ADO A20F Electric Bike Review: Compared with ADO A20 Folding Bike

The ADO A20F is my second electric bike from this manufacturer. Before that, you could see the ADO A20 review, which my brother liked so much that she decided to take it over. Just on the INDIEGOGO platform, the campaign of the new model ADO A20F Electric Bike with wide tires was taking place, and then I decided that it was a nice opportunity worth taking advantage of. After that, we will be able to easily pack two folding bikes in the trunk of the car.

About Company:

On the manufacturer’s website, you can find information that it is a relatively young company. This was founded by a man who is an advocate of environmental protection and ecological commuting. They only deal with electric vehicles. An interesting fact is that the name ADO – A Dece Oasis (literally Oasis in the Desert) is inspired by nature around a crescent-shaped lake in Gansu Province, China. The site is referred to as a diamond on the ancient Silk Road. It was the last stop and the bridge between China and the West.

Coming back to the ADO A20F, it is, in short, a compact all-terrain electric bike with a collapsible aluminum shock-absorbing structure and a 10.4 Ah battery. It is equipped with Shimano 7-speed gears, 3-speed electric-assist adjustment, disc brakes, and 20-inch 4.0-inch wheels. According to the manufacturer, its range allows you to travel up to 40 km in fully electric mode and up to 70 km with power steering. The 500 W brushless electric motor used can drive up to 40 kilometers per hour(must be unlocked). The charging time is 4-5 hours. It is controlled by a practical LCD display that allows you to monitor and change various modes.

How the bike works every day, what are the pros and cons, and what are the differences compared to the A20 model, you will find out in the review below. I will try to present my 100% honest opinion.

Where is the cheapest ADO A20F?

The ADO A20F electric bike can be purchased on the manufacturer’s website and in several Chinese stores. It comes in two colors: white and black. Shipping is usually from European warehouses (Czech Republic / Poland / UK).

• On the manufacturer’s website for $ 1299 + shipping from the Polish warehouse·
• In the official ADO store on Aliexpress, the bike costs $912.81 with the seller’s coupon (under the price) and coupons from this page (select China warehouse – shipping will be from the Polish warehouse without VAT)·
• In the Geekbuying.com  store with shipping from the Polish warehouse for $949.99 ($ 948.99 in the geekbuying app and code) – no additional customs costs, including VA·

All parts and accessories are available on AliExpress and in-store Banggood.com.

ADO bicycle warranty and service

The main, if not the most important, problem that we face when buying electric vehicles is the lack of after-sales service. ADO solved this problem by creating a service infrastructure in all major EU countries, including Poland. The technical service center in Germany, with a warehouse of 3,000 square meters and an office of 400 square meters, can make an impression. Moreover, they are a producer, not a distributor, and have easier access to spare parts.

These were important elements for me that decided about the choice of ADO A20 and ADO A20F.

According to their website adoebike.com, the key components have a one-year warranty, while the mainframe is given as much as ten years. Any problems at the moment should be reported to the German branch (the most important information can be found here). This page describes the entire after-sales process (unfortunately in English).

ADO A20F package contents

The cardboard, in the case of the A20F, is much larger and heavier than the A20. The whole thing weighs over 10 kg more – about 37 kg, and it made me much more difficult to bring to my floor. The bike itself weighs as much as 34 kg. After opening, you can see that all elements are well protected during transport. In the middle, however, we find:

• A complex ADO A20F bike with a battery in the frame + 2x key
• Phone holder
• Charger
• User manual
• 2x Allen wrenches
• Pump

In this case, unfortunately, the fenders are missing, although there is a picture of the fenders on the box. You can buy them for about $ 40.

Preparation for driving

Before your first ride, check that everything is tightened securely and fully charge the battery. In this case, I did not have to mount the foot and pedals. Therefore, the assembly did not take more than 2 minutes. It was enough to adjust the handlebars and saddle and inflate the wheels. There was also no adjustment of the gears. I paid PLN 30 for this service with ADO A20.

When everything is in its place, the same folding or unfolding of the bike takes only a dozen or so seconds. Do not forget about the key, because without it, you will not turn on the power steering.

 

Construction of the ADO A20F bicycle

The ADO A20F electric bike is made of aluminum. The whole thing looks really good and gives the impression of a premium product. In my opinion, black looks much better than white. As the name suggests, the bike is equipped with 20-inch wheels. On the other hand, the letter F stands for Fat tire, i.e., wide 4 inch tires. Its dimensions when unfolded are 174 x 53 x 120 cm, and when folded, they are 98 x 45 x 77 cm (L * W * H). The weight is about 34 kilograms.

The design allows you to unfold and fold it in just a few seconds. The main elements to assemble are the frame and possibly the handlebar and saddle. I usually fold it the way you can see in the photo below. We have solid mounts here that perform very well when riding in all conditions.

Foldable Structure:

In addition, the foldable structure allows you to conveniently store the bike in small spaces. I was a bit concerned that it might not fit in the Civic’s trunk due to the wide wheels. Fortunately, everything comes into contact with each other. In addition, a nice solution is a handle on the frame, which makes it easy to lift and carry.

 

The battery is put inside the frame, and in order to take it out, you have to first fold the bike. We will also need the key attached to the set. The keyhole is under the frame. You need to unlock the security with it, and then you can insert or remove the battery. The key has one more important function, but I will describe it in the next section.

 

The A20F model has only one shock absorber located in the front fork. In the A20, there is also another one under the saddle. While driving, it looks like the wide wheels provide much better shock absorption and ride comfort than in the case of the A20. In A20F, all unevenness, ramps under curbs, and stairs are less noticeable.

Easy Adjustable:

The saddle is comfortable and, like the handlebar, is height-adjustable. You can easily adjust the ride for people with a height of 150 to about 200 cm. With my height of 184 cm, there is still a lot to come out. There is also a reflective light under the saddle. It is a pity that it is not illuminated from the battery, like the ones on the front.

On the left side of the steering wheel, you will find two buttons. Green is used to turn on the front LED lamp, and red is the horn.

 

The lamp is powered by a rechargeable battery. It could be a bit stronger, but in my opinion, it is sufficient to illuminate the road in darker places.

Next to it, there is a large and easy-to-read LCD display that allows you to turn on / off the electric driving mode and allows you to monitor speed, mileage, battery level, and error statuses. The advantage of the display is good visibility in the sun and backlight at night.

 

In the middle, you will find a place to mount a phone holder and a USB port for charging, e.g., a smartphone or a sports webcam.

 

We change the Shimano 7-speed gears on the right side. The lever (higher gear) and the blue button (lower gear) are used to change the gear ratio. Next to it, there is a throttle. Therefore, the manufacturers solve it in such a way that the rear brake is on the left and the front brake is on the right.

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Fat Tires:

The tires in the wheels are 20 inches in diameter and 4 inches wide. The maximum pressure is 1.4 BAR. In my opinion, they are suitable for any type of substrate. They perfectly absorb all unevenness; they can cope in the forest and even traveled a bit on the sand by the sea. Both wheels are equipped with efficient disc brakes.

 

A 500 W brushless motor is placed on the rear wheel hub. There is even rumored to be a braking energy recovery system that will increase the total range to some extent.

 

ADO A20F battery

ADO A20F bike operates on a replaceable battery with a capacity of 10.4 mAh. It is a bit larger than in the A20 model. It is placed inside the frame after unlocking the security with the included key. The battery does not need to be removed to recharge. It can be charged via the port located on the frame. It is definitely a more convenient solution for me. Bikes takes 4-5 hours to fully charge.

An additional battery can be purchased, e.g., on Aliexpress from this link or in the Banggood.com store from this link.

ADO A20F cycling modes

Most competitors in the same price range offer a 250W motor, while the ADO A20F has a motor that unlocks 500W  with a top speed of up to 40km / h (unlocking 500W motor power at your own risk)

Using electric assist is somewhat similar to starting a motorcycle. Insert and turn the key 45 degrees to activate the battery. It cannot be pulled out while driving on electric power. At first, I was a bit worried about it, but after a period of use, it turned out to be nothing to worry about – it didn’t fall out once.

 

Shifting Gears:

In the first gear, when we reach a speed of 5 km / h, the assist system is activated, which only works while pedaling. It is not a lot of power, but it is felt, and you can drive a lot of kilometers before the battery is discharged. The second and third gears work just like a motorcycle. The support system is activated at a speed of 5 km / h, but here we do not have to pedal anymore (you can change to 0, and then we start immediately with support – we set the P0 program with number 9 to 0 – check the point with removing the lock ). Just throttle on the right throttle. In the event that we stop, the support will turn off immediately, which seems to be a safe solution.

However, if we do not want to ride with assistance, we can always set to zero gear or completely turn off the power and ride as on a normal bicycle.

With my weight of 94 kg, I was able to accelerate in second gear to 24 km / h and in third, to 27 km/h. After removing the blockade in the third gear, it was possible to accelerate to 34-35 km/h. In my opinion, the A20F, despite the more powerful engine but increased weight, accelerates a little slower than the A20.

ADO A20F Every day

ADO bikes arouse a lot of interest among passers-by. Anyone who tried power steering was delighted with the possibilities and acceleration. Adjusting the saddle and handlebar took a few seconds, literally. In addition, the foldable structure is perfect to put it in the trunk of the car and go to various interesting places, e.g., we can take it on vacation.

 

In the city, thanks to its wide tires, it can handle virtually any surface. When I switched from the ADO A20 model to the A20F, I felt a much better driving comfort, and I had the impression that I could drive anywhere. Obstacles such as curbs or holes in the road are not a problem for him.

Due to the greater weight, it is less able to go uphill (my 94 kg + 34 kg). If it’s steeper, then I have to use some force at the end. On the other hand, my brother, who weighed much less, was going up the same hills only with electric assistance.

Range:

Regarding the range, according to the manufacturer, you can drive about 40 km in fully electric mode. Unfortunately, I did not manage to reach even 30 km with such a normal, quiet ride in 2/3 gear. The effect on faster battery consumption may also be caused by the fact that I set the electric support activation from the very start, and not as it is the factory from 5 km / h. I think that if I weighed 20-30 kg less and had factory settings, the distance could be 10 km longer.

If about 30 km can be done in pure electric mode, then reaching 70 km in mixed mode may not be easy to do, in my opinion. I think it is more about 60-65 km. This is, of course, about my weight range. I have not tested such distances yet because I am too used to driving with power assistance, and it will not be easy for me to cover so many kilometers.

How to unlock the power up to 40 km / h?

Due to the regulations and receiving the CE certificate, ADO had to limit the engine power to 250 W and the driving speed to 25 km/h. Therefore, the bicycle is a fully-fledged vehicle that can be ridden on the street or on bicycle paths.

If that was not enough, the lock could be easily removed and increase the power to 500 W and the driving speed to 35-40 km / h. Just remember that you are doing it at your own risk.

To unlock it, it is enough to hold the two-plus and minus buttons simultaneously for a few seconds. Then, with the middle button, select the option marked P0 with the number 8 and increase with a plus to 35 or 40.

 

ADO A20 vs ADO A20F

ADO A20F is made of practically the same construction as ADO A20. The difference is only in the width of the front fork, and the rear tubes have been changed and strengthened. Therefore, there is also a slight difference in dimensions.

The weight of the A20F bike is noticeable when you need to carry it, for example, to the third floor. ADO A20 weighs 24 kg, while A20F weighs 34 kg. Weight has a big influence on the range that can be covered in a mixed or fully electric model. With my weight of 94 kg, I am able to ride the ADO A20 about 35 km in fully electric mode, while in the A20F, it is difficult for me to get close to 30 km. Usually, it is about 26-27 km. I would like to add that in both bikes, the battery has the same parameters (36V / 10.4 aH – 18650 cells used)

When it comes to everyday driving, in my opinion, the A20F is much better. Wide wheels absorb all unevenness, and I feel as if I could drive it on any terrain and under any obstacle without much problem. It’s a bit like switching from a passenger car to an SUV.

ADO A20F, after unlocking, also has a more powerful 500 W motor (A20 – 350 W), but due to the weight, it accelerates a little slowly, and I achieve a slightly lower speed (34-35 km / h in A20F, 36-37 km / h in A20)

Both bikes are recommendable in terms of value for money. It’s probably hard to find something else at a similar price (you can check Fido). 

 I personally choose ADO A20F. My brother, on the other hand, prefers riding ADO A20.

ADO A20F specification

• Brand: ADO ( A Dece Oasis )
• Model: A20F
• Motor rated voltage: 36V
• Motor power: Brushless 250W / 500W after unlocking
• Number of gears: 3
• Battery: 36V / 10.4 aH (18650 cells used)
• Charging time: 4-5 hours
• Charger output power: 84W
• Maximum speed: 25km / 40km – unlockable
• Range: up to 40 km in fully electric mode and up to 70 km in mixed mode
• Drive: Shimano 7-speed derailleur
• Dimensions when unfolded: 1740 * 530 * 1200 mm
• Folded dimensions: 980 * 450 * 770 mm
• Wheels: 20 “, width 4.0”
• Weight: 34 kg
• Waterproof certificate: IPX5
• Cushioning: Front and under the saddle
• Brakes: Disc
• Maximum load: up to 120 kg
• Built-in phone charger: Yes
• CE Certification: Yes
• Height adjustable: Yes, for people 150-200 cm tall

PROS:

• Easy and quick folding
• Maximum speed 35 km / h (after unlocking)
• The seat and handlebar are adjustable in height
• Wide wheels absorb all unevenness
• Phone charger

MINUSES:

• The range in fully electric mode with my weight of 94 kg is only 26-27 km

Summary:

The ADO A20F bike is a great value for money. I think it would be hard to find an alternative with such parameters in Poland. In my opinion, driving this model gives much better comfort than ADO A20. The downside is the worse range and weight. If I had to choose between the A20 and A20F again, I am definitely in favor of the A20F.

After that, the company ADO placed great emphasis on logistics and after-sales service in the European Union. I’m just curious about its quality after six months of use. I’ve had A20 for about two months, and so far, everything is in its place.

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