Thoughts on single speed e-bikes?

[ovatsus]

I saw there's a a new ebike from ADO with torque sensor which is just 16kg: https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/ado-air-the-best-ultra-light-folding-e-bike
I wonder though, even with the torque sensor, would a single speed be a bit hard to pedal on moderate hills? Or just a concern when the battery runs out?

 

[Az.]

Expensive, but looks nice. Quick release on battery is a funny feature.

 

[flecc]

I saw there's a a new ebike from ADO with torque sensor which is just 16kg: https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/ado-air-the-best-ultra-light-folding-e-bike
I wonder though, even with the torque sensor, would a single speed be a bit hard to pedal on moderate hills? Or just a concern when the battery runs out?

Impossible question without knowing your cycling ability and how steep your hills are, and whether you are buying the legal 250 watt model or the 350 watt international.

But judging from the front and rear toothed belt wheel sizes it's quite low geared so should manage up to 10% gradients if you can give reasonable pedal assistance. You are more likely to be spinning the pedals like mad to keep up with the motor at 15mph than being unable to cope with average main road hills.
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[ovatsus]

Around 7% hills on average, on the 250w, I'm not super fit

 

[cyclebuddy]

I think there's a lot to like about that bike, but the lack of gears would kill it as a viable proposition for me on my commute. I couldn't survive on my 20" folder without gears, and even then, I sometimes wish I had an ever wider range than I do. As flecc says, I too think you'd be spinning like a hamster on crack to achieve reasonable/higher speeds on easy/flat ground.

I also think the optional 99-euro "proper mudguard pack" is mandatory if you're cycling all weathers.

 

[flecc]

Around 7% hills on average, on the 250w, I'm not super fit

7% hills should be ok with the 250 watt and a little assistance from you.

But the other factor you need to consider is range, how far you need to travel. The in-frame battery is obviously small and their claim of 100 km is optimistic to say the least. Since with the low gearing you won't be able to add pedal assistance at 15 mph, the motor will be doing all the work on the flat, which means low range, probably well under half their claim.

I once had a similar single speed folder, an Ezee Quando. It's range for me and all the others who posted about theirs was 15 miles top, for exactly the reasons Cyclebuddy and I have mentioned.

Almost a year later I carried out major modifications which included a derailleur and a 60 tooth chainwheel, transforming it.

So if your needs are limited, short trips only, few hills and none steep, the Ado might suit.

Otherwise best look elsewhere, since there is huge choice amongst the many small wheel folders.
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[Waspy]

Almost a year later I carried out major modifications which included a derailleur and a 60 tooth chainwheel, transforming it.

60 tooth chainwheel huh?

I currently have an 8 speed cassette with a 38 tooth chainwheel (26 inch MTB) but I find I'm running out of gears at top speed. I have a 42 tooth in my shed waiting to be fitted when the weather gets better.

42 tooth was the largest chainwheel on the triple crankset I removed.

How did you find the 60 tooth? Was it OK for pulling away from a standing start (no throttle)?

I guess a longer chain is required, how many links did you use?

Apologies for the thread hijack.

 

[flecc]

60 tooth chainwheel huh?

I currently have an 8 speed cassette with a 38 tooth chainwheel (26 inch MTB) but I find I'm running out of gears at top speed. I have a 42 tooth in my shed waiting to be fitted when the weather gets better.

42 tooth was the largest chainwheel on the triple crankset I removed.

How did you find the 60 tooth? Was it OK for pulling away from a standing start (no throttle)?

I guess a longer chain is required, how many links did you use?

Apologies for the thread hijack.

It was a big conversion, first fitting a spider in place of the existing fixed chainwheel, then adding the 60 tooth ring bought from French company Zenith. No room for a 8 sprocket so I used a 6 sprocket Shimano Megarange freewheel giving me five sprockets from 13 to 24 tooth plus the 34 tooth megarange granny gear to get me home in the event of motor breakdown. So 262% range and no problems pulling away,

I can't give links removed since with drastic change at both ends, I started from scratch with completely new chain.

End result was that I could pedal up to 28 mph and also climb 25% with the bike's rear hub Bafang motor. I even once climbed a 30%, but that was brutal and I never tried again!!

Side view of 60 tooth and derailleur in top gear:

And contours in my hilly area:

 

[ovatsus]

It's just 9 kms each way to work with a couple of 5% to 7% hills on the way, so I'm not worried about range (I'm assuming that will be hard to get more than 50km, those 100km are very ver optimistic). I can get the Fiido D21 for 900 or this one for 1030, the 1.5kg difference in weight and samsung battery are tipping me into the ADO way, but worried the lack of gears will make it more unpleasant to ride.

 

[guerney]

I'm willing to bet a can of Guinness there will be too much voltage sag on hills from that small battery and that one gear, unless you're insanely fit and also taking steroids.

 

[flecc]

It's just 9 kms each way to work with a couple of 5% to 7% hills on the way, so I'm not worried about range (I'm assuming that will be hard to get more than 50km, those 100km are very ver optimistic). I can get the Fiido D21 for 900 or this one for 1030, the 1.5kg difference in weight and samsung battery are tipping me into the ADO way, but worried the lack of gears will make it more unpleasant to ride.

That is a very easy journey and it certainly wouldn't have worried me, but there are downsides. You'll find the flat stretches very boring with just the motor taking you along at circa 15mph withyou unable to keep up on the low geared pedal system.

It seems Cyclebuddy, Guerney and I would probably all pick the Fiido for the gearing advantages and there's another aspect on the battery. There's lots of Fiidos about so batteries should be available in future. Will this be true for the Ado which is only a project at present so an unknown future quantity. We've seen lots of cases of integrated batteries being no longer available due to e-bikes being discontinued or never selling well enough.
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[ovatsus]

Thanks!

 

[wheeler]

I also think the optional 99-euro "proper mudguard pack" is mandatory if you're cycling all weathers.

I'm not sure about that, many of our local cyclists seem to think that a muddy face and a line of shyte up their back is some kind of badge of honour.

 

[WheezyRider]

My oldest e-bike is essentially single gear. I leave it in top gear all the time. As it is so old, it can have a throttle, so pulling away is not an issue.

Getting big chain rings isn't too difficult these days:

 

[ovatsus]

Decided to play it safe and got the Fiido D21

 

[flecc]

Decided to play it safe and got the Fiido D21

That's good, I'm sure you will find it more enjoyable to ride than a single speed small wheel e-bike.
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