Ridstar 26 vs Ridstar Q20

Where each one wins

• Ridstar 26 is 13 km further on range.
• Ridstar Q20 is 3.1 kg lighter.
• Ridstar 26 is 5 Nm more torque.
• Ridstar 26 is 3 km/h faster.

The Ridstar 26 leads on 3 of these, the Ridstar Q20 on 1. Neither sweeps it, so the choice comes down to which of those you actually use.

What each one costs to own

Over 5 years the Ridstar Q20 costs about 92 EUR less to own, once purchase, charging, servicing, a battery replacement where one is due, and resale are all counted.

That figure moves mostly on the battery. The Ridstar 26 covers about 51,200 km before its pack is due for replacement; the Ridstar Q20, about 51,200 km. Ride less than that and the replacement never enters the sum.

Run these numbers on your own mileage

Which one to buy

• Pick the Ridstar 26 if you ride to the edge of the battery and dislike planning around it.
• Pick the Ridstar Q20 if you carry the bike up steps, onto a train, or into a flat.
• Pick the Ridstar 26 if your route has real hills, or you carry cargo or a passenger.
• Pick the Ridstar 26 if your commute has fast stretches where the assist cutting out matters.
• Pick the Ridstar Q20 if the five-year total is what you are optimising.

Verdict

On the measured axes the Ridstar Q20 is the better buy, and the Ridstar 26 needs a reason of its own: a colour, a frame, a shop you trust, a price that moves. None of those are in our numbers, and all of them are legitimate.

Range here is an estimate under one reference ride, not a measurement. Yours will differ with terrain, weight, tyres and weather, which is what the range calculator is for.