Moped style ebikes generally aren’t meant to be pedaled. The geometry doesn’t promote proper leg extension, so most models feature a single speed setup to maintain street-legal status and are designed around riding with the throttle. Retrospec looked at this and said, as long as the pedals need to be there, why not make them usable. The Valen Rev+ features an 8-speed drivetrain, allowing you to drop down to a low gear on hills and letting your legs keep up with its Class 3 speed capability. The rugged moto styling is all there, but the battery is built into the frame rather than hung off the outside, offering a cleaner look than many competitors at the $1,899 price point.
Do these choices translate into a better overall riding experience? That is what the rest of this review sets out to answer. We start with the standout features, walk through how it fits, and lay out the full spec sheet. Then comes the real-world testing, where we run it up to its top speed, climb a steep hill on both throttle and pedal assist, and check how the hydraulic brakes pull it down from speed. From there we compare it to its closest rival at this price, then finish with the pros, cons, and who the Valen Rev+ is for.
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Retrospec Valen Rev+ Video Review
If you would rather watch than read, the video covers the same ground in more detail. We go component by component, walk through the color display and its menus, show what different sized riders look like on the bike, and put you behind the handlebars with first person riding footage through our performance tests. We also include third person footage so you can see how the bike looks and moves out on the road.
Standout Features of the Retrospec Valen Rev+
The features below are where the Valen Rev+ separates itself from the typical moped style build.
Frame-Integrated 720Wh Battery
Integrating the battery into the downtube is still uncommon in the moped style class, where most packs bolt to the outside of the frame. The 720Wh pack uses LG cells, comes out with a keyed quarter turn, and charges on or off the bike through a port behind a rubber flap. Capacity is about average for the category. Retrospec advertises up to 68 miles, and on throttle alone our riding pointed closer to 30, with lower assist and steady pedaling stretching it further.
750W Motor With Class 3 Capability
Power comes from a 750W planetary geared hub motor in the rear wheel. Out of the box it runs in Class 2, capped at 20 mph. Switching to Class 3 raises the pedal assist ceiling to 28 mph where it is legal to ride, though the throttle stays limited to 20 mph either way. That switch sits behind a password-protected setting in the display, with the password listed in the manual.
Eight-Speed Shimano Drivetrain
An eight speed Shimano drivetrain is rare in the moped style class. The throttle is legally capped below the bike’s top speed, so reaching it means pedaling. On most single speed setups, that leaves your legs spinning with no real connection to the drivetrain. The gears here keep you connected, so your pedaling actually contributes as the speed climbs.
Fat Tires and Suspension Fork
Rolling stock is 20 by 4 inch CST fat tires with puncture protection and a reflective sidewall, paired with a triple clamp fork offering 100mm of travel, preload adjustment, and a lockout. It is a simple fork, without the compression or rebound tuning you get on pricier setups, but the basics are covered. The fat tires add cushion and grip of their own, enough for light off road confidence.
Frame, Sizing, and Options | Retrospec Valen Rev+
Visually the Valen Rev+ commits to the moto look without going overboard. The BMX style handlebars put you in an upright, fairly relaxed position, and the elongated moto saddle is long and soft enough that two people could share it, backed by a 350 pound payload rating that leaves room for a passenger or a heavier rider. Lighting is integrated and runs off the main battery, so there is nothing extra to charge, and the rear light brightens when you brake. The frame also includes mounting points for accessories like bottle cages and pegs. The bike comes in three colors: matte olive drab, matte black, and a Grateful Dead edition.
Fit is accommodating across the single available frame. We couldn’t find a recommended height range on Retrospecs site, but we our 6 foot rider with a 32 inch inseam was comfortable and a 5 foot 5 rider could ride it without trouble. Like most moped style and fat tire bikes it is heavy, and you feel that most when lifting it onto a rack or wheeling it around a garage rather than out on the road.
| Category | Retrospec Valen Rev+ |
|---|---|
| Frame Material | Hydroformed Aluminum |
| Advertised Weight | 72 lbs (with battery) |
| Payload Capacity | 350 lbs |
| Standover Height | 31.5" |
Retrospec Valen Rev+ Full Specifications
Here is the complete component list for the Valen Rev+.
| Component | Retrospec Valen Rev+ |
|---|---|
| Price | $1,899 |
| Type | Electric Moped Style Ebike |
| Class | 2/3 |
| Weight Capacity | 350 lbs |
| Top Speed | 28 mph |
| Motor | 750W Planetary Geared Hub |
| Battery | 48V 15 Ah (722 Wh) |
| Claimed Range | Up to 68 miles |
| Charger | 48V 2A (≈7 hr full charge) |
| Display | Center-mounted color LCD |
| Sensor | Cadence |
| Throttle | Left-hand thumb throttle (active to 20 mph in all assist levels) |
| UL Certifications | Certified to UL 2849 (electronics), UL 2271 (battery) |
| Shifter | Shimano 8-speed Rapidfire trigger |
| Derailleur | Shimano Altus (8-speed) |
| Chainring | 44T |
| Cassette | 11-32T |
| Brakes | Tektro Hydraulic Disc Brakes |
| Levers | Tektro with E-cutoff |
| Rotors | 180mm |
| Frame | Aluminum |
| Fork | Triple clamp suspension, 100mm travel, preload + lockout |
| Axle | Bolt-on front |
| Tires | CST 20" x 4", aggressive tread, puncture protection, reflective sidewall |
| Handlebars | BMX |
| Grips | Lock-on comfort grips |
| Saddle | Retrospec Custom Moto (elongated) |
| Pedals | Aluminum platform |
| Fenders | Plastic, front and rear |
| Kickstand | Rear-mounted, alloy chainstay mount |
Real-World Performance Testing | Retrospec Valen Rev+
Throttle Acceleration
On throttle alone from a stop, the Valen Rev+ builds speed in a steady, unhurried way and tops out at its 20 mph Class 2 throttle limit, easing off noticeably as it nears the cap. There is no surprise punch off the line, just predictable pull. The throttle stays available in every assist level and with assist switched off entirely, up to that same 20 mph ceiling, so you can get rolling or nudge your speed up without pedaling. Anyone hoping to cruise on throttle past 20 will not find it here, because the cap holds no matter which class the bike is set to.
Pedal Assist
Pedal assist runs off a cadence sensor, which reads whether the pedals are turning rather than how hard you push. Start spinning and the motor feeds in support, stop and it falls away. Each level is capped to a top speed rather than a power output, so the motor carries you to that level’s ceiling and holds there. Level one settles around 12 mph, and the ceilings rise in clear steps through the range until the top level reaches the 28 mph Class 3 maximum.
Hill Climb
On throttle alone, the ebike held a minimum of 12 mph up our test hill. This is a solid result for a machine this heavy, though it made its effort known with a higher-pitched whine that is louder than some others we have ridden. Climbing under pedal assist is where the gears earn their keep. Staying in a low gear on assist level one is manageable but slow, so most riders will inevitably reach for more help. By level five, there is a clear surge that allows you to gain speed on the climb. Adding your own effort is easy. While your physical power will not change the motor output due to the cadence sensor, it does let you take some of the load off the system.
Ride Feel
Comfort is where the upright posture, soft saddle, fork, and fat tires all come together. The 100mm fork takes the edge off cracks and broken pavement, and the tires add their own give. Push onto genuinely rough or rocky ground, however, and the limits start to show. More of the surface feedback comes through the frame, which is the nature of a hardtail, and standing on the pedals to unweight the bike becomes the better move. Ultimately, this is a comfortable ebike for paved cruising and the occasional unpaved stretch, but less so for truly rough terrain.
Retrospec Valen Rev+ Pros and Cons
Looking for more moped-style ebikes? Dive into our guide to the top picks available right now. It is an exciting time for new releases, too. We recently checked out the $1,699 Juiced Scrambler hardtail, which you can learn all about in our full review.
Final Thoughts on the Retrospec Valen Rev+
What the Retrospec Valen Rev+ offers is a moped-style ebike you can treat like a bike rather than just a throttle machine, presented in a cleaner package than most of its rivals. It is a hefty machine, makes its presence known with a loud motor, and you can realistically expect around 30 miles if relying on the throttle. But for a rider who wants to pedal a moped-style ebike, likes a tidy look, and values an established name and electronics Certified to UL standards, it presents a distinct choice in the market at $1,899.
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