"This folding electric bike is not like the others". This is what the

By José Escotto - Híbridos y Eléctricos web magazine Carbon fiber frame, rear suspension, belt-drive transmission, a motor with five levels of assistance, and a weight of just 18 kg. Sounds like a lot? Well, that’s exactly what the Q.ik Barcino offers—and more. The Q.ik Barcino 2025, which has been with us for a couple of weeks, is not just another folding electric bike. We put it to the test, and honestly, it left us with a very positive impression. Q.ik Barcino 2025: A Premium Folding Electric Bike Urban Models Struggling to Take Off We're seeing how urban bike models are struggling to gain traction in our country. The general approach seems to be offering very low-cost models to attract potential users. Many believe that the only way to commute in the city is by using cheap bikes, saving money for other leisure-oriented bicycles. Riding in Style with the Barcino However, this strategy doesn’t seem to be the solution either. What if premium urban bikes were offered at reasonable prices? This appears to be the thought process behind Q.ik’s design... Q.ik Barcino: A Carbon Bike with Rear Suspension The Barcino features a carbon frame with a beautifully crafted rear swingarm. If we described a bike made of carbon fiber, with a rear suspension system and hydraulic disc brakes, without mentioning that it's foldable, most people would assume it's an exclusive mountain bike. But no! This is a foldable city bike. The Barcino’s carbon frame is impeccably made, aiming for a lightweight build. The Barcino features a carbon fiber frame with meticulous finishes. Naturally, the goal is to keep its weight as low as possible. In fact, we've verified that it weighs 18 kg, which is quite impressive for a bike with both a motor and rear suspension. It's worth noting that the official website states a weight of 16.5 kg, but this refers to the version equipped with the smaller 252 Wh (7 Ah) battery. If you opt for the new 374.4 Wh (10.4 Ah) battery, the weight increases slightly. The rear suspension system is one of the key highlights of the Q.ik Barcino This makes handling feel very natural. But we’re not just talking about moving it around when stationary for storage or transport, such as in a vehicle. When riding it, it gives the sensation of being on a regular bicycle without a motor. In fact, when comparing it to non-electric folding models (made of steel or aluminum) from other brands, their weights are around 14 to 15 kg—making the difference with our Barcino negligible. However, if we look at electric folding bikes made of aluminum, for example, their weight increases by 3 to 5 kg more—and they don’t even have suspension. The low weight of the Barcino makes it very easy to handle On the other hand, the rear suspension system is definitely a welcome feature. It’s not designed to handle rough terrain like what you’d encounter off-road. Instead, its main purpose is to provide comfort. It’s a bit "bouncy" (its simple design means it lacks much progression), but it effectively absorbs irregularities, preventing them from reaching your lower back. The swingarm has a design that looks like it’s straight out of a mountain bike: it’s very sleek The small air shock absorber has a valve to adjust the pressure, allowing you to regulate the compression power. At the front, the Barcino features a rigid fork. We haven’t missed having suspension in the front because, as we mentioned, this bike is designed for the city, and the irregularities we encounter are effectively absorbed by the front tire. We can adjust the compression of the air shock absorber The folding system is very convenient, the usual one found in folding bikes. And the truth is, it takes up little space (85x52x70 cm), making storage a breeze. Su plegado no supone realizar 'malabarismos': es muy fácil. Moreover, as we’ve already mentioned, the lightweight design makes it very easy to handle when stationary, accessible to people of any fitness level (at least, that's what we believe). A willing motor that doesn’t need gears The different power assistance modes allow us to climb with great ease El pequeño motor ubicado en el buje de la rueda trasera (Shengyi de 250 W) tiene un buen empuje: nos hemos movido en un entorno con desniveles no excesivamente acusados y el modo de menor aporte de potencia ha sido suficiente en la mayoría de los casos. The hub motor and the battery located in the seat tube give the bike the appearance of a regular bicycle, without a motor It has a torque sensor in the bottom bracket, which makes the power delivery feel quite natural and in sync with the force from our legs. It's true that, like most hub motors, there's a slight delay in power delivery, but it's nothing alarming. On the other hand, we've noticed that the motor continues to provide power beyond 25 km/h (almost up to 30 km/h). We won’t complain about that, as it has been very useful for moving quickly. The Michelin belt drive is maintenance-free This Barcino came with the option of a single-speed belt drive (carbon belt by Michelin), and we absolutely loved it. First, because in a model like this, not having to worry about shifting gears is a real treat. We've been able to focus entirely on riding, which is a big plus in the city, where you need to stay very alert. Transmisión monomarcha con correa dentada And secondly, because the maintenance is minimal: there’s no need to adjust gears or grease chains. With the Q.ik Barcino, you just need to "start" and ride. Plus, the operation is completely silent: the transmission is very quiet. The additional cost of the belt drive, compared to the model with gears, is 100 euros, and we believe it's definitely worth it. Very complete the display mounted in the center of the handlebars Indeed, a single-speed transmission system is very convenient, but when faced with steep inclines, it forces us to constantly rely on higher power modes. This isn't really a problem since we have up to five modes, so we have plenty of power at our disposal. The only downside is that it leads to higher battery consumption. With this button, we can switch between the different power assistance modes. It also allows us to turn the light and motor on and off The battery installed (on the seat post) is the new 2025 model with 374.4 Wh (10.4 Ah). It has a small, easily accessible charging port underneath the saddle, allowing it to be charged while installed on the bike or by removing the seat post and bringing it to our home. The lock mechanism includes a key to prevent theft. The Barcino has a real range of about 40-45 km, more than enough The range is more than enough: in the city, for commuting to work, going shopping, meeting friends for coffee... In short, covering about 10-15 km (which is already quite a lot) meant seeing one bar drop from the battery indicator (out of four) on the display, which is very easy to read, even with direct sunlight. The battery clamp has a lock Optionally, we can install a 504 Wh battery. From our perspective, we don’t think it’s necessary. On the website, the brand mentions a range of around 60 km for the 374.4 Wh battery. In normal conditions, where we will switch between power modes to tackle inclines, and based on our own experience, the real range will likely be around 40-45 km. Perfectly sufficient for the city! The Q.ik Barcino, as a good folding bike, offers great versatility A very safe performance What we liked the most about the Q.ik Barcino was its noble behavior. Obviously, the reactions are what you would expect from a bike with small 20-inch wheels: it's twitchy. This means that, on one hand, we get very responsive reactions, with a high immediacy in the direction of our inputs. Adding to that, it's not hard to see 29-30 km/h on our display, and at times, it almost feels like we're riding a racing bike. This Barcino is a lot of fun! The handling of the Barcino is very responsive Is there a need to brake? No problem: the set of hydraulic disc brakes (Shimano) is exceptional, with plenty of power but great feel, allowing us to modulate them easily. The disc brakes have hydraulic actuation calipers signed by Shimano The rear suspension has made riding along a path (like those in parks) very comfortable. Honestly, we’ve liked the suspension because we’ve arrived at our destination feeling very relaxed. Although the ultimate goal isn't to ride on trails, the rear suspension handles small imperfections quite well And, are there no defects? Nothing is perfect in this life, and logically, we've noticed some flaws in our Barcino. Well, more like some 'gaps'. The folding system and the frame finishes are of high quality We believe it's a very well-made product, almost perfect. No signs of 'inexperience' are noticeable (this Barcelona-based brand was founded in 2024 and was presented internationally at the latest Eurobike edition), meaning we are looking at an impeccably crafted frame, where everything fits perfectly. The folding system is very solid, no play, no creaks when riding (even when going over bumps). It feels like we're dealing with a bike with many years of evolution behind it. Bravo to Q.ik! En negro es bonita, pero creemos que en algún color algo más vivo lo sería más The motor is powerful enough and the battery, more than sufficient. It brakes well, handles irregularities like few folding electric bikes do. It rides smoothly thanks to its low weight and folds easily. So, where are the 'gaps'? The performance is very remarkable: the Barcino goes really fast. Well, the truth is, there are almost none. If we had to point out a 'flaw,' it would be the way the motor delivers power: we liked that it maintained more than 25 km/h, but since we've got a 'premium' model, we would prefer a bit more precision in this regard—less delay when delivering power, and for the delivery to cut off at 25 km/h, as it should for a Pedelec bike. 'Peccata minuta'. The front light is quite powerful In our view, we believe that fenders are essential, especially in an urban model. When speaking with the brand representatives, they mentioned that our unit didn't have them, but that they come as standard... great! As for the rear rack, it's optional in this case. The natural habitat of the Barcino is the city Our bike also came without a rear light. The front light is very powerful, no complaints there. But we believe it should have been complemented with a rear light. According to Q.ik, it will come as standard, although it won't be powered by the same battery as the front light. The Barcino, once folded, fits almost anywhere Conclusion We’ve had so much fun with the Barcino! We’ve moved around with joy: it’s powerful, fast, maneuverable, and very comfortable. We’ve tested several urban bikes with great features and presence, but in the city, they felt a bit dull. This Barcino has made commuting in an otherwise boring environment a truly enjoyable experience. We’ve had so much fun with the Q.ik Barcino! The bike shows high quality, it's beautiful (I'm sure it looks even better in more striking colors), comfortable, lightweight, and safe... And the price is more than reasonable: they ask for 2,350 euros (plus 100 euros for the belt). What more could you ask for? According to Q.ik, they have some 2024 models in stock, with a Shimano Tourney 7-speed gear system and the previous 252 Wh (7 Ah) battery, priced at 1,995 euros. Q.ik Barcino 2025, starting at 2,350 euros Technical specifications Q.ik Barcino 2025: Frame: Carbon fiber Motor: Shengyi 250 W brushless in the rear wheel hub. Torque sensor. Battery: 374.4 Wh (10.4 Ah) on the seatpost. Optionally 504 Wh (14 Ah). Display: Naici KT-5 LCD Suspension: Rear, single-pivot with air shock. Carbon rigid fork and Shimano hydraulic brakes Brakes: Shimano hydraulic disc brakes (160 mm discs) Wheels: 20-inch aluminum Tires: Schwalbe Road Cruiser 20x1.75 In our unit, the tires were branded by Schwalbe Weight: 18 kg (verified by Híbridos y Eléctricos) Price: from €2,350 (our test unit, with the single-speed belt drive, €2,450) Más información en: Q.ik Barcino Click here for the original Spanish article version

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