CARBO Reviews 53

I had a rock rider for 20 years. very light strong and super easy to ride. I bought this carboS because getting older I needed a bit of help riding slopes:)) Obviously its not for rough riding but its a fantastic bike to use in town or country side. I just got it a month ago and used it over a few hundred kms. Very stable easy to handle and light like a normal bike. The 250W engine is fine for me (I weight about 70Kgs) but for heavier people I would recommend the 350W. I really enjoy this bike

I got a Model X with throttle and 350 watts hub motor and throttle. The bike arrived nicely packed but the front light wire somehow got sheared off perhaps during the assembly at the factory. The Carbo tech support promptly took care of this issue and sent me a replacement light with wiring without any fuss. The bike performs very well and is very light and nimble compared to my heavy class-3 Electra bicycle (mid-drive). The biggest benefit is that it's very transportable and perfect for "last mile" trip for the commute to work in my van. I intend to use this to go out to lunch and do errands at work and go out for fun jaunts on the weekends. I'm really glad that I opted for the throttle option - I found it very useful in certain scenarios where I need extra power like going up on a steep incline. Like my Electra bicycle, Model X has select-able power assist level but throttle can give me whatever power assist I may need at instant and go back to the pre-selected level (when not using the throttle) than fiddling around the power assist level to match my changing needs. I was worried that the single gear with belt drive on Carbo X would be an issue but I haven't found so, especially with the throttle option. Frankly I see myself using Carbo way more than my 9-speed Electra. I would use Electra to carry lots of stuff (it has two big baskets) and for a long ride but probably that's it.

Back to sales hype, I had asked about possibilities for return if the bike didn’t work for me, and they said, Oh yes, you can return it within one week. Just make sure the bike is in perfect condition, in all the original packing and that all of the parts are packed exactly the way they were when you received them. Again, Ha! I could not repackage those parts in a million years. (They even post a video online of how to get the bike back into the box, but I wouldn’t be able to do it. Furthermore, one week is not enough time for me to really try the bike and assess its pluses and minuses.)
I finally got it together and I took the bike for its first short test ride. Very comfortable, brakes work well, balance is good. Handles minor road shocks well. Throttle works well, light works, as does walking mode. I tried some significant though not major hills. I tried all different levels of pedal assist from off to turbo, including eco, tour and sport in between. Initially I am very pleased. I can see folding it up and driving it to areas away from my home like the Jordan River Parkway trail in the fall.
Unanswered questions at this point are 1) how steep a hill can it handle and for how long. 2) What is the range of the bike on a single hill. The “Catch-22” of these bikes, is that for greater range, you tend to need a larger battery. For greater power handling steep hills, you tend to need a larger motor. As you increase the size of the battery and/or the size of the motor, the heavier the bike will become. The heavier the bike, the larger motor and/or battery you will need ad infinitum ad nauseum. The question is will I be able to find a sweet spot where I am able to do enough of what I want to do and still have it be an enjoyable experience for me. That is what I plan to test out over the coming weeks.
I took my bike on a more extensive ride today, up and down some really steep hills in my neighborhood. It accomplished the trip, but even in Turbo, the highest pedal assist mode, I could barely make it back up one of the steeper hills on my return home. Also, in the user manual is this line – “Use only for leisure, Do not use for free ride/downhill or any hard riding. Improper use can result in fork failure and personal injury.” They’re not kidding! On the downhill portions the bike started riding so fast, too fast for me to see and avoid potholes in the road, that the bike without an active suspension system is just not equipped to handle. I felt like I could easily be in danger several times.
I took my bike on a 10.5 mile ride today on a well paved bike path with gentle ups and downs and it was much better, although I think my handlebars were set too low, putting too much pressure on my hands and wrists. I will try raising the handlebars on my next ride.
I raised the handlebars and that definitely resulted in some improvement. I now have been on several rides totaling 36.2 miles with altitude change of 2,312 feet. I still have half of my battery power left.

Summary – Pluses – definitely light, folds up well and easily. Easy to lift into the back of my car. Good quality components. Handles minor hills well. Light and rear light work well. Good customer service, very responsive, many great instructional videos.
Negatives – Handlebar is uncomfortable on my arms. Too painful to ride for long rides. I have to make sure hills I encounter are neither too long nor too steep.
Who is this bike for? Unfortunately, not for me. At 77, my body cannot handle the position of the handlebars. If I was even 15 years younger at 62, I think the bike would be great. It really accomplishes what it is designed to do – an urban commuter. So between the ages of 16 and 62, I think it would be terrific. The display is functional enough, although with my old eyes, the print is really too small to read, especially in sunlight. There is an app for Android phones that gives better info, and they are hoping for an IOS version by the end of the year. Since I cannot return it, I will try to sell it.

It is probably important for you to understand this review by knowing something about how I came to the world of ebikes.
In 2014, I was visiting and bike riding with my grandson in Seattle. I had not ridden a bike in many years and I’d forgotten how much fun it could be. When I got home to Salt Lake, I bought a bike from REI only to find that I was unable to ride it in my neighborhood. The streets are too steep! I was 68 years old at the time. I sank into a state of gloominess feeling my youth was finally gone, when a friend mentioned ebikes to me. I did some research and I wound up with a Stromer ST1. It wass like a new world opened up to me! It was fantastic!
Four years later, at 72, I decided I needed more power, more battery and a throttle and I sold my Stromer and bought an Evelo Delta X. GREAT bike. I installed a trailer hitch on my car and a bike rack that could hold the weight of the Delta X, so I could take it to distant places to ride and also take it in for maintenance work.
But then I sold my car and leased a new one. With the lease, I was not allowed to install a trailer hitch on the car. Previously, I was barely able to lift the bike up on to the rack in the first place. Now that wasn’t even an option. Plus, there was a new complication. As I passed my 76th birthday, I could no longer swing my leg over the bike to mount it. I had to lie the bike down on the ground, step over it, then lift it up under me, to get on, and do the same thing in reverse to get off. It was becoming more and more a pain in the neck.
One option was to sell the Delta X and get a step through bike instead, but I would still have difficulty lifting it to take it anywhere.
And that is why, just now at 77, I find myself interested in a lighter weight, folding carbon fiber bike, with smaller wheels that will allow me to easily step over the frame to mount and dismount. The Carbo X, called the world’s lightest ebike, caught my attention and I decided to try it.
I worked with a Carbo representative named Ali who was very prompt in answering questions and being overall helpful. The bike came quite quickly in just three days. Of course, there is some sales hype I had to contend with. First, they tell you the bike comes almost fully assembled and you just have to add a few parts. It should take 10-15 minutes. Ha! It took me seven hours. Part of that of course was just being inexperienced, but part was it was really complicated. It takes 15 minutes just to get things out of the box and then another 15 minutes, to cut or unpeel all the protective layers there are around everything. Then it takes a half hour just to read the instruction manual, the get started guide and watch the set-up video. Then there are things that are just wrong, or difficult. They tell you to unscrew the light, reverse it, then screw it back in. This is not so easy. They give you this cool multifunction tool, kind of like a Swiss army knife on acid, but they don’t tell you which part of the tool fits what. You just have to keep guessing. Then for some things you don’t have room to exert enough torque or force. (I noticed in some of their separate instructional videos, they are using tools that are not included.). After they have you screw in the light in the right place, they have you install the front wheel, but then it turns out when you go to install the front fender, you have to first take the wheel off, and take the light off again!” Then the bolt that eventually will connect the seat post with the saddle is so tight, it is almost a miracle that I find the right combination of tools to loosen it! But I do.

This bike is so fun to ride! You can turn the electric assist off and ride like a normal bike, or use the assist and turbo button for help and riding up hills and longer distances. The foldable feature makes it portable too, although getting it packed into the bag takes a little finesse.

Lastly, Ali from the chat customer service was so helpful when trying to resolve getting the bike though customs/fedex. He responded immediately to my questions and ensured I got my bike in time for a planned trip.

I am an aviation business owner and professional pilot. When I fly for personal reasons I like to have a manageable folding bike to use.I have tried three other bikes of this type and the Carbo tops the list by leaps and bounds. Only weighs 28#. has the option of a 10ah battery and this gives the bike lots of range. Pedal assist has several levels and on the lowest provides more than adequate assistince for mostly flat terrain with some small inclines. Even with no assist the bike can be ridden in mildly hilly terrain using the gear system for hills. Folding the bike is quick and loading it in an airplane or car is easy.

We live on a catamaran and needed lightweight, foldable bikes that would easily store and transfer from our boat to our dinghy (and on and off the boat to the dock). We researched a lot of makes and models and were leaning toward buying CarboX sight unseen. When we met a gentleman who let us test ride his, we knew immediately it was the one for us. We ordered two immediately.

We waited patiently for delivery (we ordered the larger battery increasing our delivery time). A couple of months later our bikes arrived and they have exceeded our expectations.

We’re both avid road and mountain bikers in our early sixties and love the way our bikes handle and perform. We’ve since outfitted our CarboX with panniers (got the Carbo racks and fenders) and use them for everything we can instead of driving. It’s faster than sitting in traffic and tons more fun. They even make trips to the grocery store a pleasant experience.

Can’t recommend CarboX enough!

Best bike ever
we are over 70 years old
My wife and I felt like kid again
easy to balance, turn, ride and stop
Lots of fun

ZARA AND I LOVE OUR CARBO X

I bought the X model in the Spring of 2022. I am retired, almost 80 years old, and have Brittany dog (Zara) who needs to run every day. Trained her to run off-lease 12 meters ahead of me and slightly to the side. We go out several times a day (live in California) and it keeps us both very healthy. Zara takes this “job” very seriously, apparently she thinks that she is my “personal trainer” – she won’t let me miss a day.

I have to drive to the farm road where we run. I can easily fold the bike, put in in a plastic crate to protect my small SUV and can readily lift it into the back. This is obviously much more secure than having it hang on the bumper – allows me to stop and shop when I need to.

Besides the convenience of the folding and lightweight, this is a well engineered bike. When I was younger, I had both Bianchi and Specialized road bikes. My Carbo is as road worthy as either of them.

Can’t tell you how much we love this bike.

Regards, Al

Okay, here’s the thing. I love love love this bike. I feel like this is a mini-motor-cycle. And, being 66 yrs old, is for sure, the best alternative to my Trek Emonda for any hilly areas.

PROS:
1. I have the X. It is short enough for a 27” inseam leg (if you get the smaller battery). An ABSOLUTE must for short-legged people. I can only raise the seat slightly, however, and certainly not to the max.

2. The handlebars are fully adjustable to accommodate my shortness. Whooo hooo! The stretch from seat to handlebars is comfortable and feels as stable as my Emonda for balance.

3. This bike is peppy! I don’t have the throttle accessory. Has amazing take-off, even without the upgraded battery. I’m not a very heavy person. Larger people might benefit from the upgraded battery. And, because the small, narrower tires have little frictional drag, (pumped up to just so, to balance out the need for cushioning from bumps), and because it is so lightweight, is very very speedy, the carbon frame reduces the bumpiness just like my Emonda!….and the battery will last and last!

4. I am so pumped about this bike. I researched and found that this would be the only existing equivalent to my beloved road bike in the electric bike world for agility. Every other bike was too heavy. I was not, in any way disappointed, although I feel a bit like I think Danny MacAskill might feel at times instead of the feeling of riding in the Pelaton like I’m used to 🤷‍♀️.

CONS:
1. Such good customer service initially, until it dropped off completely after they had my money. I didn’t have any communication back, at all, about delivery, packaging, transport or anything to the point that I thought I had been scammed. This changed when I wrote to them. Must have been a glitch. Happy now.

OVERALL:

My use for the bike is different now than just group riding. I want it in order to reduce my carbon footprint, to do my shopping with the handy trap on the back, not get soaked and muddy with the fenders attached, and get around town easily, and beat the traffic. And, if the battery runs out of power or fails, because the whole bike is only approx. 30 lbs, +or - with accessories, which is approx. 1/2 of other electric bicycle weight, I can still ride this baby home.

You will love this bike if you have the same goals. The fold-ability is a bonus for airline travel. Keep your box and pack it back up for your flight. (You must keep your battery separate though as a carry-on.)

Enjoy!

Former racer - now a seasoned gal with good knees in my 60s. Great ride with the Carbo x. Comfortable seat, handle bars with good braking and levels of assist - or ride with no assist is also a great experience. Good frame angles and pedals. Very happy with the 20" wheels and quality of the tires. Easily folds up and fits on the passenger seat. (With 2 dogs and camping gear in the back)
Tech service with Adam re problem solving a bottom bracket issue upon 1st ride went smoothly with a solid touch of humour and humanity in the emails.
So many excellent design, engineering, and support decisions show in the details- down to the handlebar grips and plugs.
Thank you for the wonderful communication and a great bike!! Bye - gotto ride!!!!!!

This is a great bike unless u wear reading glasses. In which case you cannot read the speed assist position on the ride computer screen as the font is so tiny.. they have prioritized massive numbers for the kp/h read-out which is less important as any £20 add on speed sensor can do this. Considering the speed assist adjuster actually does something to the bike while the kp/h is just info, this is really less-than-sensible. I use 1.5 magnification reading specs which is not excessive.. if you need more magnification, forget it. Ok, I can balance my specs on my nose and watch the road over the top of them but after a couple of kilometers it gets tiring and is not safe. A simple software/firmware upgrade would solve the problem; this is a typical designer 'under-sight' you get from designers under the age of 45 with 20/20 vision. come on guys, fix it; I know i am not the first to have this complaint.

What an enjoyable riding experience! Very sturdy frame with absolutely no creeks and other sounds, brakes are solid, saddle is surprisingly very comfortable, in the writing stance has got to be just about perfect. Also the schwalbe big balloon tires absorb road bumps and give you a very smooth ride. Superb riding e-bike!!! Highly recommended! Carbo nailed this one!!!!

Customer service is fantastic!! And the bikes are amazing, light, fast, easy to fold!! Looking forward to taking them on the sailboat and exploring some of our ports of call!!

This is the bike I dreamed about as a kid. A bicycle that looked like a bicycle but had a motor. CARBO has done a spot on job designing the perfect bike for bike riders. On top of that they did an even better job with a support platform where you can get parts, installation videos, and the best customer support.

I really can’t stress how good the customer support is. I crowd funded my bike, it arrived in 2018ish and because of family life and Covid, I didn’t assemble it till this year June 2022. The packing was so good the bike was pristine. I contacted customer support with some questions and even though the bike is out of warranty, I get treated with outstanding support.

For info, I have a Model X, 350watt motor with 10 amp battery. I use it to commute to work 7 mi one way with a steep 2 mi down hill. I can use throttle only at max speed round trip and have 15-20% battery left. The hill really kills the battery. It’s not the fastest bike or the longest range bike but it’s easily the lightest, coolest ebike that you can ride. All my friends can’t believe it’s an ebike.

Thanks so much CARBO for allowing this 54 yr old dude ride more often!

These are great bikes because they are light and easy to lift for older riders. The ride is comfortable enough and they handle pretty smoothly.
The company employees work hard to make sure you are happy and have labored against global supply issues with alacrity. It was a long wait but well worth it. The bikes were very securely packed and safely delivered.

The support and response time is beyond my expectation. I have the bike for a few days and it performs exactly what the specs are.

I enjoyed my Carbo X for 2.5 years now. The bike is fun to ride and is built with quality parts. It’s also really easy and clean to transport even in a tiny car!

I had a few assembly quality issue like stripped screws and oddly organized wires but I put that into the account of the business beginning mistakes and the support team has always been there to back me up.

Great bike and easy to transport using a standard car trunk. I can go far away places now and ride an e-bike and CARBO is the perfect product. Great customer service and shipment was very quick, received it less than a week.

went the extra mile to correct a misorder. Great service