Tern NBD S5i and Macfox M16 are both worth considering when a full-size e-bike feels awkward, but they make different movements easier. Tern lowers the opening you step through to get on. M16 lowers the long seat you sit on and provides a throttle. Identifying which movement matters to you makes this comparison much more useful than calling both bikes “small.”
The first step onto the bike
NBD S5i has a 15.4-inch standover height. That low frame opening gives the rider a short step into the bike rather than a high leg swing over the saddle. It can be particularly convenient when luggage is attached or when everyday clothing makes a high swing awkward.
WIRED's Adrienne So emphasized this low entry in her NBD S5i review. She also described sharing the bike with a much taller partner by adjusting the seat and handlebar. That is a practical example of what Tern's fit adjustment is for: the frame can remain easy to enter while the riding position changes for different riders.
The M16's 28.7-inch seat height describes a different measurement. It tells you where you sit, not how high a frame tube is when stepping through. For a rider who likes a lower seated position, that is useful; for someone whose main difficulty is getting a leg over the bike, Tern's open frame is the more directly relevant feature.
Small wheels can still support active pedaling
NBD S5i combines a 65Nm Bosch Performance mid-drive, a 500Wh removable battery, a Gates belt, and a five-speed Shimano Nexus internal hub. The gears let you change pedal effort while the belt avoids chain lubrication. Its 20-inch wheels sit beneath an adjustable conventional saddle rather than requiring a very low pedaling position.
The NBD also uses a suspension seatpost and large-volume tires, with a rigid fork. BikeRadar's tester praised the comfort of the saddle, seatpost, and tires as a combination. This is relevant to seated everyday riding: the cushioning is built around the rider's contact points, not a mountain-bike suspension arrangement.
M16 offers direct assistance and a long padded seat
The Macfox M16 e-bike has 16 x 4.0-inch tires, front suspension, and a long seat. Its thumb throttle can power the 500W rated rear-hub motor without continuous pedaling. A rider can pedal through part of a neighborhood outing, then ease off the legs while continuing to ride.
The single-speed drivetrain keeps gear selection out of that routine. The seat allows changes in sitting position, and the fork adds cushioning at the front wheel. Those are useful qualities for a rider who fits the M16 and wants relaxed daily riding rather than the adjustable pedal arrangement of the Tern.
Battery capacity is almost the same on paper: 499Wh for M16 and 500Wh for NBD. That makes the control and fit differences much more important than the one-watt-hour gap. The rider's choice to pedal or use the throttle has a far larger effect on how the energy is used.
Parking and carrying complete the comparison
NBD's rear rack is rated for 27kg and supports vertical parking. Its handlepost folds down, but the main frame does not fold in half. It therefore solves narrow storage and floor-space problems differently from a suitcase-style folding bike.
M16 stays assembled at 56 inches long. With a ground-level parking spot, it is ready to roll without changing its shape or orientation. For someone whose main aim is a lower-seated daily electric bike, that simple arrangement may be all that is needed.
For a bike shared between riders of different heights, or a rider who needs a low opening to step through, NBD S5i's frame and fit adjustment are compelling. For a rider who fits the M16 and wants its low long seat, front suspension, and direct throttle assistance, those benefits are available without a folding or vertical-parking routine. Start with the movement you want to make easier: getting onto the bike, or settling into the ride.
