Ride Quality is a complex topic. It encompasses many aspects that influence how a bike feels to ride. This includes basic topics such as sizing and fit, suspension, handling, and motor engagement. It also extends to more advanced subjects such as the user interface: in the Fold 1 Plus’ case, things like the display menu and the Velotric app.
Beginning with sizing and fit, the Fold 1 Plus shares the same frame and geometry as the standard Fold 1 and Fold 1 Lite. It has a single-size step-thru frame with a standover height of around 15.75” and is intended for riders from 4’9” to 6’5”.
At 5’11”, I found the bike very comfortable. Its seatpost was long enough (7.5” of adjustment) for me to find an appropriate saddle height for efficient leg extension when pedaling.
As is common with folding e-bikes, the Fold 1 Plus has a telescoping and collapsible stem with 3” of adjustment in handlebar height. The bike has a relatively long reach, but I was still able to enjoy a comfortable bend at the elbow, rather than feeling too stretched out.
I liked the bike’s plush yet supportive saddle, its 660mm handlebars, and its ergonomic rubber grips. The bike includes a suspension fork with 60mm of travel to smooth the ride, which felt effective in my testing, but those seeking to upgrade their comfort can add a suspension seatpost at purchase.
As with the original Fold 1 that I reviewed previously, the Plus has great steering control, nimble handling, and good riding stability. These qualities are a result of its combination of relatively wide handlebars and 20×3” tires. The tires also have the benefit of allowing riders to venture off-road to adventure on relatively smooth dirt or gravel paths.
I have a couple of points of critique to address regarding my experience with the Fold 1 Plus. First, while I (and, I’m sure, many riders) appreciate having many options, I found that the bike’s total of 15 pedal assist settings felt like an overabundance. Considering that there was a fair amount of overlap between them, I’d prefer a smaller number of power levels and the ability to change their power output through the Velotric app.
Additionally, while the motor engaged quickly and effectively reached (sometimes exceeded) the bike’s maximum speed, I experienced some ghost pedaling when using the cadence-sensing mode. Considering the bike’s price—and the fact that 8-speeds are generally standard on similar models—I hope to see an upgrade to at least the Shimano Altus tier in the future.
Otherwise, I appreciated many of the bike’s less-common features; the cruise control function, turn signals, and Apple Find My™ system are standouts in my mind.
Additionally, I consider the Velotric app to be extremely useful, though many of the customization options found there are also accessible through the bike’s display menu. In addition to changing the bike’s settings, however, users can track their rides and sync their data with the Apple Health app.
These features make the Fold 1 Plus one of the most well-equipped folding e-bikes we’ve tested. In addition to having an impressive payload capacity that gives the bike passenger and cargo-hauling potential, it’s comfortable, portable, versatile, and highly customizable. In short, even with a couple of areas with room for improvement, I think its ride quality is great!
