Soar Electric Bike Review: City ST Specs, Real Range, and What It's Worth Used

If you're shopping for a Soar electric bike, here's the short answer: the Soar City ST is a fair, simple commuter e-bike with a 350W rear hub motor, a 36V 10.4Ah battery and a claimed 20-mile range, and it lists at $999.99 new. That's the number to beat. A used one in good shape should sit well under that, and the best way to buy one is used, close to home, with the battery tested before you pay.

I help people buy and sell big, awkward things for a living, and e-bikes are one of the categories where I see buyers overpay the most. Mostly it's because the spec sheets are thin and nobody tells you what a fair used price looks like. Below I'll cover who sells Soar, how the City ST and City SO differ, what the real-world range looks like, how a Soar stacks up against a Lectric or an Aventon, what breaks, and what you should actually pay for a used Soar e-bike.

Who makes Soar e-bikes, and are they sold at Walmart?

Soar e-bikes are sold through sporting goods retailers, not as a Walmart house brand. When I went looking, the City ST and City SO showed up at Dick's Sporting Goods and Public Lands, and a separate model called the Soar Ektra shows up at Costco Canada. I couldn't find a Soar listed on Walmart's own site. People search "Walmart e-bike" for Soar a lot, probably because it sits in the same under-$1,000 price band as the bikes Walmart does carry. That's an easy mix-up to make.

On the support side, the Costco Canada listing for the Soar Ektra points owners to a Vue Mobility support email under a limited warranty. That matters if you're buying used. A warranty usually belongs to the first buyer, so assume you're on your own for repairs and price the bike that way.

So who is a Soar electric bike for? A Soar is a neighborhood bike. It's built for flat errands, short commutes and paved paths, not for hauling kids up a steep hill every morning.

Soar City ST vs City SO: which Soar e-bike model to look for

The City ST and the City SO are the same bike with two different frames. ST means step-through. SO means step-over. Both run on 27.5-inch wheels with 2.0-inch tires, a 350W motor, a 36V 10.4Ah battery, a 7-speed drivetrain, front and rear disc brakes, and a top assisted speed of about 20 mph. Retail copy for the City ST names a Motinova 350W rear hub motor with five pedal-assist levels and a Shimano 7-speed.

Pick the frame by your body, not by looks. The step-through is the one I'd point most buyers to. You don't have to swing a leg over a high top tube, which makes stopping at lights and getting on with a loaded rear rack a lot easier. The step-over is a touch stiffer and more traditional. If you're tall or you just like the feel of a classic bike, take the SO.

Then there's the Soar Ektra, which is a different animal. Costco Canada lists it with a 500W motor, a 48V battery, a step-through frame, front suspension and a 44 lb weight. Another retailer lists the same model name with a 350W motor and a 36V 7.8Ah battery. That conflict tells me there are at least two versions floating around. If you find a used Ektra, read the label on the battery and the motor before you agree to a price.

Model	Frame	Motor	Battery	Claimed range	List price
Soar City ST	Step-through, 27.5"	350W rear hub	36V 10.4Ah	Up to 20 miles	$999.99
Soar City SO	Step-over, 27.5"	350W	36V 10.4Ah	Up to 20 miles	$999.99
Soar Ektra	Step-through, front suspension	500W (one retailer says 350W)	48V (one retailer says 36V 7.8Ah)	Not published	Varies by retailer

Soar electric bike range: what you'll really get

Expect real range on a Soar City ST in the mid-teens, not a flat 20 miles. Here's the math I do on every e-bike. A 36V 10.4Ah pack holds about 374 watt-hours (36 times 10.4). A 350W hub-drive commuter on mixed pavement, with a rider using a middle assist level, tends to burn somewhere around 15 to 25 watt-hours a mile. That puts you between roughly 15 and 25 miles. The 20-mile claim sits in the middle of that, which is honest enough for a flat ride at low assist.

And then real life happens. Heavier rider. Wind. Hills. Throttle only. Cold mornings, which cut lithium capacity noticeably. On a used bike there's one more factor: battery age. A pack that's been through a few hundred charge cycles, or that sat on a shelf at zero percent all winter, won't hold what it held new.

My rule for a used Soar e-bike is simple. If your round trip is under 10 miles, the City ST is plenty. If it's 15 or more, buy something with a bigger battery, or plan to charge at work.

Soar vs Lectric vs Aventon: how a Soar e-bike compares

A Soar is a full-size commuter. A Lectric is a folding fat-tire bike. An Aventon is the premium step up. Those are three different bikes for three different buyers, and the used prices show it.

Here's what the Commonplace e-bike price index shows right now, based on current asking prices. The median used e-bike lists for $500, and the typical range is $300 to $800. Aventon sits at the top with a $900 median. Lectric is the value end at $475. Rad Power is around $625 and Himiway around $775.

Brand	What it is	Median used ask on Commonplace
Soar (City ST / SO)	27.5" commuter, 350W, rack and fenders	Too few listings for a median (a like-new 2025 City ST listed at $875)
Lectric	20" folding fat-tire	$475
Rad Power	Fat-tire utility and commuter	$625
Himiway	Fat-tire, bigger batteries	$775
Aventon	Premium commuter and cruiser	$900

So what does that tell you? A used Soar electric bike priced near $875 is competing with a used Aventon. That's a tough fight for the Soar. Where the Soar wins is the full-size 27.5-inch wheel and the ride feel of a normal bike, which a 20-inch folder like the Lectric can't match. If you want a deep look at that folding option, my used Lectric buying guide covers the models and battery checks.

If you're buying for a parent or for yourself and the step-through frame is the whole point, I wrote a separate piece on step-through frames and assist levels that goes deeper on fit.

Common Soar e-bike problems and red flags on a used one

The battery is the most expensive part on any budget e-bike, so check it first. Everything else on a Soar City ST is standard bike hardware that any shop can fix.

Here's what I look at on any used Soar electric bike, in order:

1. The battery, fully charged. Ask the seller to charge it the night before. Turn the bike on and check that the display reads full. Then ride it for at least ten minutes at a middle assist level and see whether the bars drop fast. A bar that falls off a cliff on the first hill is a tired pack.
2. The charger. Make sure it's there and that it's the right voltage. A missing charger is a real cost and a real delay.
3. Battery removal and the key. If the pack locks to the frame, you need the key. No key, no removal, no easy replacement later.
4. The hub motor. Lift the rear wheel and spin it with the power off. It should coast freely with only a faint whir. Grinding, clicking or a wheel that stops fast is worth walking away from.
5. The brakes. These are mechanical discs. Squeeze each lever hard. If it pulls to the bar, the pads or cable need work. Not a dealbreaker, but knock the cost off the price.
6. The display and throttle. Cycle through all five assist levels and try the throttle from a standstill. Flickering, dead pixels or a throttle that cuts in and out usually means a loose connector or water inside.
7. The frame and wheels. Look for cracks near the welds, a bent derailleur hanger and spokes that are loose. Bikes that lived outside under a tarp show it here first.

On parts, I couldn't find a published replacement battery price for the Soar City ST. That's the part I'd worry about. Before you buy, email the support address on the brand's retail listings and ask whether a replacement pack is available and what it costs. If nobody can sell you one, the bike's value drops to whatever it's worth when the battery dies.

What a used Soar electric bike is worth

A fair price for a used Soar City ST is roughly $450 to $700, depending on age and battery health, and a like-new one with almost no miles can stretch toward $800. Here's how I get there. The bike lists at $999.99, and Dick's has run it on sale at $799.99. When a new bike is regularly available for $800, a used one has to land meaningfully below that, or there's no reason to take on the risk.

The market data backs that up. The median used e-bike on Commonplace asks $500, and the typical range is $300 to $800. A like-new 2025 City ST, ridden twice with the charger included, is currently listed on Commonplace at $875, which is close to the sale price of a new one. That's the ceiling, not the norm. Budget e-bikes lose value fast because the battery is a wear item and buyers can see the new price on their phone in five seconds.

So my take is this. Pay up only for low miles, a strong battery and the charger in hand. Knock real money off for a weak pack, a missing key or brake work. And if a seller wants new-sale money for a two-year-old bike, keep scrolling.

Buying a used Soar e-bike without the hassle

The hard part of buying a used e-bike is never the price. It's the 56 lb bike, the stranger's driveway, and the hope that the battery holds a charge once you get it home. One seller listed their City ST at 56 lb, which doesn't fit in most car trunks.

That's why I built Commonplace the way it works. We pick the bike up, inspect it, and deliver it to you, and you pay on delivery. You never meet a stranger or haul a bike in your back seat. You can read how it works before you commit to anything.

Soar electric bike FAQ

Is the Soar City ST a good e-bike?

It's a good e-bike for short, flat rides. The 350W motor, 7-speed drivetrain, disc brakes, rack and fenders cover what most commuters need. It isn't built for steep hills or long daily miles, and the small battery is the limit.

How fast does a Soar electric bike go?

About 20 mph with assist. That's the retailer's stated top speed for the City ST and City SO. Above that, you're pedaling on your own.

Can you get a replacement battery for a Soar e-bike?

Not easily, from what I could find. I didn't see a published replacement price for the City ST pack. Contact the support address on the retail listing before you buy a used one, and confirm the battery key comes with the bike.

Is a used Soar worth it over a used Lectric?

Only if you want a full-size bike. A Lectric folds and has fat tires, and its used median on Commonplace is $475. A Soar rides like a normal bike on 27.5-inch wheels. Choose by how you'll ride, then compare price and battery health.

What's the difference between the Soar City ST and City SO?

The frame. ST is step-through, SO is step-over. The motor, battery, gearing and brakes are listed the same on both.

Got an e-bike sitting in the garage that you've stopped riding? You can list it on Commonplace for free, and we'll handle pickup, inspection and payment.

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