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The SONDORS Fold Sport is an affordable folding electric bike with clean integrated battery and motor design. Compared to the original Fold, it has narrower tires that coast efficiently and quietly. The Sport was announced in 2018 as a followup to the origninal 36 volt fat tire Fold (shown in some of the photos and video review above) and the upgraded 48 volt Fold X. The Sport model is slightly lower to the ground because it uses 20″ x 2.1″ hybrid tires vs. 20″ x 4″ all-terrain tires. I noticed that the frame is slightly narrower, and this reduces the potential for knee and thigh bumps while pedaling. It’s a great option for people who might not be as tall, such as my 5’4″ tall mother, and those who might not ride off-road as frequently or those who desire more gears. The original Fold model is a single speed ebike. Anyway, I was very impressed by the clean internally routed cables, large backlit LCD display, rack and fender bosses (for adding accessories aftermarket), and cast aluminum alloy rims. While the original Fold model came with traditional spoked wheels, the Fold Sport might actually be sturdier because of these rims. SONDORS has focused on the details with this model, upgrading several aspects including the cadence sensor, which offers 12 magnets vs. just 8. Both brake levers have motor inhibitors and have been upgraded from mechanical to hydraulic disc. This means that they will be easier to actuate for people with less hand strength… and the levers can be adjusted to pull back closer to the handle bar for those with petite or gloved hands.
Folding bikes tend to utilize smaller 20-inch wheels that reduce overall frame size but also compromise comfort due to lower air volume. Also, the Fold Sport does not come with a suspension fork, so there’s a bit less comfort here. It’s a compromise that reduces price while improving frame stiffness, strength, and handling. I did some riding with no hands and the bike tracked well. To address this compromise around comfort, the Fold Sport comes with ergonomic grips, a name brand gel saddle, and a telescoping stem and extra-long seat post. It’s a folding electric bike that can accommodate a wide range of rider heights. Furthermore, the product offers both pedal assist and trigger throttle drive modes, comes in several color choices, and even offers some battery size choices. For an additional $100 at time of purchase, the default battery can be upgraded from a 313.2 watt hours of capacity to 630 watt hours, which increases range. As with any product, especially at a value price point, there are trade-offs to consider here. The bike weighs ~55lbs, which I consider heavy for a product that doesn’t come with suspension, fenders, a rack, or integrated lights. Also, the derailleur used here is entry-level, adding to the weight and limiting performance a bit. The display cannot be removed for protection during folding or transport, and there’s no USB ports to tap into while riding (to charge your smartphone for GPS or an aftermarket light). While the battery is beautifully concealed inside the frame, the plug cover that protects the on/off switch and charging port does not have a leash to keep it from getting misplaced. The plastic pedals are okay, but don’t offer as much surface area or grip as some larger alloy products found on more expensive models I’ve tested. The chain guide should reduce chain drops but is made with plastic that could get cracked… so thankfully, there’s a nice support arm below the bottom bracket as well as a derailleur guard at the back. I was excited to see a pair of magnets that keep the bike folded. Other options include rubber straps or bungee cords, but the magnets worked quite well during our folding/unfolding process. There’s a lot to consider with a direct order electric bike like this, including unboxing and assembly, but I was generally impressed with the product and excited to see how the SONDORS company has continued to innovate and deliver since my first review of the original SONDORS fat bike in 2015, which was made possible through crowdfunding on Indiegogo. SONDORS only offers a 30-day warranty and there was more assembly required here than many other folding ebikes I have ordered online, specifically with attaching the steering column. The company has a website community and Facebook group that are fairly active and enthusiastic about helping and we have a forum section dedicated to their products as well.
Driving the bike is a modest 350 watt Bafang planetary geared hub motor, completely encased in the rear wheel. It delivers a good sense of torque and acceleration because of the smaller wheel diameter, which provides a mechanical advantage. Bafang is a Chinese company that has established itself as a leader in the ebike space over the past decade, producing mid-drives and hub motors for OEM manufacturers and kits. This particular motor should be reliable, but does produce some electronic whirring noise under full power. There’s a quick-disconnect point near the rear axle, to make servicing the bike easier. Neither wheel offers quick release, but the front axle has been upgraded from previous Fold and Fold X products to be thicker and sturdier. With six gears to choose from, the Fold Sport is comfortable to climb with or maintain the maximum supported speed of 20 mph, and the half-grip shifter mechanism is intuitive and clean looking. This is a Class 2 product by default, offering assist and throttle mode, but you can disconnect the trigger throttle to convert the bike to Class 1 if you’d like. I noticed that the connector wires use color coded end points that make re-connecting very intuitive. As someone with knee sensitivity, I definitely appreciated and enjoyed the trigger throttle, but was a little wary when powering the bike on because the throttle is instantly live once the display powers up. In order to keep the price low and reduce failure points, SONDORS has opted for a cadence sensing assist vs. torque or multi-sensor here. You can see the little round disc with twelve inset magnets mounted behind the right crank arm, on the spindle. This is a time tested design that works pretty well, but the motor response can be more of an on/off sort of feel vs. smooth ramp, and the disc can get bumped out of alignment and dirty a lot easier than some new sealed sensors. Both brake levers have override switches built in, to cut power to the motor, so that’s a nice addition to the 12 magnet upgrade in the cadence sensor. Overall, I felt that the performance of this e-bike was satisfying and comfortable. As a relatively lightweight rider myself, weighing just 135lbs, the bike felt zippy and was able to climb a fairly steep section of bike path with throttle power only… though I did have some momentum going in. The Fold S is rated up to ~240 lbs, so heavier riders may need to shift to low gears and pedal actively in order to effectively ascend steep sections of trail. Same goes for individuals who install a rear rack and carry extra gear.
I already touched on the battery size options but want to call out how nicely the pack fits into the main section of tube. This design looks beautiful and provides a degree of protection if the bike tips. Even when it’s completely folded, the battery stays mostly hidden inside the frame and didn’t appear to rattle around. SONDORS has opted for high quality Panasonic lithium-ion cells inside the pack, and chosen a case design with a little handle molded in. This makes it easier to pull out and carry around. You can charge the pack on or off the bike, but there isn’t an LED charge level indicator built in, so you won’t know how full it is without re-attaching to the bike and powering on. Furthermore, the charger is pretty basic. It’s compact and lightweight, but only puts out 2 amps and could take six or more hours to fully charge the larger battery option. In my opinion, that battery is a great deal and an excellent choice for heavier riders and those who enjoy throttle mode (or the highest levels of assist). To protect your investment, be sure to keep the battery charged above 20% whenever possible and store it in a cool, dry location. Extreme heat and cold can damage the battery cells over time and you’ll definitely want to avoid dropping the pack. I’m told that the battery is actually interchangeable between the different models, but I cannot say for sure… and would advise not to mix 36 volt and 48 volt packs because the controllers are likely different.
Operating the bike is a two-step process, starting with the battery pack. Once it’s charged and mounted, you need to click the little on/off switch located on the right side (behind the rubber circle grommet plug thing). Next, you’ll need to press the i button on the control pad, near the left grip. At this point, the monochrome LCD display blinks to life, showing your battery charge level, current assist level (the default is 2), and some trip stats. From here, you can press the trigger throttle on the right or begin pedaling to get assistance from the motor. It’s pretty simple and satisfying. You can click the i button to cycle through different stat readouts such as odometer, trip distance, ride time, max speed, and average speed, and you can click the + and – keys to raise assist to a maximum of 5 or lower it to 0, which disables the throttle as well. There’s one extra button to discuss here, and that’s walk mode. For people who aren’t keen on pushing the bike through grass, up hills, or anywhere else when not riding, the walk mode button activates the motor to slowly move the bike forward at 2-3 mph. It’s a nice feature to have considering the slightly higher weight of the bike, and in those cases where you get a flat tire or have some other mechanical failure. All in all, the new square display works well, but isn’t much different than the older rectangular display of the original Fold and Fold X (which was shown side by side in the video above). I got excited initially, seeing a rubber cover at the base of the new display, hoping for a USB port, but it turns out that there was nothing behind the rubber cover. To be transparent here, we were looking at a near-finished ebike and possibly not the final production model. The bike had mechanical disc brakes vs. hydraulic for one, and it’s possible that SONDORS could add USB or some other little tweaks in the coming months.
I really liked how this folding electric bike looked and how it rode. It felt stable and sturdy, and the weight wasn’t much of an issue once I was on it. As a fit but not super strong guy, I’d probably remove the five pound battery each time I was folding and lifting the bike to make it easier to lift. I would definitely advise people to take their time when building the bike and installing the fork; consider removing the folding mechanism so you can get to the top hex bolt easier and align it perfectly before tightening. I would probably run the tire pressure a bit low to improve comfort because it’s difficult to find longer suspension seat posts for products like this, and I have a long inseam so it’s nice to keep the seat raised high. The recommended tire pressure range is 40 to 65 PSI, and I wouldn’t go below that for fear of getting pinch flats. The smaller wheels deliver a higher attack angle that won’t span cracks or overcome rocks and gravel as smoothly… but that’s always a trade-off for folding models like this. I’d grab a bicycle bell, some USB rechargeable lights, and maybe a rack for carrying cargo (like a trunk bag with a bottle holster) and call it good. My Mom and I were taking a little family trip during this review, in the Colorado Rocky Mountains, and she was easily able to mount and stabilize the bike. Weighing just 120-ish pounds and standing ~5’4″ she had no problem and really enjoyed the zippy feel. The Sport was easier to approach for her and the folding joint at the middle wasn’t as prominent as the Fold and Fold X, which could get bumped and then bruise her knee or calf/thigh while pedaling. Big thanks to Houshmand for bringing his own personal bikes to make this review possible! He contributed a lot of knowledge and energy to meet us up there. Big thanks to him and SONDORS for partnering with me on this review and I welcome questions and comments below, as always, in addition to the SONDORS Ebike forums. Please note that I do not know when this exact product will be available, whether all of the specs will match my review perfectly, and that crowd funded ebikes can sometimes get delayed. SONDORS has earned my trust over the past three years, but there are often trade-offs for lower priced ebikes vs. buying at a local shop where they have inventory on hand that you can test ride and get fitted on and buy immediately.
Pros:
- Much of the wiring is now internally routed through the frame, this improves the look of the bike and reduces any possibility of snags while riding, it’s cool that they are offering several color choices
- I like how the motor power cable has a quick disconnect point near the rear wheel and is protected by a steel derailleur guard, this guard also protects the shifter cables and comes in handy during shipping and any folded transport moments
- The cast aluminum alloy rims provide extra strength for heavier riders and won’t go out of true or come loose the way that traditional spoked wheels can, they look great–especially the rear wheel because it fully encases the hub motor
- Compared to the fat tire SONDORS Fold, the Sport model is a bit lower to the ground, making it easier to mount and stand over for petite riders, the slick tires are more efficient and should offer longer range per charge
- I really appreciate the narrower frame and folding joint design of the Fold Sport because I bumped my knee on the fatter Fold model, right where the joint is on the main section of tube
- Slimmer tires don’t tend to offer as much cushion as fat tires and the Fold Sport doesn’t come with a suspension fork, so I really appreciate the adjustable height stem, locking ergonomic grips, and Selle Royal Gel saddle… and the tires they did choose aren’t as narrow as some, they still feel alright and provide good stability at 2.1″ width
- I liked the minimalist wire wraps on the shifter cable, brake lines, display panel, and motor inhibitors… things look pretty clean up front and it’s also cool that everything is black vs. a mix of black and silver
- I like where they positioned the kickstand, clear of the left crank arm, and I appreciate the support bar below the bottom bracket that protects the plastic chainring guide, the bike is stable when folded because of this support arm
- I love how hidden and protected the battery pack and motor are, this is a very stealthy folding electric bike, except for the big display
- Pedal assist feels responsive, once you’ve moved the cranks a little bit, because they upgraded the Fold Sport to a 12-magnet cadence sensor vs. 8-magnets on the older models
- I was really impressed with how little it costs to upgrade from an 8.8 amp hours to 17.5 amp hours, and it only adds about 1.5lbs of additional weight
- The review unit had mechanical disc brakes installed but I’m told the final build will ship with hydraulic disc brakes… either way, that’s pretty great for a folding ebike, hydraulic brakes tend to require less hand effort and have adjustable reach levers for smaller hands or gloved hands
Cons:
- Assembly has gotten a lot easier since the original SONDORS Fold and SONDORS Fold X, but it was still difficult to get the stem put on because the bolt didn’t thread easily… we ended up removing the handlebar folding mechanism to get a better angle on it, and eventually got it in there straight (it stripped a bit at first, so go slow and be careful)
- I was really surprised to discover that the fat tire Fold model is actually lighter than the Fold Sport (54lbs vs. 55.1lbs), the difference seems to be having cast alloy rims and a six speed cassette vs. spokes and single speed
- Minor consideration or tip here, since the stem and seat post can telescope upwards, be careful not to raise them above their minimum insertion heights, this keeps them strong but also reduces wire stretch in the case of the stem
- Minor gripe, it would be nice if the charger was a bit faster than standard 2-amp, especially if you upgrade to the larger capacity battery pack, I would also love to see a USB charging port built into the battery or the display for use while riding and stopping for picnics etc. to power a light or keep your phone charged etc.
- There’s a paint-matched plug cover on the left (for where you can charge or turn the battery on/off) and it looks decent, but there’s no leash to keep the cover connected to the bike and that means it could get set down and lost more easily… just keep an eye out :)
- Minor consideration here, since bike boots up in assist level 2, the throttle is live instantly… be careful not tu bump it when mounting or dismounting because that could be startling or cause a crash; assist level 0 disables the throttle but it’s best a practice to not turn the bike on until you’re ready to ride
- The display is not removable, so be extra careful when folding and transporting the bike so you don’t scratch it; also, I noticed that there was a little rubber cover at the base of the display that appeared to be the size of a USB port, but nothing was under there when we looked
Resources:
Mike R
6 years agoWow. A whole 30 days on the warranty. That inspires all sorts of confidence in ones product.
ReplyCourt
6 years agoBetter than nothing?! Slightly ;)
ReplyJim Platz
6 years agoHi there, excellent, informative review! Two small questions:
Best regards, Jim
ReplyCourt
6 years agoHi Jim! I believe that we were riding near the Frisco marina and around the lake on the way to Breckenridge, up in the mountains of Colorado. As for pricing, I cannot say for sure… I actually performed this review and was asked to change a couple of things (including price) after the footage had been shot. I was filming with a SONDORS super fan, and he was trying to be nice and supportive, but I was one level removed from Ivars/Storm himself. I did my best… perhaps others will be able to comment here or in the SONDORS forums :)
ReplyAragonion
6 years agoI have the fold x and it uses the same seat post diameter of 30.4mm which seems uncommon and makes changing difficult :( Another question I have, is the handle bar clamp/diameter (here stand only the length white 650mm and for me thats is an little bit short). best regard
ReplyBob Johnson
6 years agoHej Court, I watched your excellent video review of Sondor’s Fold Sport on YouTube. At 26:15 I noticed a “thum-thum-thum” sound and wondered if you had heard it. Also, at about 28:00, when your Mom was riding the bike, it seemed visually as if she and the bike were “bobbing” up and down slightly while coasting.
ReplyCourt
6 years agoHi Bob! Great eye… The bikes we had access to for this review were assembled on location and not perfectly tuned. I think the thum-thum-thum that you heard around 26:15 was either the disc brake rotor touching the calipers (if the rotor was a bit bent) or possibly the motor resonating at different power and speed frequencies. In both cases, these are minor issues that I’ve experienced with other bikes as well. As for my Mom and the bobbing around 28:00, I think that was just me walking or jogging next to her while filming. I have noticed that some ebikes can have wheels that go out of true and the bike will wobble a bit, but I don’t think that’s the case here because the wheels didn’t use spokes, they had cast alloy all the way and can’t really go out of true as easily… though tires and inner tubes can also be imperfect and create that same sort of motion to a minor extent :)
ReplyDiane
4 years agoI just recently purchased a Sondors Fold X bike. Since I’ve had it (2 Wks) I seem to have either a bunk battery or an inaccurate monitor display. With a full charge in the 2 power level on flat ground in the 3rd and 4th gear I don’t get nearly the range that they say they are capable of. I was told to set the gears and power level there for optimum efficiency by the retailer that sold it to me. He also rents these bikes; Sales and rentals.
I had to charge the battery up to full again – so I did. Kept the settings as the retailer recommended and again set off on my bike. I used one bar on the battery meter. (approx. 7 mile ride.). I parked the bike after I powered off the display and clicked the battery power off at the charging port. The next day I set out to put some more miles on the bike at the recommended settings… I only have about 2 wks left on the oh so generous 30 day warranty; mind you… I pushed the power or “i” button and LCD screen flashed on with all the icons it has showing for a quick instant and then went to the blank off screen on the monitor. I pushed the “i” button again and -NOTHING. My first thought was that I’d left the battery “on” and maybe it drained the remaining 4 bars I had on the battery after my ride from the previous day. – so I removed the rubber plug and saw that I HAD turned off the battery pack. so how did it flash and light up for an instant when I pushed the “i” button? The battery power pack had been indeed shut “off” as they say to do.
I was puzzled and concerned… so I powered the battery “on” and proceeded to set out on my (experimental) ride… NOT!! Experimental because I’m trying to see if my battery is lacking the range its supposed to have… Well I had used one bar on the battery and should have had 4 remaining for my ride. The LCD display would not come on at all now. DEAD DEAD.
So now I’m really concerned and had to charge the battery another full cycle for 4.5 hrs. My warranty is up in about 2 wks. Any thoughts on this situation would be appreciated… Why did it flash on the screen when the battery wasn’t even turned on? Why should it be a dead screen when I turned on the battery and tried to power up the bike and ultimately had to charge it a full cycle of 4.5 hrs after parking it the evening before and it had 4 out of 5 bars showing after my 7 mile ride? The retailer seems to be pushing me out to try this or that and at this rate I will have no time left on my 30 day warranty. Something seems quite wrong here for a bike I just paid $1,500 dollars for and is supposed to be brand new with a 40 – 60 mile per charge range? Somebody give me some insight!! quickly cuz my 30 days are ticking away.
Thanks for listening.
ReplyCourt
4 years agoHi Diane! This sounds like a frustrating situation, thanks for laying everything out in your comment. To be honest, there are many things that could be wrong with the bike or battery. If you have successfully used the bike many times before this issue popped up, I feel like it is more of a battery problem… like one of the cells may have failed. Even if you did not turn the bike off after riding, it should automatically go to sleep after some time. If you’ve been riding through lots of water or had the bike battery in a really hot place, that could damage the cells. If you are in a place that recently became very cold, that could shorten your range. The fact that the display flashed on but then off… to me that is showing the residual power in the system, but suggests that there was no more power coming through the wires or from the battery… so again, I think this is either a connection issue with the cables or an on/off issue with the battery pack. Does the battery itself have an on/off switch on it? Area all of the wires securely connected? It may be as simple as there being an on/off switch at the button pad display and another one on the physical battery in your bike, or it could be that the battery has low quality cells and one or more have failed, which can cause the entire pack to stop working. Do a thorough check from battery (and battery case) up to the display and button pad. Charge the pack again, see if there is an LED charge level indicator on the battery and if it shows full (and holds that reading once unplugged from the charger). Try powering the bike on again. If all else fails, asking for a refund is a great path but may be difficult to execute, even if you’re within the allotted 30 day period. I’ve had difficulty getting support on the more basic warranties and from the super-affordable ebike companies in the past, but SONDORS seems like one of the slightly better ones, having been around for many years now. Good luck, please report back!
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