Quadro1 v Quadro2 ride quality

[kevinfox]

I've just taken a Quadro1 along a disused railway line and wondered which of the 2 Quadro variants has the best ride. Surface was a mixture of thin mud, and uneven track. Not really overgrown as it's a nature reserve.
Do any of the other folders have a better ride or is this as good as it gets?
liking the electric assistance a lot even if it keeps cutting out!

 

[flecc]

You mean Quando 1 I think Kevin, not Quadro.

The ride on the suspended Quando 1 is a bit bouncy and pitching, mainly due to the rear rubber bung suspension, This is often used on folders but it's not a well controlled form of springing. Of course the model 1 is discontinued now.

The Quando 2 has no suspension and just relies on it's Kenda 1.95" tyres for bit of comfort, but they aren't the best for that. A better tyre for the model 2 is the Schwalbe Big Apple, but it won't do anything for your model 1.

Once you have a new battery and get some practice on the throttle control of your quite powerful model, you'll be able to control the ride quality better.
.

 

[kevinfox]

You're quite right, that's exactly what I meant!
Throttle control atm consists of not using full throttle, trying to keep the red light out, and closing and reopening slightly the throttle when the controller cuts things instead of the battery. Not ideal.
Doesn't the mark 2 have a suspension seat post? If so is it any good?
Kevin

 

[flecc]

Yes, there's a suspension seatpost on the Quando 2, but my 70 kilos / 11 stones doesn't shift it, obviously designed for heavies!

As ever, part of the trouble is the seat tube angle, the weight thrust is directly down but the angle of the sprung section means lots of friction to overcome to make it move. If I brake hard and pitch my weight down it operates then, since the forward motion of my body as the bike stops is at the right angle for the post to slide down without friction.

Generally useless though, except for heavies, probably 15 stones or more needed to make it really work well.
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[kevinfox]

The suspended seat won't be much use to me either although I need to lose a bit!
Just out of interest what do you reckon one of these would be like for comfort - looks like they fold down to the same size! I'd add a 3 Chainwheel Cyclone kit to it if I went this route.

 

[flecc]

That link you gave is broken Kevin, but I know the Montague bike it refers to.

It's much bigger that the Quando, even when folded, since trhe wheels are full size so it's automatically 6" bigger in both directions so stands far higher even when folded. And of course it's not electric. The normal option for the Montague is a rear wheel motor since the front wheel has to come out for the "fold", and that usually means a Heinzmann motor kit which is very heavy and expensive, The whole bike as an e-bike isn't something you'd want to try carrying anywhere!
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[kevinfox]

Do you reckon the 3 chainwheel Cyclone wouldn't work on that bike?

 

[flecc]

That 3 chainwheel Cyclone has to attach to the downtube, so it wouldn't go on the Montague as it doesn't have a downtube. Also, even if there was somewhere to mount it, it would stick out well beyond the "fold".

I'm fairly sure it couldn't use the usual Cyclone either, since the bottom bracket to rear wheel distance is too short, kept short to make it's collapsed state as small as possible.

Really the only sensible motor options for the Montague are the Heinzmann or BionX rear motors, both very expensive, way over £1000 for the kits.
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[kevinfox]

Pity, I quite liked the looks of the Montague and it had suspension.
Ah well back to the drawing board.
Thanks for your help!
Now if only someone made a folding electric sofa disguised as a bike!