Best bang for buck sub £1000 folding ebike with Throttle!

tapash

Pedelecer
Apr 28, 2015
166
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i am looking for as lightweight as possible a folding bike for my wife. It mostly be used for commuting from home to work, daily roughly 18miles. There are 3 flyover she has to cross. Any suggestions folks? Budget is limited to £1000. Throttle feature would be a must....
 

Emo Rider

Esteemed Pedelecer
Jan 10, 2014
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Freego folders are £899 and a great deal for what is offered. Fully equipped with lights, mudguards, and panier rack. They have a throttle, three levels of assist and give a 30 mile range with a 36 volt, 10ah battery powering a 250w motor. On top of that, a great warranty. A very rugged and capable bike.
 

Emo Rider

Esteemed Pedelecer
Jan 10, 2014
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freego weights 22kg. too heavy for ladies to handle.
Best thing to do is go to a dealer and try it out both for performance and how hard it is to handle. If you do find a lighter folder with a throttle, please let us know. There are lighter folders that work well and are cheaper but sadly no throttle. You can get a Viking E Go on sale for £599. It is lighter that the Freego but does not have the range, power, throttle and panier rack. The Viking Harrier is a nice bike for the price as well. No lights, no throttle and again not the range or power. Again, lighter than the Freego.
 

Emo Rider

Esteemed Pedelecer
Jan 10, 2014
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Try a viking folder and just add a throttle that cost £30
This is a great idea and £30 sounds about right for someone that already knows their way around installing one in an E Go and can do it themselves. Getting this done by qualified technicial at a proper shop will be much more.
 

tapash

Pedelecer
Apr 28, 2015
166
13
I searched on this forum, many people have mentioned about kudos secret!!! Also woosh zephyr. anyone with experience of these bikes?

I am not really technical to fit throttle and stuff really...
 
Last edited:

Scott clarke

Pedelecer
May 5, 2015
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This is a great idea and £30 sounds about right for someone that already knows their way around installing one in an E Go and can do it themselves. Getting this done by qualified technicial at a proper shop will be much more.
True say emo but it is only one plug a few cable ties and four screws holding the cover on its simple enough to do and the instructions are on this forum. Even if he took it to a bike shop still going to be cheaper than spending a grand
 

trex

Esteemed Pedelecer
May 15, 2011
7,703
2,671
folders are not very comfortable to ride 18 miles a day, 5,000 miles a year.
Both the Secret and the Zephyr CDN have same size battery, 36V 8AH. The Zephyr CDN is crank driven with Nexus hub gear, the Secret has rear hub drive and 6-speed derailleur. The CDN can be very fast.
The Woosh Petite is more comfortable for this sort of distance and can be bought with either 10AH or 15AH battery. totalwomenscycling.com lists the Petite as one of the best e-bikes for women.
 
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tapash

Pedelecer
Apr 28, 2015
166
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folders are not very comfortable to ride 18 miles a day, 5,000 miles a year.
Both the Secret and the Zephyr CDN have same size battery, 36V 8AH. The Zephyr CDN is crank driven with Nexus hub gear, the Secret has rear hub drive and 6-speed derailleur. The CDN can be very fast.
The Woosh Petite is more comfortable for this sort of distance and can be bought with either 10AH or 15AH battery. totalwomenscycling.com lists the Petite as one of the best e-bikes for women.
thanks. But 23Kg seems a bit too much when she has to carry it...

Also wha t is the real life battery life on secret and CDN, if throttle is used frequently?
 

trex

Esteemed Pedelecer
May 15, 2011
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thanks. But 23Kg seems a bit too much when she has to carry it...

Also wha t is the real life battery life on secret and CDN, if throttle is used frequently?
For your intended use, 2 - 2.5 years.
although 8AH battery should be plenty for 18 miles, 15AH batteries will save you a lot of time because with 55-60 miles per full charge, you only have to charge them every other day, that can also potentially double the life of the battery, at least extend it substantially.
Don't worry about using the throttle all the time unless the rider is very heavy.
 

tapash

Pedelecer
Apr 28, 2015
166
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For your intended use, 2 - 2.5 years.
although 8AH battery should be plenty for 18 miles, 15AH batteries will save you a lot of time because with 55-60 miles per full charge, you only have to charge them every other day, that can also potentially double the life of the battery, at least extend it substantially.
Don't worry about using the throttle all the time unless the rider is very heavy.
Thanks. She is only 69kg. There are 3 flyovers she needs to cross so thats 6 times in a day. And i guess that would take lot of battery!!?? So at the end pf the day battery need to top up I suppose on a 8ah pack??
 

trex

Esteemed Pedelecer
May 15, 2011
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yes, with an 8AH or 10AH battery, she would have to charge after each day.
The throttle is also highly recommended to ride in cities, it makes starting off much easier and safer at traffic lights.
 

Emo Rider

Esteemed Pedelecer
Jan 10, 2014
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The Freego folder can be fitted with a 16ah battery that would make it £1,099 and increase the range to 50+ miles. You should be able to get at least 25 to 30 miles heavily using the throttle. The 10ah should do 15 to 20.
 
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tapash

Pedelecer
Apr 28, 2015
166
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The Freego folder can be fitted with a 16ah battery that would make it £1,099 and increase the range to 50+ miles. You should be able to get at least 25 to 30 miles heavily using the throttle. The 10ah should do 15 to 20.
Thats 22kg without the battery.
 

trex

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May 15, 2011
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the lightest folder that can do the 18 miles trip is the woosh Gallego and it's also the easiest bike to pull up the steps/stairs. it has a throttle but you have to push first on the pedal for about half a turn before the throttle kicks in.

http://wooshbikes.co.uk/?gallego

 
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