Impossible Upgrade – Ride1Up Prodigy V2

For Starters

Alright, everybody. This bike is a purpose built, premium commuter style e-bike. But, if you’re here for my regular e-bike review, then it’s time to strap in. This week, we’re doing something a bit different. I’m going to raid the parts bin and see how trail-capable I can make this bike. Let’s dive in on the Prodigy V2 from Ride1Up.

Out of the box Prodigy V2 setup

There is a chain-drive or belt-drive version of this bike. We’re working with the chain-drive version, which comes with an Advent Microshift 9-speed drivetrain. The derailleur does not have a clutch built in (no big deal for commuting). This bike comes with a mid-drive Brose motor capable of generating 90Nm of torque. That mid-drive motor is going to make this a perfect eMTB crossover. The battery is a 36V 14Ah battery that will give you 30-50 miles of range. You get 100mm of travel out of the front air fork. That fork is connected to 27.5 x 2.25 Maxxis Rekon Race tires. Stopping those tires is the job of the Tektro 4 piston Orion hydraulic brakes and 180mm rotors. The Prodigy V2 also comes with metal fenders and a rear rack with built in lights.

The first thing I did, was just remove the fenders and the rear rack. In removing the rear rack, I also had to disconnect some wires from the motor. Check out my video above to see how I did that! I also removed the shift sensor, which cuts off the motor anytime you shift. That’s great for reducing wear and tear on your drivetrain, but in a technical single track situation, I don’t want to lose power. I swapped out the stock seat for a WTB.

Bars and Stem

Maybe the cheapest and easiest way to make this feel like an MTB is to replace the bars and stem. I’m putting on Full Send 780mm bars from FUNN and a 35mm FUNN Equalizer stem. To the end of these bars I added FUNN lock-on grips.

Drivetrain

I’ll be taking the Prodigy V2 from a 9-speed to a 12-speed bike. I’ll be removing all the Advent stuff, and in its place I’ll put on:

• Shimano SLX 12-speed shifter
• Shimano Deore XT derailleur with built-in clutch
• Sunrace 12-speed cassette (hg hub)
• KMC 12-speed chain
• Deckas narrow-wide 34T chainring

Front-end

The front fork is a decent air fork, and it has a quick release skewer, but I’m going to convert to a better fork with a thru-axle. I’ll be installing a RockShox SID Select Plus fork with boost spacing and 120mm of travel… oh yeah, and it’s a 29er. That’s right, we’re making this bike a mullet in the process! I picked up a Maxxis Rekon Race 29 x 2.35 to match the rear tire, and I’m installing that on 29″ rim from a previous build.

Some highlights and downfalls of the conversion

First trip out on this upgraded setup was a 12-mile XC adventure. This bike was fully capable, and the mullet style was really enjoyable. The beefy 29er up front stomped over the terrain with ease, and the rear 27.5 felt really nimble, if not wild at times. To no one’s surprise, the Shimano drivetrain worked flawlessly. Whether you convert to eMTB or just want a more robust drivetrain for a hillier commute, this is a proven way to do it.

A big downfall of this particular bike being your full-time eMTB machine is the rear axle. It’s a threaded solid axle instead of a thru-axle or quick release. Generally a mid-drive bike has at least a quick release. The other thing that makes this a hard sell as a modern eMTB is the lack of being able to run an internally routed dropper post. I looked it over from every angle, and it’s just not feasible.

Conclusion

I’m definitely going to keep taking this bike out to my local trails. As I mentioned in the video, we’ve had a lot of rain recently that kept me from visiting the XC park I wanted to hit for this video. I think this bike is ideal for that area, but all-in-all, I think this bike is best served as a commuter. Ride1Up – I really hope you have a true eMTB lined up for future release because you’re already really close.

If you enjoyed this and you want to pick up your own Prodigy, I’d really appreciate if you used my links. It doesn’t cost you any extra, and it really helps out my channel.

https://go.ride1up.com/SH82