EVELO Quest Max Folding Electric Bike Review Part 1 – Pictures & Specs

EVELO recently rolled out their new Quest Max premium electric folding bike with some impressive features. 

The Quest Max is a compact and versatile eFolder with highlights like an internal frame battery, 350 watt Bafang Max mid drive motor, NuVinci CVT, Gates Carbon Belt, and much more.

The Quest Max is priced at $2,599. For current pricing, checkout the EVELO website, or send them an email to [email protected].

EVELO also focuses a lot on taking the worry of buying an eBike online. They offer a 10 day at home trial period, free shipping in the US and Canada, 0% financing (if you qualify), 4 year/20,000 mile warranty, and support for service and repairs. Plus they have their “Perfect Seat Guarantee”.

In this first part of the review you will get a detailed look at this bike with a BUNCH of pictures and the specifications.

Part 2 of the EVELO Quest Max review will give you info on the ride characteristics, results from the range test, pros, cons, and overall thoughts on this eBike.

Alright, let’s take a closer look at the EVELO Quest Max!

The EVELO Quest Max is the new premium folding electric bike in a new line up of eBikes from EVELO.

They also offer the Quest One that is the more economically priced eFolder at $1,999. You can checkout the full review of the EVELO Quest One here. 

The Quest Max is also available in this Arctic Blue color. 

The Quest Max quickly and easily folds down to a compact size for storage and/or transport which we will cover in a bit.

The frame is constructed of aluminum with a main frame hinge in the middle for foldability. 

A Samsung 36V 9ah lithium battery is housed inside of the main tube of the frame for centered and low weight distribution. That is beneficial for the handling of the bike and a balanced feel when picking the bike up. 

Here is a closer look at the large hinge in the middle of the frame. The quick release lever allows for quick and easy folding. 

Here is a closer look at the large seat stay tubes and large welds that connect to the seat tube. 

In this view you can see the tube connection from the seat stay tube to the motor mount location. 

The front end features a chromoly fork, 20″ front wheel with Schwable Big Apple tires, and a full coverage fender with mud flap. 

One of the premium features of Quest Max is the new 350 watt (600 watt peak) Bafang Max mid-drive motor that provides assist up to 20 mph. This is a mid drive that uses a torque sensor and wheel speed sensor to provide the proportional assist based on your pedal power. There is also the throttle assist that we will cover in a bit. 

The other side of the Bafang Max motor. Overall this mid drive has a clean and compact look to it. 

The Gates Carbon Belt drive is another highlight in the overall drivetrain of the EVELO Quest Max. Belt’s offer a lot of advantages over a typical chain: they don’t require maintenance (lubrication), they are clean, quiet, and smooth. 

A closer look at the Gates belt and front drive wheel. Gates claims that their belts last twice as long as a typical chain. 

The NuVinci N380 rear hub almost looks like a rear hub motor but inside is the continuous variable “transmission”. The continuously variable rear hub features a 380% gear ratio change from low to high and there are no specific indexed gears like a derailleur system.

The grip shifter on the handlebar acts like a volume dial on a radio so you can “dial in” the best gear for the terrain you are riding on.

It makes shifting very easy, intuitive, and it shifts well under power. Shifting can also happen when you are not pedaling which is helpful when you are getting into the best gear ratio for accelerating from a stop.

Also, it is “practically maintenance-free, as they are made up of self-contained systems”.

The EVELO Quest Max is a Class 2 electric bike per California law (other states are adopting similar laws) which is pedal assist or throttle up to 20 mph, 750 watts max. The Quest Max has 5 levels of pedal assist or the thumb throttle option. 

Here is a look at the charging port on the front left side of the aluminum frame. There is a rubber weather cover over the charging port area. 

With the weather cover opened you can see the on/off button, charging port, and USB port on the battery. The USB port can be used to charge a smartphone, tablet, and almost any other device that can be charged with a USB.

With the quick release lever opened, the frame opens to provide access to the battery housed in the front area of the frame. 

When the frame has been folded, the back side of the battery is exposed (right side in this picture). The battery lock is visible on the bottom of the battery. 

The battery is unlocked from the frame with the supplied key (2 keys come with the bike). 

Once unlocked the battery slides out of the frame. When the battery has been removed the bike weighs 46.75 pounds which makes it a little easier to pick up. 

This is a look at the 36V 9Ah Samsung battery once it has been removed from the frame. You can see the the on/off button, charging port, and USB port on the left side of the battery in this picture. The battery weighs 4.25 pounds.

The battery can be charged on or off the bike with the included charger. The charger is about the size of a laptop charger and it takes 4 to 6 hours to charge an empty battery. 

Schwalbe Big Apple 20″ x 2.15″ balloon style tires with reflective stripe are used front and rear. They have an efficient tread pattern with grooves for channeling water. 

The front headlight runs off the eBike battery and it is turned on at the control pad on the handlebar. 

Tektro Aries mechanical disc brakes with 160mm rotors are used front and rear. 

Here is a look at the Tektro Aries mechanical disc brake on the back. 

The handlebar controls are pretty simple and straightforward with the large color display in the center of the bars.

On the left side of the handlebar is the control pad that adjusts the pedal assist levels up or down with the (+) and (-) buttons. The button on the right turns the bike on and off. The (i) button cycles through the options on the display and the upper center button controls the headlights. 

There is a walk mode that is activated by holding down the (-) button for 2 seconds. It powers the bike up to 3 mph and helps when you are walking with the bike going uphill. 

The thumb throttle (left of the control pad) works once you are at or above 6+ mph (10 km/h). The thumb throttle can be used when you want an extra boost. It can override any of the pedal assist levels so you can cruise along without pedaling if you want.  

The Tektro front brake lever is also of the left side of the handlebar with a built in bell!

Here is a closer look at the Bafang color display that is mounted in the center of the handlebar and provides information on the: 

• Battery level
• Pedal assist level (there are 5 levels)
• Current speed
• Average speed
• Max speed
• Odometer
• Trip distance
• Motor power output
• Estimated range remaining
• Calories burned

There is a backlight option for riding in low light and it can be turned on by holding the headlight button on the control pad for a second. That also turns on the front light that runs off of the eBike battery. 

There is also a USB port just under the display for charging a smartphone, tablet, or other device that uses USB charging. 

On the right side of the handlebar the NuVinci continuously variable transmission grip shifter, Tektro rear brake lever, and faux leather grip. 

Here is a closer look at the NuVinci C8 continuously variable grip shifter. This grip shifter acts like a volume dial on a radio so you can “dial in” the best gear for the terrain you are riding on. The display cleverly changes from a hill profile to flat land as you shift through the gear range. 

The Wellgo pedals provide a grippy platform with fold-ability!

These pedals fold down by pushing the main pedal platform in and down. 

The Selle Royal Free Way seat has a wider profile and channeled center section for a comfortable ride. 

EVELO also offers their “Perfect Seat” Guarantee which is very unique! “If you find another seat that you prefer at a local shop, purchase it, and we will reimburse you up to $40! This is just one of the ways we strive to ensure that you are 100% comfortable and satisfied with your bike.”

The rear rack comes with bungee chords to strap items to the rack. You can also see the tail light that is powered by separate batteries. Also note the full coverage fender with mud flap. 

Here’s a look at the top of the rear rack. 

The Quest Max comes with a very sturdy double leg kickstand that is helpful when folding the bike. 

Folding the Quest Max is quick and easy. This following is just an example, see EVELO for the full instructions.

The handlebar mast has a quick release lever and hinge that allows it to rotate down. 

The quick release lever is pulled to the side to release the handlebar mast hinge. 

In this view the handlebar mast has been rotated down. 

The pedals fold down by pushing the main pedal platform in and down. 

The frame hinge is opened by releasing the lock (upper right) and opening the quick release lever (left side). 

The front of the bike swings to the side and you can see the battery housed in the right side of the frame in this picture. 

And that is the EVELO Quest Max folded and ready for storage and/or transport. 

EVELO Quest Max Electric Bike Specifications

Frame: Lightweight Aircraft Grade Aluminum Frame

Fork: Chromoly Fork

Motor: Bafang Max 350W Continuous, 600W Peak, Patented Brushless Design, Torque and Speed Sensor Control

Battery: Samsung 36V 9Ah with USB Charge Port. The battery weighs 4.25 pounds. 

Assist Options: 5 pedal assist levels (plus walk mode) and thumb throttle. 

Speed: Pedal assist and/or throttle up to 20 mph which makes this a Class 2 eBike

Display: Bafang color display that provides information on the battery level, pedal assist level (there are 5 levels), current speed, average speed, max speed, odometer, trip distance, estimated range remaining, and calories burned. 

Drivetrain: NuVinci N380 continuously variable rear hub transmission. 380% gear range from low to high. Gates Carbon Belt Drive, 70T front cog & 20T rear cog 

Brakeset: Tektro Aries mechanical disc brakes, 160mm rotors

Tires: Schwalbe Big Apple balloon style 20″ x 2.15″ with reflective stripe

Seat: Selle Royal Free Way

Stock Accessories: Front and Rear Fenders, Front and Rear Lights, Rear Cargo Rack, Bell, Kickstand

Sizes: One size

Colors: Grey or Blue

Weight: 51.0 pounds. 46.75 pounds with the battery removed.

Price: The Quest Max is priced at $2,599. For current pricing, checkout the EVELO website, or send them an email to [email protected].

Offers: EVELO offers 0% financing, 10 day at home trial period, and free shipping in the US and Canada.

Warranty: 4-year/20,000-mile warranty against manufacturing defects in materials or workmanship on its frame, battery, motor, controller, and display. 

Service & Repairs: EVELO offers several ways to work on service and repairs in the video below.

Now checkout part 2 of the EVELO Quest Max review with info on the ride characteristics, the range test, pros, cons, and overall thoughts!

-Pete

Review Note: Each company pays a fee for a review on Electric Bike Report because of the considerable amount of time that it takes to provide an in-depth review of each eBike. A lot of time is spent on the full range test with distance & elevation profile, the wide variety of detailed pictures, in-depth video, and the write up with the specifications, ride characteristics, pros, cons, and overall thoughts. The reviews on Electric Bike Report are focused on providing you with a detailed “virtual” look at each eBike to help you determine if it is the eBike for you or not.

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