First ride: Q.ik Barcino and Genava carbon electric folding bikes

Affordable carbon fibre e-bikes have well and truly arrived, it seems, after years of being  expensive, high-end rarities. First we had the ADO Air Carbon which was crowdfunded in 2023 and more recently the Engwe Mapfour N1 Air. Looking to raise the bar now are Barcelona-based Q.ik, who sent us two of their carbon fibre folding models: the hub-motored Barcino and the mid-drive Genava. 

Why is this a first ride and not a full blown test? Q.ik mistakenly sent us US spec bikes with a top speed of 20mph, so obviously the fully EU compliant versions will perform somewhat differently. Nevertheless, we were excited to take a look at a brand that is clearly aiming to bring affordable and relatively light e-folders to the UK.  

First impressions

Out of the box, both the Barcino and Genava look well-made, quality e-bikes. They share several design features. Both are 20in wheeled models with carbon frames and a similar fold in half design; both are belt drives; and even more unusually, both have small rear shock units (though no front suspension). 

Qik Barcino Genava First Ride, by Richard Peace

The Barcino has a neat looking rear hub motor and is a single speed, whilst the Genava has a Dapu mid-drive and three Shimano Nexus hub gears.

Other differences are a bit more subtle. The Barcino has a beautifully easy to read full colour display, while the Genava has a black and white one. The frames themselves look similar but the Genava has an obvious carbon fibre weave finish which the Barcino lacks.

The rear suspension on the Barcino is of a single inline design, whilst the Genava has an extra pivot point. Both units were air suspension but Q.ik’s website describes the suspension on the Barcino as a spring unit and that’s what their website appears to show. The Genava’s is a pricier looking air unit which tallies with the web description. 

Q.ik Barcino suspension, by Richard Peace

Batteries are seat tube incorporated and almost identical to the system used by Estarli, using a locking button and special tightening tool on the seatpost clamp for security. The power cable feeds out of the bottom of the seat post and the charging port is found under the seat.

Whilst I can see the design appeal of a ‘dual function’ seatpost like this I much prefer frame-incorporated designs, as employed by Flit, MiRiDER and Pedibal. This particular seatpost design is fiddly to unplug at the bottom end and the cable sticks out of the bottom in an area where it could catch and get damaged. Nor are range extenders available for the Q.ik batteries, meaning you are limited to 374Wh or 504Wh options. 

The loan bikes came without mudguards but there are mounts. The Barcino had a very handy kickstand and a similar one could also be fitted to the Genava. No racks feature on the bikes or on the website as ‘extras’ but it looks like it should be possible to fit one to either model with a bit of creative use of brackets and perhaps clamps. 

Q.ik Genava front light, by Richard Peace

Both had well-focused and powerful hardwired front lights, but nothing at the rear. Both also featured freerolling Schwalbe Road Cruiser tyres – billed as urban commuting tyres with a good degree of puncture protection.  
 

Weight, fold and performance

I expected the Barcino to be significantly lighter than the Genava, due to its smaller motor and single gear but both bikes were in fact similar at 17.3kg (the Barcino) and 17.7kg (the Genava), which was heavier than stated on the website.

Removing the seatpost battery led to much more respectable weights of 13.9kg and 14.3kg respectively. The similarity in weights is a bit baffling but presumably down to a lighter frame design on the Genava.

Q.ik Genava folded, by Richard Peace

These weights look a little heavy when compared to the most immediate competitor, the ADO Air Carbon which weighed 13.5kg (with battery) on the ebiketips’ scales – though the Air lacks the rear suspension unit of the Q.iks and has a slightly smaller 345Wh battery. 

Folding is of the straightforward mid-frame hinge design and results in a folded package of around 80cm x 50cm x 75cm. The tension-adjustable hinges are solid and didn’t significantly flex or move during riding. I’d have like to have seen much stronger magnets or even more preferably a ball and socket arrangement, as on the Flit M2, to keep the whole package firmly together once folded.

Q.ik Genava folded.JPG, by Richard Peace

Still, overall it’s a folded package I could live with for weight and size as a daily train commuting machine.

I won’t say too much on the ride quality seeing as both bikes were US spec and so not legal to ride on the road here in the UK without type approval, moped documentation etc. We tried them mainly over moderately hilly paths and tracks (not on public roads). 

The Barcino impressed with its lovely smooth responsive ride with great climbing power for such a small single speed rear hub motor.

The Genava surprisingly felt a bit less immediately responsive to pedalling – though once hill gradients went beyond moderately steep, the Genava certainly coped much better, as you would expect – to the extent it towed the Barcino home on a trailer for around 900ft of climbing over eight miles without missing a beat. 

After softening the air suspension a bit by letting a little air out, I found it a real comfort enhancing feature.

Qik Barcino, by Richard Peace

Note there are chain and derailleur geared versions of both bikes. The latter could provide even more climbing ability.
 

Availability and conclusions

There is much to like about the Barcino and Genava. They are reasonably light (especially in comparison to the likes of Tern and other beefier e-folders), well made and offer bigger wheels and suspension for a comfier and more stable ride compared to 16in wheeled models, such as those from Brompton and Flit.  

Qik Barcino, by Richard Peace

The only disappointing aspect is that the weights carbon fibre e-bikes conjure up in your mind haven’t materialised (Q.ik is not alone here). I would also reserve long term judgement on all carbon folders until they have been around a few years to see how the material stands up to the demanding life of daily use.

Q.ik says the UK/EU spec bikes ship directly from their Barcelona HQ and shipping is included in the price. They are however sold minus VAT which UK customers will have to pay to the importer when the bikes are released by customs in the UK.

The Barcino starts at £2,052 and the Genava at £2,489.

As Q.ik has a wide range of folders it’s best to enquire directly of them which models are in stock before ordering.  

Q.ik Barcino, by Richard Peace

Q.ik’s Barcino and Genava look welcome and rather unusual additions to the ever expanding array of 20in folders available here in the UK. The true proof of the pudding as to their usability here would be a full ride report on UK spec bikes though. Hopefully we’ll be able to bring you just such a thing in the near future.

qikbike.com