Volt Metro / BH Emotion EasyGo Volt / Kuo+

Kudoscycles · Mar 25, 2016

At a quick glance they all seem to be using the Bafang SWX motor,to be honest they all look similar spec,so I think it comes down to preference and price.
Some of them don't specify the battery capacity?
Above 18kg they are a bit of a handful to carry/stowe.
They don't appear to have a dual height seat post or minimum length of seat post of 400 MM.,if you are taller than 5'6" you really should test ride your choice,you may find it difficult to achieve a comfortable riding height,as we found with our MK 1 Kudos Secret and the Bromptons you do need a long seat post.
With small 20" diameter wheels the chainring needs to be minimum 44 tooth,otherwise even at 15 mph,your feet are whizzing round.
KudosDave.

trex · Mar 26, 2016

general rule:

small capacity battery = low assist

RobF · Mar 26, 2016

The Kuo should do what you want.

Bear in mind all folders for this price are heavy and unwieldy when folded.

Fine if you only want to shove it into a cupboard, but no good for carrying for more than a few feet, and no good for carrying on stairs.

EddiePJ · Mar 26, 2016

No help to you I am afraid, and I am not taken with small wheeled bikes, but I really love the concept of this. A small wheeled fat bike. http://www.voltbike.ca/voltbike-mariner-black.html

Kudoscycles · Mar 26, 2016

Out of interest,why did you not include the Kudos Secret in that list....I tried to be impartial but the Secret is a direct competitor to those 3.
Most like the idea that the Secret has a hidden battery within the frame.
Pedelec member ' Deerhound' has just taken delivery of a Secret.
We are happy to send out bikes,delivery for free,provided you look after it,if you want to return it we charge £10.00
Hope that helps.
KudosDave

Kudoscycles · Mar 26, 2016

RobF said:
The Kuo should do what you want.

Bear in mind all folders for this price are heavy and unwieldy when folded.

Fine if you only want to shove it into a cupboard, but no good for carrying for more than a few feet, and no good for carrying on stairs.

Rob....you are quite correct they are best carried with the seat post pushed fully down and the handlebars folded down,but the frame left full length,the bike is better balanced and easier to carry.
Folding the frame is useful for stowing in a car or cupboard.
KudosDave

EddiePJ · Mar 26, 2016

Kelly, just to add comment to what Dave has said. Kudoscycles, are very forum active and have been trading for a long time.
I have had no dealing with the company, but I suspect that in the hopefully very unlikely event of an issue with the bike, that you wouldn't be left high and dry.

You have nothing to lose by trying one.

http://www.kudoscycles.com/product_info.php?cPath=1&products_id=273

One question Dave. Is the battery removable from the bike, so enabling off bike charging or extending the bikes range with a second battery pack?

.

Kudoscycles · Mar 26, 2016

Kelly P said:
Hi Dave,
I do actually prefer the look of the hidden battery, but I discounted it because it has a max rider weight of 90kg (I'm around 110kg) and a 220w battery (rather than a 250w), therefore I thought it wouldn't handle my heavy load?

I am 100 kg and have ridden my Secret across some rough mountain trails.
These weights are put on by the manufacturers not the importers,they are not tested they just represent the limit which the manufacturer guesses at.
I suspect they all have similar weight limits,I would be concerned at 130kgs plus but that applies to any e-bike I know.
I have never had a frame fail.
I am at home at the moment but am sure that Kudos Secret Mk2 has a 250 watt motor,the website maybe not updated,I will check on Monday.I have Secret Mk1,220 watt motor,and they carry my 100 kgs up some steep mountain roads.
The biggest difference in the power of all these bikes was when the voltage changed from 24v to 36v,one of our early bikes had only 24v and that was quite lowly powered when compared to the Secret.
To be honest we have no way of knowing the weight of the rider and I load my bike up with 20 plus kilos of shopping...it's all about common sense,a 50 kg rider can wreck a bike if you go bunny hopping off the kerb.
KudosDave

Kudoscycles · Mar 26, 2016

EddiePJ said:
Kelly, just to add comment to what Dave has said. Kudoscycles, are very forum active and have been trading for a long time.
I have had no dealing with the company, but I suspect that in the hopefully very unlikely event of an issue with the bike, that you wouldn't be left high and dry.

You have nothing to lose by trying one.

http://www.kudoscycles.com/product_info.php?cPath=1&products_id=273

One question Dave. Is the battery removable from the bike, so enabling off bike charging or extending the bikes range with a second battery pack?

.

Eddie,the Secret can be charged with the battery on or off the bike. I find it convenient to charge off the bike.
You could strap a second battery on the rack,in fact the battery shape and light weight would make it easy to do so,a second battery is cheap.
But these are 20" wheeled bikes,maybe I am being a wimp but I find 20 miles is a long enough ride these days,bits of me start aching after that.
Dave

EddiePJ · Mar 26, 2016

Thanks for answering that Dave. I just figured that it was a question that any potential purchaser might want to know.

LEBC Tom · Mar 26, 2016

Hi Kelly,

The weight is ok, I've been using the secret on and off for nearly 3 years now, 9.5 miles each way to my shop from home and various trips to local shops etc, I'm 116kg at the mo, the Secret takes my big frame.

The motor is a 250w with a 8amp battery.

trex · Mar 26, 2016

I think the Secret is a very handsome folder and offers hell a lot better value for money than all the others on your list.

LEBC Tom · Mar 26, 2016

Kelly P said:
I am a little confused as it does say 220w everywhere else I look online? Do you know why? What kind of motor is it?

Are these little wheels on the back to help with moving it when folded?

Hi Kelly,

Not sure where you are looking but the motor is definitely 250w Bafang fun 8. Those wheels are just part of the display to hold the bike in place, they are not part of the bike.

Alan Quay · Mar 26, 2016

LEBC Tom said:
Hi Kelly,

Not sure where you are looking but the motor is definitely 250w Bafang fun 8. Those wheels are just part of the display to hold the bike in place, they are not part of the bike.

If you look at the kudos website, it lists it as 220W, in the 'specifications' tab.

If I were looking for a folder the secret would be top of the list.

Volt Metro / BH Emotion EasyGo Volt / Kuo+

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