I want to buy a folding electric bike- advice needed

[lugaburuga]

hi everybody

I dont have an electric bike yet but am seriously thinking of buying a folding electric bike. I was looking at the Dahon Roo El. Does any body have experience of these bikes. Are there better folders? I live in London and dont expect to go up many steep hills.

 

[rooel]

I would certainly commend your choice of the Roo El if you are looking for a folding electric bicycle, but you may suspect if you read my other posts on this forum that I am a shade biassed. In that case you should look at A to B magazine, which gave a favourable review to the 16.8 volt nimh model introduced in 2005 (now discontinued, apparently, because Dahon find it too expensive to buy in the Sram Sparc system, rather than source components directly in China).

The current issue of A to B reviews the nano Brompton, and while generally not favouring any folding electric bike, the magazine does single out the Roo El as the only one worth having to date (to which they now add the new nano Brompton, but that recommendation is valid only if you can put up with 16 inch wheels, and need a really small volume bike for intermodal journeys).

Since I first started using the Roo El over a year ago I have of course looked at other models, but have found none which are as light (not even the latest models using Lithium batteries), and none which incorporate a five speed hub gear, two motors, and the electronics all enclosed in a single casing in the rear wheel).

Other more subtle advantages (over others I have read about) are the gentle start when the pedals are first turned (no kangarooing) and the smooth fall off of power just before the legal assistance limit of 15 mph is reached (no feeling of hitting a brick wall when the motor stops and your muscles suddenly have to supply all the power).

Although the Roo El is now discontinued there are still some in the shops, but the lowest price seems to be £1200. However if you compare it with other cheaper, heavier, and sometimes much cruder models, you will find the extra expense worthwhile.

 

[flecc]

For good folding electric bikes there's not much choice, but for a real all round bike, I'd second what Rooel has said.

If the cycling side isn't important and you're happy to have the motor do everything for you, including London's few hills, the eZee Quando is a 20" wheel bike and well proven design that performs extremely well, and is much less expensive at £845. The downsides are that it's only a single speed so not much option for pedalling, plus it's 25 kilos so heavy to carry any distance. 50cycles for these.

At a bottom end price for a 20" wheel fully equipped bike with Li-ion battery, there's the Sustain Edison at just £399 weighing 20 kilos. That's an incredibly low price for what it is and I've seen that it's a good performer, so it's understandably a sell out at the moment. The downside is that Sustain are new, as is the product so nothing much is yet known about either other than what the company say. At £399 you may think it worth a punt. Sustain Cycles.
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[rooel]

Definitely look around before choosing. The Roo El is the only electric bicycle I have ever used - or seen. Of other makes I know only what I have read.

The single gear has always put me off the Quando, and the derailleurs on all other makes, in my opinion, make them less suitable for city use where stopping and starting is more frequent, and not everybody who might ride the bike will remember to change down before stopping.

The derailleurs would be a problem for me with the Sustain Edison too, and I would be a bit wary of any bicycle at that price which provides a full suspension system. I suspect the Big Apples on the Speed P8 on which I installed an Sram Sparc system give me as plush a ride and are likely to be more reliable.

With regard to weight there does not seem to be any folders other than the Roo El (and now the nano Brompton) which are under 20kgs. Two extra kilograms can be quite heavy (10% more), and the difference can be increased to 3 kilograms if lithium cells are substituted for the NiMh in the Roo El battery box.

 

[flecc]

I share Rooel's low opinion of cheap suspension bikes, but at one third of the price it wouldn't matter if it only lasted one third as long.

I'm just trying to illustrate the range of availablity.

The Swiss Flyer Faltrad is also a very light bike at 18 kilos and someone has posted in this forum that he considers it better than the Dahon Roo. It's definitely got a better motor system. Expensive though at an estimated £1600, but Vita Electric who import these Flyer bikes can get one for you. It's illustrated on their site.
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[lugaburuga]

Thanks for your posts

Rooel and Flecc - thank you for replying. I'm still researching and will take on board all the points you have made and will follow the links that you have given. When i've purchased the bike, i'll let you know what i have chosen and why. Perhaps a bit later on i'll let you know how it is working out.

Have either of you heard of an 'ex-bike'. I read a web article about the ex-bike being developed in the usa which had a battery that took only an hour to re-charge and the bike gave a good range. However, i dont know when the article was written.

Are there any places in London where i can test ride different models of folding electric bikes?

 

[flecc]

There are just a few places lugaburuga, and you're wise to try as many as you can, there's no substitute for a personal experience.

You can test the eZee Quando model in West London at the importer's facility. This webpage gives the phone number and other contact details.

Vita Electric in Hampstead who I mentioned above may just have a model there if you ring to check.

I'm not certain, but I think Sustain Cycles are in the London area, the link is the contact page. I've mentioned them in connection with the cheap bike.

Wisper Bikes do an 18 kilo electric folder at £649, the Works 805e. Although they are just outside London, if you use the Contact link on that page and mail David Miall on the email address given for him, he can often arrange something convenient.

That's all I know at the moment who do electric folders in this area, but if I think of any others I'll add them.

Good luck with your search.
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[Jimblob]

Not wishing to sound biased, but I would recommend the Urban Mover 24. We have one you can try in London. We are also undertaking Brompton Nano conversions which are superb.

The Wisper 805 is also an option although the Powacycle Puma is the same bike and we can offer this cheaper at £590..

Synergie Vivace is another one we sell (same as Sustain Edison) and it is good although not very compact. It is also not an electric bike designed from scratch, it is actually a conventional cycle with the gubbins put on afterwards.

HTH
Electric Bike Sales - Home

 

[Fat Girl]

Test ride an electric in south cotswolds

I live 25 miles north of bristol and south of Gloucester. Is there anywhere I can test ride an electric?
My search so far has been fruitless as no shop seems to stock an electric. I can't understand why they offer to sell me £1200 of equipment I've never seen or ridden? It amazes me they are frustrated at my reluctance!
You suggestions very welcome
Mil

 

[flecc]

If you use the webpage I'm giving below Mil, you'll see a locator for Powabyke dealers, some around your area including Frasers of Gloucester. Some of them should be able to give you a test ride on one.

The Powabyke Directory of Dealers & Distributors

Also, not a million miles away on the edge of Exmoor, there's a tourist facility which has bike trail rides, including one with electric bikes. You could ring to see what they've got and try those one of those trips perhaps. Here's the details:

BIKETRAIL Lynton (Exmoor) 01598 753 987
Situated in the picturesque old village, near 2 car parks and the Museum. Collection and delivery service to our unique Exmoor bike routes. Guided bike safaris. Electric bikes. Special needs welcome. Spares, repairs, accessories. Top quality new bikes for sale.
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[Fat Girl]

Thanks for all your suggestions.

I have decided against a foldup as its not a high priority. Although I'd like the optin to put it in the back of someones car so I can go out after work etc. But it feels like an added luxury. My main concern is finding something that will get me and it up a 180 metre hill twice a day so i can pay for the thing!
I'm going to give a powabike euro a test ride at frasers.

 

[nigel]

Nigel

Hi fatgirl
thats a good call i had 2 powabykes and they do what is on the tin they will go up almost any hill with some help also i found them to be quite comfortable and easy to use good luck.

 

[flecc]

Yes, I'm with Nigel on that, seems a good choice for your job FatGirl, I hope you enjoy the test ride and soon join us in the e-biking futureworld.

P.S. Just seen your hill data on the other thread, and that is really very steep for any e-bike. Please read that first before going ahead. Here's the link.
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[Tim]

On the off-chance that your username means you're in or around Loughborough , we have the Quando folding electric bike to test ride up here as well.
Tim

 

[flecc]

It's Bristol, Tim!

I would have mentioned the Quando for hills normally of course, but the 1 in 4.5 (22%) in question on that with 122 kilos total and a single near 70" gear is impossible for anyone.

After allowing for the Quando motor's contribution, it would need at least 437 watts from FatGirl for 4.5 minutes at an impossibly low cadence of 34.

This is world's strongest man stuff, which would snap off the pedals anyway!
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