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Introduction
Welcome to Ride Review, your ultimate destination for everything EV! Today, we’re diving into the world of folding Ebikes. These versatile machines offer the convenience of portability without compromising on performance. We’ll be putting these bikes through a series of rigorous tests to see which one truly stands out. Stay tuned to find out which folding Ebike takes the crown!
TL;DR
In our latest Folding Ebike competition, we tested a variety of bikes across several rigorous challenges to determine the ultimate performer. The Mod City+ 3 and Sierra GT showcased impressive foldability and water retention, with the Mod City+ 3 narrowly edging out the Sierra GT in the foldability test. The Lectric XP 3.0 stood out for its affordability and solid performance across multiple tests, including a notable second place in the water retention test, and a first place finish in the foldability test. However, it was the Monday Verano that stole the show, clinching first place overall with top scores in the acceleration, braking, and hill climb tests, proving its superiority with exceptional power and stability.
Meet the Contenders
Before we jump into the competition, let’s meet our contenders:
Mod Bikes Mod City+ 3
The first is Mod City+ 3 from Mod Bikes. Priced at $1,999, it features a powerful 500W motor, a 12.8Ah battery, and high-quality hydraulic brakes. This bike is designed for those who value both speed and versatility. It’s one of the most expensive bikes in the field today, so let’s see if the value is there for the extra price.
Motor: 500W
Battery: 12.8Ah
Brakes: Hydraulic
Price: $1,999
Unique Feature: Lightweight frame for easy portability
Lectric XP 3.0
Next, we have the Lectric XP 3.0. With a starting price of just $999, it’s the most affordable option in the field today. It comes with a 500W motor which peaks at 1,000 watts, a 10.4Ah battery, (with the option to upgrade to a 14Ah battery for an additional $200), and hydraulic disc brakes. Known for its affordability and reliability, it’s a favorite among budget-conscious riders, and arguably one of the most popular Ebikes in America.
Motor: 500W
Battery: 10.4Ah
Brakes: Hydraulic
Price: $999
Unique Feature: Most affordable Ebike in the field
Elux Sierra GT
Then there’s the Sierra GT, priced at $1,695. It boasts a 750W motor, a 10.5Ah Ah battery, and hydraulic brakes, making it a strong contender in this competition. There is also an extended range package which gives you a total of 25Ah for the ultimate range on a folding platform.
Motor: 750W
Battery: 10.5Ah
Brakes: Hydraulic
Price: $1,695
Unique Feature: Best-in-class suspension
Aventon Sinch
Next up is the Sinch, priced at $1,699. With a 500W motor, 14Ah battery, and mechanical disc brakes, it’s worth noting it’s the only mechanical brakes in the field, so it’ll be interesting to see how it holds up in the braking test.
Motor: 500W
Battery: 14Ah
Brakes: Mechanical
Price: $1,699
Unique Feature: Fat tire setup for off-road capability
Monday Motorbikes Verano
Next, we have the Monday Verano. Priced at $1,399, it comes with a 500W Bafang motor, a 14Ah battery, and hydraulic brakes. It’s built for those who want top performance and durability in a folding bike. As a fun side note, it’s Monday’s first folding Ebike, so it’ll be interesting to see if their Motorbike background helped them on the design here.
Motor: 500W
Battery: 14Ah
Brakes: Hydraulic
Price: $1,399
Unique Feature: Top performer in multiple categories
Velotric Fold 1
Next, we have the Velotric Fold 1, priced at $1,199. It features a 750W motor, a 12.6Ah battery, and hydraulic brakes, offering a blend of power and precision. It’s one of the latest offerings from Velotric, which has become quite popular for its budget-friendly Ebikes.
Motor: 750W
Battery: 12.6Ah
Brakes: Hydraulic
Price: $1,199
Unique Feature: Compact and easy to fold
Acceleration
Now for reference, the start and finish cones are about 200 feet apart, and we will be hammering on the throttles and as I mentioned in the intro, seeing what each bike’s top speed is when it crosses the finish line.
Starting from the bottom, we have the Sinch, which reached a top speed of 18.2 MPH. While it was the slowest in this test, its performance was still respectable given its 500W motor size. The Sinch might not be the fastest, but its smooth and steady acceleration makes it a reliable choice for those who prefer a gradual build-up of speed.
Next up is the Velotric Fold 1, which achieved a top speed of 18.6 MPH. Its 750W motor performed well, placing it in the middle of the pack. The Velotric Fold 1’s acceleration is consistent and dependable, making it a solid choice for urban commuting and everyday rides.
The Lectric XP 3.0 came in with a top speed of 18.9 MPH. Despite having a 500W motor, which again peaks at 1,000 watts, it still managed to deliver solid acceleration. Considering the price here, it still stands out for its ability to offer great performance at a budget-friendly price, proving that you don't always need a bigger motor to get decent acceleration.
Following closely was the Sierra GT, which reached a top speed of 19 MPH. Its 750W motor performed well, showcasing its potential for quick starts. The Sierra GT combines speed with a smooth ride since it’s got suspension in the front forks, and the addition of the Suntour NCX seatpost suspension.
The Monday Verano impressed us with a top speed of 19.2 MPH. This bike’s 500W motor provided excellent acceleration, making it a strong contender in this category. The Verano’s robust motor ensures a rapid start, which is ideal for riders who need to quickly get up to speed in busy city traffic.
And finally, the fastest bike in this test was the Mod City+ 3, reaching a top speed of 19.8 MPH. Its powerful 500W motor really shone through, making it the clear winner in this category. While it barely edged out the Verano, the Mod City+ 3’s acceleration was unmatched in this competition, delivering a burst of speed that’s perfect for thrill-seekers and those who value top-notch performance.
Mod City+ 3 - 19.8 MPH
Verano - 19.2 MPH
Sierra GT - 19 MPH
XP 3.0 - 18.9 MPH
Fold 1 - 18.6 MPH
Sinch - 18.2 MPH
Braking
Next, we put the braking capabilities of these bikes to the test, measuring the distance needed to stop from 20 MPH. Each bike will get 3 chances and we’ll judge them based on the average of those 3 attempts.
Starting with the bike that took the longest to stop, the Lectric XP 3.0 had an average stopping distance of 21 feet. Its hydraulic brakes provided decent stopping power, but it lagged behind the others just a hair. This could also be due to the nature of the more off-road-ready tread, which tends to provide less grip when stopping on the concrete like this. Given its affordable price point, this performance is still respectable.
The Sinch had an average stopping distance of 19.6 feet. Its mechanical disc brakes performed adequately, though not as well as many of the hydraulic systems. It's interesting to note that despite its lower brake performance, it held its own in other areas, but I’m getting ahead of myself.
The Velotric Fold 1 had an almost identical performance, with an average stopping distance of 19.6 feet. Its hydraulic brakes were effective in bringing it to a halt quickly, showing that good brake performance can be achieved at a mid-range price point.
The Sierra GT also had an average stopping distance of 19.6 feet. Its hydraulic brakes ensured a safe and quick stop, highlighting its strong build and reliable components. Also worth noting, the Sierra GT has some of the best brakes in the field, from a specs perspective.
Next, the Monday Verano impressed us with an average stopping distance of 17.3 feet. Its braking system provided reliable and efficient stopping power, which is crucial for a bike designed for its top speed and performance. And while that sounds like the clear winner, we still had one more bike to go.
Finally, the Mod Bikes excelled with an average stopping distance of 14 feet, thanks to its high-quality hydraulic brakes, lightweight design, and street-treaded tires. This bike’s performance in the braking test underscores its premium price, and so far in this competition, it’s off to an early lead.
Mod City+ 3 - 14ft
Verano - 17.3ft
Sierra GT - 19.6ft
Fold 1 - 19.6ft
Sinch - 19.6ft
XP 3.0 - 21ft
Water Test
To test stability and comfort, we conducted the water test, measuring how much water each bike retained after an off-road riding session. Starting from the bike that retained the least amount of water, we move to the bike that retained the most, with more water loosely indicating better stability and comfort.
In last place, the Mod Bikes retained 130ml of water. Its suspension system helped it perform reasonably well, but it fell short compared to the others in terms of stability and comfort on rough terrain. It also has some of the thinnest tires, which is a good argument for fatter tires being more comfortable in off-road environments.
The Sinch retained 180ml of water. Its compact design and decent suspension contributed to a mid-range performance in this test, and most of that is probably due to its larger tires. If you’re traveling off-road, bigger does in fact seem to be better.
The Velotric Fold 1 also retained 180ml of water. Its performance was on par with the Sinch, indicating a stable ride. Now as the rider in this test, I was surprised that they tied, because it felt like the Fold 1 was a bit smoother for me.
Next, the Sierra GT retained 240ml of water. Its suspension system provided a good balance of comfort and stability, showing that it can handle off-road conditions fairly well. Again, big tires, seatpost suspension, and arguably the most comfortable from a riders perspective.
The Lectric XP 3.0 retained 250ml of water. Despite it’s affordable pricetag it crushed this test, demonstrating that affordability doesn’t necessarily mean compromising on comfort. And you’re going to hear us hammer that idea home, that there are valuable Ebikes out there, that don’t cost an arm and a leg, and it really comes down to a particular bike, fitting your particular use-case.
The Monday Verano excelled in this test, retaining 280ml of water. Despite its high-end features and being designed for performance, it showed remarkable stability and comfort on off-road terrains, making it the clear winner in this category.
Verano - 280ml
XP 3.0 - 250ml
Sierra GT - 240ml
Fold 1 - 180ml
Sinch - 180ml
Mod City+ 3 - 130ml
Hill Climb
For the hill climb test, we challenged each bike to conquer a steep incline, which you may remember from our Fat Tire competition video. Starting with the bike that struggled the most and ending with the bike that performed the best, let's see how they fared.
In last place, the Lectric XP 3.0 only made it partway up the hill. The XP’s motor is designed more for efficiency and longer use, so it wasn’t quite tuned for the low-end torque needed to reach the top.
The Velotric Fold 1 performed better but still fell short of reaching the top. Its 750W motor provided a good effort, but it lacked the final push needed to conquer the incline.
The Sinch also almost made it to the top, struggling in the final stretch. Its 500W motor tried valiantly, but it ultimately couldn't manage the steepest part of the climb. It did make it a bit further up than it did in the intro though.
Similarly, the Sierra GT almost made it to the top. Its 750W motor showed potential, but it wasn’t quite enough to complete the climb.
The Monday Verano and Mod City+ 3 came the closest to conquering the hill, so it’s a joint first place for these two. It's interesting how the 500W motors appeared to perform better on these tests when compared with the 750W motors in the field. Doesn’t make much sense from a specs perspective, but we’re just here to report the scores.
Foldability
Have you ever gotten done with a refreshing bike ride, only to realize you’ve dropped something pretty important? Yeah, we’ve all been there.
Foldability is a key feature of these bikes, so we tested how quickly and easily each one could be folded and unfolded. While there were no major malfunctions, some of them did showcase ease of use when it comes to portability and folding, and we’ll show which ones those are, right now.
In last place, the Sierra GT took 1 minute and 39 seconds. While it still offered a manageable folding process, it wasn’t the quickest in the field. If it wouldn’t have been for the steering mishap at the bottom of the hill, it probably would have made it a few places higher.
The Sinch performed slightly better, taking 1 minute and 36 seconds. It was fairly easy to unfold, and performed fairly well, but only beat the Siera GT by 3 seconds, and if you remember, Tyson spent about 10 of those seconds on the ground rolling around in agony.
The Velotric Fold 1 provided a quicker folding process, taking 1 minute and 27 seconds. Its design facilitated a smooth and easy fold, placing it in the middle of the pack. A few things to note about weight and battery placement, having the battery behind the seat tube changed the weight and did make it exceptionally easy to fold.
The Monday Verano showcased its efficient folding mechanism, taking 1 minute and 26 seconds. The folding mechanism here was pretty dialed, and since it’s fairly lightweight when compared with the field, it made sense that it performed well here.
The Mod Bikes also performed well, taking 1 minute and 25 seconds. It barely beat out the Verano, and honestly, these two bikes have been neck and neck this whole competition so far.
Finally, the Lectric XP 3.0 excelled in this test, taking just 1 minute and 22 seconds to fold and unfold. Its simple and efficient design made it the easiest to manage, earning it the top spot in this test. With its ease of use, along with its incredibly affordable price tag, we’re starting to see why this has been the #1 selling Ebike in this category.
XP 3.0 - 1:22
Mod City+ 3 - 1:25
Verano - 1:26
Fold 1 - 1:27
Sinch - 1:36
Sierra GT - 1:39
Final Scores
And with all of our tests now completed, the moment you've been waiting for—the final rankings:
In 6th place, the Aventon Sinch with a total of 35 points. In 5th place, the Velotric Fold 1 with a total of 36 points. In 4th place, the Elux Sierra GT with a total of 38 points. In 3rd place, the Lectric XP 3.0 with a total of 40 points. In 2nd place, the Mod Bikes Mod City+ 3 with a total of 45 points. And in 1st place, the Monday Motorbikes Verano with a total of 46 points.
Outro
Thanks for joining us as we tested these amazing folding bikes. Be sure to subscribe for our other competitions featuring Fat Tire, eMTB, and more. Thanks for riding with us, and we’ll catch you on the next one!
