Alternative to Urban Mover UM24?

[lolbees]

Hi and help !,

I have had an order placed with Urban Mover for a UM24 since early October '08. This was done for me by by Halfords through the Cycle 2 Work Scheme that my company offers its employees. I have been left repeatedly frustrated by an ever moving delivery date which has changed from November to December to the first week of January '09. I am now being told that Urban Mover expect the shipment to arrive the 3rd week of January '09. I have my doubts. Indeed I wonder if the credit crunch has bitten UM....

As per previous threads I have read here, it is virtually impossible to contact Urban Mover directly due to staff being in "meetings" etc which is really annoying.

Therefore after much reluctance I am seriously thinking of cancelling my order and looking at alternative folding e-bikes. I am limited to the choice of using Halfords' affiliated companies it has arrangements with for e-bikes (the other being Electric Bike Sales). The Greenedge Silverado looks a possibility - does anyone have any thoughts on this or alternatives and indeed Urban Mover?

My cycle to work is 5.5 miles each way in East London using the bus lanes and I currently use a folding Dahon Speed 7.

Lolbees

 

[frank9755]

I'm not the expert on those folders, but given your relatively short journey in a flat area, I would have thought most bikes would do the job. Critical issue with folders is to make sure they have high enough gears to enable you to do whatever pedalling you might want to do.

Urbanmover has had a poor reputation not just on this forum but with dealers who have stopped stocking their products as they have not been able to communicate wtih them either. I would advise avoiding them until such time as they prove they have changed.

If you ask them, Halfords can usually get most bikes, but you may need to push. Powacycle and Wisper are suppliers who have proven more reliable and have folders in their ranges. The Ezee Quando has a good reputation, although no gears. I'm sure others will have better informed opinions on folders.

 

[MR E]

I had an experience with my order for an Urban Mover in 2007 where I ordered from a large bike shop in the west country as I was down there for a few weeks.

I ordered in Jun 07 and after loads of promises still no bike in Dec 07 decided to cancel the order.

The bike shop did what they could but still nothing came , so cancelled , refund of deposit and decided to get an Ezee Torq --no looking back.

There have been several posts about after sales service with UM, so make up your own mind.

I did and glad I did!

 

[keithhazel]

I'm not the expert on those folders, but given your relatively short journey in a flat area, I would have thought most bikes would do the job. Critical issue with folders is to make sure they have high enough gears to enable you to do whatever pedalling you might want to do.

Urbanmover has had a poor reputation not just on this forum but with dealers who have stopped stocking their products as they have not been able to communicate wtih them either. I would advise avoiding them until such time as they prove they have changed.

If you ask them, Halfords can usually get most bikes, but you may need to push. Powacycle and Wisper are suppliers who have proven more reliable and have folders in their ranges. The Ezee Quando has a good reputation, although no gears. I'm sure others will have better informed opinions on folders.

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having had a Quando i can say i had a fantastic time with it..on and off the train no troubles, although hull to doncaster isnt a busy route...if you are happy to travel at 15.5mph without pedaling,up light hills and down dale, and into all but the strongest of wind then its perfect...carries ANYTHING..20 miles of throttle only use..probably nearer 30 miles if you want to pedal a bit too although pedaling is down to 12.5 mph...i wish i still had mine for my local jobbing...

 

[bode]

The Greenedge Silverado looks a possibility - does anyone have any thoughts on this or alternatives and indeed Urban Mover?

I have a GreenEdge Blackstar 2, a six-gear folder, which I am pretty pleased with. See my review: http://www.pedelecs.co.uk/forum/electric-bike-reviews/3139-green-edge-blackstar-2-review.html#post40434

 

[johnp]

Hi and help !,

I have had an order placed with Urban Mover for a UM24 since early October '08. This was done for me by by Halfords through the Cycle 2 Work Scheme that my company offers its employees. I have been left repeatedly frustrated by an ever moving delivery date which has changed from November to December to the first week of January '09. I am now being told that Urban Mover expect the shipment to arrive the 3rd week of January '09. I have my doubts. Indeed I wonder if the credit crunch has bitten UM....

As per previous threads I have read here, it is virtually impossible to contact Urban Mover directly due to staff being in "meetings" etc which is really annoying.

Therefore after much reluctance I am seriously thinking of cancelling my order and looking at alternative folding e-bikes. I am limited to the choice of using Halfords' affiliated companies it has arrangements with for e-bikes (the other being Electric Bike Sales). The Greenedge Silverado looks a possibility - does anyone have any thoughts on this or alternatives and indeed Urban Mover?

My cycle to work is 5.5 miles each way in East London using the bus lanes and I currently use a folding Dahon Speed 7.

Lolbees

Hi.
why not fit a kit to your Dahon (make a lovely bike)

JOHN

 

[Rad]

I'm fairly certain that Halfords also source via the Electric Transport Shop who I believe have a very good range of machines.

 

[lolbees]

Many thanks for all the responses. In the end I decided to take a trip down to The Electric Bike Shop in Camden and tried out a Greenedge Blackstar and Silverado. I'm only just over 5'6" yet found the Blackstar too low for me (handlebars couldn't be extended very much). I decided to go for the Silverado and picked it up yesterday so will post a full review on here shortly but am very impressed with its power, ease of use and quality.

Just a mention to The Electric Bike Shop - extremely helpful, patient, good advice and were really good in liaising with Halfords over my Cycle 2 Work voucher

 

[bode]

I'm only just over 5'6" yet found the Blackstar too low for me (handlebars couldn't be extended very much).

That's interesting; I am 5'11" and find the Blackstar handlebars only a fraction too low. I guess different people prefer different riding positions.
I look forward to your review. We GreenEdge owners are in a very small minority around here.