The Ride1Up CF Racer1 Is a Class 3 Carbon Fiber E-Bike Designed for Road Racers Who Want a Little Help on Steep Hills

We’ve been impressed by Ride1Up’s e-bike offerings this year. The Revv1 is my absolute favorite moped/moto-style e-bike, and their Portola, Ride1Up’s first folding e-bike, knocked it out of the park. I’m currently reviewing their Cafe Cruiser, and I’ve been impressed. Their latest offering, the Ride1Up CF Racer1, is a design departure, and it looks stunning.

While I’ve always seen e-bikes as a form of alternative electric transportation that can be pedaled, the new Ride1Up CF Racer1 is a bike that has the added benefit of a motor. In other words, while you can pedal the e-bikes I’ve reviewed and get added battery range and a bit of a workout when you do, the motor is intended to do most of the work.

With this bike, Ride1Up flips that equation on its head. This bike is made for people who love to ride but also want the added benefit of a motor for climbing steep hills or taking a break while still moving forward. The outlier to this way of looking at things is my Ride1Up Revv1. It has pedals, but I haven’t used them once.

That means the CF Racer1 is potentially set to appeal to an entirely new customer base, and that’s a good thing!

The Ride1Up CF Racer1 is made from ultralight carbon fiber, and, in another departure from previous Ride1Up models, the sleek bike’s electronics are concealed. Put simply, the CF Racer1 doesn’t look like any electric bike you’ve ever seen; in fact, it doesn’t look like an e-bike at all.

However, the Ride1Up CF Racer1 is an electric bike, and its Class 3 status means the 250W sustained hub motor can help the bike reach speeds of up to 28mph.

250W is a relatively small motor by 2024 standards, and the 42nm of torque riders will get is on the low end, particularly when compared to the 750W motor and 90nM you’ll get with the company’s Revv1. But that speaks to the distinct purposes of the two bikes.

The Revv1 is a moped or light motorcycle with pedals, while the Ride1Up CF Racer1 is a bike with a motor. And, as a rider-centric racer, the CF Racer1 is impressive thanks to its racer-inspired design, ultra-lightweight carbon fiber frame, 11-speed SRAM Rival 1 derailleur, and Ergofit drop levers with DoubleTap technology shifter.

This bike is built for racers and looks every bit the part!

As you might expect, the Ride1Up CF Racer1 is intended for street riding, but the same model is also offered outfitted for gravel.

If you opt for the street version, you’ll be able to get it in a 50 or 56-cm frame with Schwalbe E-One 700x32c tires with puncture protection; the gravel version is available in a 50 or 56-cm frame with 700x40c Continental Terra Trail Shieldwall technology tires with puncture protection. 

But while the lightweight (both models are just 28.6 pounds), drop handlebars, and aggressive styling scream racer, the Ride1Up CF Racer1 is very much an electric bike.

To maintain the sleek racer look of the bike, Ride1Up concealed the wiring and electrical components within the carbon fiber frame. It’s a fantastic design choice that I hope Ride1Up will bring to other bikes in the future!

The VeloFox center mount handlebar color display looks fantastic, letting you see your speed and remaining battery level at a glance. The display also enables you to customize the various levels of pedal assist so riders get the added bump of the motor in the manner that works best for their riding style.

Ride1Up CF Racer1 Features Include:

• SPEED: Class 3 electric bike with 28mph pedal assist
• MOTOR: Powerful 250w sustained geared hub motor with 42nm torque
• RANGE: 16-40 miles depending on rider weight, terrain, incline, level of assist, etc.
• FRAME: Ultra lightweight carbon fiber frame with concealed wiring and electrical components
• COMFORT: Optimally designed to provide performance-based comfort

While I’m not the target audience for this bike, I love the stunning looks and think it will appeal to serious road warriors. This eye-catching, pedal-pumping, performance-inspired racer maintains Ride1Up’s commitment to offering affordable electric bikes; it sells for just $2295! 

You can learn more about the Ride1Up CF Racer1 by clicking here.