This review was provided for free using a demo bike. My goal is to be transparent and unbiased with you, this video and writeup are not meant to be an endorsement of EVELO products. I welcome your corrections, additions, and feedback in the comments below, and the EVELO electric bike forums.
Observations:
- EVELO was launched in 2011, has one of the best warranties in the industry, and produces electric bikes that are more custom-designed and feature rich than the competition. The Dash folding model offers a higher weight rating of 275lbs, wider 2.4″ tires, throttle on demand, and a super clean drivetrain with Gates Carbon belt system.
- The last folding electric bike model from EVELO that I covered was the Quest Max in 2018. I was impressed by the unique combination of mid-drive motor, Gates belt drive, and continuously variable transmission. The new Dash folding ebike replaces the Quest in name, but maintains many of the unique features I loved. This new folding model is lighter, uses a quieter more efficient motor, introduces hydraulic disc brakes, still offers a throttle, and switches to a 5-speed internally geared hub.
Pros:
- Rare combination of internally geared hub and belt drive vs. chain. The former allows for shifting at standstill and is very sturdy compared to a derailleur and cassette. The latter is less likely to fall off, isn’t as greasy, and tends to operate very quietly. It’s a great combination for a folding ebike, especially with such a quiet motor.
- This is the first time I’ve tried the Dapu MD350LT, which I believe stands for mid-drive 350 watt light weight. I was impressed with the compact size and reduced weight. It is super quiet and very responsive for pedal assist… though it offers lower RPM pedal support than a mountain bike motor. I love that it works with the trigger throttle and I like how small and integrated it looks.
- Most of the cables and wires are internally routed, but also have quick disconnects. This makes the bike look nice, and reduces snags, but also makes repair and replacement easy. The mid-drive setup tends to make wheels and tires easier to service than a hub motor.
- I love when ebikes come with integrated lights that are powered by the main rechargeable battery pack. They are less prone to theft and easier to keep running because if the bike is charged, they are also charged! The headlight is a bit close to the fender and might get blocked if aimed down… but it’s more of a “be seen” headlight in my opinion.
- The large folding joints and reinforcement gussets allow this folding ebike to support more weight. I was told up to 275lbs, which is above average for most electric bikes and especially folding models.
- I appreciate that the battery can be charged on or off the frame, and the charging port is high up on the right side of the main tube! This means the cord won’t get snagged by the cranks and it’s less likely to get water and dirt inside.
- The battery does lock inside the frame, but is easily removable for transport and storage in a cool dry location. Extreme heat can damage lithium-ion cells and extreme cold will temporarily stunt their range. I love that EVELO uses high quality 18650 cells from Samsung and offers a generous warranty.
- Thicker 13 gauge spokes and wider 45mm rims support the 20″ x 2.4″ tires! These are wider than average, which improves stability side to side, reduces bumpy feel going over cracks, and also acts as a sort of suspension. I was surprised that they have such a high pressure rating recommendation of 85 to 100 PSI. Honestly, that seems way too high to me, and I rode the bike at 40 PSI, but this is not an official recommendation and I am not liable for your own choices.
- I was told that the tires offers some degree of puncture protection, which is so nice if you’re riding sporadically and in unfamiliar locations. I do wish they had reflective sidewalls, and the stock photo does show Schwalbe tires with reflectivity, but those ones might not have been available due to supply chain constraints or something. These were pretty decent for me during the ride tests.
- The rear cog and chainring are “right sized” to offer a natural pedal cadence with the smaller wheels. Notice how large the 60 tooth chainring is? EVELO also chose full sized 170mm crank arms so the pedal rate would not be so fast and riders would get a more complete leg extension.
- The fenders are well done, they are wide enough to cover the 2.4″ tires and have plastic end pieces to reduce splitting and sharp edges. The metal supports are rounded vs. poking out on each side. I like them, and noticed that they did not rattle when going off-road and off of curbs.
- Even though the rear rack supports less weight, it positions cargo far back so a trunk bag won’t collide with the saddle if it’s in a lower position. The curved metal of the rack protects the rear light, and the tubing would probably work for standard clip-on panniers… just don’t get ones that are super long because the bike is not as tall as full sized and there are no support arms to clip to on the sides (which reduces bags from flapping and swinging).
- I love hydraulic disc brakes, because both levers tend to require similar hand strength. With mechanical, the right lever (for the rear brake) usually requires more force, since there’s more distance and friction. These hydraulic brakes are decent, they were unbranded. I noticed that lever reach was adjustable for different hand sizes, both have motor inhibitors, and they both activate the rear light for added safety. The 160mm rotors are good for the smaller 20″ wheel size, and dual piston is very standard.
- Bike weight is kept low and distributed well, both the battery and motor are at the center of the frame. The bike felt stable and coasted smoothly, I didn’t notice any speed wobble or feel like it was going to tip when the kickstand was deployed.
- I appreciate that the trigger throttle offers full power, even in assist level zero, and was powerful enough to bring me up a moderate hill without pedaling. It will depend on which gear you select.
- The bike comes with a very thorough easy-to-read manual and a checklist of all the things that Evelo tested before shipping the bike, there’s a higher level of care here, and the company is well-known for offering excellent customer service.
- In addition to the long seat post and telescoping stem post, the handlebar is a low-rise that can be swiveled forward or back to increase or decrease reach. It’s a nice setup that should support a wider range of body types and riders.
- Evelo has some great accessory options including locks,baskets, bags, bells, and clothing. I appreciate the minimalism of the branding on this bike and also on their accessories, they all look professional and clean.
Cons:
- The bike weighs nearly 50lbs, so to me that’s heavier than it looks and might call for removing the 4.5lb battery before lifting and stowing. Note that 50lbs really isn’t too bad for a folding electric bike with a higher weight rating, internally geared hub (which tend to be heavier than derailleur and cassette), and included fenders rack and lights.
- This and other EVELO models tend to cost more because they use fancy features like belt-drives, mid-drives, and hydraulic disc brakes. There are definitely cheaper folding electric bikes out there, but most of them use hub motors that aren’t as efficient or quiet, have cheaper more limited gearing, and likely won’t have the same great warranty.
- The rear rack looks cool, the way it hangs over the rear wheel and has the light integrated into the back… but it’s rated at 15kg (33lbs) vs. the standard 25kg (55lbs). I think it would work well with a trunk bag, but might not support a child seat, full sized panniers, and doesn’t have a bungee loop.
- I like the brand and model of folding pedal that EVELO chose here, they are Wellgos! But, they are still plastic and feel mushier than aluminum alloy. It’s always a trade-off on folding ebikes to save weight and space but also offer “full sized bike” performance. I’ve seen some quick release platform pedals that don’t fold which could be a good upgrade if you care about pedal feel the way that I do.
- The crank arms are full sized 170mm, which offers a more natural pedal stroke, but they may be prone to pedal strikes if you make a sharp turn or ride over a tall obstacle. I think the taller 2.4″ tires help a lot, I just want to call out the trade in crank arm length vs. ground clearance.
- The bike doesn’t have a magnet or rubber strap to keep it folded, and it felt a little precarious during my folding tests… it actually fell over a couple of times and got scratched. I would consider using an adjustable bungee strap putting a towel between the frame when folding and traveling with the bike to keep it together.
- Internally routed cables look beautiful, but the center folding area felt a bit crowded. I noticed that EVELO used a plastic housing to protect the cables, but I think they still get bunched up a little when going from folded back to unfolded. Just keep an eye on that and be careful not to pinch them! The battery was also a bit finicky when trying to unlock and remove.
- I care about safety, and folding ebikes tend to position riders low to the ground and bring them to unfamiliar places… so it’s even more important. The EVELO Dash only comes in dark blue, doesn’t have reflective tire stripes, the lights aren’t super bright and only use one LED for the rear, and there are no side cutouts on the headlight. I feel it could be better and might use dark reflective stickers to light up the sides… as well as a helmet light or other reflective clothing and clip on lights.
- The kickstand is positioned at the center of the frame, so if it’s deployed and you pedal backwards or walk the bike backwards, it can cause pedal lock. This is a minor trade-off and can be resolved by stowing the kickstand before moving.
- The price has gone up since 2018 by several hundred dollars, moving from the Quest platform to the Dash. I liked the continuously variable transmission on that model, but the 5-speed is okay here. That one had a more powerful motor but weighed more, and it had mechanical brakes vs. hydraulic here.
- The quick release seat clamp is kind of short, and it was difficult for me to open. That’s a bummer on a folding ebike where raising and lowering the seat height might happen more frequently. I would have loved to see height markings on the seat post to make it easier to remember your last setting vs. guessing each time.
- The grips are kind of basic and non-locking, but that’s understandable given the half-grip shifter design which limits grip options. There’s no suspension fork, and the seat post length and unique width of 31.8mm would make it difficult to add a suspension seat post. At least the tires are higher volume and the saddle is more premium to improve ride comfort.
- EVELO does have a physical storefront warehouse, in Seattle Washington, but most people will probably order online without getting to take a test ride. There will be some unboxing, but setup is very easy as the bike simply needs to be unfolded. They include the necessary tools for further adjustment and fixes.
- Minor consideration here, the folding hinge at the middle of the frame bulges out for strength but could bump your knee or inner leg when pedaling or mounting and dismounting the frame. I noticed the width, but didn’t get any scrapes or bruises during my ride test.
- The display panel is not designed to be removable and is fairly large. It could get scratched when folded or parked near other bikes, it does offer adjustable angle and you could always put a sock over it to keep it from getting damaged during transport. I also miss the USB charging port and range estimate menus of past models, the 5-bar battery infographic just isn’t as precise.
- The seat post doesn’t slide all the way down to the seat tube level, which means you probably want to take it completely off when folding the bike if you need to make it as compact as possible. The downside is that the saddle and post will then be floating around, unattached to the bike.
- I kind of wish the display panel had a USB charging port to maintain a phone or other portable electronic accessory. I didn’t see any USB ports on the battery pack either. Remember that in order to turn on the lights for this ebike, you need to tap the power button, there isn’t a dedicated button.
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