ADO Air Carbon Pro review: Stunning lightweight folding e-bike that blows most of the competition into the nearest hedge

Given that I'm fortunate enough to be able to test and appraise the finer things in life from time to time and am a huge fan of the best electric bikes (especially folding ones), I thought I'd try and track down a sub-two grand folding model that aficionados like me could feasibly afford, and eventually alighted on the brand new ADO Air Carbon Pro from burgeoning Chinese brand, A Dece Oasis.

ADO produces a number of mid-to-premium e-bikes, but this one immediately caught my eye, partly because it had the word 'carbon' in the moniker but mostly because it's relatively light (16.2 kilos).

It's also well integrated with a ton of tantalising features like neat cable routing, a battery hidden inside the seat post, a built-in front headlight, GPS tracking, a two-speed auto-shifting Bafang motor with 50Nm of torque, Tektro hydraulic disc brakes, 20-inch wheels for better stability and speed, and the ability to fold it up for storage, commuting and easy car transport.

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But enough waffle already, and let me tell you why I think that the ADO Air Carbon Pro is, pound for pound, the best folding e-bike I've ever reviewed.

ADO Air Carbon Pro review

Price and availability

While this model sits in an upper-tier price bracket, there are many much more expensive electric and non-electric bikes out there so I feel its sub-two grand price is fully justified, as is the full five-star accolade I'm giving it.

To put the price of this 16.2-kilo bike’s price into perspective, let’s look at some of the folding e-bike competition. At £1,999, it’s almost half the price of the similarly weighted Brompton P line (from £3,879) which is not nearly as well attired, half the price of the F1-inspired GoCycle (£3,999) and £700 less than the 25-kilo Cube Comfort 500. It’s also less than the price of most high-end ‘analogue’ road bikes and well under half the price of most premium-spec racing models.

Of course, cost is subjective, relative to one’s disposable income and dependent on one’s love of bicycles in general, but take it from me – you might not find a better engineered lightweight electric folder for the money than this cracking beaut. That said, if two grand seems a step too far, perhaps opt for ADO's similarly-styled Air 20s model instead, which retails at a very competitive £1,299.

In the UK you can currently order the ADO Air Carbon Pro direct from the ADO website for £1,999. This bike is also available from ADO's EU store where it retails at €2,499.

The Air Carbon Pro is apparently also available in the USA for an equivalent value of between $2,400 and $2,550. Contact ADO for further details.

Specs at a glance

• Frame & Fork: Carbon fibre
• Motor: BAFANG H700 250W brushless hub
• Gears: Automatic 2-speed
• Ride modes: Eco + Sport (three levels for each)
• Torque: 50 Nm
• Battery: 37V / 10Ah (370 Wh), seatpost integrated and removable
• Range: Up to 100 km
• Sensor: Dual-sided torque sensor
• Drivetrain: Carbon belt drive
• Brakes: Tektro hydraulic disc
• Wheels: 20”
• Tyres: 20” × 1.75”
• Display: NFC colour display
• Waterproofness: IPX6 (Display IPX7)
• Smart features: GPS anti-theft, NFC tap-to-unlock, ADO Smart Connect app
• Folding: Around 20 seconds
• Rear rack: MIK-compatible
• Weight: 16.2 kg (with battery)
• Max load: 120 kg
• Frame warranty: 5 years

Set up

The ADO Air Carbon Pro arrives fully folded and zip-tied absolutely everywhere, so you’ll need a strong pair of scissors or a cable cutter to release them all.

All you have to do is unfold it, fit the comfy saddle using the provided Allen key, adjust the seat post to your desired height – ideally so your legs are almost fully stretched on the down stroke with the balls of your feet on the pedals – and adjust the angle of the MTB-style riser bars to your preferred riding position.

The bike also comes with ADO’s AQS luggage connector so fit that, too, if you’ve added any front-mounted bags and baskets to your order.

My test sample came with a completely flat battery having been in storage and transit from China, but it only took about four hours to fully charge, which is pretty good in my book. Next, download the ADOBIKE app, create an account, ensure your phone’s Bluetooth is active and connect to the bike. You’re now ready to head out on your first ride of many.

Design and build quality

ADO – short for A Dece Oasis – has absolutely nailed the design of the Air Carbon Pro. Available in black or white, the beautifully sculpted full carbon fibre frame is the obvious clincher here, but it's the finer details that have really impressed me.

Every cable bar, the neatly wrapped brake lines and battery line have been routed internally, and every component feels as though it's been selected with longevity in mind. The overall fit and finish of this bike is genuinely exceptional, with a level of engineering precision I'd happily compare with the marine industry.

Perhaps most remarkably, the whole package weighs in at just 16.2kg, making the Air Carbon Pro one of the lightest fully-featured folding electric bikes I've ever tested. Considering it packs a sizeable battery, hydraulic brakes, integrated lighting and a rear luggage rack into the bargain, I consider that an impressive achievement.

Starting at the rear, you're met with a sturdy MIK-compatible rear carrier capable of hauling up to 25kg, replete with a neatly integrated rear LED light that remains visible without spoiling the bike's clean aesthetic. Beneath the rack sits Bafang's excellent H700 250W rear hub motor, which produces an ample 50Nm of torque.

What makes this motor particularly interesting is its automatic two-speed gearbox. Instead of forcing the rider to think about changing gears and having to fiddle with an annoying rear derailleur, the motor itself quietly shifts between two internal ratios depending on your speed.

Hence, when you pull away from traffic lights, it uses the lower gear for stronger acceleration and, as your speed builds, it almost seamlessly changes into the taller ratio for more efficient cruising. Most riders will hardly notice it happening, which is exactly the point.

Likewise, when coming to a standstill, there's no faffing about changing down in advance with a RapidFire shifter because it'll be back to first gear in readiness for starting off again.

The Air Carbon Pro's 20-inch tyres strike an excellent balance between agility, stability and compact foldability while their reflective sidewalls provide welcome visibility after dark.

Braking duties are handled by Tektro hydraulic disc brakes front and rear, and they stop on sixpence in all weather conditions. The entire bike also carries an IPX6 water resistance rating, so heavy rain shouldn't pose any issues.

One of my favourite design flourishes is the elegantly crafted rear stays that flow beautifully into the frame. Equally welcome is the carbon belt drive, which is whisper-quiet (wahey, no chain slap), requires virtually no maintenance and never leaves oily marks on your trousers.

Replacement belts cost £79.90, which isn't too bad considering their longevity and overall cleanliness. My review bike arrived without a kickstand, although you can buy one direct from ADO for £49.99, along with a wide range of other reasonably-priced accessories for all their bikes.

Since most carbon frames aren't suitable for fitting kickstands, the ADO stand attaches to the outer bolt on the rear hub. I can't vouch for how well it functions.

Moving towards the centre of the bike, the ADO's heavy-duty 37V, 10Ah (370Wh) battery is cleverly integrated into the seat post, which has the diameter of an elephant's trunk and is fitted with a neat cable connector.

According to the specs, the battery delivers a range of up to 62 miles (100km) depending on the amount of inclines and level of pedal assistance. A heavy-duty lockable release lever, meanwhile, allows the battery to be removed in seconds for indoor charging and added security.

Most mid to high-end e-bikes these days are equipped with a torque sensor rather than a cadence sensor. In essence, a torque sensor measures how hard the rider is pedalling before adjusting the amount of motor assistance accordingly, while a cadence sensor simply detects if the pedals are moving before the motor kicks in at a pre-set level.

The Air Carbon Pro's bottom bracket is equipped with a dual-sided torque sensor, which delivers natural assistance that feels remarkably smooth and confidence-inspiring.

This bike's aluminium pedals offer superb grip underfoot, but their aggressively sharp edges are very unforgiving and prone to gouging one's calf when manoeuvring the bike indoors, especially if wearing shorts. I'd strongly recommend swapping them for removable or foldable pedals with bevelled edges, which would also make storage easier.

Elsewhere, the saddle is pleasantly comfortable despite lacking any suspension, while an integrated anti-theft GPS tracking module hidden inside the down tube provides a very useful level of security.

Heading to the fore, the Air Carbon Pro's fixed handlebar stem and riser bar configuration encourage an upright riding position that most leisure riders will definitely appreciate. However, I'm personally more accustomed to a mountain bike setup where the saddle sits higher than the handlebars, allowing for greater leg power while reducing pressure through the spine.

Nevertheless, I have easily adapted to this bike's sit-up-and-beg riding position, thanks in no small part to the extremely generous motor assistance which does most of the hard work.

I have also angled the riser bars to a more forward-facing position, which has definitely improved my riding posture. But I'd still love to see ADO offer an optional telescopic, height-adjustable handlebar stem so different riders can fine-tune their preferred riding positions.

The Air Carbon Pro's control display introduces NFC unlocking via the supplied key card (more available online). This allows the bike to power up in under two seconds without having to enter a personal PIN.

However, I haven't been able to get my iPhone 15 Pro's NFC to work during testing as the Apple setup process appears to be unnecessarily convoluted.

Granted, the display is generally clear, but some of its smaller text is simply too faint to read while riding. But thankfully the important information – speed and assistance mode – remains easy to see. Riders can choose between two power modes – Eco and Sport – and each mode offers three levels of assistance.

I found that Eco mode Level 2 proved more than sufficient for the vast majority of my riding, while Sport Level 3 provided almost insane levels of punch and was especially handy when riding up steep gradients.

The ADOBIKE app extends the Air Carbon Pro's functionality by connecting to the bike via Bluetooth, giving you access to settings, ride statistics and security features including GPS tracking. It also apparently allows firmware updates though I've received no such notifications since receiving my test sample.

While undeniably useful, parts of the app's interface are very confusing – for some reason the app’s odometer reading bears no resemblance to the amount of miles I’ve actually covered – and some other settings proved inconsistent or non functional during my testing. A few app tweaks are in order me thinks.

I will end this section with a high five to the designers for including an integrated front LED headlight that's beautifully incorporated into the frame.

This 170-lumen lamp throws out an impressively bright beam that's angled perfectly to illuminate the road ahead without dazzling oncoming traffic and perfectly complements what is one of the most thoughtfully designed folding e-bikes currently available.

Add compatibility with both ADO's own AQS luggage ecosystem and the universal MIK click-on accessory system, and the Air Carbon Pro is every bit as practical as it is elegant.

Folding mechanism

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I'm a big fan of folding bikes of all varieties, mostly because they're easy to store at home, can be taken on public transport or in the car when folded, and they hardly ever need to be left on the street where they could easily be stolen.

Thankfully, the Air Carbon Pro's folding mechanism is refreshingly straightforward and largely hassle-free. The carbon fibre frame folds at the centre using a robust locking hinge and a magnet system to hold the front and rear wheels together.

The handlebar stem folds neatly down alongside the frame to create a compact package that's easy to store in a car boot, hallway or train luggage area. While the centre fold system feels quite heavy when folding, the process quickly becomes second nature and can comfortably be completed in under a minute.

That said, this bike isn't as ingenious or compact as a Brompton, which still reigns supreme when it comes to achieving the smallest and neatest folded footprint in the fastest time.

For instance, I found I couldn’t push it along when folded, or the pedals slowly revolved before one of them jammed against the front mudguard – another good reason to consider changing the pedals to quick-release ones.

In the Air Carbon Pro's favour, it is considerably easier to live with than many other folding e-bikes I've reviewed over the years, and I put this largely down to its relatively low 16.2kg weight and thoughtfully engineered design.

Yes, its 20-inch wheels make it a lot more cumbersome than a 16-inch Brompton when folded, but the fact it folds at all is cause for a little celebration because it means you can store it more easily indoors, take it on a train and fit it into most car boots.

Performance and ride quality

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Although it has taken me a day or two to get used to the high handlebar setup, I've grown to love this e-bike in every discipline I've thrown at it. Its overall power delivery, smooth automatic two-speed gearbox and silent belt drive make riding it such an unbridled pleasure, whether it's bombing along a flat road or climbing a steep 8-10% gradient.

In fact, I've been blown away by how well this two-speed bike goes up steep hills without causing a build-up of painful lactic acid in the thighs.

I genuinely expected just two gears to really struggle on the types of inclines I've been riding on but, to my surprise, it's sailed up every road with consummate ease. I'm not as fit as I once was and yet I feel I could ride for 20 or so miles over vastly undulating terrain without feeling the need for a little lie down.

I found that Eco mode positions 1 and 2 provided more than enough oomph for most of my riding sessions and I only ever selected Sport mode 3 when midway up a steep hill.

In fact, on day one of my test I had it in Sport mode 3 while going up a gentle gradient, and it popped a wheelie with hardly any effort applied to the pedals.

Hence, I would definitely tap down to Eco mode level 1 or 2 when performing a U-turn, or your pressure on the pedals at low speed could pitch you off if the motor kicks in too energetically. I've had that happen to me in the past – doing a tight U-turn or sudden avoidance of a pedestrian when setting off are arguably the easiest ways to fall off an e-bike.

While this bike doesn't have suspension of any kind, I've found it very comfortable to ride on most roads. Yes, the rigid carbon frame can amplify every blemish in a road, but I'm used to that and actually enjoy the confidence-inspiring feedback a rigid frame provides.

I also much prefer 20-inch wheels to the 16-inch variety since they provide less rolling resistance and much more stability at higher speeds.

So well done ADO, you’ve pulled off a doozy and produced the best folding e-bike I’ve ever had the pleasure of riding. As a result, I am truly smitten, despite the sharp, scratchy pedals and clunky app.

Verdict

The ADO Air Carbon Pro is everything a folding e-bike should be – impeccable build quality throughout, integrated cabling, lighting and battery storage, a stupendous automatic two-speed drivetrain, oodles of power, large 20-inch wheels for stability and improved momentum, and relatively easy foldability for practical storage and simple car portage.

In the pantheon of luxury carbon e-bikes, I consider a smidge under two grand to be very decent value for money, so if you’re in the market for a premium folder that ticks almost every box, this one’s as close to perfection as it gets.