suitable specifications for hill climbing bike

[opaz]

If you can say what you'd use the folder for and any model you have your eye on, we can advise further on using one.
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Public transport, stashing it in the car, when I visit people bringing into their kitchen, or even the pub. I had my non-electric bike nicked recently round here, an expensive model chained up outside a pub might be too tempting for some.

As for which one I had my eye on, so far it's the folding sunlova SL (£399), but I wasn't sure if it would be powerful enough for the 1:15 hill I need to climb

 

[flecc]

Public transport, stashing it in the car, when I visit people bringing into their kitchen, or even the pub. I had my non-electric bike nicked recently round here, an expensive model chained up outside a pub might be too tempting for some.

As for which one I had my eye on, so far it's the folding sunlova SL (£399), but I wasn't sure if it would be powerful enough for the 1:15 hill I need to climb

You wouldn't have any problem with that 1 in 15 hill, smaller wheel bikes being better climbers anyway, and these tend to be rather low geared overall. The downside is that they are a bit slower and sometimes difficult to pedal at or above 15 mph due to the low gearing.

The main problem is the weight of 24 kilos, and lugging that onto a bus or train or walking any distance carrying it wouldn't be funny unless competition weightlifting is a hobby. It might not sound like much, but these single fold bikes are awkward things to carry.

The Sustain Edison folder on the webpage below is actually a Synergie model and it weighs 20 kilos, so easier to handle. Otherwise it's about the same as the Sunlova, though spares and support could be better with Synergie/Sustain. Click on the folded photo to get the details.

Edison folding electric bike
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[opaz]

The sunlova actually has 26" wheels, so not that small (and it's 28kg). I have to carry a 30kg amp around sometimes and that's a bugger to carry, mainly because it's wide. I guess a folded bike would be narrower and possibly easier in that way, but no I wouldn't relish doing it.

the full spec is here: 26" New Electric Folding Mountain Bicycle Bike SL26F01A on eBay, also, Bikes, Cycling, Sporting Goods (end time 28-Feb-09 01:06:38 GMT)

I emailed the seller and asked about replacement batteries. they said they cost about £180

Thanks for the edison link, I'll keep that in mind if I dont go for the sunlova

 

[flecc]

Understood Opaz, I thought you meant a smaller folder when you mentioned public transport. I don't see much advantage in a full size folder for that, you might be better keeping to a lighter rigid bike like the Salisbury at only 22 kilos.
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[Footie]

A folding sunlova SL doesn't look too bad a specification - for a cheap, cheerful runabout MTB style electric bike.
As long as its limitations are realised and accepted it could be a worthy purchase.

It's a folder, so as you say it can go with you most places.
Not sure the pub landlord will let you bring it in and sit it by the fire, but your never know.
36-volt motor is powerful enough for most hills.
Aluminium frame and Lithium battery means its power to weight's ok – but 28 kgs is still a fair lump. My none folding MTB style bike (with it’s original SLA batteries) weighed in at a back-breaking 38 kgs. It’s lighter now with a change of battery but it would still be too heavy for some.
What I will say is without the power a thief would not get very far very fast
With only an 8.5Ah Lithium battery it won't be going great distances.
I don't have much knowledge of Lithium batteries but as a rough guide I always take off 10 miles from range claims, which seems to be about right. So I would estimate its range to be closer 25 miles (less in hilly terrain).
Lithium batteries have a short life (2 years).
Would a replacement battery be available in 2 years?
If not what choices will you have?
I was able to replace my SLA batteries when they started to die (at 8 months old) with a LiFePO4 (I didn’t want Lithium due to it’s short life). It cost about £200 from china. For me the fitting it was not difficult and I’m not electrically minded. LiFePO4 batteries are claimed to have extensive life - 2000+ charges - so mine could last me 10 years as a leisure only rider
Again if you’re a reasonable DIY'er then as long as the bikes controller stays healthy you can replace most of the other bits as they fall (sorry) ware out.
It’s not going to be a Wisper or any of the other expensive bikes – but then (as you’ve said) you don’t want an expensive electric bike.
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[torrent99]

£399 for an electric folder sounds a bit cheap to guarantee both a quality folder and quality electrics. But that does depend on how bothered you are about either aspect.

Having said that a number of pedelecers own the Edison (also sold by Alien and ETS) and seem happy with it. Most folders seem to use 24V motors which don't usually have the same uumph as their 36V cousins. There's a reasonble magazine review of it on the Internet also.

RE: Kits. As Flecc has shown, if done right kits *can* look and perform pretty well. The Alien kit for example uses the same motor manufacturer as do Wisper (& some eZees) (different controller, battery etc though), installed carefully it looks pretty smart. As I mentioned before it does mean that the BIKE portion of the equation is a known quantity (as certainly the cheaper end of the complete e-bike market can be very dubious in that respect and you should probably stick with the known good marques).

 

[opaz]

£399 for an electric folder sounds a bit cheap to guarantee both a quality folder and quality electrics.

Yes, that's my concern too. Either Sunlova have found an ingenius way to make quality electric bikes cheaply, or they are making low quality ones and cashing in on the current demand. On the whole, do you steer clear of Chinese made electric bikes, or not necessarily? (not that I know where Sunlova bikes are made). Perhaps I had better see if I can find some reviews. I presume there aren't any yet on this site.

 

[Mussels]

On the whole, do you steer clear of Chinese made electric bikes, or not necessarily?

Chinese doesn't mean rubbish, the Ezee range are all chinese and good quality but also a bit out of your budget. Have you considered second hand, as you don't need much range it may be a good bet.

 

[torrent99]

Chinese doesn't mean rubbish, the Ezee range are all chinese and good quality but also a bit out of your budget. Have you considered second hand, as you don't need much range it may be a good bet.

Indeed in fact most of the e-bikes in use are Chinese designed and built, even the quality brands.

As Mussels says 2nd hand might be a good way to go, you could pick up a used Powabyke or Powacyle pretty cheaply to see if you like it.

 

[flecc]

Yes, that's my concern too. Either Sunlova have found an ingenius way to make quality electric bikes cheaply, or they are making low quality ones and cashing in on the current demand. On the whole, do you steer clear of Chinese made electric bikes, or not necessarily? (not that I know where Sunlova bikes are made). Perhaps I had better see if I can find some reviews. I presume there aren't any yet on this site.

That's what I was nervous about when I mentioned spares and battery availability, some of these companies appearing and then quickly disappearing. Looking at their models they are obviously what we call "parts bin" bikes, many Chinese e-bikes drawing on the same pool of various parts to assemble bikes, the motors, batteries, frames etc from different manufacturing sources for the various models.

These cheap bikes usually work ok and in the main can be reliable, but cheap lithium batteries don't usually last long. Their comment on battery price of "about £180" doesn't fill me with confidence, as it indicates they've never sold any and have no pricing in place to do so.
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[opaz]

To be fair to the seller, they did give a specific price for a replacement battery, I just couldn't remember it exactly, hence the 'about' word.

 

[flecc]

Thanks for the clarification Opaz. Sunlova may be ok and last in business, and it's also fair to say that established well known companies can also be vulnerable in the current economic climate. Times are uncertain for everyone so no choice is absolutely safe at present.
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[Footie]

Thanks for the clarification Opaz. Sunlova may be ok and last in business, and it's also fair to say that established well known companies can also be vulnerable in the current economic climate. Times are uncertain for everyone so no choice is absolutely safe at present.
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Design changes can create problems for older ebikes.
Controller changes is one recently highlighted on another tread and that's with a popular model.
When I found out my MTB style mountain bike SLA battery was dying I contacted the original supplier (still in business) but the bike and battery design had been changed. The battery was newer technology and rust problems with the power pins meant the connecter point had moved to the top of the battery.
So all the new batteries would not fit my ebike and it was only 8 months old.

So, as you say flecc;
.... no choice is absolutely safe ....
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[flecc]

Yes, this is one thing I like on the eZee range. With a single SLA exception in their early history, they've had one battery fitment for all models and both NiMh and Li-ion are interchangeable. In fact a Li-ion could be converted to NiMh if wished. Even their controllers have some degree of model interchangeability.
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