If you mainly ride on flat roads and want as little maintenance as possible, an e-bike with a single speed or a belt drive suits you. If your route has bridges, dykes or a lot of headwind, or you want to choose your own pace, go for an e-bike with gears. On all electric bikes in the range, the pedal assistance helps up to 25 km/h. The difference lies in how you pedal yourself.
Three types of drive
- Single speed: one gear, no shifting. Get on and ride.
- Gears: 5, 6 or 7 gears, so you can pick a lighter gear into a headwind or up a bridge.
- Gates belt drive: a belt instead of a chain, with a single speed. The belt needs no lubrication, leaves no grease marks on your trousers and runs quietly.
Assistance levels are not the same as gears
The two are often confused. With the assistance level you decide how much the motor helps. With the gear you decide how hard you pedal yourself. So a bike with a single speed can still have several assistance levels. Set the assistance to zero and you ride on under your own power, and that is when you really notice which drive you have.
Single speed: simplicity for flat terrain
The BOHLT X160 BL and the orange X160 OR run on a single speed, tuned to the flat terrain where a folding bike spends most of its time. There is nothing to shift, and the motor helps in 3 levels. These folding bikes have 16 inch wheels and weigh 18.8 kg, handy for the train, the car boot and the last stretch from the station.
On a flat cycle path you will hardly notice the single gear. If you ride up a steep bridge with little or no assistance, there is no lighter gear to shift down to.
Gears: choose your own pace
With gears you pick a suitable gear in every situation: light for pulling away at the traffic lights, heavier when you are cruising along. That is also pleasant if you set the assistance low to get more range from the battery.
- BOHLT R200 in black or green: electric folding bike with 6 Shimano gears, 3 assistance levels, 20 inch wheels and a weight of 24.8 kg.
- BOHLT F20: folding fat bike with 7 Shimano gears and 6 assistance levels.
- BOHLT Fat Twenty: folding fat bike with 6 Shimano gears and 3 assistance levels.
- RED6 Ghost: fat bike with a dual seat, 5 gears and 5 assistance levels.
Belt drive: low maintenance and quiet
The BOHLT Rebel and the BOHLT Q26 run with a Gates belt instead of a chain. No chain grease, no grease marks and a quiet, even pedal stroke. Both have a single speed, and the motor helps in 5 levels.
The Rebel has 20 inch wheels and a removable 627 Wh battery, with a stated range of up to 80 km. The Q26 has 26 inch wheels and a removable 750 Wh battery, good for 65 to 80 km according to the manufacturer. Both have hydraulic disc brakes and a fixed frame without a hinge, so they do not fold. These are bikes for people who ride a lot of kilometres and leave the bike in the shed or bike store, while the battery comes inside.
How to choose based on your route
- Flat terrain, short rides and frequent lifting: the X160 with single speed and 18.8 kg.
- Bridges, headwind or a varying pace: the R200, F20, Fat Twenty or Ghost with gears.
- Lots of kilometres, little maintenance and a fixed storage spot: the Rebel or Q26 with belt drive.
Want to know which wheel size and battery suit you as well? Then read buying an electric folding bike: what to look for. You can read more about the rules for wide tyres in buying a fat bike in 2026, and about the battery in how long an e-bike battery lasts. You will find all models under e-bikes. Every bike comes with a 24 month warranty.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between gears and assistance levels?
With the assistance level you choose how much the motor helps. With the gear you choose how hard you pedal yourself.
Do I need to lubricate a belt drive?
No. The Gates belt on the Rebel and the Q26 needs no lubrication.
Can I ride a single speed without assistance?
Yes. Set the assistance to zero and keep pedalling. The single gear is tuned to flat terrain.
Which e-bikes have Shimano gears?
The R200 and the Fat Twenty have 6, the F20 has 7.
Do the belt drive bikes fold?
No. The Rebel and the Q26 have a fixed frame without a hinge.
Up to what speed does the motor assist?
On all electric bikes in the range, the 250 W motor helps up to 25 km/h.
