Looking for a folding bike good for hills.

Hi all. Ive been riding an ebike (conversion on a MTB) for 12 years till it got trashed when someone tried to take the battery.

However, my needs have changed and I'm lookng for a folding ebike.

When i got my last bike there was not so much choice, however now i'm a bit overwhelmed by all the options.

 

I'm in south london, I'd like a bike from a shop i think so there is some support as I'm concerned about something going wrong with the electrics, or just damage from wear/and use.

However are there any online stores with reliable service - do people send the whold bike back by post for maintainance?

 

I was thinking of a less expensive bike to make losing it to vandalism / theft or accident less of a hit. and maybe less appealing to thievs too. is there any folding bike for a 6ft guy, good on hills, would also like a bike rack if poss.

 

I am also wary of the batteries bikes use, and a brand not making the bike or battery when it comes time to replace it. are there any standard batteries/designs used between brands and manufactures etc?

 

Thanks for any advice

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

https://www.argos.co.uk/product/3200340?istCompanyId=a74d8886-5df9-4baa-b776-166b3bf9111c&istFeedId=c290d9a9-b5d6-423c-841d-2a559621874c&istItemId=lrxqxrlll&istBid=t&&cmpid=GS001&_$ja=tsid:59157%7Cacid:629-618-1342%7Ccid:20368875273%7Cagid:%7Ctid:%7Ccrid:%7Cnw:x%7Crnd:2661377593161539084%7Cdvc:c%7Cadp:%7Cmt:%7Cloc:9045014&utm_source=Google&utm_medium=cpc&utm_campaign=20368875273&utm_term=3200340&utm_content=shopping&utm_custom1=&utm_custom2=629-618-1342&GPDP=true&gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAjwk8e1BhALEiwAc8MHiOvdqD8TEiaOtyK1WlSf71682NauBiBNikkPAHb0nZVJ2LQSZxo1-hoCRbQQAvD_BwE&gclsrc=aw.ds

 

Buy 3 of them, then you won't have to worry about anyone nicking it, nor breaking down.

However are there any online stores with reliable service - do people send the whold bike back by post for maintainance?

https://wooshbikes.co.uk/ Better service than most LBSs. (local bike shops)

 

Almost all the maintenance on an ebike is exactly the same as for a regular bike.

Do you do your own maintenance of regular bikes?

Many LBS won't service an ebike, especially if they didn't sell it to you.

That applies to even the aspects that are not ebike related.

Typically if anything does go wrong with the electrics a firm like Woosh will send out parts which anyone who can do regular bike maintenance should be able to fit.

https://www.argos.co.uk/product/1267677?cjdata=MXxZfDB8WXww&$ja=tsid%3A11674%7Cprd%3A1546795&utm_source=Pepper+Deals+LTD&utm_medium=affiliates&utm_campaign=www.argos.co.uk&utm_content=14023759&utm_custom1=1546795&utm_custom2=Other&cmpid=cojun&cjevent=0c793797549d11ef80ce04090a18b8f6&dclid=COOH_ODE4ocDFWRQpAQd_yYO7A

https://www.argos.co.uk/product/1267677?cjdata=MXxZfDB8WXww&$ja=tsid%3A11674%7Cprd%3A1546795&utm_source=Pepper+Deals+LTD&utm_medium=affiliates&utm_campaign=www.argos.co.uk&utm_content=14023759&utm_custom1=1546795&utm_custom2=Other&cmpid=cojun&cjevent=0c793797549d11ef80ce04090a18b8f6&dclid=COOH_ODE4ocDFWRQpAQd_yYO7A

Buy 4 of them, then you don't need to waste money on a lock.

That Argos folder being all-steel weighs a ton (25kg?), and likely wouldn't pull the skin off a custard... never mind a 6ft bloke up hills. There's always been issues here on the forum with the Argos/e-plus range with unavailability of (especially) the electrical parts even when new and still under warranty, even though the parts are pretty dire and generally shite to start with... and yes, while a good number of members would say strip the lot off and shove a KT system into it for sub-£100, that really is beyond the ability of many - especially those looking for local dealer/shop support.

 

The Fiido D11 mentioned post #2 (link to my review post) wouldn't be a good choice either - IMO it's a better, lighter e-bike for sure, but the frame is too small for the 6' OP, and again, someone looking for shop support isn't going to get it.

 

Does a half-decent dealer/shop sold/supported folder even exist for sub-£1000?

Buy 4 of them, then you don't need to waste money on a lock.

I just bought one. So cheap, I could not resist, even though I am very happy with the ebike I have.

 

As I think you have found out, you can never have too many ebikes...

 

But given the one year guarantee, there is nothing to lose.

 

I wonder why they are dumping them. They REALLY are dumping the stock at these prices. They can't be making anything on the sales.

I wonder why they are dumping them. They REALLY are dumping the stock at these prices. They can't be making anything on the sales.

 

Maybe one or two exploded in their warehouse and it is cheaper to get rid of them than to deal with fires.

Edited August 7, 20241 yr by Az.

I wonder why they are dumping them. They REALLY are dumping the stock at these prices. They can't be making anything on the sales.

 

Imminent Legislation ?

I just bought one. So cheap, I could not resist, even though I am very happy with the ebike I have.

 

As I think you have found out, you can never have too many ebikes...

 

But given the one year guarantee, there is nothing to lose.

 

I wonder why they are dumping them. They REALLY are dumping the stock at these prices. They can't be making anything on the sales.

You could transpose all the parts to another bike - much cheaper than buying a kit for conversion. The motor will be a high-speed one for the small wheels, so pretty good if you build it into a 26" wheel of a lightweight hybrid.

That Argos folder being all-steel weighs a ton (25kg?), and likely wouldn't pull the skin off a custard... never mind a 6ft bloke up hills. There's always been issues here on the forum with the Argos/e-plus range with unavailability of (especially) the electrical parts even when new and still under warranty, even though the parts are pretty dire and generally shite to start with... and yes, while a good number of members would say strip the lot off and shove a KT system into it for sub-£100, that really is beyond the ability of many - especially those looking for local dealer/shop support.

 

Over three years ago, before I converted the Dahon I already had, I enquired after the cost of an Argos folding bike replacement battery and was quoted £350. As that was half the cost of the bike, and for a small battery, I decided to convert instead with a 250W Bafang mid-drive kit and now have an epic hill climbing heavy bicycle trailer hauler, and it's fast too, with about twice the battery capacity. The conversion only cost £109 more in total at the time, than the Argos folder. That same conversion kit with similar battery now costs £hundreds less than it did three years ago. I now wish to purchase a time travel machine for less than £300.

Over three years ago, before I converted the Dahon I already had, I enquired after the cost of an Argos folding bike replacement battery and was quoted £350. As that was half the cost of the bike, and for a small battery, I decided to convert instead with a 250W Bafang mid-drive kit and now have an epic hill climbing heavy bicycle trailer hauler, and it's fast too, with about twice the battery capacity. The conversion only cost £109 more in total at the time, than the Argos folder. That same conversion kit with similar battery now costs £hundreds less than it did three years ago. I now want to buy a time machine for less than £300.

 

I wondered if you might want one of these Argos, 20", folders as a spare. I think you mostly ride bikes so if your Dahon mid drive went awry, you might be glad to have a cheap reserve bike in the stable.

Maybe one or two exploded in their warehouse and it is cheaper to get rid of them than to deal with fires.

In that case they wouldn't want to sell them, would they.

In that case they wouldn't want to sell them, would they.

 

I think you are right there. I doubt it would be good for their corporate reputation to sell dangerous products when they knew there was an issue. The internal emails would be a gift to prosecutors preparing a corporate manslaughter case.

 

Edit - They also have to stand by their guarantee of 12 months for failures, so they must consider them a reasonable prospect.

I wondered if you might want one of these Argos, 20", folders as a spare. I think you mostly ride bikes so if your Dahon mid drive went awry, you might be glad to have a cheap reserve bike in the stable.

 

Dahons make good quality bikes with decent components, I look forward to reading about how people get on with their new Argos folders. Dahon of old was generally better. I have two non-electric bikes: a 26" Dahon Espresso folding bike which I have yet to reassemble, and a dead 26" Halfords jobbie I found dumped in the woods. The Espresso only needs a few hours of work, I've got all the bits and it's already on the bike stand - it's been there for months. I might even know how all those bits fit together. If my present conversion went AWOL or blew up, as I already have bikes, I'd simply buy a cheap BBS01B kit from China. Or suffer engaging in bicycle based exercise.

Edited August 7, 20241 yr by guerney

I think you are right there. I doubt it would be good for their corporate reputation to sell dangerous products when they knew there was an issue. The internal emails would be a gift to prosecutors preparing a corporate manslaughter case.

 

Edit - They also have to stand by their guarantee of 12 months for failures, so they must consider them a reasonable prospect.

Correct. My logic says they've been tipped off about imminent new legislation.

I hate the direction of that new legislation. We're powerless to change it.

 

Is Argos simply selling off old stock before voltage in Chinese celled battery packs collapse to the point of DOA?

Edited August 7, 20241 yr by guerney

Is Argos is simply selling off old stock before voltage in Chinese celled battery packs collapse to the point of DOA?

Maybe they have old stock, in danger of the battery voltage dropping too low and they want to sell it rather than open them all up and charge the batteries

Correct. My logic says they've been tipped off about imminent new legislation.

so what is the new legislation?

Thanks for all the replies.

not sure of the argos option.

need to try some for size but hard to find a place that deals in the bikes im curious about

so what is the new legislation?

https://www.pedelecs.co.uk/forum/threads/battery-fires.46896/page-7#post-720723

so what is the new legislation?

Safety rules for e-bikes to stop them from catching fire. We can guess what sort of things will be in them. Some or all of these:

1. Voltage specific connectors to stop people plugging a 48v charger into a 36v battery.

2. Charger tied to specific battery or battery type by comms, so that the charger only works for that type of battery.

3. EC testing and marking of all batteries.

4. Wires from the batteries have to be fixed and guarded (trunking).

5. System has to be tamper-proof. No possibility to swap controllers or batteries. Possibly to be locked by comms.

6. Only certified cells to be used.

7. Temperature control by BMS mandatory with at least two sensors.

etc.

Might just mean no diy tampering of UK only OEM bikes but doesn't stop one from swapping out complete systems for a KT one . KT for instance aren't going to panda/adopt UK big brother do as I say reg's.

And to think of it - In 1967, I was allowed to go to the garage with a pop bottle and a few pennies, fill it with volatile petrol, bring it back home and put it in my moped with an egg cup or two of oil and drive around on a noisy, smoking contraption to my heart's content. Vastly more fire prone, and nobody cared. More to the point - nobody was harmed.

 

Considering the very large number of battery powered devices in use, very little harm is happening now.

 

The so called Precautionary Principle which excites legislators so much these days is an absolute curse. No body must take any risk - even the police and rescue services. It is completely un-manly. I remember the case of a couple of kids that drowned while pcsos untrained in 'water' were said to have stood by unable to enter. The version of te story I heard is that a couple of pensioners chanced upon teh scene and got the kids out, but rather too late.

 

No doubt Peter will be along shortly to tell me that all I think I know is in fact a mistake.

 

 

EDIT:

https://www.theguardian.com/uk/2007/sep/21/1#:~:text=John%20Collinson%2C%2063%2C%20and%20Bert,who%20%22just%20stood%20there%22.