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?
Mike says
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 says
Great feedback, I especially appreciate your tip about the HexLox bolts to secure the seat clamp. Thanks Mike!!
Garry says
Can someone comment on the range of Beluga, on throttle and PAS. I can read specs but wanted someones personal experience. Thank you.
Court says
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 says
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.
Court says
Hi DrJay! Thanks for sharing some details about yourself and your ride experience, that’s really useful! Yeah, sometimes a higher powered motor can operate more efficiently if the bike is loaded up. I’m imagining a chart where two lines cross – the efficiency of a lower powered motor vs. it struggling, compared to a more power hungry motor that will do better with a larger rider ;)
Eric Tiwanak says
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?
Court says
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.