When it comes to e-bikes, most people’s immediate thought is a commuter model designed to get you through streets to your various destinations, but with Ride1Up’s Revv1 DRT e-bike, the fun is extended (and primarily focused) to off-road adventures, and boy, does this baby have some go in it. It’s been over two years since we reviewed the Revv1 FS counterpart, which we came away quite impressed with its SUPER73-like design. Now we’re heading off the beaten path with this newer off-road variant, which boasts improved specs that outshine its predecessors in the series. You can learn more about the Revv1 DRT e-bike’s capabilities and my hands-on impressions below.
Ride1Up’s Revv1 DRT e-bike takes fun off-road
Before going into my personal experience on Ride1Up’s Revv1 DRT e-bike, let’s set the foundation by going over the biggest features this model brings to the trails. To start, you’ll notice the moped-like design, which I will state now: does not make it a dirt bike. Instead, what you’re getting here is a reliable means to tackle on-street commutes with a primary focus on times when you want to head off the asphalt to get rough and dirty among the wilds of the world.
This is a multi-class ride that ships as a class 2 solution, complete with a PAS and throttle to hit up to 20 MPH speeds (as a default), which can be unlocked and configured to reach up to its top 28+ MPH top speed (more on how below), including the use of its “boost” feature that increases the controller’s amperage from 28A to 35A for faster acceleration.
As you might have expected knowing the other Revv1s, this model has a Bafang rear hub motor that boasts 1000W of sustained power, producing 95 Nm of torque. A 52V 20.0Ah battery powers the fun, delivering a rated 30-60 miles of travel on one full charge, depending on whether you’re utilizing the PAS levels or throttle – and that does not account for the unlocked mode/feature. The pedal assistance is supported by a cadence sensor, with a half-twist, moto-style throttle located on the right hand of its bars.
To stand up against the uneven terrain found in off-road environments, the Revv1 DRT e-bike has been given a double crown suspension fork with 150mm of travel alongside a rear suspension with 76mm of travel – all with rebound, compression, and preload adjustments. Not to mention, things are further smoothed out by the 20 by 4-inch off-roading tires. Stopping power is quite reliable, too, as the 4-piston hydraulic disc brakes bring some solid counterbalance into the performance.
There’s also the inclusion of the integrated headlight with both low and high beam settings, moto-style fenders, and a removable metal molle plate that provides tactical gear attachment functionality, while all these things add to the distinct off-roading look. It’s definitely on the heavier end of the e-bike weight scale at 91 pounds, it does offer up to a 350-pound rider payload.
Again, let me reiterate: this is not a dirt bike, but it is a well-crafted and versatile e-bike that gives you commuting support on streets, as well as further support and ample suspension when heading off road. While it may not be able to handle serious jumps like a dirt bike (which I cannot fully claim as I didn’t test things that extremely), it can definitely hit smaller jumps, which I regularly enjoyed doing.
Receiving and unboxing the Revv1 DRT e-bike
As this is an off-roading ride, I thought it was best to bring the unopened package with me on one of my regular trips down to the swamps of Virginia, which proved to be quite a challenge with my smaller/slimmer body trying to carry its boxed form (first up upon delivery) down my second-story stoop and finding the space to squeeze it into my small car (along with mine and my cat’s usual travel gear. Needless to say, for me, it was a very cozy ride with everything packed in tightly.
Once I arrived at my parents’ home in Virginia, it didn’t take long for me to notice some of the most heavy-duty packing configurations of all the EVs I’ve had in my 15+ years of riding. Not only was there a metal plate attached to the fork end, but it had solid cardboard and styrofoam-ish packing to secure and protect various sections of its frame, the motor, and any removed parts neatly organized – including the box holding the removable parts, charger, wires, keys, and tool set.
Most of the work for me with getting this thing put together came in the form of sawing one side of the box open, as this model doesn’t just lift out of the box easily like, say, an e-scooter. Aside from that, removing the metal plate before attaching the handlebars, front wheel, fenders, and connecting wires was straightforward and fairly quick. It has quite the striking look once assembled, and just oozes with an off-roading aura.
Now, at some point – not sure if it was during the initial boxing, done by my father as we were unboxing it, or something else of the like – the battery became unlocked atop the frame, which I discovered during my first test ride using the pre-charged battery power. I give Ride1Up credit here, as, despite being unlocked and me riding it moderately hard straight out of the box, the battery didn’t move until I was a good distance away from the house already…which is where I learned of one of its cons.
Despite the battery moving just enough to unlink from the electrical connection, thus cutting power, it didn’t move enough for me to notice at first; instead, I wondered if there was an internal problem. After a few minutes of pedaling back towards the house – which is a HARD workout without any pedal assistance – I finally noticed the battery sliding a bit, and quickly discovered the problem. I locked the battery back to the frame, feeling rather dumb for overlooking something so obvious, and was elated to not have to finish my journey using only manual power. Again, pedaling this thing without any electrical assistance is hell, and not recommended unless you need some serious leg workout.
At least I didn’t embarrassingly crash like I had on my previous tests of the Lectric XP4 750 e-bike and the Navee ST3 Pro e-scooter – so good news is that I am not cursed for a hat-trick like I joked in the latter’s review.
Riding Experience so far
Now, I’ll admit that I was a little surprised by the $2,595 MSRP when I first learned of this e-bike a while ago, as it seemed like most commuters, just in a more rugged form and without the greater utility in many cases. My opinion was quickly changed, however, after learning about its “off-road” mode, and now, after having personally taken it for a ride off the streets myself multiple times, I can admit I was wrong. This thing is an all-around fun ride – a little pricey – but definitely getting your money’s worth.
As I mentioned before, the Revv1 DRT’s “off-road” mode has a little process to gain access to, which involves heading to the support section for the Revv1 Multi-Class Speed System of Ride1Up’s website, filling out and submitting the waiver form as directed, waiting for verification, and then following the instructions to use a provided passcode on the e-bike’s display screen. Voila!
And once you take it off-road, you’ll definitely find it to be all the more fun, as the suspension and tires do a lot of work in making the ride comfortable, even at its top speeds. The hydraulic disc brakes also retain their reliability, up until you coat the tire in mud, that is. It handles most terrain just fine, except sometimes in the more swampy sections, where I was more likely to hit extremely soft sections of mud. This tends to cause the tires to do more slipping and sliding on various surfaces, so just ride with that awareness.
Now, as someone very used to quick-acting torque sensors, for me, the cadence sensor supporting the pedal-assistance kicks in a little slower than I prefer. Likewise, the throttle in its default settings doesn’t seem to produce the instant ramping power, as I would like. That being said, for the average or new rider – especially if you’re considering this for a teen – there is a gradual acceleration in both operations that would be much more welcoming and forgiving, and likely more comfortably manageable.
At its fastest speeds and with its boosted capabilities, Ride1Up’s Revv1 DRT really does have some hidden punch to it (with my brother having pushed it up to 35 MPH), though, at the cost of reducing the battery levels at even faster rates. One particularly notable design feature is the weight placement and its wider wheelbase, as no matter where I rode, it felt completely stable underneath me. Its firm feeling of placement on the ground, no matter the speed, is quite a confidence boost (though again, be careful of wrapping the tires in mud).
Most people will likely be riding by throttle-only electric power while in the saddle, and I can happily say it’s not a bad bike to do so on. It’s rated for a 30-mile travel range when only using the throttle, and I found it running dead around the 25 to 30-mile points when doing so. With pedal assistance activated, the longer travel times are gained from the lowest settings, so folks who want all-day power will need to bring an extra battery, most likely.
Even I tend to stick to an e-bike’s upper PAS levels, which does prolong the battery’s life, but not at as great a rate. Still, you’ll get plenty of fun out of it, with my joyrides through back streets, forest paths, and swampy trails lasting several hours before needing to plug in for around five to six hours. It does have some impressive hill-climbing abilities that deserve pointing out, which I expected from the motor’s power output. It never hesitated to dig in and push upward on any inclines I crossed paths with.
Some other features are worth the money, too, like the 2-mode headlight that is not only wide, but bright, ensuring you’re able to see and that anyone else can see you coming (plus, there are brake-activated taillights). The saddle is also quite cushy and helps to heighten the rider’s comfort, enhancing the work done by the suspension and tire combination. That, as well as the metal molle, adds to its overall style by truly giving it a more rugged look. I’m not quite sure how useful that molle is for storage or cargo carrying on its own, but there are add-on accessories that can fill the space and change up the utility.
Revv1 DRT e-bike – Final Thoughts
The Ride1Up Revv1 DRT Off-Road e-bike really surprised me, and while street riding is average to a lot of my other e-bikes, the off-roading power this thing provides is just too much fun. It’s particularly good for younger riders who want both the commuting e-bike possibilities with the moped-like support for motocross-adjacent fun in nature. That’s not to say older riders can’t also find plenty of fun here.
While the Revv1 DRT does have a hefty $2,595 MSRP, it has been spending most of 2025 benefitting from $100 to $200 discounts, and in some cases getting special promotional deals. With Prime Day, as well as Black Friday and other holiday events on the horizon, you’ll likely have plenty of chances to save on this multi-terrain model if it’s really calling your name.
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