Ridstar DC26 vs Ridstar MN26
On the numbers that decide this pair, the Ridstar DC26 is 11.3 kg lighter than the Ridstar MN26. Everything else is below, including where it loses.
Range is our estimate under the reference ride, not the manufacturer's claim. Cost is over 5 years at 3,000 km a year, on the same formula the cost-of-ownership calculator runs. How we work this out
| Spec | Ridstar DC26 | Ridstar MN26 |
|---|---|---|
| Estimated range | 69 km | 54 km |
| Battery | 960 Wh | 960 Wh |
| Weight | 31.8 kg | 43.1 kg |
| Motor torque | 40 Nm | 40 Nm |
| Top speed | 60 km/h | 58 km/h |
| Price | $1,200 | $1,200 |
| 5-year cost | $1,623 | $1,623 |
Where each one wins
- Ridstar DC26 is 11.3 kg lighter.
- Ridstar DC26 is 15 km further on range.
The Ridstar MN26 does not lead on a single measured axis here. That does not make it the wrong bike, but it does mean the Ridstar DC26 is the one to justify not buying.
Who each one is for
Ridstar DC26
Suits you if you want:
- folds, so it fits a boot, a train or a hallway
- fast class, which keeps up with city traffic
- rated to 150 kg of rider and luggage together
- about 69 km estimated, which covers a 34 km each-way commute
What it asks in return:
- 40 Nm of torque, so long climbs will ask for your legs
- 31.8 kg, which is a bike you park rather than carry
- fast class, so it is registered and helmeted in most places
Ridstar MN26
Suits you if you want:
- fast class, which keeps up with city traffic
- rated to 136 kg of rider and luggage together
- about 54 km estimated, which covers a 27 km each-way commute
What it asks in return:
- 40 Nm of torque, so long climbs will ask for your legs
- 43.1 kg, which is a bike you park rather than carry
- fast class, so it is registered and helmeted in most places
Each line above is read straight from the specification: torque, weight, payload, battery and our range estimate. Nothing here is a preference, and neither bike is being recommended over the other.
What each one costs to own
Over 5 years the two land within 5% of each other, which is inside the error on any of these inputs. Cost is not the deciding factor here.
That figure moves mostly on the battery. The Ridstar DC26 covers about 51,200 km before its pack is due for replacement; the Ridstar MN26, about 51,200 km. Ride less than that and the replacement never enters the sum.
| Over five years | Ridstar DC26 | Ridstar MN26 |
|---|---|---|
| Purchase price | $1,200 | $1,200 |
| Charging | $68 | $68 |
| Servicing | $648 | $648 |
| Battery replacement | ||
| Resale value | $-293 | $-293 |
| Total | $1,623 | $1,623 |
Run these numbers on your own mileage
Which one to buy
- Pick the Ridstar DC26 if you ride to the edge of the battery and dislike planning around it.
- Pick the Ridstar DC26 if you carry the bike up steps, onto a train, or into a flat.
Verdict
On the measured axes the Ridstar DC26 is the better buy, and the Ridstar MN26 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.
Tell me when either of these gets cheaper
One email when a price moves on a bike you are watching. Nothing else.