise and pedal! The Shimano Altus 8-speed trigger shifter makes pedaling easy.
Speaking of bicycles versus electric bicycles, Ride1Up has included an interesting feature to ensure compliance with local laws and regulations. In its controller, users have the option to select Class 1, Class 2, or Class 3. Class 3, where legal, enables the throttle with speeds up to about 20 MPH and pedal assist up to about 28 MPH. See a law enforcement person up ahead? A few easy clicks will allow you instant compliance that will pass any inspection as he sends you along on your happy way. If you’ve got sneaky riders or renters, you can lock out this option with a code. We have never seen this option on any other electric bicycle.
Again, Ride1Up’s Portola offers an impressive set of components at this price point that will open up the world of electric bicycling to many people who thought they couldn’t afford on. Here’s what you’ll get for $995.
- MOTOR: 48V 750W Geared Hub Motor, 65nm torque
- CONTROLLER: 48V 20Amp DMHC Sine-wave
- BATTERY ($995 MODEL): 48V 10.4Ah Reention Rhino – 500wh
- BATTERY ($1,095 MODEL): 48V 13.4Ah Reention Rhino – 643wh
- FOLDING STEM: 12° Rise, 285mm length, 31.8mm Bar Clamp
- FORK: 80mm Suspension Travel, Hydraulic Lockout, 110mm dropout
- PAS SENSOR: Integrated Sensitive 24 Magnet Cadence. Learn more about
- BRAKES: Dual Piston Hydraulic Brakes, Electric Cut-Off Sensor, 180mm Rotors
- TIRES: 20”x3” Cross-Country Low-tread Tires
- THROTTLE: Left Hand Thumb Throttle
- HANDLEBAR: Straight Bars: 31.8mm Bar Clamp, 6° Sweep, 0° Rise, 600mm Width
- SHIFTER: Shimano Altus 8-speed trigger shifter
- GEARING: 48T Front Alloy Chainring
- CASSETTE: 11-32T Shimano Cassette
- DERAILLEUR: Shimano Altus RD-M310
- CHAIN: KMC Professional 8-Speed Chain
- RIMS: 20in Double Walled
- SPOKES: Stainless steel, 12G rear, 13G front
- FENDERS: Hardened Alloy Fenders
- REAR RACK: 130lbs Rated Loading Weight With Pannier Side Mount
- FRONT LIGHT: 12V 40 Lux Front Light
- REAR LIGHT: 6V Commuter Brake Light
- SADDLE: DDK City Comfort Saddle
- SEAT POST: Zoom 31.6mm x 350mm
- PEDALS: Sunlite Folding Pedals
- ADDITIONAL: Water Bottle Bosses and Chainstay
Portola Ride Review
Immediately after the 20 minute assembly process, I took Portola outside for my first test ride. We live in Central Florida, so it’s pretty flat here. Our neighborhood is newer, so there’s lots of construction around offering some fun dirt piles and lots of gravel that are perfect for test rides.
Unlike some other electric bicycles we’ve reviewed, no key is required to turn Portola’s power or battery on. This makes this electric bicycle an easy theft risk in any public setting, regardless of the area you’re visiting. We live in an upscale area and have heard about several electric bike thefts as a result of careless riders. Make sure you have a chain or other mechanism to secure your bike should you need to run inside a building, store, cafe, or restaurant without your bike. Better yet, carry your key to remove the battery when you leave the bike alone. This makes theft a little less tempting.
The acceleration seemed punchy yet smooth from a full stop using the left-mounted thumb throttle. I accelerated up to about 20.2 MPH with zero pedaling fairly quickly. In the default controller setting of Class 2, pedaling my little heart out didn’t get me much past 22 MPH in a 10 MPH headwind that miraculously changes directions whenever I do. It’s a Florida thing I guess. I’m excited to test the Class 3 setting with pedal assist speeds up to 28 MPH in the right circumstances. Our local speed limit is 25 MPH, and our sheriff’s deputies have been known to pull over offenders on electric bicycles, especially in school zones.
On pavement, the front fork suspension felt tight yet giving, handling cracks and curbs easily without jarring my brains. The 3″ fat tires and cushy seat help to ease the rear of the bike since there is no independent rear suspension. My neighbors gleaned in disbelief as Portola’s 750 Watt motor easily cruised through crabgrass without pedaling, a feat that easily crushes the spirit of even the most experienced riders. The construction dirt is pretty well packed in this area, as is the gravel, so Portola cruised over these nicely as well. We hope to try a ride at our local beach soon. The motor should be powerful enough to conquer loose sand, but 3″ fat tires may have some trouble providing a stable grip. We typically ride on loose sand with 4″ tires.
Overall, for a 750 Watt foldable electric bicycle under $1000, Portola is a great ride and an even better value. Many used bikes I’ve seen on Facebook Marketplace are more expensive than this. Why buy used when you can get a new one at the same price? Ride1Up offers great support in the event of any problems, and a generous one-year warranty. Highly recommend the Ride1Up Portola – even in the minty green Sea Turquoise color. Please use our affiliate link and support our blog (thank you)!
