Argos bike EplusCFX5

Hi, I was hoping forum members could provide opinion/ experience with this. Judging by the reviews on Argos it seems some regard it as a bit of a workhorse. From the dimensions it may suit someone 5 10. I have an electric Raleigh Array suntour hesc which after 8 plus years of regular use still works well and holds good charge. I also ride non electric Raleigh Clubman 531 and a Giant Revolt 3 gravel but was thinking of this for shopping trips and taking on trains etc to explore cities/ days out ?

The price is good and the reviews seem pretty good,

 

The things that would put me off are

 

1) V brakes

2) 24V

3) weight

4) very small battery / range

 

I like 20" folders and have converted a few, but even going for lightweight choices, still getting 16-17 kg including a 36V 10Ah battery (which is the minimum I would go for). They are ideal for throwing in the car boot or going by train is OK, especially off peak - you often don't actually need to fold it - bus you wouldn't want to do very often - especially in rush hour.

Hi, I was hoping forum members could provide opinion/ experience with this. Judging by the reviews on Argos it seems some regard it as a bit of a workhorse. From the dimensions it may suit someone 5 10. I have an electric Raleigh Array suntour hesc which after 8 plus years of regular use still works well and holds good charge. I also ride non electric Raleigh Clubman 531 and a Giant Revolt 3 gravel but was thinking of this for shopping trips and taking on trains etc to explore cities/ days out ?

There are recent threads about very low cost bikes from Argos. Use the search box to find them. Might reassure you as to suitability for your purpose.

I know its quite a bit more expensive but

 

https://uk.fiido.com/products/fiido-d11-folding-electric-bike-for-commuter

 

https://www.pedelecs.co.uk/forum/threads/fiido-d11-folding-e-bike-a-sort-of-review.41326/

Hi, I was hoping forum members could provide opinion/ experience with this. Judging by the reviews on Argos it seems some regard it as a bit of a workhorse. From the dimensions it may suit someone 5 10. I have an electric Raleigh Array suntour hesc which after 8 plus years of regular use still works well and holds good charge. I also ride non electric Raleigh Clubman 531 and a Giant Revolt 3 gravel but was thinking of this for shopping trips and taking on trains etc to explore cities/ days out ?

I haven't tried that one, but I have the 36v one with the other frame. It's very weak on power. The one you mention is only 24v, so won't be any better. I modified mine to make it into a much better ride. Also, yours has rim brakes, which work, but cause too many issues on an electric bike unless you're very light, but on the plus side it's not quite as heavy as mine. It's a shame you weren't able to get one like mine, which was only £245. Ghost 1951 loves his, but he only weighs 74kg. He made a thread about it too.

https://www.pedelecs.co.uk/forum/threads/review-of-argos-%C2%A3285-folding-bike.47684/

Hi, thanks for all you replies. I ordered (paid £390 with a discount card) and is being delivered Thursday. Re the weight the frame being steel has probably contributes but I was looking for a steel frame especially in a folder for some strength. I still want to use it to keep fit (to a degree) so having a heavy folder with small wheels will at least push me on smaller runs, where riding the racer, gravel and electric array may not on smaller runs an will probably make use of the power on hills etc , where

sorry where I could do without the extra strain of this type of bike on the knees. These folders also seem less threatening when you see someone "riding" them on a pavement where the road is perhaps very busy an the rider may consider it unsafe. They often just push them along slowly with their feet and it is easier to stop with control of the bike if needed , whereas a full size bike being ridden on the pavement can sometimes feel a bit more intimidating. I have ridden non electric 20 inch folders and find they can be also be just as much fun in their own unique way as full size bikes. I have also ridden a Brompton which is perfect for the niche but like being able to get off the seat up sometimmes especially on inclines which is easier on the 20 inch and the wider 20 inches can handle gravel better. Will report back on the Argos special

sorry where I could do without the extra strain of this type of bike on the knees. These folders also seem less threatening when you see someone "riding" them on a pavement where the road is perhaps very busy an the rider may consider it unsafe. They often just push them along slowly with their feet and it is easier to stop with control of the bike if needed , whereas a full size bike being ridden on the pavement can sometimes feel a bit more intimidating. I have ridden non electric 20 inch folders and find they can be also be just as much fun in their own unique way as full size bikes. I have also ridden a Brompton which is perfect for the niche but like being able to get off the seat up sometimmes especially on inclines which is easier on the 20 inch and the wider 20 inches can handle gravel better. Will report back on the Argos special

You'll probably want to change the gearing, which is much too low. Look at those two threads to see what we did. If you find that the power is too low, you can get a 36v battery for it, which would give it nearly 50% more power and torque.

Thanks, will read the threads in more detail. I am unlikely to spend money on it for a while. I may add a basket to the front and back and just use it for local shopping and going to the pub. If I bash the deraullieur beyond repair leaving the pub for example then could gearing can upgraded. If the battery goes further down the line due to the valid concerns in my opinion about fires etc I would have some reservations in buying even a replacement without guidance from Argos/ the manufacturer. I noticed on the Q & A for this bike on the Argos site someone asked about what to do if the battery goes in a few years and Argos staff replied saying the supplier has advised "the battery on this bike is a standard 24v type widely available". I wouldn't know where to get one from a reputable seller or place (Amazon/ Ebay?)

Yose-power, and Greenlance.co.uk supplied my batteries.. pspower based in germany have been highlighted for offering good deals recently too. a little homework regarding how battery voltages and capacities are added when connected in series and in parallel should arm you well for the usual bollox boasts in rip off ads and you can always post a link in here for review

This one ?

 

Edited - just watched video - no it's not this one

 

https://www.yosepower.co.uk/products/24v10-4ah-lithium-ion-rear-e-bike-battery-pack-without-original-battery-shell

 

Edited December 10, 20241 yr by Peter.Bridge

This one ?

 

Edited - just watched video - no it's not this one

 

https://www.yosepower.co.uk/products/24v10-4ah-lithium-ion-rear-e-bike-battery-pack-without-original-battery-shell

 

[ATTACH=full]61277[/ATTACH]

 

If its this one

 

 

They even do a 24V 17.5Ah branded cell version if the 24V 7.8Ah standard one doesn't give enough range

Edited December 10, 20241 yr by Peter.Bridge

I haven't tried that one, but I have the 36v one with the other frame. It's very weak on power. The one you mention is only 24v, so won't be any better. I modified mine to make it into a much better ride. Also, yours has rim brakes, which work, but cause too many issues on an electric bike unless you're very light, but on the plus side it's not quite as heavy as mine. It's a shame you weren't able to get one like mine, which was only £245. Ghost 1951 loves his, but he only weighs 74kg. He made a thread about it too.

https://www.pedelecs.co.uk/forum/threads/review-of-argos-%C2%A3285-folding-bike.47684/

I have ridden mine 434 miles so far and having swapped out the brake calipers for hydraulic cable operated ones ( as researched and detailed by Saneagle) I have no complaints at all about it - albeit that it is not a speed machine having only 8 amps @ 36 volts max power input to the motor. This means I am probably only getting a max output power of about 236 watts. Up hills, you need to work hard on the pedals - but heck - it's an assisted bicycle - not a motor bike so hard leg work is part of the package. That said - I would hope the 24 volt Argos bike purchased by the OP has a controller with a max input greater than the 8 amps that mine has, otherwise he will be in for a fair bit of personal effort on a hill climb. As has been pointed out 24 volts at 8 amps is not a lot of assistance.

 

As Saneagle says - I really like mine, but as in everything, it is a matter of horses for courses. Heavier people or those with a health issue might find the bikes that Saneagle and I bought, rather weak. Others - like me will just jump on it and do a quick run to the shops or to visit a friend and enjoy every bit of the experience. It weighs a solid 28 kilos - made of girders by the feel of it, but my only annoying failure (besides the power switch) was when one of the very cra ppy plastic pedals snapped off, leaving me only with the steel shank that screws into the crank arm. To be fair - the pedal had been abused when the bike fell off its stand at around 100 miles, so it may have been cracked by the blow.

 

Now the cold weather has come, I am noticing some battery sag on hills at about 12 - 15 miles from charge that was not noticed during the summer. I think the battery cells are OK, but it is only a 10s 3p format. When the time comes to replace the battery, I will go for a much higher capacity. The space inside the battery case is much larger than needed for the current small battery. I could easily go for a 4p configuration inside that space. I opened the case to deal with the failed power switch, which had failed in the 'ON' position on the first day I had it. I squirted WD40 into the switch and it flicked back into a functioning condition straight away and has not misbehaved since. I think Saneagle's bike had the same issue.

 

I fitted a cheap bike computer to measure speed and distance and accurately calculated the wheel circumference. The mid speed position cuts out at 11.6 mph and the high speed one at about 15.5 mph. To be honest, the bike rarely gets past 15 miles an hour without my putting in a good effort. It won't ghost pedal to the legal max and motor cut off. It's not powerful enough even with a 74kg rider on the flat.

 

Overall - I am delighted with the bike because it suits my needs and it was the best bargain of the year for me at £252 delivered.

I have ridden mine 434 miles so far and having swapped out the brake calipers for hydraulic cable operated ones ( as researched and detailed by Saneagle) I have no complaints at all about it - albeit that it is not a speed machine having only 8 amps @ 36 volts max power input to the motor. This means I am probably only getting a max output power of about 236 watts. Up hills, you need to work hard on the pedals - but heck - it's an assisted bicycle - not a motor bike so hard leg work is part of the package. That said - I would hope the 24 volt Argos bike purchased by the OP has a controller with a max input greater than the 8 amps that mine has, otherwise he will be in for a fair bit of personal effort on a hill climb. As has been pointed out 24 volts at 8 amps is not a lot of assistance.

 

As Saneagle says - I really like mine, but as in everything, it is a matter of horses for courses. Heavier people or those with a health issue might find the bikes that Saneagle and I bought, rather weak. Others - like me will just jump on it and do a quick run to the shops or to visit a friend and enjoy every bit of the experience. It weighs a solid 28 kilos - made of girders by the feel of it, but my only annoying failure (besides the power switch) was when one of the very cra ppy plastic pedals snapped off, leaving me only with the steel shank that screws into the crank arm. To be fair - the pedal had been abused when the bike fell off its stand at around 100 miles, so it may have been cracked by the blow.

 

Now the cold weather has come, I am noticing some battery sag on hills at about 12 - 15 miles from charge that was not noticed during the summer. I think the battery cells are OK, but it is only a 10s 3p format. When the time comes to replace the battery, I will go for a much higher capacity. The space inside the battery case is much larger than needed for the current small battery. I could easily go for a 4p configuration inside that space. I opened the case to deal with the failed power switch, which had failed in the 'ON' position on the first day I had it. I squirted WD40 into the switch and it flicked back into a functioning condition straight away and has not misbehaved since. I think Saneagle's bike had the same issue.

 

I fitted a cheap bike computer to measure speed and distance and accurately calculated the wheel circumference. The mid speed position cuts out at 11.6 mph and the high speed one at about 15.5 mph. To be honest, the bike rarely gets past 15 miles an hour without my putting in a good effort. It won't ghost pedal to the legal max and motor cut off. It's not powerful enough even with a 74kg rider on the flat.

 

Overall - I am delighted with the bike because it suits my needs and it was the best bargain of the year for me at £252 delivered.

your back!

Thanks for all the replies. For the two ebikes we have , a Raleigh Array and Carrera Vengeance E Womens the only changes I made was swapping the tyres for marathon plus. After reading about the potential fragility of the hesc torque system we also stopped riding them on muddy very rugged mtb trails. We still had a puncture on the Carrera caused by a safety pin of all things and I think perhaps the marathon plus mtb tyres with widely spaced knobs are not as effective. After this I added tyre inserts from Halfords also and no more punctures although the bike now rides rock hard making handling in some situations potentially dicey and detracting somewhat from the enjoyment. We have always kept the bikes in a shed and the batteries themselves in a living room. I am very careful about handling the batteries making sure they don't get knocked about. The argos bike will be handled in the same way. I have thought about keeping and charging the batteries in an unused multi stove cast iron burner we have in one of the living rooms but as the bikes are from reputable companies have never thought it was necessary. Perhaps as they get older or if further down the line I get a replacement battery I may do this. I know you can also get automatic fire extinguishers which will trigger the powder when a temp over 65c is sensed so one of my thoughts was to store/ charge them in a steel cabinet lined with fire bricks in a tiled area with an automatic fire extinguisher in there also. Any thoughts on this?

Thanks for all the replies. For the two ebikes we have , a Raleigh Array and Carrera Vengeance E Womens the only changes I made was swapping the tyres for marathon plus. After reading about the potential fragility of the hesc torque system we also stopped riding them on muddy very rugged mtb trails. We still had a puncture on the Carrera caused by a safety pin of all things and I think perhaps the marathon plus mtb tyres with widely spaced knobs are not as effective. After this I added tyre inserts from Halfords also and no more punctures although the bike now rides rock hard making handling in some situations potentially dicey and detracting somewhat from the enjoyment. We have always kept the bikes in a shed and the batteries themselves in a living room. I am very careful about handling the batteries making sure they don't get knocked about. The argos bike will be handled in the same way. I have thought about keeping and charging the batteries in an unused multi stove cast iron burner we have in one of the living rooms but as the bikes are from reputable companies have never thought it was necessary. Perhaps as they get older or if further down the line I get a replacement battery I may do this. I know you can also get automatic fire extinguishers which will trigger the powder when a temp over 65c is sensed so one of my thoughts was to store/ charge them in a steel cabinet lined with fire bricks in a tiled area with an automatic fire extinguisher in there also. Any thoughts on this?

I don't think its necessary but due to my wife's concerns, I store ebike batteries in a army surplus ammo box (remove the rubber seals) in the garage https://www.pedelecs.co.uk/forum/threads/never-tackle-an-e-bike-battery-fire-yourself-warns-fire-brigade-after-another-blaze.46121/post-693840

Thanks for all the replies. For the two ebikes we have , a Raleigh Array and Carrera Vengeance E Womens the only changes I made was swapping the tyres for marathon plus. After reading about the potential fragility of the hesc torque system we also stopped riding them on muddy very rugged mtb trails. We still had a puncture on the Carrera caused by a safety pin of all things and I think perhaps the marathon plus mtb tyres with widely spaced knobs are not as effective. After this I added tyre inserts from Halfords also and no more punctures although the bike now rides rock hard making handling in some situations potentially dicey and detracting somewhat from the enjoyment. We have always kept the bikes in a shed and the batteries themselves in a living room. I am very careful about handling the batteries making sure they don't get knocked about. The argos bike will be handled in the same way. I have thought about keeping and charging the batteries in an unused multi stove cast iron burner we have in one of the living rooms but as the bikes are from reputable companies have never thought it was necessary. Perhaps as they get older or if further down the line I get a replacement battery I may do this. I know you can also get automatic fire extinguishers which will trigger the powder when a temp over 65c is sensed so one of my thoughts was to store/ charge them in a steel cabinet lined with fire bricks in a tiled area with an automatic fire extinguisher in there also. Any thoughts on this?

You're going to find the Argos bike very weak and slow after those two.

It will be. I have previously ridden a Btwin tilt. 120 folder which and shifts well. I take it from the Thames barrier to Kew Gardens and back along the river as much as possible. It clearly needs more effort than the other bikes but these mini bikes are fun to ride in its own way the Tilt handles well. If the Argos bike which is 8kg heavier is even 25% easier to ride than the Btwin will be happy. I can see it being useful for shopping trips. In the end will probably end up adding the higher psi marathon plus tyres especially if taken out of the local area which may help to make it feel nippier as well as protecting from punctures.

The bike was delivered today. Everything works including gears etc set up perfectly out of the box and looks like it was built to be a workhorse. Just took it up and down the road for a few minutes and it has some punch but yet to test inclines . I can see it being a lot easier to haul the shopping than a similar non electric folding bike I use sometimes (the btwin 120).

Hi, I took the bike out on the first shopping trip covering at least 4 miles in total on full power all the way with quite a few inclines and t is still showing full battery. Over this run it felt just like the other 2 electric bikes I have which have the suntour torque sensor. When I bought th Raleigh Array about 8 years ago I initially tried some cadence sensor bikes and the unnatural sort of turbo boost when you turned the pedals really put me off them and could see it being an issue at lower speeds with fine control. The hesc system in contrast with its natural ride was a delight and you still got gentle exercise with significant fine tuned assistance if required. The Argos bike has a cadence sensor but feels the same and you have fine control at lower

speeds. Perhaps the lower power battery in combination with advances in e bike technology contribute to this feel but to me it is a sort if sweet spot that has been reached. The other thing I noticed was the motor is effectively silent compared to the Array and the Carrera. The ride is like a Citroën car where the suspension forks soak up urban bumps and the seat is ultra padded. Being used to riding on marathon plus tyres the lower psi tyres that came with the bike probably also contribute to feel. The only mod I made was swapping out the seat post for chrome 60cm one. The original post seemed quite short and for me at about 511 and someone who wants just the tips of my boots which are also large touching the ground when seated the original although rideable was not ideal. It is perfect for the other half though.

Hi, I took the bike out on the first shopping trip covering at least 4 miles in total on full power all the way with quite a few inclines and t is still showing full battery. Over this run it felt just like the other 2 electric bikes I have which have the suntour torque sensor. When I bought th Raleigh Array about 8 years ago I initially tried some cadence sensor bikes and the unnatural sort of turbo boost when you turned the pedals really put me off them and could see it being an issue at lower speeds with fine control. The hesc system in contrast with its natural ride was a delight and you still got gentle exercise with significant fine tuned assistance if required. The Argos bike has a cadence sensor but feels the same and you have fine control at lower

speeds. Perhaps the lower power battery in combination with advances in e bike technology contribute to this feel but to me it is a sort if sweet spot that has been reached. The other thing I noticed was the motor is effectively silent compared to the Array and the Carrera. The ride is like a Citroën car where the suspension forks soak up urban bumps and the seat is ultra padded. Being used to riding on marathon plus tyres the lower psi tyres that came with the bike probably also contribute to feel. The only mod I made was swapping out the seat post for chrome 60cm one. The original post seemed quite short and for me at about 511 and someone who wants just the tips of my boots which are also large touching the ground when seated the original although rideable was not ideal. It is perfect for the other half though.

It doesn't use any advance in technology. The controller is the crudest you can get. It's just the low power that makes it feel smoother. You have 24v and 12A, which is about as low as you can get on an Ebike, exactly the same as my 36v 8A one. That's about 200w max at the back wheel, which goes down to about 150w when hill climbing.

The cadence sensor bikes you tried gave you a bad impression because they use crappy speed control systems, KT current control systems are far superior and the cadence mode is as refined as the torque sensing bikes.

 

One reason why we recommend them so much , yes they are about £50 or £60 dearer then the crappy Brainpower ones but the extra £50 odd spent is well worth it.

 

So many come on here poo pooing cadence systems because they have only tried the speed control bikes.

The cadence sensor bikes you tried gave you a bad impression because they use crappy speed control systems, KT current control systems are far superior and the cadence mode is as refined as the torque sensing bikes.

 

One reason why we recommend them so much , yes they are about £50 or £60 dearer then the crappy Brainpower ones but the extra £50 odd spent is well worth it.

 

So many come on here poo pooing cadence systems because they have only tried the speed control bikes.

Thanks Saneagle and Nealh. That is good to know. Btw I had to go back to Sainsburys because I forgot the tuna (they do alcacore in glass jars) only to discover they had run out. The battery bars started dropping on the way back and I thought of checking how far it would go making my way to Asda to pick up some bottles of their 50% juice squash. The battery suddenly cut out on the way to Asda. The indicator was initially dropping up hills but then regained the bars on the flat. I think it cut out suddenly when hanging around a bar or 2 so in total it was good for about 10 miles on full power which for local shopping is ok. When I received the bike the manual mentioned the battery would be partially charged but it was completely discharged. It took about 5- 6 hours to charge. I expect it to improve a little as it is charged more times. If I need more range getting another one isn't such an expense and it much lighter and cheaper to buy/ source than the ones used in the Array/ Carrera however those even after 8 years have 3-4 times the range at least but then you are paying 3-4 time the price for one if you can source it. The Array/ Carrera batteries give you a fair warning before cutting out where the indicator on the handlebar display starts flashing slowly then after say 5 odd miles flashing fast in combination with dropping power output significantly (a sort of limp home mode).

If you needed a bit more range there looked like a 24v 17.5a version of that battery case with branded cells on Ali Express for £160 including delivery (I would send photos and dimensions to the seller to double check)

 

I just found this on AliExpress:

￡141.99 | Original Ebike Battery 24V 36V 8.8Ah 10Ah 10.4Ah 13Ah 14Ah Rear Rack City Bike Battery with Charger for Compatible Ansmann

https://a.aliexpress.com/_EG0ZGOs

Edited December 14, 20241 yr by Peter.Bridge

If you needed a bit more range there looked like a 24v 17.5a version of that battery case with branded cells on Ali Express for £160 including delivery

It would make more sense to buy a 36v one. It would also make sense to upgrade the controller at the same time.

 

The bike is fine as it is for a relatively light rider, who doesn't need to travel far. It's also OK for a heavier rider that doesn't encounter steep hills.

 

My one is now modified with sensible gearing, 50% more power, hydraulic brakes and a decent controller at a cost of about £120. It can handle hills OK, but is limited on range, so OK for shopping and other short rides, but that's about it. It's too cumbersome to fold completely, but it takes no space when you drop the handlebars and fold the pedals. The CFX5 is a 3kg lighter, but still a pain to put in a car boot, and, like most folding ebikes, you wouldn't want to try to take it on a bus.