Newbie with a headache!

[Jain]

Hi All

I searched all the bikey forums last time I bought a bike and on the recommendations bought a £200 Halfords Subway Carrera that I absolutely and utterly love. However I am limited to places that are flat as despite being able to cycle 35 miles (up from my initial 4 miles!) I just don't have enough strength in my legs to get me up any kind of incline.

I have decided to buy a ebike (looked into conversion kits but decided not for me) and it needs to be below £1000 - I wanted a hybrid one with big wheels that folds so that I can take it in my car to places that are safe to cycle on and into my flat so it doesn't get stolen.

I am getting very confused (hence the headache in the title) trying to research these and as there are very little reviews in comparison to conventional bikes. I use the bike on cycle paths and light off road use and like to go long distances (would like to use it eventually to tour some of the hilly Scottish Islands if it works OK).

I have been looking at two folding bikes:

Dillenger Apache 26" Folding Bike
http://dillengerelectricbikes.co.uk/electric-bikes/folding-electric-bikes/apache-26-folding-electric-bike-by-dillenger.html

and

Halfords Byocycle Chameleon FDXL Folding Electric Bike
http://www.halfords.com/cycling/bikes/electric-bikes/byocycle-chameleon-fdxl-folding-electric-bike

However I can find very little on either of these on the forum or review areas.

Anyone with experience of ebikes have an opinion on the spec of these bikes?

I will put a full review of whatever bike I buy onto the site as we need as many as we can get at the moment.

THANKS

Jain

 

[Angelnorth]

Sorry, no experience of either of those. My dad got one of the smaller-wheeled Byocycle Chameleon bikes fairly recently and he seems happy with the build quality etc. He had a small problem with power cut out but got technical advice over the phone with no hassle - it was just a contacts issue that was easily resolved with a bit of cleaning.

Hopefully somebody will have more specific advice/opinion for you. Good luck!

 

[flecc]

The Apache folding design in both rigid and rear suspension forms has been around for years under various names, first appearing claimed as a US army paratroop bike. In the last decade or so it's appeared with various rear hub motors, at one time the German Heinzman motor.

This one has the usual Chinese internally geared 250 watt motor, either from Suzhou Bafang or one of their imitators. So it's an average power e-bike which will perform much like any other.

One thing to be wary of though. The batteries on these lower cost bikes often only last around two years. Then you will need the special one that fits inside it's frame and that brings two possible problems. The first is that they can charge what they like if they are the only source, the second the more serious one of them no longer supplying that type of battery or they have shut down.
.

 

[KirstinS]

The Apache folding design in both rigid and rear suspension forms has been around for years under various names, first appearing claimed as a US army paratroop bike. In the last decade or so it's appeared with various rear hub motors, at one time the German Heinzman motor.

This one has the usual Chinese internally geared 250 watt motor, either from Suzhou Bafang or one of their imitators. So it's an average power e-bike which will perform much like any other.

One thing to be wary of though. The batteries on these lower cost bikes often only last around two years. Then you will need the special one that fits inside it's frame and that brings two possible problems. The first is that they can charge what they like if they are the only source, the second the more serious one of them no longer supplying that type of battery or they have shut down.
.

Flecc is right..... but you'd still have other options. For example buying a different standard battery and attaching to the frame, rack or in a bag

Or get one made up to fit - Jimmy at insat can and does make batteries to order. He is a true expert with decent prices and customer service

My 16ah 36v battery from him is nearly a year old and shows no signs of degradation. It even came with a full chart showing the tests he ran on the completed pack before he sent it out

So the the issue flecc raises is totally valid but totally surmountable

 

[Zack @ Byocycles]

Hi Jain,

Thanks for your interest in the Chameleon XL, they are great bikes and have the following features:

Pros:

• Samsung or Panasonic battery, and if you're buying any time soon, there is the possibility you'll be upgraded FOC to the 13ah battery option (we're currently awaiting a delivery of 10ah batteries, but have plenty of 13ah stock)
• 2 year warranty and parts backup. Byocycles has been around for 9 years, recently a 1st generation Byocycle came back and we were able to support it! 95% of parts are in stock all the time.
• Convenient larger wheeled folding bike
• Plug and play connectors all around. This makes removing the rear wheel for a puncture a doddle, and also should your bike develop a fault parts are easily swapped out. (the Dillenger doesn't have this as far as I can tell)
• Easy to fold
• Only weighs 21kg!

Welcome to Pedelecs

 

[flecc]

Flecc is right..... but you'd still have other options. For example buying a different standard battery and attaching to the frame, rack or in a bag

True Kirstin, but I was bearing in mind the restrictions of the Apache. It has no rack and it's not easy to add one with that rear suspension. And there's nowhere on the frame for a battery to go, the spring unit blocking the seat tube access and the fold blocking the top tube use.

Therefore I prefer to point out the potential problems since there are many who will only want to buy an off the shelf replacement battery.
.

 

[Jain]

Thanks for all the helpful comments and in depth info - I noticed Dillenger bikes sell mainly in Australia so I logged into a few of their forums and they are trashing them so I think on that basis I will give them a miss (bad follow through when things go wrong as they appear to a lot) - this is a shame as I really liked that style of bike.

I am swaying towards the byocycle - will let the various ebike sites know what I eventually go for and give an extensive product review when I get it.

Can't imagine any bike being as wonderful as my Subway Carrera which has lasted despite me knowing sod all about bikes and doing 15 gear changed on hills because I can't remember which combination of big ring/small ring you should be on, crashing into a stone wall at speed (when a bee decided to land on my face) and getting entangled in a pile of bushes (when going over a tree root at high speed sent me and bike flying) and just generally cycling through a Scottish winter of torrential rain, snow and gail force winds when I was often the only nutcase out on the cycle paths. Not a single bit of maintenance has this bike needed, it has just kept going.

Thanks again

Jain

 

[LeighPing]

Not a single bit of maintenance has this bike needed, it has just kept going.

Thanks again

Jain

Stick a kit on it then.

 

[Kuorider]

Thanks for all the helpful comments and in depth info - I noticed Dillenger bikes sell mainly in Australia so I logged into a few of their forums and they are trashing them so I think on that basis I will give them a miss (bad follow through when things go wrong as they appear to a lot) - this is a shame as I really liked that style of bike.

I am swaying towards the byocycle - will let the various ebike sites know what I eventually go for and give an extensive product review when I get it.

Can't imagine any bike being as wonderful as my Subway Carrera which has lasted despite me knowing sod all about bikes and doing 15 gear changed on hills because I can't remember which combination of big ring/small ring you should be on, crashing into a stone wall at speed (when a bee decided to land on my face) and getting entangled in a pile of bushes (when going over a tree root at high speed sent me and bike flying) and just generally cycling through a Scottish winter of torrential rain, snow and gail force winds when I was often the only nutcase out on the cycle paths. Not a single bit of maintenance has this bike needed, it has just kept going.

Thanks again

Jain

As your in Glasgow your're near Wheels Cycle centre at Callander. Call and ask for Mark. He has lots of Electrics for sale or hire. Great bloke to deal with and miles of private road round Loch Vennachar to demo the bikes at leisure . Proper workshop and backup if required. Nice day out, even if you don't buy a bike you will get plenty of good advice.

 

[Jain]

As your in Glasgow your're near Wheels Cycle centre at Callander. Call and ask for Mark. He has lots of Electrics for sale or hire. Great bloke to deal with and miles of private road round Loch Vennachar to demo the bikes at leisure . Proper workshop and backup if required. Nice day out, even if you don't buy a bike you will get plenty of good advice.

Hi Kuorider

Thanks for the info that was exactly what I would have like to have done (but when I looked up electric bike hire to try out the bikes and electric bike shops in central Scotland there seemed to be very little coming up on internet!) - it is now too late as I have purchased an electric bike. Hopefully this info will be good for someone else on the site. I was looking at a cycle route today that goes from Balloch to Callander so I might pop in and tell him he should be getting the information out about what he has available. As you can see from this forum that's the kind of thing a lot of people are looking for - a try before you buy and some advice!

Thanks

Jain

 

[Jain]

Stick a kit on it then.

Mine field of best types of conversion kits, will they fit, will they cause your spokes to break and wheels to buckle and after all the hassle price is nearly the same as a full ebike - but mainly worried I would damage my lovely bike. Anyway have now purchased a byocycle and quite excited about the prospect of folding into back of car, might get one of those doggy ramps so can roll it in!

Will write a review once it arrives.

Thanks

Jain

 

[Kuorider]

Keep us posted on your progress. That path you mention is a fair haul on a folder. The Duke's pass section is battery greedy so check out your range locally first. If your're near enough, the track from Blanefield to Kirky is good for testing. It's smooth & level and a round trip of 16 miles. Park at Blanefield Church. This will give you a good idea of performance , range, comfort etc and easily ride-able back if you run out of battery. It's normal to be a bit heavy on battery at first until you get the knack of saving power so don't be disappointed if your range seems a bit short . Batteries improve after a few charges as will your usage. A nice run is Steam boat to Stronachlachar and ride back round Loch Katrine, 12 miles, so reasonably easy on the battery.

 

[Jain]

Keep us posted on your progress. That path you mention is a fair haul on a folder. The Duke's pass section is battery greedy so check out your range locally first. If your're near enough, the track from Blanefield to Kirky is good for testing. It's smooth & level and a round trip of 16 miles. Park at Blanefield Church. This will give you a good idea of performance , range, comfort etc and easily ride-able back if you run out of battery. It's normal to be a bit heavy on battery at first until you get the knack of saving power so don't be disappointed if your range seems a bit short . Batteries improve after a few charges as will your usage. A nice run is Steam boat to Stronachlachar and ride back round Loch Katrine, 12 miles, so reasonably easy on the battery.

Hi Kuorider

Thanks for the heads up - my bike has arrived (can't wait to try it!) but not going out until Friday or Saturday of this week as it's packed up with the rest of my stuff for moving home on Wednesday. I usually stick to flat off road routes so I think I will initially do my usual Glasgow-Twechar and back canal route or Balloch-Tarbet (total 35 miles there and back and mainly flat and special cycle bus goes up and down the route at this time of year so if get stuck can jump on that) to test it for distance. I have a 13aH battery so I am hoping I will be able to go a wee bit further - I am interested to see if it possible to ride it without using battery on the flat areas or if it will be just too heavy.

I have done the Strathblane-Kirkintilloch run which is a really lovely setting - although the first time I tried to do it I had to turn back because a cow had escaped from the nearby field and was grazing in middle of the path!!! The Loch Katrine sounds a good one will definitely have a look at that one.

Will definitely keep everyone posted on the bikes capabilities (looking at the weather outside today should at least be able to test how waterproof the parts are!) and give a review from this weekends ride.

Thanks

Jane

 

[Kuorider]

Good battery choice, should be good for 35-40 miles easily depending on your input. The bike should ride fairly easily unpowered as it's quite light for a pedelec. Also being a regular cyclist does help a lot. Most of us are old crocks ,however with half your power capacity I manage 25 miles most outings on this one.