Haoqi Squirrel Review: A Compact, Foldable Fat-Tire E-Bike That Feels Quick and Nimble
April 29, 2024
I’ve ridden a lot of foldable fat-tire e-bikes, and most of them feel like mini tanks: long, heavy, and kind of awkward to thread through tight city spaces. The Haoqi Squirrel goes in a different direction. It’s still a fat-tire folder, but it feels more compact and more “city-first” in the way it moves.
After getting it set up, folding it a few times, and putting it through a real-world ride with stop-and-go starts, rough pavement, and quick turns, I walked away thinking: if your priority is a portable, maneuverable e-bike with punchy power, the Squirrel is doing a lot right.
Compact, Foldable, and Actually Easy to Live With
The first thing that stood out to me is the overall size. This is a compact folding design, and it feels like it. For apartment life, storing it in a tighter entryway, or tossing it in a vehicle, that smaller footprint matters.
The bike uses foldable pedals and a folding stem, and I like that the stem can be adjusted higher. That gives you a bit more flexibility to dial in the cockpit for your height and riding style.
The frame shape is also a little different than the usual boxy folding designs—more of a U-shaped look—so visually it stands out, and practically it contributes to that “easy to step through and hop on” vibe.
My Ride Impressions: Quick Off the Line, Easy to Control
Out on the first ride, the Squirrel immediately felt lively.
I ran it up into a higher pedal-assist level and used the right-hand half-twist throttle, which is still my favorite style of throttle for bikes like this. It’s easy to modulate—so instead of feeling like an on/off switch, I could feed in power smoothly, especially when starting from a stop.
Acceleration felt strong right off the line, and the bike built speed quickly. The overall controller tune feels confident and not overly restricted, which is exactly what I want in an urban ride where you’re often merging, crossing intersections, or needing a quick burst to get up and out of the way.
Handling: The “Squirrel” Name Makes Sense
Nimble is the word I kept coming back to.
The bike is very maneuverable—quick to turn, easy to place, and comfortable to thread through tighter lines. Between the compact geometry and the 20x4 fat tires, it feels agile in a way a lot of folding fat-tire e-bikes don’t.
If you’re riding in a city and you value that ability to react quickly—tight turns, quick lane changes, navigating around potholes and sidewalk ramps—the Squirrel feels like it was built for that.
Comfort: Fat Tires Help, But You’ll Notice the No-Suspension Front End
This is the big trade-off.
There isn’t a front suspension fork, and I definitely felt that on cracks and rough patches. The 20x4 tires do absorb a lot of the chatter, and they take the edge off more than a skinny-tire commuter would. But when the pavement gets broken up, the front end communicates it.
I kept thinking a basic suspension fork (even something simple) would have made a meaningful difference for everyday comfort—especially for riders dealing with older city streets.
That said, the saddle is impressively wide and comfortable, and the grips felt good in my hands. Those contact points help a lot when the road surface isn’t perfect.
Braking and Control
The bike I rode had mechanical disc brakes. They worked well enough for this category, although I noticed some squeak and would personally take the time to adjust them.
On a quick brake test, stopping power felt acceptable for the bike’s intended use: compact urban runs, errands, commuting, and general city cruising.
Utility Details I Noticed
A few practical features stood out:
Integrated front headlight: It’s very bright, and I love having lighting built into the bike.
Integrated front fender: Nice for wet streets and keeping road spray down.
Integrated rear rack: Great for commuting, small cargo, or strapping down a bag.
Rear visibility: There’s no integrated rear tail light, but you do get a red reflector. I’d add a tail light immediately if you’re riding around traffic.
What We Like
Quick acceleration and strong power delivery in real-world starts
Very nimble, agile handling for a fat-tire folder
Half-twist throttle feels smooth and easy to modulate
Compact folding design works well for storage and transport
Comfortable saddle and practical commuter touches like the rack and headlight
Things To Consider
No front suspension fork, so rough streets feel bumpier than expected
Compact sizing may not be ideal for taller or larger riders
No integrated rear tail light (I’d plan to add one)
Mechanical disc brakes may need adjustment (and can be squeaky)
Final Thoughts
The Haoqi Squirrel is one of the more “city-friendly” foldable fat-tire e-bikes I’ve spent time on. It’s compact, it feels quick, and it handles in a way that makes urban riding less stressful—especially when you need tight turning and easy maneuvering.
The biggest downside is comfort on broken pavement. The fat tires help, but without a front suspension fork, you’re going to feel the city’s imperfections. If your routes are mostly smooth or you value portability and agility over plushness, the Squirrel makes a strong case.
Links
Haoqi Squirrel Foldable Ebike: https://haoqiebike.com/products/haoqi-squirrel-folding-electric-bike
Bell Super 3R MIPS Bike Helmet: https://amzn.to/3TJ1vTR
Fox Racing Bike Gloves: https://amzn.to/40P5SyQ
Hafny Handlebar Bike Mirror: https://amzn.to/3FVubmN
Veeape Electric Air Pump: https://amzn.to/3LPLTf9
Denlix Military Sling Bag: https://amzn.to/3LTKN2c
Lamicall Bike Phone Mount: https://amzn.to/3LXmD6O
Onvian Wireless Bike Alarm: https://amzn.to/42KUgyE
RunPlayBack Merch: http://shop.runplayback.com/