Ride1up Trailrush vs Velotric Summit 2 advice
Posted by PerspectiveForsaken4@reddit | ebikes | View on Reddit | 16 comments
Hey everyone, I am hoping to get some advice in purchasing my first e-bike. I have been doing a bunch of research and landed on the Velotric Summit 2 or the Ride1Up Trailrush.
My use case is primarily riding around the canals and dirt paths by my house but I want to work back to doing some lighter trail rides around the valley(Phoenix AZ) and up north. I know I could be fine with something like an Fat Tire or cruiser bike but I do have plans to get back into trails so im forward thinking a bit here.
I am a big dude, 6'4" \~350 so my options are a bit limited but I feel like these two are meeting my main needs. My biggest concern is around quality and level of long term support. I know Ride1Up is a DtoC brand so I dont have the ability to go to a store and check them out but from what I have read they seem to be built with quality products and is what im leaning towards.
Does anyone have any experience with Ride1up, hopefully the TrailRush, that can give me their honest opinion. Also any feedback or advice would be greatly appreciated! Thank you!
bipolarpsych7@reddit
As a mechanic, we (shop Im at) haven't had the greatest customer service with Ride1Up, theyre slow to respond to our emails/calls and getting replacement parts isnt as easy as it is with Velotric. Sometimes they haven't responded at all. We've put them on our lower teir list and prefer not to work with them over Velotric. Now, Velotric can get a bit greedy with their warranty claims and may take longer to process a claim, but are still higher tier in our opinion.
In my personal opinion, Id get the Summit if those are the two youre stuck between. But if you get a Summit, make sure to also buy a derailleur guard. We've had several bike assembly issues with the derailleur getting smashed during shipping as well as more maintenance from customers without one. Ive riden both Summit 1 and 2. As a 320lb rider its not a bad experience. They're a bit stiffer than other models, but not a bad choice if you want something with more mtb feel.
Worried_Document8668@reddit
if you are serious abput trailriding in the future but also want a chill commuting experience, ypu get a mid-drive hardtail, not a rear hub.
don't buy dtc, so look what's actuall available around you and what has service shops
PerspectiveForsaken4@reddit (OP)
The problem I am running into is that most of the shops around me have more commuter or fat tire ebikes like the Aventon Aventure 3. The few shops that do have mid drive hardtails are all $3700+ which is out of my price range of \~$2000.
Worried_Document8668@reddit
Stretch your budget a bit and look for an Aventon Ramblas
PerspectiveForsaken4@reddit (OP)
My concern there is the weight limit is 300lbs.
Inciteful_Analysis@reddit
You don't need a middrive for dirt trails/canal trails. Canals and valley implies mostly static elevation. Phoenix is largely flat. A hub drive pairs better with a throttle.
The Summit will handle what he is looking to ride without an issue.
Worried_Document8668@reddit
trails is a pretty wide terms.
depending on how serious OP is about getting into it, buying a hub now is potentially setting up for failure in the future, or spending extra because of having to upgrade.
a summit might not be future-proof just because it can fit the current status
Inciteful_Analysis@reddit
You could make that claim about a hardtail. At some point, you have to buy based on the task at hand and probabilities.
Probably less than 5% of the people on this forum need mtb capabilities beyond the Summit.
PerspectiveForsaken4@reddit (OP)
I know a hardtail is a bit overkill for the trails that I am going to be riding as my previous non eMTBs were not and handled things well enough but I do like the idea of "future proofing" for what I hope to do down the road.
PitifulDisaster3688@reddit
I’d get the velotric summit. I was in a bike store the other day and saw one in person. It’s a really nice suv style bike, but know that it’s a heavy bike. You’ll need a heavy duty hitch style bike rack to transport it. The Aventon Aventure 3 is another really nice option if you are looking for other options.
PerspectiveForsaken4@reddit (OP)
I was initially looking at the Aventure 3 but not sure if I want a fat tire. From what I have read and heard from others they have more issues with the rocky/desert trails I want to take on here around phoenix.
Equal_Variation_8607@reddit
TrailRush if you value specs/value and don’t mind DIY ownership
PerspectiveForsaken4@reddit (OP)
I am 100% a DIY/Right to Repair type of person! My biggest concern is around being able to get the parts I need and it looks like that is one area that the Summit wins out.
Inciteful_Analysis@reddit
Can probably save you some time. At 350lbs, the 500Wh TrailRush battery isn't going to go very far compared to the 800Wh battery in the Summit 2. Sure, middrives have an efficiency advantage, but not 60%.
PerspectiveForsaken4@reddit (OP)
Im def not expecting to get the advertised range, even if I wasnt 350lbs lol. But my goal is to use the bike to help get back i shape so that number should be going down. Most of the trails I am looking at, at least to start are all <10 miles round trip so I should be good with the reduced range. I read a benefit of the middrive is they have more "torque", which helps with heavier loads but not sure if that helps with the battery drain. Thanks for chiming in and calling out the range benefits of the summit!
celestialcascade012@reddit
Both bikes can work, but long-term reliability will depend heavily on how hard you’re pushing them on climbs and rougher terrain.