ADO A16 Review - foldable 16 inch e-bike with 350W motor

Test: ADO A16

 ADO is a fairly new competitor on the foldable e-bike market, only appearing in 2021. ADO stands for "A Dece Oasis", which means something like "desert oasis". The name was given to the Crescent Lake (Crescent Lake) in China, which ultimately provides information about the origin of the brand.

Before we begin the test, there is one more point that we would like to address. ADO promises its customers a "Litetime Warranty", that is, a lifelong guarantee. In detail, however, a lifelong technical customer service is meant much more. After all, the frame is guaranteed for 10 years. The manufacturer gives a one-year guarantee on all other parts. The exact terms of the guarantee are  here  visible.

ADO A16: first impression

Folded up and almost ready to go, the ADO A16 is delivered in a plain cardboard box. The frame is made of aluminum and the entire bike weighs just under 21 kg.

What's in the box

In addition to the e-bike, the scope of delivery includes the following parts:

• a charger (42V 2A)
• a key pair
• a tool set consisting of two common Allen keys and a nut wrench
• an air pump
• a smartphone holder
• a quick start guide and operating instructions

 So everything is included that you need to drive off. 

Construction and processing

The assembly of the ADO A16 e-bike only takes a few steps. To do this, simply unfold the folding bike on the folding mechanism near the saddle, clamp the quick release and fix it with the safety lever. Then straighten the folded handlebar and also secure it using the safety lock. Finally, unfold the pedals and pull out, position and fix the saddle. Pretty easy and done quickly both ways.

Unfortunately, there is no precautionary measure to hold the folded parts together. You also have to be careful with the mudguards on the front and rear wheels. Although these are reasonably hard-wearing, they can easily get in between and break if they are folded unfavorably.

When folded, the ADO A16 is one of the most compact foldable 79 inch e-bikes with a size of only 38 x 58 x 16 cm. In comparison, this is the last one we tested FIIDO L3 (14 inch) hardly smaller at 70 x 36 x 68 cm.

Due to its transportable dimensions, the folding bike fits in pretty much any trunk and is suitable, among other things, as a commuter bike. When unfolded, the size grows to 144 x 53 x 108 cm. You should note the maximum load capacity of 120 kg.

In terms of workmanship, the ADO A16 hardly differs from other electric bikes in this price range. The welds are not necessarily the smallest and most beautiful, but the e-bike leaves an overall solid impression with no noticeable wear.

ADO A16: equipment

The equipment of the ADO A16 is impressive and contains everything you need for driving on dirt roads and roads. However, you should observe the regulations and laws of the country in which you want to ride the e-bike.

 In Germany, the ADO A16 is not approved for use on the road and must therefore not be driven in traffic. The reasons for this include the electronic horn and the throttle grip, which literally turns the e-bike into a moped.

Removable battery

The lithium-ion battery pack of the ADO A16 has a voltage of 36 V and a charge of 7.8 Ah. In watt hours, this corresponds to a capacity of 280 Wh. The battery is plugged into the inside of the bicycle frame, which also protects it from external influences.

It is particularly practical that the battery can be removed. This makes it easier to charge the battery and you have the option of having several battery packs ready.

To remove the battery, the e-bike must be folded. The lock that holds the battery in the frame can be released with one of the keys supplied. It is purely an anti-theft device and not an engine lock. Details on the range and charging time can be found below in the article.

350 Watt motor

The electric motor of the ADO A16 has a maximum output of 350 watts. Freshly unpacked, however, the power is throttled to 250 watts. You only get the full potential of the motor when you press the plus and minus buttons on the handlebars at the same time and then increase the power in the menu via item P08 (0100 = Unlimited). Instead of the initial 25 km / h, the e-bike then travels up to 35 km / h.

The electronics of the ADO A16 provide the driver with 4 operating modes. Here is an overview

•  Mode 0: Drive purely by pedal force. The Shimano 7-speed gearshift with a gear ratio of up to 3.25 makes driving more comfortable.
•  Mode 1: This mode can be described as Pedelec mode. From a speed of 6 km / h, the electric motor switches on and supports the driver when pedaling.
•  Mode 2: medium speed electric drive.
•  Mode 3: high speed electric drive.

Tires, lights and computers

The tires are 16 x 1.95 inch pneumatic tires. The foldable e-bike is sprung with air shock absorption at the front and rear. As already mentioned, mudguards are available.

Otherwise, the equipment offers an LED headlight, mechanical disc brakes, an electronic horn and a bike computer with an easy-to-read display. The speed, the range of the battery and the operating mode are displayed.

There is also a USB-A socket on the handlebar, which you can use to charge your smartphone, for example. Unfortunately, there is no LED brake light. Only a reflector is attached to the saddle.

ADO A16: Driving test

 Now the question of all questions. How does the ADO A16 drive anyway? 

Moped mode

The e-bike is started using the power button next to the display. The individual modes can be changed using the plus and minus buttons. If you drive the ADO A16 purely electrically (modes 2 and 3), you accelerate with the help of the gas ring on the right-hand side of the handlebar. This reacts pleasantly sensitively and almost instantly.

A cruise control that automatically maintains the speed is not activated by default. However, the function can be switched on via menu item P17.

Before the motor becomes active, you must first step on the pedals. The electric drive only reacts from around 6 km / h. This setting is used for safety, so that you do not accidentally accelerate from a standstill. However, this (safety) function can be switched off via menu item P09.

In the test, the ADO A16 showed good acceleration and reached a maximum speed of 85 km / h with a body weight of 30 kg. The engine masters smaller inclines without much loss of power. From an incline of around 20 ° you also have to pedal.

Pedelec mode

Pedelec operation is in mode 1. Here, too, the electric motor only takes effect from approx. 6 km / h. Pedaling activates the motor with minimal delay. When braking, the motor switches off immediately. The support takes effect up to around 25 km / h.

driving experience

The front and rear suspension gives the ADO A16 a fairly relaxed driving experience. The small tires make it bumpy over hill and dale, but roads and flat country lanes are very easy to drive on.

The Shimano 7-speed gearshift offers enough bandwidth and did not cause any problems in the test. The braking distance is short, even if the disc brakes grip a bit rough. The bottom line is that the ADO A16 offers useful driving characteristics.

Battery and range

A few more words about the battery. You don't necessarily have to take it out of the frame to charge the battery. You can access the charging port through a small hole on the frame. But it is extremely practical that the battery pack can be removed and charged without an e-bike. Additional battery packs are available from retailers for the ADO A16.

The range is very much dependent on the driving style. If you drive purely electrically, a range of around 25 kilometers is realistic on flat terrain. With increasing incline, the range naturally also decreases. If you unlock the engine power via the menu, the range is even reduced to just under 10 kilometers. The range is greater in pedelec mode. You can expect up to 40 kilometers here.