RIO Citizen Bike 26″ 3-speed Folding Electric Bike Review

The Rio is the newest folding bike from Citizen Bike announced a few months ago. It’s so different to other Citizen bikes because it’s full-sized and electricity-powered. Let’s check it out.

Specifications & Features

• Frame: Alloy
• Weight: 50 lbs
• Drivetrain 3-speed internal hub system
• Speed: 22 – 25 km per hour
• Motor: 180 W front hub motor
• Battery: 24V 9AH Samsung Battery Pack
• Charger: 1 A UL Charger
• Front fork: steel
• Handlebar: Alloy
• Stem: Non-folding, height adjustable.
• Seatpost: Suspension seatpost
• Chainwheel: 33T steel, 152mm alloy crank arms
• Pedals: Alloy, foldable (9/16″)
• Front Hub: motor hub
• Rear Hub: Shimano Nexus 3-speed hub
• Rims: 26″ alloy
• Tires: Kenda 26″ x 1.75″
• Brakes: Alloy V-brakes
• Fenders: included
• Kickstand: alloy, installed center, adjustable length
• Suggested rider height: 5’0″ to 6’0″
• Max rider weight: 220 lbs
• Crankarm length: 152mm
• Chain Ring Teeth: 33
• Rear Sprocket Teeth: 14
• Carrier rack: Alloy

Performance

The RIO is just my 2nd folding bike from Citizen and it actually has many similarities to the previous Citizen Alhambra as well as the Barcelona. They use the same frame geometry, the same low step-over design and of course, the same folding mechanism.

However, this is still a very heavy bike at 50 lbs. Many people will find it difficult to put the bike into car trunk because its folded size is not as compact as folding bikes with 20-inch wheels.

I love that they use Shimano Nexus internal hub system for the bike because it will require less maintenance. Unfortunately, I am a little disappointed with the performance of the 3-speed drivetrain, the smaller motor and battery. You can feel the pedal assist but it’s not as significant as I imagined. It is good for relaxed cruising on flat ground but it’s not powerful enough to climb steep hills. If you’re interested in the bike, I highly recommend you to try it first to see if it fits your needs.

Having said that, riding on the 26-inch wheels are extremely comfortable and I’m really impressed with the smooth gear shifting.

Conclusion

Pros

• Clean design with internal hub system
• Reasonable price
• Comfortable

Cons

• Heavy and bulky
• Underwhelming motor

The RIO Citizen Bike is just an acceptable folding electric bike. If you’re interested in the niche, you might want to consider other bikes recommended in this post.

Price: $999