Reviewer: Bode
Purchased From: Electric Transport Shop, Cambridge
Purchase Price: £800 (Now £990)
Time Owned: Four weeks
Local Terrain: Moderate Hills / Very Hilly
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Strengths:
Feels solid and comfortable.
Plenty of power even on steep hills (with modest pedal assistance).
Lower gears (assisting motor) coped with all hills (up to 1 in 4) without problem or sweat.
Full-width throttle grip — I don't like those thumb-and-forefinger types.
Full-power/economy switch (though a third - "power off" - option would have been welcome).
Ability to start from standstill without pedalling, if needed (can be useful in traffic).
Rear hub motor, which I feel makes for better weight distribution and road-holding.
Convenient position of gear change control (lever and button variety, which I had not encountered before, but which I now prefer).
I usually get about 20 miles from the battery on full power and with much use of the throttle. If I ride more economically, and use the half-power setting, I get several more miles.
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Weaknesses:
Highest gear not really high enough to avoid "pedalling air" at speed.
Position of lock means key tends to get bent, presumably by heel contact - I have positioned a small bracket to protect it.
No means of clipping folded bike together — I use a strap, which works, but is a little irritating.
Hardly any height adjustment to original handlebars. Have had faulty stems replaced twice (under warranty), the second time with a different design, which gives more height too.
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Summary:
So far this bike has done everything I wanted, and is the best electric folder that I have tried ( and I have now tried a good many). A great improvement over the first Blackstar model, which had one gear. This has a Shimano 6-speed derailleur, plus one or two more additions, like proper folding (as opposed to detachable) handlebars, and an economy switch.
I was slightly worried about buying a bike that no-one else on these forums seems to have bought, and from a new importer, but I feel I have received excellent support from them (rather than the retailer) when I had a problem (not their fault; more details elsewhere).
There are some more details about the purchase on this thread: http://www.pedelecs.co.uk/forum/electric-bicycles/3165-i-bought-green-edge-blackstar.html
After about 10 months, I fitted a pedelec sensor cutout switch. Details here:http://www.pedelecs.co.uk/forum/electric-bicycles/4398-pedelec-cutout-switch.html?highlight=pedelec+cutout+switch
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Overall Rating (out of 10) : 8
Purchased From: Electric Transport Shop, Cambridge
Purchase Price: £800 (Now £990)
Time Owned: Four weeks
Local Terrain: Moderate Hills / Very Hilly
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Strengths:
Feels solid and comfortable.
Plenty of power even on steep hills (with modest pedal assistance).
Lower gears (assisting motor) coped with all hills (up to 1 in 4) without problem or sweat.
Full-width throttle grip — I don't like those thumb-and-forefinger types.
Full-power/economy switch (though a third - "power off" - option would have been welcome).
Ability to start from standstill without pedalling, if needed (can be useful in traffic).
Rear hub motor, which I feel makes for better weight distribution and road-holding.
Convenient position of gear change control (lever and button variety, which I had not encountered before, but which I now prefer).
I usually get about 20 miles from the battery on full power and with much use of the throttle. If I ride more economically, and use the half-power setting, I get several more miles.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Weaknesses:
Highest gear not really high enough to avoid "pedalling air" at speed.
Position of lock means key tends to get bent, presumably by heel contact - I have positioned a small bracket to protect it.
No means of clipping folded bike together — I use a strap, which works, but is a little irritating.
Hardly any height adjustment to original handlebars. Have had faulty stems replaced twice (under warranty), the second time with a different design, which gives more height too.
----------------------------------------------------------------------
Summary:
So far this bike has done everything I wanted, and is the best electric folder that I have tried ( and I have now tried a good many). A great improvement over the first Blackstar model, which had one gear. This has a Shimano 6-speed derailleur, plus one or two more additions, like proper folding (as opposed to detachable) handlebars, and an economy switch.
I was slightly worried about buying a bike that no-one else on these forums seems to have bought, and from a new importer, but I feel I have received excellent support from them (rather than the retailer) when I had a problem (not their fault; more details elsewhere).
There are some more details about the purchase on this thread: http://www.pedelecs.co.uk/forum/electric-bicycles/3165-i-bought-green-edge-blackstar.html
After about 10 months, I fitted a pedelec sensor cutout switch. Details here:http://www.pedelecs.co.uk/forum/electric-bicycles/4398-pedelec-cutout-switch.html?highlight=pedelec+cutout+switch
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Overall Rating (out of 10) : 8
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