“Wealth gained hastily will dwindle, but whoever gathers little by little will increase it.” Proverbs 13:11 (ESV)
Should you buy one?
Yes, if you want a small, cheap folding e-bike for short, flat trips, and the gray ONEBOT S7 is the one I’d buy. In my video I tested two ONEBOT folding e-bikes: the gray S7 and a yellow, pricier model called the Piaoyu. For the price, the quality of both impressed me. They fold with two latches, roll on a small wheel when folded, have a comfortable rear shock and a twist throttle that works from zero.
They both use a 250W motor, though, so they’re zippy on flat ground and weak on hills for an adult. At about 200 pounds, I was pedaling on any incline. The yellow one has a slightly bigger battery, but I don’t think that’s worth paying about double. The S7 was a great bargain at the price I found.
Buying note: as of Oct 22, 2026, ONEBOT’s own online store page for the S7 no longer loads, so I couldn’t confirm a current official price. My links go to Amazon. Check the current price there before you buy.
Check the ONEBOT S7 price on Amazon (affiliate link)
Quick specs
| ONEBOT S7 Amazon listing | My test | |
|---|---|---|
| Motor (W) | 250 | 250 |
| Battery (V) | 36 | Not listed |
| Battery (Ah) | 5.2 | Not listed |
| Top speed (km/h) | 25 | Not listed |
| Max range (km) | 50 | Not listed |
| Assist levels | 3 | 3 |
| Gears | Not listed | 0 |
| Tire size (in) | 16 x 1.95 | 16 |
| Weight with battery (kg) | 18.2 | Not listed |
| Max load (kg) | 120 | Not listed |
| Charge time (hours) | 3 | Not listed |
| Price in my video, USD | Not listed | 699 |
| Price today, USD | Not listed | Not listed |
Source note: the first column is from ONEBOT’s brand listing on Amazon, checked Oct 22, 2026, because ONEBOT’s own S7 page returns an error. The second column is what I said or saw in my March 2023 video. The $699 is the Amazon price I quoted at the time, before a $200 coupon that brought it to about $500.
Where the numbers are shaky:
- Motor. ONEBOT’s Amazon listing says 250W, which matches what I said. An older copy of ONEBOT’s own store page listed “max 350W.” I went with 250W.
- Range, weight and charge time. The Amazon listing says 50 km, 18.2 kg and 3 hours. The older ONEBOT store page said 16 miles on electric only, 28 miles with pedal assist, 44.09 lbs and about 5 hours. I didn’t test range, weigh the bike or time a charge.
- Units. ONEBOT lists speed, range, weight and load in metric, so I kept them that way. 25 km/h works out to about 15.5 mph.
- The yellow Piaoyu’s price. Early in my video I said it was about $300 more on the website. Later I called it a thousand dollar bike that costs about double the S7. Check the current listing.
Pros and cons
Pros
- Quality that impressed me for the price
- Folds with just two latches
- Small wheel underneath lets you roll it when folded
- Folding pedals make it even smaller; fits in a small sedan’s back seat
- Big rear shock that made the ride more comfortable
- Comfortable grips, even on a budget bike
- Twist throttle that works from zero and feels zippy
- Disc brakes front and rear with plenty of stopping power
- LED headlight and an electronic horn
- No gears to maintain
- The S7’s longer kickstand holds it up well
Cons
- 250W motor struggles on inclines with an adult rider
- At 6’1”, the seat is maxed out and the pedal stroke feels a bit short
- Handlebars don’t go any higher
- Pedal assist 3 outruns your pedaling on flat ground
- Not for long commutes
- The yellow Piaoyu costs much more for only a slightly bigger battery
- The yellow one’s shorter kickstand makes it more likely to fall over
Two bikes, one recommendation
The gray one is the ONEBOT S7. The yellow one is the ONEBOT Piaoyu. They’re about as identical as they come. Same 250W motor, same display, same three pedal assist levels, same twist throttle, same horn, same folding design and same wheel underneath.
The differences are small. I believe the yellow one has a slightly larger battery, which is why it costs more. Its frame is a bit longer to fit that battery. And its kickstand is shorter.
The S7 is the better buy. The yellow one gets a little more battery, but I don’t think that’s worth the extra cost (see the price note above).
Controls
Both bikes have beautiful hand grips that are way more comfortable than I expect on a budget e-bike. I love seeing that.
The display is identical on both. There are three pedal assist levels. On the right you have a twist throttle that works from zero, plus a little horn. It’s kind of electronic sounding. To turn on the LED headlight, you hold the plus button.
Getting going is simple: a flip of the key, kick up the kickstand and twist the throttle.
Folding
Folding couldn’t be easier. There are two latches. One is on the handlebar stem, which folds the handlebars down. The other is on the main frame and folds the bike in half. Both bikes fold exactly the same way.
There’s a small center wheel underneath, so you can roll the bike around when it’s folded. The pedals fold too, which makes it even smaller. If you have a small sedan, yes, it’ll fit in the back seat.
Who these are really for
I think these are great for a last mile commute. Say you take a bus and then a train, and then you have a few miles home. This is probably the e-bike for you, because it’s so easy to maneuver and get around. I could see myself with a backpack for work, twisting the throttle to a bus stop or train station and folding it to hop right on.
They’re best on paved paths, for trips of about 20 miles or under. This is not a beefy hunting e-bike or a crazy off-road bike, and it’s not a 100 mile commuter bike.
I also think they’re great for kids. If your child has a two or three mile ride to school or a part-time job, this would work well. It’s also a good fit for a college campus, where a student could fold it up and set it right next to them in class.
Motor and hills
On flat ground, the 250W rear motor is quite zippy, especially off the line with the throttle from zero. That’s kind of all you need in a small e-bike.
Hills are another story. If you’re not a child, I think you’ll be slightly disappointed on any sort of incline. At about 200 pounds, I was pedaling. This small motor won’t accommodate a larger rider on a hill.
For a child under about 100 pounds, I think the 250W motor has plenty of power, even on an incline.
Pedal assist
Pedal assist 3, the highest level, gets going easily. After about 10 seconds on flat ground, though, the bike was going faster than I wanted to pedal. I was more or less just moving my legs to keep the cadence sensor engaged so the motor stayed on.
Comfort and suspension
I found them quite comfortable, a nice change from the large e-bikes I usually test. The big rear shock did a lot of that work. If your commute has a small off-road section, I wouldn’t worry. The rear shock can handle it.
Brakes
There are disc brakes front and rear. I tested them pretty well, and they gave plenty of stopping power, especially on a smaller e-bike like this.
Fit for taller riders
I’m about 6’1”, and on both bikes the seat was at its max height. The handlebars have a twist adjustment on top, but you can’t raise them any higher. It fit me fine, but my pedal stroke was a bit short. Ideally the seat would go up just a hair more.
I’d say 6’1” is the max height for these. If you’re taller than me, skip it.
Kickstands
The kickstand is the main difference between the two, aside from the battery. The cheaper S7 actually has the better kickstand. It’s larger and gives the bike more support.
The yellow one’s kickstand is shorter, and I think it’s more likely to fall over. In my video, one of the bikes tipped over while I was filming. It’s not a huge deal breaker, but keep it in mind.
How it compares
| ONEBOT S7 | Ziprs F1 | Gyroor C5 Max | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Motor (W) | 250 | 350 | 500 |
| Folds | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Fat tires | No | No | Yes |
| Rear suspension | Yes | No | Yes |
| Wheel size (in) | 16 | Not listed | 20 |
Source note: ONEBOT figures are from ONEBOT’s Amazon listing and my video. Ziprs figures are from my Ziprs F1 review. Gyroor figures are from my Gyroor C5 Max review.
The S7 has the smallest motor of the three, and that shows on hills. Its strengths are size and folding. If you need more power in a folding e-bike, look at the Gyroor or the Engwe EP-2 Pro, and use my compare tool to check more.
Who it’s for
- Last mile commuters who mix in a bus or a train
- Riders on paved paths with trips of about 20 miles or less
- Kids with a two or three mile ride to school or work, especially lighter riders under about 100 pounds
- College students who want to fold a bike and bring it inside
- Anyone with a small car and not much storage space
Who should look elsewhere
- Adults who need to climb hills
- Riders taller than about 6’1”
- Anyone with a long daily commute
- Riders who want a beefy off-road or hunting e-bike
FAQ
Which ONEBOT folding e-bike should I buy?
The gray ONEBOT S7. It’s nearly identical to the yellow Piaoyu, has the better kickstand and costs much less. The yellow one’s slightly bigger battery isn’t worth the extra cost to me.
Does the ONEBOT S7 throttle work from zero?
Yes. Both bikes have a twist throttle that works from zero, and it’s quite zippy.
Can the ONEBOT S7 climb hills?
Not well for an adult. At about 200 pounds, I was pedaling on inclines. For a child under about 100 pounds, the 250W motor should have plenty of power.
How tall can you be to ride it?
I’d say about 6’1” is the max. At my height, the seat was maxed out and the handlebars couldn’t go higher.
Will it fit in a car?
Yes. With the frame folded and the pedals folded, it fits in the back seat of a small sedan.
Does it have suspension?
It has a big rear shock, which made the ride noticeably more comfortable. It doesn’t have gears.
Price
When I made my video in March 2023, the S7 was $699 on Amazon with a $200 off coupon, which put it at about $500. I’d seen similar bikes at Costco for around $500, and the S7 looked built way better from what I could see, though I didn’t ride the Costco bike. As of Oct 22, 2026, ONEBOT’s own store page for the S7 doesn’t load, so check Amazon for the current price.
Check the ONEBOT S7 price on Amazon (affiliate link)
If you still want the yellow model, here’s my ONEBOT Piaoyu link (affiliate link).





