I took delivery of an electric bike at the end of October, after several months of prowling this forum and going for test rides on a number of bikes, folding and otherwise. We live in mid-Hertfordshire, but spend a lot of time in Bath, so good hill-climbing was essential. Also, I wanted a folder for ease of transportation as well as hidden storage (in the boot).
Early on, I took a shine to a new model to the market called the Green Edge Blackstar (at the Electric Transport Shop in Cambridge), but was put off by the fact that it had only one gear. At the time of my test, its stablemate with gears, the Silverado, was unavailable (not charged up), so I tried some other bikes there and more elsewhere.
Eventually, I went back for a ride on the Silverado, but didn’t like it as much as the Blackstar. So I tried the Blackstar again, and remarked that it was a shame that they did not make a version with gears, since that would have seemed my ideal bike. “Funny you should say that,” was the reply. It seemed that a new version with gears had come out and a container of them was on its way from China. They offered to sell one to me for the same price as the Blackstar version 1, since a retail price had not been set for the new one. This turned out to be quite bargain, as I paid £799, and the new version eventually went on sale at £925. There are some advantages to being an early adopter! So I put down a deposit and collected the bike a few weeks later (picture below; also see Green Edge’s details: Green Edge Bikes - Blackstar 2 ).
I naturally had some doubts about going for a new bike from a new importer (Green Edge), and the fact that no-one in these forums knew anything about them. However, one or two people then got Silverados and seemed favourably impressed. Besides, sometimes you just have to go for your gut instinct!
I have posted an initial review in the Reviews section (http://www.pedelecs.co.uk/forum/electric-bike-reviews/3139-green-edge-blackstar-2-review.html#post40434), but want to expand here a bit.
When I tried out the bike on collection, I noticed a rattle from the handlebars which turned out to be a bolt whose function is apparently to reinforce the junction of bars and column. ETS tried to tighten it, as did I, and a bike shop in Bath, all to no avail. Green Edge were very helpful, supplying advice by email and photos of the offending part. The saga of this is in this thread: http://www.pedelecs.co.uk/forum/electric-bicycles/3043-handlebar-problem.html, but basically the outcome was that Green Edge said they would fix it if I brought it to them. When they found that they couldn’t easily do so, they gave me a completely new bike on the spot, and swapped over all my added accessories and tyres! As well as giving the bike a thorough check-over. Good after-sales service or what? I am very impressed.
My feelings about ETS are more mixed. Whilst certainly very friendly and helpful, the impression I have of them is of a certain vagueness, shall we say. Like sending me off with my new bike minus charger and manual (though to be fair they couriered these to Bath for me the next day). And I suspect that it it might have been their attempts to adjust the handlebars that led to the problem above.
Also, when I ordered the bike, I also asked for Schwalbe Marathon Plus tyres to be fitted. A couple of days after collection, I realised that what had actually been supplied were Schwalbe Marathon Kevlars, a much cheaper tyre, and not so puncture resistant. I phoned and pointed out the mistake, and ETS promised to order in the proper tyres and let me know when they were in and could be fitted. Four weeks later, I am still waiting, but that may not be their fault.
Edit: It actually took four months before I got my Marathon Plus tyres. ETS dragged their feet, claiming supply problems, etc., etc. This despite the fact that a bike shop nearby had them in stock, and I offered to go and buy some and bring them to ETS, which they refused. However, it is done now. Mind you, they did put the front wheel back in the wrong way round, so that the tyre tread went the wrong way and the cycle computer didn't work, which I had to put right when I realised it.
Early on, I took a shine to a new model to the market called the Green Edge Blackstar (at the Electric Transport Shop in Cambridge), but was put off by the fact that it had only one gear. At the time of my test, its stablemate with gears, the Silverado, was unavailable (not charged up), so I tried some other bikes there and more elsewhere.
Eventually, I went back for a ride on the Silverado, but didn’t like it as much as the Blackstar. So I tried the Blackstar again, and remarked that it was a shame that they did not make a version with gears, since that would have seemed my ideal bike. “Funny you should say that,” was the reply. It seemed that a new version with gears had come out and a container of them was on its way from China. They offered to sell one to me for the same price as the Blackstar version 1, since a retail price had not been set for the new one. This turned out to be quite bargain, as I paid £799, and the new version eventually went on sale at £925. There are some advantages to being an early adopter! So I put down a deposit and collected the bike a few weeks later (picture below; also see Green Edge’s details: Green Edge Bikes - Blackstar 2 ).
I naturally had some doubts about going for a new bike from a new importer (Green Edge), and the fact that no-one in these forums knew anything about them. However, one or two people then got Silverados and seemed favourably impressed. Besides, sometimes you just have to go for your gut instinct!
I have posted an initial review in the Reviews section (http://www.pedelecs.co.uk/forum/electric-bike-reviews/3139-green-edge-blackstar-2-review.html#post40434), but want to expand here a bit.
When I tried out the bike on collection, I noticed a rattle from the handlebars which turned out to be a bolt whose function is apparently to reinforce the junction of bars and column. ETS tried to tighten it, as did I, and a bike shop in Bath, all to no avail. Green Edge were very helpful, supplying advice by email and photos of the offending part. The saga of this is in this thread: http://www.pedelecs.co.uk/forum/electric-bicycles/3043-handlebar-problem.html, but basically the outcome was that Green Edge said they would fix it if I brought it to them. When they found that they couldn’t easily do so, they gave me a completely new bike on the spot, and swapped over all my added accessories and tyres! As well as giving the bike a thorough check-over. Good after-sales service or what? I am very impressed.
My feelings about ETS are more mixed. Whilst certainly very friendly and helpful, the impression I have of them is of a certain vagueness, shall we say. Like sending me off with my new bike minus charger and manual (though to be fair they couriered these to Bath for me the next day). And I suspect that it it might have been their attempts to adjust the handlebars that led to the problem above.
Also, when I ordered the bike, I also asked for Schwalbe Marathon Plus tyres to be fitted. A couple of days after collection, I realised that what had actually been supplied were Schwalbe Marathon Kevlars, a much cheaper tyre, and not so puncture resistant. I phoned and pointed out the mistake, and ETS promised to order in the proper tyres and let me know when they were in and could be fitted. Four weeks later, I am still waiting, but that may not be their fault.
Edit: It actually took four months before I got my Marathon Plus tyres. ETS dragged their feet, claiming supply problems, etc., etc. This despite the fact that a bike shop nearby had them in stock, and I offered to go and buy some and bring them to ETS, which they refused. However, it is done now. Mind you, they did put the front wheel back in the wrong way round, so that the tyre tread went the wrong way and the cycle computer didn't work, which I had to put right when I realised it.
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