Updated September 30, 2026 · CommuteCue Editorial Team
Ride1Up vs Tern
Ride1Up
Tern
Higher score in this comparison
Ride1Up vs Tern: the differences
| Compare | Ride1UpReviewSee alternativesSee alternatives | TernReviewSee alternativesSee alternatives |
|---|---|---|
| Reference models | Portola 02, Roadster v3, Vorsa, TrailRush | GSD R14, Quick Haul D8, HSD P10e, Vektron P7i |
| Motor position | Hub | Mid |
| Assist class | Us class 3 | EU 25 |
| Largest battery (Wh) | 1,040 | 1,600Higher |
| Claimed range (km) | 97 | 288Higher |
| Lightest model (kg) | 13Lower | 22.8 |
| Maximum payload (kg) | 200 | 210Higher |
| Frame warranty | 1 year | 10 yearsHigher |
| Sales model | Both | Dealer |
| Service network | Own | Partner |
| Price from | $895 | Not confirmed |
| Price up to | $2,795 | Not confirmed |
| Nominal motor power (W) | 250 to 750 | Not confirmed |
| Throttle | Yes | Not confirmed |
| Removable battery | Yes | Not confirmed |
| Battery warranty | 1 year | Not confirmed |
| Money-back period | 30 days | Not confirmed |
| Finance | Yes | Not confirmed |
| Markets | US, CA | Not confirmed |
Same on both: Belt drive (Yes).
We earn a commission when you sign up through links on this site. Partner status can affect where a brand appears in our rankings. Partners with a live offer in your country come first, then every other brand by score.
Key differences
- Tern scores higher overall: 9.5 vs 9.1.
- Largest battery (Wh) is higher at Tern: 1,600 vs 1,040.
- Claimed range (km) is higher at Tern: 288 vs 97.
- Lightest model (kg) is lower at Ride1Up: 13 vs 22.8.
- Maximum payload (kg) is higher at Tern: 210 vs 200.
- Frame warranty is higher at Tern: 10 years vs 1 year.
- Founded is lower at Tern: 2011 vs 2018.
- Bike types: only Ride1Up offers City, Step through, Fat tire.
- Bike types: only Tern offers Cargo.
- Motor brand: only Ride1Up offers Bafang.
Our verdict on each
Ride1Up
Ride1Up suits riders who want a covered, direct-sale electric bike for daily use rather than a single purpose machine. Ride1Up prices run $895 to $2,795, the range covers commuter, city and step through body styles, and returns carry a 30 day money back window.
Tern
Tern suits riders who want one maker to cover cargo, commuting and folding, and who plan to keep the bike for years. The cargo bike pairs a bosch motor mounted mid-drive with a battery of up to 1,600 Wh and a stated payload of 210 kg.
Score breakdown
| Area | Ride1Up | Tern |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | 9.2Entry price of $895 up to $2,795 puts the range near the cheaper end of the brands compared. | Not confirmed |
| Offer | 9.2Belt drive, a throttle and a removable battery ride alongside batteries up to 1,040 Wh. | 9.7HigherSold through dealers, dealer, so the price sits on the model and the shop rather than on a brand rate card. |
| Trust | 8.6Support runs on email, chat and phone with a 30 day money back window. | 9.0HigherA listed battery certification, ul 2849, a 2011 founding date and service handled by partner shops. |
How the counts compare
| Fact | Ride1Up | Tern |
|---|---|---|
| Largest battery (Wh) | 1,040 | 1,600 |
| Claimed range (km) | 97 | 288 |
| Lightest model (kg) | 13 | 22.8 |
| Maximum payload (kg) | 200 | 210 |
| Frame warranty | 1 year | 10 years |
Pick Ride1Up if, pick Tern if
Pick Ride1Up if lightest model (kg) matter most.
Pick Tern if offer, trust, largest battery (wh), claimed range (km), and maximum payload (kg) matter most.
Also worth a look
ENVO Drive Systems has frame warranty at 15 years, against 1 year for Ride1Up and 10 years for Tern.
ENVO Drive Systems reviewHow they place
| Ranking | Ride1Up | Tern |
|---|---|---|
| Electric bikes | 98 of 185 | 63 of 185 |
| Commuter and city e-bikes | 77 of 143 | 40 of 143 |
| Folding e-bikes | 62 of 90 | 34 of 90 |
| Belt-drive e-bikes | 15 of 35 | 8 of 35 |
Every fact side by side
| Fact | Ride1Up | Tern |
|---|---|---|
| Bike types | Commuter, City, Step through, Folding, Fat tire, Emtb, Road | Cargo, Commuter, Folding |
| Motor brand | Bafang | Bosch |
| Brakes | Hydraulic disc | Hydraulic disc |
| Certifications | Ul 2849 | Ul 2849 |
| Legal entity | Ride1Up, Inc. | Not confirmed |
| Headquarters | United States | Not confirmed |
| Founded | 2018 | 2011Lower |
| Support channels | Email, Chat, Phone, Help centre | Not confirmed |
Where each stands against the rest
| Fact | Ride1Up | Tern | Median |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price from | $895below the median | Not confirmed | $999 |
| Price up to | $2,795above the median | Not confirmed | $2,099 |
| Nominal motor power (W) | 250 to 750below the median | Not confirmed | 425 |
| Largest battery (Wh) | 1,040above the median | 1,600highest quarter | 800.8 |
| Claimed range (km) | 97lowest quarter | 288highest quarter | 138.5 |
| Lightest model (kg) | 13lowest quarter | 22.8below the median | 25.7 |
Median across 144 listed brands.
Pros and cons
Ride1Up
Pros
- Wide body choice from $895 to $2,795, covering commuter, city and step through styles
- Throttle and removable battery both fitted on the range, useful on a daily commute
- Belt drive appears in the range, a detail many brands at this price skip
Cons
- Frame and battery cover both sit at 1 years, which is short for a bike bought for daily commuting.
- Sales run through an in-house network of own rather than a wide dealer base, so repairs depend on the brand's own setup.
- Shipping covers US and CA only, and the us class 3 assist limit rules it out on roads and paths that cap assisted speed more tightly.
Tern
Pros
- One maker covers cargo, commuter and folding, so a household can run a cargo bike, a commuter and a folder without changing brands.
- The cargo bike pairs a battery of 1,600 Wh with a claimed range of 288 km, driven by a bosch motor.
- A payload of 210 kg on that cargo bike carries shopping and school kit in a single trip.
Cons
- The lightest bike listed is 22.8 kg, so stairs and platform lifts work against these machines.
- Buying runs through dealers, dealer, so the entry price is set shop by shop rather than by the maker.
- Servicing is handled by a partner network, so a repair depends on which partner covers your area.
Who each suits
Ride1Up
Who it suits
- Riders commuting on roads where a us class 3 class limit and a throttle are useful
- Anyone wanting a removable battery and belt drive options inside one range
- Buyers who prefer buying direct and dealing with the brand's own team
Who should look elsewhere
- Riders outside US and CA who need local delivery, and cargo buyers who will find a closer fit at Tern, whose range covers cargo, commuter and folding bodies
- Anyone after a mid-drive motor, since the range uses a hub position, or a narrower traditional city line like Kalkhoff's city, hybrid and step through bodies
- Buyers who want long warranty cover, since frame and battery terms are both 1 year
Tern
Who it suits
- Households that need a payload, since the cargo bike is rated to 210 kg for shopping and children in one trip.
- Riders who want the drive in the frame rather than a wheel, with listed placement of mid on a bosch unit.
- Daily riders who want hydraulic braking, since brakes listed for the range are hydraulic disc.
Who should look elsewhere
- Riders after fat tyre or eMTB shapes, where HK Beirui Trade Co. covers fat-tire and eMTB through commuter, folding and fat tire and Tern lists cargo, commuter and folding.
- Buyers wanting city, hybrid and step-through frames, which Kalkhoff lists in city, hybrid and step through while Tern's range is cargo, commuter and folding.
- Riders on town and step-through trips rather than loads, since iSinwheel's commuter, city and step through adds city, step-through and eMTB alongside commuter and folding.
Country by country
| Country | Ride1Up | Tern |
|---|---|---|
| Canada | Yes | No |
| United States | Yes | No |
Questions about each
Ride1Up
How much do Ride1Up e-bikes cost?+
Ride1Up builds a wide spread of bodies, and the list runs $895 to $2,795. Named reference models include Portola 02, Roadster v3, Vorsa, TrailRush, with commuter, city, step-through, folding, fat-tire, electric mountain and road shapes in the range.
How long is the warranty?+
Frame cover runs 1 years and battery cover 1 years, so both parts are covered for a short period after purchase. Riders keeping a bike for years should budget for battery replacement beyond that cover, and the shorter battery term is the one to watch on a daily commuter.
Tern
What does a Tern cost to buy?+
Each bike in GSD R14, Quick Haul D8, HSD P10e, Vektron P7i is sold through a dealer, so the price is set per model and per shop rather than listed centrally. Across the e-bike brands compared on the site, entry prices span €8.73 to €7,774.27 and the middle sits at €876.09.
What does the warranty cover after the sale?+
Tern states a frame warranty of 10 years. Bought through a dealer, dealer, the bike is then looked after through the partner service network, so the workshop that handles warranty work is one that fits your area. Worth confirming the terms with the dealer at purchase.
Other options to compare
Other matchups
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- Ride1Up vs KALKHOFF
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- Ride1Up vs myebikes.com
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- Tern vs Fiido
- Tern vs Helokeep
- Tern vs Kingbull Bike
- Ride1Up vs engwe-bikes
- Ride1Up vs Onemile
- Ride1Up vs A DECE OASIS
- Tern vs Kemoway France
Ride1Up
Tern