ADO D30C Electric Bike Review – A great hybrid electric bike perfect for long commutes

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I’ve reviewed the excellent ADO A20 foldable electric bike before, and I’ve been trying out the new ADO D30C for the past few weeks.

The ADO D30C is a mountain bike or hybrid with a front shock that is perfect for hybrid use. I don’t have many mountain bike trails near me, so I use it mostly on the street as a commuter.

ADO D30C and ADO D30 Specifications – What’s the Difference?

You’ll notice that there are two ADO D30 bikes and different price points. The only difference seems to be the Shimano drivetrain.

The more affordable ADO D30C comes with a 9-speed Shimano Altus drivetrain, while the D30 is an 11-speed. If you plan to ride it as a mountain bike on steep trails, the 11-speed might be handy, and the improved range should make things easier. It should also make normal riding without electric assist more enjoyable.

Unpack and put the bike together

When you buy from a retail store, the bike will be shipped from the nearest location, with warehouses in the UK, Germany, Poland, Spain and Italy. You should get your bike within 2-5 business days without paying duties and VAT.

I’m not sure how I feel about the way this bike ships. It’s just as impressive, but with a troubling amount of waste. This bike has foam padding around all the important parts, and everything is held together with cable ties. My best guess then is that it was placed in a bag and then in a box filled with expanded foam. This provides a perfectly fitting packaging and ensures that it arrives safely from the country of origin.

Very confusing to unpack, you should do it outside. It is a very soft expanding foam that is easy to remove. It breaks easily and gets blown away easily.

As frustrating as all plastic waste is, I can’t think of a better solution. I’m not sure if there is a water soluble expanding foam similar to corn bubble wrap.

Assembling the bike is easy, even easier than the ADO A20. The only thing you need to do is:

• Attach handlebar to front stem
• Put the wheels on (I also inflate the tires)
• attached hawker

The rear wheels don’t have quick-release strings, but the front wheels and seats do.

The overall look of the bike is impressive. I like that the battery is integrated into the frame and looks more natural than many competing affordable hybrid bikes.

Notably, this bike lacks fenders and a piggyback. You should be able to find 3rd party solutions.

Bike Fit – How tall can you be?

There is only one frame size for this bike, but the seat can be adjusted for different heights. Ado advertises that this is enough for people between 165cm-190cm in height.

I’m 6ft 1in, about 185cm, and I find this bike small. I come from a road cycling background, so I’m used to sitting pretty high, which gives me a greater range of motion, which improves my strength and is better for my knees.

If this wasn’t electric it would be hard to recommend to someone my height as the fit is not optimal for knee health. It’s not terrible, but I don’t want to ride a bike for long distances and/or bend my knees that much.

However, I rarely found this to be too much of a problem, and if you plan to ride mostly with electric assist, there is hardly any pressure on your knees.

Personally, I’ll probably end up changing the seatpost so I can sit a little higher since that’s the seating position I’m used to.

Teething Issues/Manufacturing Quality Issues: Fix No Power and Exclamation Mark Displays

Unfortunately, after I set up the bike, I had immediate problems. The motor won’t start at all and there is a permanent exclamation mark on the display.

In the review that follows, I would not object to ADO. These things happen because I’m getting the bike directly to me through PR from the warehouse, so I probably don’t get as much support as a retail purchase.

I’ve covered this issue in more detail, where Explain what the exclamation mark error is and potential ways to fix it. This can happen to any e-bike, so I hope it works for someone.

Basically, some internal wires have crossed, making the bike think the brakes are permanently applied.

UK and EU legality

It is equipped with a 250W motor, and the motor only works in assist mode with the top speed set to 25km/h. As such, this makes it fully compliant with UK and EU law.

I’m assuming it has unlockable speeds similar to the ADO A20, which is done via a menu option on the controller. I haven’t tried this.

Compared to ADO A20 in use

I actually prefer this bike to the foldable ADO A20 I’ve used before, it suits my style of use better.

The ADO A20 is ideal if you’re running out of storage space or planning to fit it into your car or take public transportation.

For the ADO D30C, I prefer it for long commutes or recreational riding. It has two extra gears, but they also seem to be spread out wider, giving you better range when you want to ride without assistance. Larger wheels and different seating positions are also better for faster bike rides.

Electronic Aids and Gears

You can ride the bike like a normal bike without assistance, or the three levels of assistance are:

1. Moped speed up to 15km/h
2. Assisted speed up to 20km/h
3. Assisted speed up to 25km/h

Assist kicks in based on your speed, not torque. So you have to put in some effort at the beginning and then you will feel the pounding of the motor. If you start from a standstill with level 3 assist, acceleration feels very quick when the motor kicks in.

The ADO A20+ has a torque sensor (I think) and the experience is completely different.

Using a speed sensor, when the motor kicks in, it will reach the desired speed no matter how hard you ride. So with level 3 assist, I can turn my legs with zero effort and still go 25 km/h. With the ADO A20, I have to put in some effort all the time.

This speed sensor is designed to make long, fast bike rides easier with minimal physical effort, which is ideal for anyone looking to commute.

The only downside is that when you apply the rest, the motor stops, so you need to apply the effort again before the motor restarts. This can be a bit annoying if you’re in a crowded environment that requires a lot of rest.

lockable shock

Most of my riding is done on the road, with some gravel riding. Attempts to the MTB route have been canceled due to recent storms. For road riding, you can lock out the front shock, which will remove the squishy feel of the ride and make manual riding easier. It also doesn’t have seat dampers like the A20. This might not be comfortable for some people, but I like it better.

With the shocks unlocked, you get quite a bit of travel, they don’t compress fully, but it provides plenty of absorption for light MTB trails.

battery lock and key

A possibly negative difference is how the keys work. The ADO A20 key physically starts the bike, just like turning on the ignition of a car. The D30C can be turned on without a key. The key just locks the battery in place. So if you’re going to lock up your bike, I recommend you carry the battery with you.

Since the battery is easily removable, it’s perfect for commuting. You can lock the bike and take the battery indoors to charge.

Price and Alternatives

The ADO D30C I reviewed is available from BangGood for $14,999

ADO D30 with better 11-speed gear for $2149

All orders placed before the 23rd^rd Get free locks and helmets in March. Then the first order of the day will get the Ado&Insta360 GO2 XE action camera (30 pieces in total).

Alternatively, both bikes are available from the Ado website with EU pricing of €1499 and €1899.00.

Pricing is similar to competing products. The HIMO C30R is a hybrid without shocks, but with a 2×9 Shinano Sora drivetrain for just $2,000

There’s also the more affordable ADO A26+, which isn’t quite as attractive, with just 7 gears, but is more affordable under £1000 (€1069).

ICE MT10 MTB around £1400 with front shocks and 12-speed Shimono Deore drivetrain

The HIMO C26 is similar to the ADO A26, with a chunkier exterior and a 7-speed drivetrain, but costs less than £1000.

The cheapest option I could find is the Basis Hunter, which costs between £700 and £1000 and has only 7 gears, rim brakes and 25 miles of assist range.

If you want a big brand, the Specialized Turbo Tero 3.0 will set you back over £3000. Or for a more hybrid style bike, the Cube Nuride Hybrid costs around £2.6k.

comprehensive

Although I have had some issues with the bike, I really like it and it fits my needs well. The ADO A20 has turned me into an electric bike, and with the rising cost of gas, I think more people will be looking for an alternative to driving.

Pricing is attractive based on the specs, and the bike is great for a mix. I can take it on the light rail or use it on a long week commute.