After three years of development and a first appearance at the Eurobike show in 2024, the JIM is finally arriving on the market (3000 euros). For its first folding e-bike, the northern brand O2feel has chosen to go against the competition by equipping it with compact 16-inch wheels, while current models tend to adopt 20-inch models; like the Brompton Electric G Line or the Decathlon BtwinE Fold 900. It thus follows the philosophy of the original electric Brompton, which remained faithful to its small wheels. Another advantage is that it has an automatic transmission, which proved very practical in the city during our test.
Beautiful finish and complete equipment
First impression when discovering the JIM (acronym for "Journey Is Mine"), it has style. While the line is noticeably heavier due to the battery location, it remains sleek with its top tube extending towards the seatstays and all the way to the rear hub. Its "flash green" paint on our test model is beautifully crafted. It is also available in “golden hour yellow” and “dusk blue”.
The equipment is relatively complete with mudguards, folding pedals, 150 lumen Lightskin UE2 front light and rear light with brake detection. It doesn't have a rear rack, but a mounting system on the head tube to have one at the front.
At the rear, four wheels have been integrated to allow the bike to be moved in trolley mode when folded. Simply do not lower the seat tube and use it as a handle to move it alongside you. Ultra practical for multimodal use, for example, to catch your train on a station platform.
Powerful brakes and unbeatable handling
The components chosen for the JIM are also up to scratch. The 16-inch wheels are equipped with excellent 1.75-inch Schwalbe Road Cruiser tires. Enough to grip the asphalt well and filter the road for a little comfort. But it's especially on the brakes side that O2feel didn't skimp, equipping it with a 160mm Shimano MT410 hydraulic disc system. The bite and power are there, and there, needless to say, it brakes hard and responds perfectly. A quality that fits well with the bike's liveliness.
By choosing these small wheels, the Wambrechies (Nord) manufacturer is bucking the current trend of equipping folding e-bikes with 20-inch models. The handling is certainly disconcerting for the first few minutes, as the steering is extremely responsive. But once you've gotten your bearings, you'll ultimately appreciate riding a very maneuverable bike. It responds instantly, and its tight turning radius allows you to weave through urban traffic like no other. Especially since the quality of the braking provides a real sense of security, allowing you to stop when necessary. It has the feel of the original electric Brompton (equipped with the same wheel size), minus the battery at the front, which tends to make the steering heavier.
Automatic transmission and modest, but sufficient engine
The chain drive and the absence of a derailleur should not lead you to believe that the JIM is a single speed. Rather than using this highly exposed component when it comes to a folding model, the manufacturer has opted for a two-speed automatic transmission. This is integrated directly with the Bafang H700 motor within the rear hub. There is no selector on the handlebars, nor a twist grip to change gears. Here, they are selected automatically depending on the speed. When you start pedaling, first gear is engaged by default and shifts to second at around 10 km/h. When you stop, first gear re-engages and allows you to start again without forcing. Simple and very effective.
Especially since the Bafang motor fulfills its role perfectly for a model with a modest torque of 35 Nm. If it's not a lightning bolt of war on the steepest hills, it's because it's not at all made for that. We did, however, push the limits and try it on an ultra-steep 17% slope! There, the thighs provide more watts than the motor, but we did arrive at the top. The H700 is more comfortable on flat or hilly profiles, but no more, and that's logical for such a bike. Its behavior is quite pleasant, with a smooth start and well-controlled progressiveness. You can hear it slightly, but not enough to be bothered, especially during urban use.
A fold to be perfected
It is in this context that the JIM will be used primarily; for example, to reach your workplace from a train station. For this multimodal use, it can therefore fold in three points: steering column, frame before the socket and rear triangle which passes under the whole, Brompton style. The whole thing is relatively compact (86 x 70 x 47 cm for 18 kg, 145 cm long unfolded), but does not equal the English model (57 x 59 x 27 cm) which however requires carrying the bag containing its power battery. It thus adopts more or less the same dimensions as the BtwinE Fold 900, but still gains 10 centimeters in width and 2 kg, which is not at all negligible in the context of daily handling.
On our test model, which was a pre-production unit, not everything was completely perfect. The magnet attaching the front wheel to the rear wasn't strong enough to keep them together. Above all, the hinge on the frame clearly lacked flexibility and was very difficult to operate.
Identified details that will be completely adjusted on the commercially available series models, 02feel assured us. Another important detail is that there are unfortunately no markers on the seat tube. Under these conditions, the adjustment to the correct height is done approximately when unfolding. Sometimes, it doesn't quite hit the mark, and it's worth trying it out before hitting the road.
Clever USB-C battery
The JIM, on the other hand, scores points with its clever iPowerBank USB-C battery system. Weighing only 1.8 kg, it is very compact and can be used as a backup. Connected via its USB port, it can be used to charge a smartphone or a computer, for a use similar to what Lemmo offers on its One e-bike. Above all, it recharges via this same port thanks to a very compact Anker charger. We can therefore imagine being able to do this easily during a break in a café, for example, to regain a little autonomy.
Its compactness indeed betrays a capacity of only 260 Wh. But this seemed entirely sufficient for multimodal use. While O2feel advertises a range of 60 km in the lowest assistance mode, we covered around 30 km in maximum mode on a hilly profile. An important detail is that the manufacturer uses LG cells here—a guarantee of reliability—and guarantees this battery of its own design for 4 years or 40,000 kilometers. Enough to cover any problems with this component, which is always subject to high stress.
Finally, note that an 02feel application is available to register the bike and track its maintenance. However, no connectivity is integrated. 
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