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Qualisports Beluga Review

Qualisports Beluga Folding Fat Tire Ebike

Qualisports Beluga Folding Plastic Pedals Rear Kickstand Comfort Saddle

Qualisports Beluga Kunteng Black And White Lcd Display Ergonomic Velo Grips

Qualisports Beluga Innova Fat City Slick Tires On Cast Rims

Qualisports Beluga 48 Volt Seat Post Battery

Qualisports Beluga 7 Speed Shimano Tourney 14 28 Tooth

Qualisports Beluga Independent Rear Light Aluminum Alloy Fenders

Qualisports Beluga 52 Tooth Chainring Cadence Sensor Design

Qualisports Beluga 160mm Mechanical Disc Brakes

Qualisports Beluga Motor Controller Box 12 Magnet Cadence Sensor Sealed

Qualisports Beluga Folding Electric Bike

Qualisports Beluga Generic 2 Amp Charger

Qualisports Beluga Electric Bicycle Charger

A surprisingly affordable folding fat tire ebike with sturdy cast rims, wide aluminum alloy fenders, and unique 4.25" urban tires that coast efficiently and run quieter than all of the studded fat tires I see on the vast majority of competing folding fat electric bicycles
Innovative seat post battery pack looks beautiful, keeps weight centered on the frame, and is removable for charging on or off the bike, you get an integrated headlight and basic clip-on tail light that is mounted high and adds safety, but the rear light requires independent disposable AA batteries
Available in two colors, offers a basic 7-speed drivetrain with trigger shifters vs. the big thumb shifters on many competing ebikes, cast alloy rims won't go out of true or get damaged easily, controller box is small and hidden in the frame vs. bolted on, the cadence sensor offers 12 magnets and is sealed for protection, great kickstand placement, narrow folding joint won't bump knees as easily while pedaling
No suspension here, but the fat tires add a bit of comfort and stability, the seat post battery does not lock to the frame and could be vulnerable when parking in public, removing the battery takes extra time due to the screw-on power connector at the base... it also requires you to bend way down to connect and disconnect, the charging port for the battery is up high but a little difficult to reach under the saddle, basic pedals, no derailleur guard

Make:

Qualisports

Model:

Beluga

Price:

$1,399

Body Position:

Upright

Suggested Use:

Urban, Travel

Electric Bike Class:

Throttle on Demand (Class 2)

Learn more about Ebike classes

Warranty:

1 Year Comprehensive

Availability:

Canada, United States, Spain, France, Germany, Belgium, United Kingdom, Japan, Switzerland, Australia, South Korea

Model Year:

2020

Total Weight:

64 lbs (29.02 kg)

Battery Weight:

7.5 lbs (3.4 kg) (8.1lbs with Saddle)

Motor Weight:

7 lbs (3.17 kg)

Frame Material:

6061 Aluminum Alloy

Frame Sizes:

12.25 in (31.11 cm)

Geometry Measurements:

Unfolded: 12.25" Seat Tube, 23" Reach, 23.5" Standover Height, 27" Minimum Saddle Height, 25" Width, 66" Length, Folded Dimensions: Length 36" x Width 18.5" x Height 28.75

Frame Types:

Mid-Step, Folding

Frame Colors:

Matte Black, Satin Silver

Frame Fork Details:

Rigid 6061 Aluminum Alloy, 135mm Hub Spacing, 9.5mm Threaded Axle with 15mm Nuts

Frame Rear Details:

175mm Hub Spacing, 12mm Threaded Axle with 10mm Flats and 18mm Nuts

Attachment Points:

Rear Rack Bosses, Fender Bosses, Bottle Cage Bosses

Gearing Details:

7 Speed 1x7 Shimano Tourney Derailleur, MF-TZ500-7 14-28 Tooth Cassette

Shifter Details:

Shimano Triggers on Right (One-Way High Lever, 3-Shift Low Lever)

Cranks:

Prowheel Forged Alloy, 170mm Length, 52 Tooth Chainring with Plastic Guide

Pedals:

Generic Plastic Platform, Folding

Headset:

Custom, Internal Cups, Straight 1-1/8"

Stem:

Custom Aluminum Alloy, Folding, Telescoping Height, 290mm Base Height, 170mm Extension, Quick Release Clamp, 25.4mm Clamp Diameter

Handlebar:

Promax, Flat, Aluminum Alloy, 630mm Length

Brake Details:

Mechanical Disc Brakes with 160mm Rotors and NUTT DA65 Calipers, Four Finger Levers with Motor Inhibitors

Grips:

Velo, Rubber, Ergonomic, Non-Locking

Saddle:

Generic, Comfort

Seat Post:

Custom, Alloy (Contains the Battery)

Seat Post Length:

620 mm

Seat Post Diameter:

56 mm

Rims:

Aluminum Alloy, Double Wall, 85mm Outer Width, 5 Support Arms

Spokes:

5 Cast Support Arms

Tire Brand:

Innova, 20" x 4.25"

Wheel Sizes:

20 in (50.8cm)

Tire Details:

35 PSI, 2.4 BAR

Tube Details:

Schrader Valve

Accessories:

5 Star Integrated Headlight, Independent Rear Light (2 AA Batteries), Flick Bell, Aluminum Alloy Fenders, Optional Aluminum Alloy Rear Rack ($50), Optional Aluminum Alloy Front Basket ($60), Rear Mount Adjustable Kickstand (40mm Mounting Provisions)

Other:

Non-Locking Seat-Post Internal Battery Pack, 1.3lb 2 Amp Charger, Sine Wave Controller

Motor Brand:

MXUS

Motor Type:

Rear-Mounted Geared Hub

Learn more about Ebike motors

Motor Nominal Output:

500 watts

Motor Torque:

40 Newton meters

Battery Brand:

Samsung 3500Ma 18650 Cells

Battery Voltage:

48 volts

Battery Amp Hours:

10.5 ah

Battery Watt Hours:

504 wh

Battery Chemistry:

Lithium-ion

Charge Time:

5.5 hours

Estimated Min Range:

25 miles (40 km)

Estimated Max Range:

45 miles (72 km)

Display Type:

Kunteng, Fixed, Backlit Grayscale LCD, Buttons: Up, Power, Down (Hold Up for Backlight and Headlight, Hold Down for Walk Mode, Hold Up and Down for Settings, Hold Down while Riding to Set Cruise Control)

Readouts:

Battery Level (4 Bars and Outside), Trip Timer, Total Time, Assist Level (0-5), Speed, Average Speed, Max Speed, Trip Distance, Odometer, Battery Voltage

Drive Mode:

Cadence Sensing Pedal Assist, Trigger Throttle (Sealed 12-Magnet Sealed Sensor)

Top Speed:

20 mph (32 kph)

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Make or Model

Model Year

Body Position

Suggested Use

Frame Type

Drive Mode

Availability

Price Range

$0 (0 €)$18,000 (16,920 €)

Total Weight

0 lbs (0 kg)227 lbs (103 kg)

Top Speed

0 mph (0.0 km/hr)50 mph (80.5 km/hr)

Battery Watt Hrs

0 watt3,456 watt

Frame Size

0 in (0.00 cm)432 in (1,097.28 cm)

Motor Power

0 Newton meters250 Nm

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To run the forums, host the website, and travel, I charge a universal service fee for my reviews. This in-depth review was sponsored by Qualisports. My goal is to be transparent and unbiased with you, this video and writeup are not meant to be an endorsement of Qualisports products. I welcome your corrections, additions, and feedback in the comments below and the Qualisports electric bike forums.

Pros:

The Qualisports products are beautiful and well balanced, I love how the battery is hidden in the seat post, it doesn’t look like a typical electric bike to most people, so it could deter unwanted attention and theft
Very unique setup here with extra wide 4.25″ wide fat tires using slick street tread vs. knobby off-road tread, they are much smoother, quieter, and faster than a lot of the competing folding fat ebikes I’ve tested
Wide aluminum alloy fenders keep you dry and won’t rust if they get scratched, I like the color matching too, the fenders look great and didn’t rattle around a lot during my test rides
Many competing folding electric bikes have thicker main tubes because that’s where they place the battery pack, but this makes the folding joint stick out and can be easier to bump knees, shins, and thighs… so I like how narrow and sleek the Beluga frame is
The high volume fat tires, ergonomic grips, and plush saddle combine to offer a lot of comfort here, even though there’s no suspension and there’s no easy way to add a suspension seat post
Lots of little wins here, check out the bottle cage bosses on the main section of tubing, the plastic chain guide to reduce drops on bumpy terrain, and the four finger brake levers with motor inhibitors
It’s great that the bike comes with a front and rear light, I especially appreciate that the headlight is wired to run off of the main rechargeable battery pack, it shines forward and out to the sides, but it does not point where you steer because it’s mounted to the steer tube vs. fork or handlebar
Qualisports sells an optional front and rear rack/basket for people who want to use the bike for hauling cargo or running errands, these are pretty affordable at just $50 each ($100 for both) and they bolt directly to the frame and look pretty solid, I saw them when we reviewed the Dolphin recently… note that you do have to install the racks yourself if buying direct
They upgraded the motor from 350 watts to 500 watts nominal for 2019/2020 because people were asking for more punch and power, there are probably still a few 350 watt versions out there if you care more about range and efficiency
I appreciate that the trigger throttle allows for power override in each of the assist levels 1-5 to help you zip up to speed or climb more effectively without pressing buttons on the control pad, but keep in mind that the throttle is completely inactive in assist level zero
It’s great that Qualisports printed seat height markers on the back of the seat post, because some users may remove it each time they park the bike, for security. This allows users to quickly reposition the seat height… at least until the paint gets scratched off, so be delicate with it :)
Sam suggested that the external cable routing on this folding electric bike was easier to work with from a mechanic’s standpoint, and that it wouldn’t be as vulnerable to pinches when the frame is folded and unfolded
The Beluga is the largest ebike in the Qualisports line and offers the same extra long seat post and telescoping-height stem so it can fit taller riders
I noticed that the controller and motor here ramp up smoothly vs. suddenly, this saves energy and might also be more predictable and comfortable for riders, the smaller 20″ wheels provide a mechanical advantage for the hub motor and that could start to feel startling if the motor was too zippy, so for me, this setup is a good balance
The bike offers cruise control! Just get to a speed you feel comfortable with and hold the – key on the display panel button pad… it’s a neat feature to save your wrist and finger, but I struggled to figure out how to set it while also using the throttle or pedal assist to get to the exact speed I wanted

Cons:

The bike folds pretty compact, especially considering the fat tire design, but there aren’t any magnets or rubber straps to keep it from coming unfolded… consider adjustable-length bungee cords or one with plastic ends like this, and consider putting a towel or t-shirt between so the metal parts don’t rub into each other and scratch over time
It’s neat that the seat post batter is removable, but the connection point at the base requires some extra time and effort to unscrew, also, there’s no way to lock the seat post to the frame… so it could be vulnerable when parking at public racks
Because the seat post is proprietary and extra wide, there’s no easy way to swap it out for a suspension seat post like many other electric bicycles, it would also be difficult to find a suspension fork that could fit the 20″ fat tire front wheel… but if you want to try, I measured the dropout width at 135mm
Having the rear light mounted up high means you’ll be more visible and it won’t get in the way of the seat post going way down… but the light could be blocked by a long shirt or jacket hanging down, so be aware of this to maximize your safety when riding at night! I like that the lights are mounted using metal brackets vs. plastic
It was nice to see that the charging port for the battery pack is located at the very top of the seat post, because that’s easier to reach without bending way down… but it’s very tricky to reach, since it’s located directly below the saddle!
With the cast rims, this folding fat ebike does weight a bit more than some competitors at ~64lbs, you can remove the ~7.5lb seat post battery before folding and lifting, but neither of the two wheels have quick release so just be careful when lifting so you don’t hurt your back
The heavier wheels do add some weight to the steering and it reminded me of a motorcycle at times, where you have to “countersteer” and put more energy into handling as you turn
As much as I liked this display, considering that it’s clearly an affordable/cheap option, there’s no way to dim the backlighting when you activate the headlight, the display isn’t removable (so be careful when folding the bike), and you have push the buttons pretty intentionally while reaching over the trigger throttle to interact successfully
Given the weight of the bike, it would have been nice to see hydraulic disc brakes or larger 180mm rotors (there will be some cable stretch and additional hand effort required, especially for the rear brake), but sometimes the folding ebike manufacturers go for smaller rotors so they don’t get bent… these worked well enough during my tests rides, and I appreciate that both brake levers have motor inhibitors
It seems like the power connector at the base of the seat post battery could be exposed to rocks and sticks at the base of the bike, especially if the seat post is lowered… just keep an eye on this and be careful, because a replacement battery could be very expensive and damage to this part could even result in a fire hazard if the cells inside the pack are significantly damaged, check the video at 12:36 to see some closeup shots of the bottom bracket and this power cable position
There is no slap guard on the frame where the chain rides along, I would recommend protecting it with an aftermarket neoprene slap guard or at least some box tape to keep the paint looking good
The bike doesn’t come with a derailleur guard, which could help to protect in shipping (since it’s mostly sold direct), and when folding and moving! It’s also nice to have in the even of a bike crash or tip and they can be found aftermarket pretty affordably, not sure if it would fit perfectly though?

Useful Resources:

January 29, 2024 (10 months ago)

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Mike

5 years ago

Super comfortable folding ebike, (most comfortable folder I have ridden and I’ve ridden quite a few), and the reason for the smoothness of the motor is their sinewave controller. Quality and build of this ebike is super solid. Controller housing is one of the most protective out there. Wiring is very neat too, external and internal. They got a lot of little things right, and kept this model simple.

With the fat tires, its already comfortable, but in lieu of a suspension seatpost just buy a Cloud9 Comfort Cruiser seat. The seat design is very large and cushy, and has the added benefit of offering more clearance (space) between the seat and the charge point, so its actually easier to access the charging when needed.

The only shortcoming that I see, is that if you are in an area with winter cold months, its going to take removing the seat post with the seat of course, to bring inside if you keep the bike in an unheated garage. And security will be different if someone figures out the batteries are in the seat tube, and you’ve left it outside, and locked with a chain, they could still remove and take off with the entire battery pack in the seat. So you’d need to have a locking cable, come up underneath the seat, or get some of those locking security bolts/nuts for the seat clamp. (HexLox comes to mind for this purpose.)

Court

Great feedback, I especially appreciate your tip about the HexLox bolts to secure the seat clamp. Thanks Mike!!

Garry

Can someone comment on the range of Beluga, on throttle and PAS. I can read specs but wanted someones personal experience. Thank you.

Hi Gary, that’s a great question. Hopefully someone will chime in! Perhaps you could also ask and search around in the Qualisports forums here.

DrJay

I can’t answer specifically for the Beluga but this has been my experience with the Volador 36v 7 amp battery and 350 watt motor. Of course all this depends on terrain and weight. I weight 205 and ride in FL which is flat with mild hills. 100% throttle will give me 12 miles with some battery left but not much. I ride primarily pedal assist in gears 5, 6, 7 and level 1, 2, and occasionally 3 and under those circumstance I can get 25 miles easily using the throttle for starts at stop signs etc. and occasional mild hills. I would think the Beluga would do better as I am considering buying the 500 watt mode.

Eric Tiwanak

4 years ago

I purchased a Beluga in Honolulu, Hawaiii. I was informed the warranty is one year. While watching a Beluga review they say the warranty is two years. What is it?

Great question, Eric. Sometimes companies change their policies after I’ve covered a bike, or there is a miscommunication. I cannot speak for them, and I cannot remember the specifics of our conversation before I filmed this ebike… so I’d suggest that you round down and expect one year warranty vs. two. Sorry man.