Ridgeback Arcus 3 review | Urban Electric Bike of the Year contender

The Ridgeback Arcus 3 is aimed at commuters who want an ebike that can also handle light off-roading and woodland trails at the weekend.

The specification may not be comprised of components from familiar brands, but in turn the Arcus 3 hits a reasonable price point.

In all, the Arcus folds everything you need for a daily commuter bike and rough-stuff weekender into a solid package that won’t break the bank.

This compelling and practical proposition makes it a leading contender for our 2024 Urban Electric Bike of the Year crown.

Ridgeback Arcus 3 frame details

The Arcus 3’s stylish aluminium frame integrates a removable 500Wh battery into its down tube.

The angular hydroformed tubing and a low-slung shape give the Arcus a hardtail mountain bike aesthetic – handy, given its broad intended capabilities.

The ride position is fairly upright, but not so much as to make the Arcus 3 boring to ride.

Ridgeback’s designers seem to have settled on a position that’s balanced well between being comfortable and commanding, but without upsetting the handling.

Ridgeback Arcus 3 specifications

At the heart of the Arcus 3 is SportDrive’s MDS250S mid-drive motor, providing a claimed 95Nm of torque – one of the most powerful electric bike motors you’ll find (on paper).

At Level One, the assistance is minimal and ideal for flat, smooth roads.

Level Two gives a gentle push. I found this the ideal setting for 90 per cent of my riding time. Level Three gave me a helpful boost on climbs.

I only resorted to the most powerful Level 4 off-road, where I needed the torque for loose-traction steep climbs while spinning a light gear.

The drivetrain comes from Microshift, with its Mezzo 1x9-speed setup combining a 38-tooth chainring and 11-36t cassette.

Shifting is handled by a twin-trigger pod on the right side of the bars, with the left side housing the remote control for the motor.

An LCD screen is provided, alongside a lockout trigger for the suspension fork and a bell set on the underside, keeping all of these controls within reach of your thumb.

The fork is an RST air sprung model, which is tunable and has a remote lockout for its 80mm of travel, designed for more efficient tarmac riding. A One1 suspension seatpost is intended to balance comfort at the other end.

The Arcus is very well equipped, including bespoke rigid aluminium mudguards, a rear rack, kickstand and AXA frame lock that uses the same key as the battery.

AXA also provides a Blueline front light, while the rear light is integrated into the rear fender.

The wheels comprise Shimano-branded hubs and WTB SX19 rims, and are shod with great-looking tanwall 2.25in WTB Nine Line tyres.

Stopping duties are performed by Alhonga hydraulic disc brakes.

A short stem and wide riser handlebar with ergonomic grips combine with a generously padded saddle and the aforementioned suspension seatpost for a very comfortable, slightly upright ride position.

Ridgeback Arcus 3 ride impressions

On the road, the Arcus is a very pleasant place to be.

The Microshift drivetrain works impressively well for a budget option. The twin push-triggers have a defined click, which is a little nosier than you get from Shimano or SRAM, but just as accurate.

The frame shape gives lots of standover height, which makes the Arcus a fun bike to ride.

As part of the test riding, I took in plenty of urban roads, towpaths and bike paths, and even a couple of excursions onto proper off-road trails – the Arcus didn’t feel out of its depth.

The 80mm-travel fork is quite basic, but with the right air pressure its bump response is good. It handles vibrations well too.

Compared to a premium suspension fork, it’s a little soft-feeling, especially when you get out of the saddle and lean on the bars, but this is forgivable.

I was thankful for the remote lockout, which all but prevents the fork from moving, proving useful especially on smooth tarmac and climbs.

The WTB tyres have a tightly packed tread pattern, giving a good balance of efficiency on the road and grip off-road. It’s certainly ample for the occasional excursion onto woodland trails and more than enough for your average bike path.

The SportDrive motor isn’t one of the most well-known powertrain systems, but it’s user-friendly and the four modes at your disposal offer a good spread of assistance.

The Alhonga brakes are similarly lesser known than more established brands, but the long levers and large rotors offer ample power and a good deal of progressive feel.

Importantly, they inspire confidence when navigating busy city traffic and when riding off-road.

Ridgeback claims a range of up to 60 miles (96.5km) is achievable from the 500Wh battery, but like most claimed ranges, this assumes somewhat favourable conditions.

In the real world, however, I achieved between a minimum of 31.02 miles (49.93km) with 2,025ft (617m) of climbing and a maximum of 37.32 miles (60.06km) with 1,867ft (569m) of ascent.

The caveat on those numbers is those rides were on mixed surfaces and gathered during a particularly cold snap. In better conditions, you could reasonably expect the system to last a little longer.

That said, the worst-case scenario here is the range will likely still be ample for most people’s commutes or round-town journeys for a few days.

Recharging the battery can be done with the unit either in situ or removed. Either way, the charge time runs to just shy of six hours.

The accessories are all welcome and add to the bike's versatility. The mudguards are broad and rattle-free, keeping spray off your clothes, and the integrated lights (which are powered by the battery) are powerful enough for unlit suburban roads.

The kickstand and frame-mounted lock are ideal for short stops, while the lock is a welcome deterrent – as is the ability to immobilise the motor system using the same key.

Ridgeback Arcus 3 bottom line

The Arcus 3’s ride brings everything I and many others will want from an urban commuter ebike.

The ride is comfortable, the electric motor has ample power and range, and if you want to get off the beaten track a little, it has the handling chops to match.

All the equipment and accessories you need for commuting are included as standard and it’s a great-looking bike too.

Ideally, I’d like a little more range, but this comes with the usual caveats.