Should you buy one?
The 5th Wheel Torrent 1 is a decent e-bike for the price, but only at a price that reflects its cheaper components. It has a 500W rear hub motor, a torque sensor, an integrated battery and a look I’d call pretty stylish. It also has mechanical brakes, a very cheap display, a throttle that won’t work from zero, a kickstand that catches the crankset and one of the most uncomfortable seats I’ve tested.
I rode it for several weeks for this review. It was my first 5th Wheel bike, and you get a decent bike for the money. There are other options in this price range that might suit you better, so shop around before you buy.
Buying note: as of Oct 22, 2026, the Torrent 1 isn’t listed on 5th Wheel’s own online store, so I couldn’t confirm an official price. My link goes to 5th Wheel’s brand store on Amazon. Check the price there before you buy, and compare it with the other bikes in my best e-bikes under $2,000 list.
Check price on Amazon (affiliate link)
Pros and cons
Pros
- 500W rear hub motor
- Torque sensor on the crankset
- Battery integrated into the frame
- Bright integrated headlight
- Front fork suspension
- 7 rear gears that shifted just fine for me
- Meaty mountain bike tires
- Pretty stylish mountain bike look
- Front and rear fenders, plus a battery-powered tail light in the box
Cons
- Mechanical brakes, not hydraulic
- Very cheap display
- Throttle doesn’t work from zero
- Kickstand position lets the crankset get stuck on it
- Extremely uncomfortable seat
- Very heavy and hard to pedal on an incline without power
- No integrated tail light
- Tire sidewalls seem very thin
- Plastic fenders that aren’t well integrated
Controls and display
On the left you get a standard grip and the front brake. The brakes are mechanical, not hydraulic.
The center display is very cheap, but it does the trick. The power button and the M button act as your up and down buttons, and there are three modes of pedal assist. To turn on the headlight, you double tap the top button.
On the right side you have a pretty standard shifter, the rear brake, another standard grip and the throttle.
The throttle doesn’t work from zero
This was a letdown. Most e-bikes I test now have a throttle that works from a standstill. The Torrent 1’s throttle doesn’t. You have to be in a pedal assist mode first. In my video I’m in pedal assist 3, and the throttle still won’t go from zero.
If you plan to use the throttle to pull away from stop signs, know that you’ll need to pedal first.
The kickstand problem
5th Wheel put the kickstand in a spot where it interferes with the crankset. Most other e-bikes mount it farther back so that doesn’t happen.
On the Torrent 1, if you move the pedals around at all while the kickstand is down, the crankset runs into the kickstand. Then you can’t push the kickstand back up, because the crankset is stuck on it. You have to move the pedals back to free it. 5th Wheel should move it.
Lights and fenders
The headlight is integrated, and it’s rather bright. There’s no integrated tail light. 5th Wheel does send you a battery-powered tail light with the bike, so you’re not riding without one, but it’s another thing to charge or swap batteries in.
The front and rear fenders are plastic. They do the trick, but I wish they were a little more integrated into the bike.
Frame, suspension and style
It’s pretty stylish, and I get the mountain bike look 5th Wheel was going for. I like that the battery is integrated into the frame.
There’s a front fork suspension, but I couldn’t find any branding on it to tell me who made it, other than the word “mountain,” which is pretty cheesy. 5th Wheel’s spec sheet lists up to 100mm of travel.
Motor, sensor and gears
The Torrent 1 has a 500W rear hub motor. The spec sheet lists 800W peak. It pairs that with a torque sensor on the crankset, which I was glad to see.
You get seven gears in the rear and one in the front. It’s very standard, but it shifted just fine for me. The pedals are all black, which I like, but they’re standard equipment and nothing to write home about.
The seat
The stock seat is extremely uncomfortable. It’s so thin that it’s almost like sitting on a really small piece of cardboard. If you plan to ride the Torrent 1 on any sort of lengthy trip, I suggest buying a new seat.
Tires
It’s really nice to see meaty mountain bike tires on here. 5th Wheel’s marketing calls them puncture resistant. In my video I said I don’t think they are, because the sidewalls seem very thin (4:27-4:32). That’s my impression from looking at them; I didn’t get a flat or test them for punctures.
Battery and weight
There’s a larger battery pack in this bike, and I’m glad, because this thing is so heavy. The spec sheet lists 60.6 lbs and a 48V 14.7Ah battery. If you get stuck out with a dead battery, especially on an incline, you’ll have a really hard time pedaling it, because it’s so heavy compared to other e-bikes I’ve tested.
5th Wheel’s spec sheet claims 35 miles on electric only and 60 miles with pedal assist. I didn’t run a range test, so I can’t confirm either.
What the specs mean on the road
500W rated, 800W peak, rear hub. That’s mid-range power.
Torque sensor. It measures how hard you push on the pedals and adds help in proportion.
48V 14.7Ah, about 706Wh. 5th Wheel’s marketing rounds it to 700Wh. That’s a big battery for this price, which is good, because at 60.6 lbs this is not a bike you want to pedal home dead.
60.6 lbs. With no motor help, the extra weight is what made it so hard to pedal on an incline. It also matters if you need to lift it onto a car rack or carry it up stairs.
Mechanical disc brakes. These are cable brakes, so plan on checking the cable tension.
27.5 x 2.3 tires. These are full-size mountain bike wheels.
220 lb max load. That’s lower than many bikes I test. It has to cover you plus anything you carry.
IPX4. The spec sheet lists IPX4, which means splash resistant. Light rain is fine, but don’t ride through deep water or hose it down.
How it compares
| 5th Wheel Torrent 1 | EAHORA XC100 | |
|---|---|---|
| Motor (W) | 500 | 350 |
| Battery (V) | 48 | 48 |
| Battery (Ah) | 14.7 | 10.4 |
| Pedal assist range (mi) | 60 | 75 |
| Weight (lbs) | 60.6 | 47.8 |
| Max load (lbs) | 220 | 187 |
| Rear gears | 7 | 7 |
| Wheel size (in) | 27.5 | 26 |
Source note: Torrent 1 figures are from 5th Wheel’s spec sheet as published by Wellbots. EAHORA figures are from Eahora’s page as listed in my EAHORA XC100 review.
The Torrent 1 has more motor and more battery. The EAHORA is much lighter, which matters if you ever end up pedaling home without power. If you want a torque sensor and a premium build, also look at the Velotric Discover 1, and use my compare tool to line up more bikes side by side.
Who it’s for
- Riders who want a mountain bike look with a 500W motor and a torque sensor
- Riders who are fine starting in a pedal assist mode before using the throttle
- Buyers willing to swap in a better seat right away
- Riders between 5’3” and 6’3”, the fit range 5th Wheel lists
Who should look elsewhere
- Anyone who wants hydraulic brakes
- Riders who want a throttle that works from a standstill
- Anyone who may need to pedal a heavy bike up hills with no power
- Riders who want an integrated tail light
- Anyone heavier than the 220 lb max load on the spec sheet
FAQ
Does the 5th Wheel Torrent 1 throttle work from zero?
No. On my bike, the throttle only worked once I was in a pedal assist mode. I tested it in pedal assist 3.
Does it have hydraulic brakes?
No. I noted standard brakes with no hydraulics, and 5th Wheel’s spec sheet lists mechanical disc brakes.
Is the seat comfortable?
Not for me. It’s extremely thin, almost like sitting on a small piece of cardboard. I’d buy a new seat if you plan on any lengthy rides.
Does it have a torque sensor?
Yes. There’s a torque sensor on the crankset.
How heavy is it?
5th Wheel’s spec sheet lists 60.6 lbs. It felt very heavy compared to other e-bikes I’ve tested, and it’s hard to pedal on an incline without power.
Are the tires puncture resistant?
5th Wheel says yes. In my video I said I didn’t think so, because the sidewalls seem very thin. I didn’t test them for punctures.
Price
As of Oct 22, 2026, 5th Wheel’s own online store doesn’t list the Torrent 1, so I can’t give you an official price. In my video I said the price at the time was probably the most I would ever spend on this bike because of its cheaper components. Check the current price on Amazon and compare it with other bikes in this range.
Check price on Amazon (affiliate link)
