ADO Air 20 Pro review: sleek, smart and seriously smooth city e-bike
As someone who spends more time than most testing the latest in electric mobility, I’ve developed a bit of a radar for overhyped e-bikes. However the new ADO Air 20 Pro really surprised me.
This folding urban commuter is more than just another upgrade—it’s a genuinely refined and intelligent e-bike that’s been built with real-world riders in mind.
Building on the solid foundation of its predecessor, the Air 20 Pro brings noticeable improvements to performance, comfort, and usability. You still get the slick city-friendly folding frame, but under the hood (or should I say, under the seatpost), things have been upgraded considerably. A BAFANG automatic dual-speed motor, carbon belt drive, and hydraulic disc brakes headline the spec sheet—an impressive trio, particularly at this price point.
Low-maintenance meets high-efficiency
For city riders like me, one of the biggest pain points is maintenance. So I was thrilled to find that the ADO Air 20 Pro uses a carbon belt drive instead of a traditional chain. It’s whisper-quiet, grease-free, and rated for a staggering 30,000km of use. I rode through wet streets, dusty cycle paths and gritty side roads without a single hiccup in drivetrain performance.
The automatic dual-speed transmission is another clever touch. Unlike most folding e-bikes that suffer when faced with hills, the Air 20 Pro seamlessly shifts gears based on your pedal pressure. There’s no gear lever, no manual shifting—just smooth, efficient power delivery thanks to its torque sensor. It’s intuitive and delightfully simple to ride.
That said, if your commute regularly includes steep inclines, a manual-gear model might still offer more control. But for urban riding, this auto setup is hard to beat.
Urban performance with a premium feel
The 250W BAFANG rear-hub motor delivers immediate and punchy assistance. Thanks to the torque sensor, power comes in smoothly with your pedal stroke—unlike cadence-based systems that feel jerky or lag behind your effort. Whether I was setting off from traffic lights or nipping up a slope, the response was always reassuringly quick.
There are five pedal assist levels, which you can tweak via the ADO app. The app also lets you track rides and customise the motor’s behaviour, but even without diving into the tech, the out-of-the-box settings feel well balanced for most urban conditions.
Stopping power comes from hydraulic disc brakes, which feel strong and consistent—crucial for riding in traffic-heavy environments. They handled emergency stops and gentle feathering equally well, even in the rain.
Thoughtful design and safety features
Battery integration is always a design challenge with folders, but ADO nails it here. The battery is hidden within the seatpost, which not only keeps the frame looking clean but also allows for easy removal to charge indoors—or take with you as a theft deterrent.
Then there’s the lighting. A 1200-lumen front headlamp, reflectors and integrated turn signals—yes, actual turn signals—all controlled from the handlebar. These features are rare in this segment and made me feel noticeably more visible and confident on evening rides.
The bike folds quickly, thanks to a central latch and fold-down stem, and includes a built-in carry handle. At 20 inches, the wheels strike a good balance between portability and comfort. Paired with adjustable front fork suspension, they soak up cracked pavements and cobblestones without the harshness you sometimes feel with rigid frames.
ADO claims a range of up to 100km (around 62 miles), but real-world conditions put that closer to 40–60km, depending on terrain and rider weight. That’s still well above average for a folder and enough for a full week of city commutes in my case.
Verdict
The ADO Air 20 Pro is exactly what an urban folding e-bike should be: practical, powerful, and a pleasure to ride. It’s clearly been designed by people who understand the needs of real commuters. From the carbon belt drive to the automatic shifting and hydraulic brakes, every component has been thoughtfully chosen to minimise hassle and maximise ease of use.
It’s not a mountain goat, but if your commute is mostly flat or rolling, the Air 20 Pro offers one of the most polished riding experiences in the folding category. Sleek, smart, and seriously smooth—it’s a folder that proves performance and practicality don’t have to come at a premium.
