City Commuting on the 5th Wheel Torrent 1: A Real-World Ride Review
October 4, 2023
The 5th Wheel Torrent 1 is the kind of e-bike that looks like it wants to play mountain bike, but it’s really aiming for city commuting with the ability to handle some rougher paths when your route gets messy.
I spent time riding it like I actually would in real life: neighborhood streets, small hills, some less-than-perfect pavement, and a few “shortcuts” that are more dirt-than-road. Here’s how it held up.
First Look: Commuter Practicality With MTB Styling
The Torrent 1 has a solid, stable feel to it. It’s also heavier than it looks at 60.6 lb, and you feel that most when maneuvering it at low speed or moving it around by hand.
The 27.5 x 2.3 all-terrain tires are a big part of the bike’s personality. The tread gives it that “ready for anything” look, and on the road it rolls with a controlled, planted feel. The tradeoff is you hear those tires—there’s more road noise than a smoother commuter tire.
It comes with integrated front and rear fenders, and while I like the idea for commuting, both fenders felt a bit flimsy to me. They’ll help with splashes, but I wouldn’t treat them like rugged, long-term hard-use parts.
Setup and Controls: Simple, With a Few Quirks
The cockpit is straightforward:
A basic left-mounted LCD that shows ride data like battery, speed, and distance
Simple button controls for pedal assist and menu functions
Integrated headlight control via the display
One thing I noticed immediately is the handlebar setup. The stem and bar are low-rise and fairly flat, which puts you into a more aggressive, leaned-forward position. Depending on your height and preferences, that can feel sporty… or it can feel like you want a bit more upright comfort. If I were dialing this in for daily commuting, I’d seriously consider riser bars.
The bike uses mechanical disc brakes. They worked fine in my braking tests and delivered decent stopping power, but personally I still prefer hydraulic brakes on e-bikes.
Battery and Everyday Use
The Torrent 1 uses a removable 48V 14.7Ah battery. Pulling the battery is straightforward with the key, and removing it helps if you need to reduce weight while transporting the bike.
Range claims always depend on rider weight, terrain, and assist level, but the Torrent 1 is positioned as a bike that can realistically do longer commuter days if you’re using pedal assist thoughtfully.
One small detail that stood out: the taillight is removable and has its own battery that you charge separately. I like the safety benefit of a bright rear light, but having another thing to remember to charge is a little inconvenient for daily life.
The Ride: Torque Sensor Feel Is the Star
This bike uses a rear hub motor (500W rated, 800W peak) paired with a torque sensor, and that pairing really defines the ride.
On pedal assist level 3, the assist felt natural and responsive to how I pedaled. When I kept a steady cadence and consistent pressure, the bike felt smooth and intuitive—more like an extension of my legs than an on/off motor.
That said, the torque sensor also has a personality: if my pedaling rhythm got inconsistent, I could feel the assist pulsing a bit as my input changed. It’s not a dealbreaker, but it’s something you’ll notice if you tend to “soft pedal” or vary pressure a lot.
The front suspension fork helps take the edge off bumps, and it includes lockout and preload adjustment so you can tune it for your route. Out of the box, it felt a bit noisy, but it still did its job smoothing out rougher pavement.
Throttle Behavior: No Instant Takeoff
The throttle is a right-hand thumb throttle, but it only engages once the bike is already moving. That’s a big “know before you buy” point.
In practice, it means you can’t just standstill-throttle your way off the line. You need to pedal first to get things going.
For some riders, that’s a negative—especially in situations where you want immediate acceleration from a stop. Personally, I missed having instant throttle for quick starts. On the flip side, this setup nudges you into riding it like a bicycle (and the torque sensor pedal assist is genuinely good), which is a plus if you want exercise baked into your commute.
Speed and Braking Impressions
On my hill test using throttle once moving, I saw it climb smoothly and hold strong speed uphill, and on a downhill run with full pedaling I saw mid-20s mph.
When it came time to scrub speed, the mechanical disc brakes did their job. Stopping power felt solid during my test, even though I’d still prefer hydraulics for feel and consistency.
Practical Annoyances I Ran Into
A couple of real-world issues stood out:
The kickstand sometimes rubbed against the rear tire.
The fenders felt flimsy and didn’t feel as well-integrated as I’d like.
The removable/charge-separately taillight adds one more charging task.
None of these are catastrophic, but they’re the sort of daily-use friction points that matter once the “new bike excitement” wears off.
Who I Think This Bike Is For
To me, the Torrent 1 makes the most sense for:
City commuters who want a more “bike-like” pedal assist feel (torque sensor)
Riders who deal with mixed pavement, potholes, and occasional dirt paths
Anyone who likes a sportier posture and doesn’t mind a heavier bike
It’s not a true mountain bike, and I wouldn’t buy it expecting full trail performance. I also found myself wishing for rear suspension when the road got rough—but for typical commuting and light off-road shortcuts, it fits the mission.
What We Like
Torque sensor pedal assist feels natural and engaging
Stable ride feel on city streets and uneven surfaces
All-terrain tires inspire confidence when routes get sketchy
Removable battery is practical for charging and transport
Integrated headlight is a nice commuting feature
Things To Consider
Throttle only works once you’re already moving (no instant launch)
Mechanical disc brakes work, but some riders will want hydraulics
Fenders feel flimsy
Kickstand can rub the rear tire
Taillight needs separate charging
60.6 lb weight is noticeable when handling the bike off the road
Final Thoughts
After riding the 5th Wheel Torrent 1 the way most of us actually ride—streets, hills, imperfect pavement, and the occasional detour—I came away liking the overall balance. The torque sensor is the highlight, and it makes the bike feel more refined than a lot of commuter e-bikes that rely on basic cadence sensing.
If you’re the kind of rider who wants instant throttle takeoff, that one design choice could be a dealbreaker. But if you want a commuter that encourages real pedaling, feels smooth once you’re moving, and can handle more than perfectly paved bike lanes, the Torrent 1 makes a strong case.
Links
5th Wheel Torrent 1 City Commuter Ebike (use promo code RUNPLAYBACK for $80 off): https://5thwheelebike.com/products/torrent-1
Bell Super 3R MIPS Bike Helmet: https://amzn.to/3TJ1vTR
Fox Racing Bike Gloves: https://amzn.to/40P5SyQ
Hafny Handlebar Bike Mirror: https://amzn.to/3FVubmN
Veeape Electric Air Pump: https://amzn.to/3LPLTf9
Denlix Military Sling Bag: https://amzn.to/3LTKN2c
Lamicall Bike Phone Mount: https://amzn.to/3LXmD6O
Onvian Wireless Bike Alarm: https://amzn.to/42KUgyE
RunPlayBack Merch: http://shop.runplayback.com/