Possibility of Kudos Crank Drive Folder ?

[GORDONAL]

Kudos Dave

I remember reading that you were considering a crank drive folder, any news yet or is it on the back burner for sometime maybe in the future. As a by the way I met up with an old friend who wants an e-bike , he tried my stable and concluded he wanted crank drive not a hub motor - compared AVE MH7 to a Wisper 806.

From both our points of view a full folder is not too important ,folding handlebars however is the key requirement

My old friend was hugely interested in the Bosch until prices mentioned , crank drive folders /semi folders don't come cheap is the conclusion . I stand corrected but probably the Autumn sale Kalkhoff Sahel compact at about £1620 would be the cheapest in this 20"
wheel size

Would there be a market for your sub £1000 crank drive folder - deffo.

Alan

 

[eddieo]

Yes for sure...but its all wishful thinking. A bit like walking into a supermarket and expecting a free range chicken for £2...it don’t exist

seen some new crank drive systems and will post thread when I get time, dealing with gas leak in camper LPG system at moment, was supposed to be going away for a few days cycling this week...

sale bikes come along now and again, just need to keep your ear near to the ground

 

[Kudoscycles]

Alan,the first of the Kudos crank drive bikes will be what has become known as a trekking style,after that will probably be a step through and true mountain style bike,I think a folder will be some time off.
My problem with this bike is that the asian manufacturer is much larger than my other suppliers,the volumes in the UK are not enough for me to drive the project forward,a much larger company is also involved and I piggyback their orders.
Its not ideal but the resultant combined volumes keeps the prices down
The AVEMH7 I rode at last years NEC cycle show,I thought it a fine bike.
Perhaps flecc could advise more,I saw a number of crank drive,good quality folders at Eurobike but did not remember the names.
You should get your friend to try our Kudos Secret bike,not trying to pretend it is the equal of the AVEMH7 but everybody who rides it,loves it,it climbs hills better than you would think. If our welsh dealer doesnt have stock,its easy to send one down for a test ride.
Dave
Kudoscycles

 

[GORDONAL]

Thanks for the reply Dave

I can fully understand your current position re new models . It is always illuminating having a manufacturer/supplier putting over the reality of what is available and why!!!! Hopefully though its a 2-way process in some small way , you can gauge what folks are wishing to buy and give CONSTRUCTIVE feedback to you
Alan

 

[hoppy]

Hi,Gordonal.There is an ebay seller with 3 new folding crank drives at £650. No link but if you try "Electric bike 36v 250w folding" you should find it! No idea if any good!

 

[GORDONAL]

Thanks Hoppy I have looked at these before online with my "interested" friend . It would be good if someone has seen or tried these I must admit to being a little sceptical looking at the spec and pictures of the bikes.

Alan

 

[Deleted member 4366]

That's a 250w GNG kit fitted tp a nice little folder. Looks like a nice package, but i'd prefer a frog battery, but seat won't fold so low.
The kit's about £150 delivered, you can get a bottle battery or frog battery for about £160, so that leaves £350 for the bike and fitting, so the price is about right.
24V 250W middrive

Old_dave's got one of those kits, but hasn't reported yet.

 

[jackhandy]

The motor/drive on that folder looks very much like the GNG kit, which has been superceded on their website by one with a mounting plate either side of the bb.

I'm seriously considering fitting this to my full suss. Saracen - does anyone have any experience of the 250w kits?

Ha! Beaten to it while I was 1-finger typing.

Do you reckon the new kit is a good option, d8veh? I thought old dave had the 350w.

 

[GORDONAL]

Hi Dave

So its a lower powered version of a kit you have just installed , where if i remember correctly you were genuinely overwhelmed at the performance that you achieved .

Alan

 

[Deleted member 4366]

There's a couple of things that I have a reserve about with that kit. You have to use their rather long BB spindle instead of a sealed cartridge type. These long spindles can bend if you bash the pedals (fall off) and then your BB bearings don't last 5 minutes; however, it won't be a prodlem if it''s properly hardened and toughened. The other thing is the brushed motor, which make a little more noise. Someone's got to try one. Who'll be first?

I went out on mine again yesterday and I'm pretty pleased with it. It's quietened down now, and I'm back on 36v now, so power's more suited to normal riding. It's main advantage apart from being able to climb very steep hills is that you can get speed down-hill as well, so you can always beat the lycras - if you want. Speed on the flat without pedalling is about 22mph.
It would be the same to a lesser extent with that folder, but the noise will give the game away.

 

[jackhandy]

Guess you're righ d8veh... Time to step up to the line & get one ordered.

I'll use the 10ah flatpack battery I got from cyclezee. That should give enough grunt without expiring on me.

I see gng recommend at least a 12ah battery, but that folder has a 9ah bottle, so I should be somewhere in the middle.

 

[Deleted member 4366]

The 12aH rating that they recommend is for SLA batteries. The one you have should be OK.