Hi all
Brand new user here, wondering if one or two folks might chip in with some advice. I'm presently a car user, but as of September I will be working from home (or occasionally from an office a few miles away). Accordingly I guess it's about time I got rid of the car for environmental reasons, and worked out how to get about in Birmingham centre without four wheels. I've not owned a bike for a couple of years, and even that it was a battered mountain bike that didn't get much TLC - so I know nothing about bikes and nothing about maintenance. I am, however, happy to learn
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I would expect to do around four journeys per week, each being between eight miles round-trip and 15 miles round-trip. I was originally considering a non-powered folder but I reckon in the winter months the benefits of the regular exercise would be outweighed by the rain, the snow and the cold; I have therefore been looking at the electric folder market with interest. I don't have a shed or a garage, so at present I think a folder would suit my purposes better (which is a shame, as I think this white Oxygen looks rather lovely - I'd just not have anywhere to put it).
I was originally considering an Electrobike, which given that it looks like a myriad of other machines in the same £500 price bracket, might perhaps be of the same 'cheap import' design that a number of sources are warning about. And most bikes in this category - to my untutored eye at least - look rather ungainly. But I liked that the website was packed with knowledge, and this particular firm is close to me too.
But looking around, and increasing the price bracket to under £1000, I find the much better looking Wisper 806fe, but I read somewhere (lost the URL now) that the pedal-assist is not variable. At this price bracket (again, beginner alert) I would have thought a twist-grip or something would permit the amount of power to be varied - so that I can periodically get some exercise and increase the mileage between charges! The power/voltage spec is much smaller than the Electrobike, as is the expected range.
In a similar price bracket is the Urban Mover UM26S, which looks much better than the Electrobike, but has reduced voltage like the Wisper, and worse range than both.
After that little list, hopping to £1500 brings into reach the Gocycle (very attractive, and very light, but limited range and apparently noisy); Brompton with Nano kit (these look a bit awkward to me, though I know they're regarded as Rolls Royces of the folder world), or the splendid looking Wisper 806 Alpino. But this doubles my intended budget, which is significantly more than I've ever paid for a car.
So... should I go for a cheapie to start off with, and go from there, maybe? Or is that a false economy? Am happy to buy second-hand, but to what degree would I need after-sales support? Also, what is security like on a folder - will a single lock through both wheels and frame when folded be sufficient, or do owners of expensive folders use two D-locks?
Sorry 'bout length of post; am keen to do the research properly as you can tell! TIA for any input.
Brand new user here, wondering if one or two folks might chip in with some advice. I'm presently a car user, but as of September I will be working from home (or occasionally from an office a few miles away). Accordingly I guess it's about time I got rid of the car for environmental reasons, and worked out how to get about in Birmingham centre without four wheels. I've not owned a bike for a couple of years, and even that it was a battered mountain bike that didn't get much TLC - so I know nothing about bikes and nothing about maintenance. I am, however, happy to learn
.I would expect to do around four journeys per week, each being between eight miles round-trip and 15 miles round-trip. I was originally considering a non-powered folder but I reckon in the winter months the benefits of the regular exercise would be outweighed by the rain, the snow and the cold; I have therefore been looking at the electric folder market with interest. I don't have a shed or a garage, so at present I think a folder would suit my purposes better (which is a shame, as I think this white Oxygen looks rather lovely - I'd just not have anywhere to put it).
I was originally considering an Electrobike, which given that it looks like a myriad of other machines in the same £500 price bracket, might perhaps be of the same 'cheap import' design that a number of sources are warning about. And most bikes in this category - to my untutored eye at least - look rather ungainly. But I liked that the website was packed with knowledge, and this particular firm is close to me too.
But looking around, and increasing the price bracket to under £1000, I find the much better looking Wisper 806fe, but I read somewhere (lost the URL now) that the pedal-assist is not variable. At this price bracket (again, beginner alert) I would have thought a twist-grip or something would permit the amount of power to be varied - so that I can periodically get some exercise and increase the mileage between charges! The power/voltage spec is much smaller than the Electrobike, as is the expected range.
In a similar price bracket is the Urban Mover UM26S, which looks much better than the Electrobike, but has reduced voltage like the Wisper, and worse range than both.
After that little list, hopping to £1500 brings into reach the Gocycle (very attractive, and very light, but limited range and apparently noisy); Brompton with Nano kit (these look a bit awkward to me, though I know they're regarded as Rolls Royces of the folder world), or the splendid looking Wisper 806 Alpino. But this doubles my intended budget, which is significantly more than I've ever paid for a car.
So... should I go for a cheapie to start off with, and go from there, maybe? Or is that a false economy? Am happy to buy second-hand, but to what degree would I need after-sales support? Also, what is security like on a folder - will a single lock through both wheels and frame when folded be sufficient, or do owners of expensive folders use two D-locks?
Sorry 'bout length of post; am keen to do the research properly as you can tell! TIA for any input.
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