It has a Bafang 250W rear hub motor with a torque sensor, delivering pedal assist up to 20mph as a Class 1 e-Bike.
BESV PSF1 E-Bike Review
Written by: Tom Fortune | August 26, 2026 | Time to read 5 min
BESV built the PSF1 to solve a common problem: most folding e-Bikes ride like a compromise. This one doesn’t feel like it’s cutting corners to fold down small.
More about the Author: Tom Fortune
Tom is a Brit living in the French Alps. When he's not creating written and video content for various brands, he's either pedalling or snowboarding around his local mountains. E-Bikes have unlocked the potential for Tom to explore Alpine terrain and get away from the crowded bike parks. He is only too keen to share his knowledge and experience with other riders.
The BESV PSF1 is a folding e-Bike built for people who need to store it in an apartment, under a desk, or transport it in a car or on public transport without giving up the ride quality of a full-sized commuter. It folds down small in a couple of seconds and unfolds just as fast.
I like that BESV didn’t just bolt a motor onto a cheap folding frame. The PSF1 has rear suspension and a proper drivetrain, which is more than most folding e-Bikes.
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BESV PSF1 Specs
| Spec | Detail |
|---|---|
| Motor | Bafang 250W rear hub, torque sensor |
| Battery | 378Wh, removable, LG cells |
| Class | Class 1, 20mph |
| Drivetrain | Shimano Altus, 7-speed, trigger shifters |
| Brakes | Disc brakes |
| Suspension | Rear suspension |
| Wheels | 20-inch |
| Weight | Around 40 lbs |
How It Rides
The riding position is upright and relaxed, designed for leisurely city riding. It has a Shimano Altus 7-speed drivetrain, which is ideal for flat urban riding.
This bike is quite unusual, as it has rear suspension but a rigid fork. However, the air-sprung shock absorber takes the edge off small bumps on the road, though don't expect it to take you on big mountain adventures. Disc brakes give you confident stopping power in any weather.
The torque sensor means the motor responds to how hard you’re pedaling, and there’s a Smart Mode that automatically adjusts the assistance so you’re not constantly flipping through settings.
Motor and Battery
BESV calls its power system “Algorhythm.” It's the company’s own software that calculates how much assistance to deliver based on your pedaling input. The Bafang 250W rear hub motor keeps things simple with steady, predictable power for city riding.
The 378Wh battery uses LG cells and is removable, which is useful if you’d rather not haul the whole bike to an outlet.
Things to Know Before You Buy
- At around 40 lbs, the PSF1 is light for a full-featured e-Bike but not light for a folding bike you’re expected to haul up stairs regularly. Folding it down helps with storage, not necessarily portability.
- The PSF1 won a Taiwan Excellence Award, a notable recognition given to standout Taiwanese-engineered products, which is nice to know if brand credibility is important to you.
- Even though it has a rear shock absorber, it is not a full-suspension e-Bike; the fork is rigid.
Who Should Buy the BESV PSF1?
- Riders who need to store their e-Bike in a small apartment, office, or car trunk should find the folding design works well.
- Anyone wanting a relaxed city ride with proper components, rather than a cheap-and-nasty folding bike with a motor bolted on.
- Riders who regularly need to haul the bike up multiple flights of stairs should think hard about the bike's weight before committing.
Alternatives Worth Considering
Other BESV models, like the CF1, trade the folding mechanism for a full-sized frame. They are worth a look if storage space isn't a problem for you and you'd rather have a more traditional city bike.
Brompton Electric is another major name in folding e-Bikes, and it folds down to be smaller and lighter than the PSF1. However, Brompton Electric models are typically more expensive than the BESV PSF1, so it's a trade-off between paying a premium for the smallest possible folded size and getting more bike, suspension included, for less money.
Find a BESV PSF1 on Upway
A folding e-Bike is folded and unfolded constantly, which puts extra wear on the hinges and joints that a rigid frame never experiences. The only way to know a used PSF1’s folding mechanism, motor, and battery are all in good shape is to have someone check them properly. Every e-Bike on Upway goes through a 50-point inspection before it’s listed, covering exactly that.
Browse the current folding electric bikes selection, the used electric city bikes collection, or check the sale collection to compare current options.
Frequently Asked Questions
What motor does the BESV PSF1 use?
Does the BESV PSF1 have a removable battery?
Yes, the 378Wh battery is fully removable so that you can charge it separately from the bike.
How much does the BESV PSF1 weigh?
Around 40 lbs, light for a full-featured e-Bike but still substantial for a folding bike you plan to haul regularly.
Key Takeaways
- The PSF1 pairs a Bafang 250W hub motor with a 378Wh removable battery, designed for riders who need reliable fold-down storage without sacrificing ride quality.
- Rear suspension, disc brakes, and a proper Shimano Altus drivetrain come standard, more than most folding e-Bikes offer.
- At around 40 lbs, it’s light for what it is, but still not something you’ll want to haul up stairs every day.
