Manyspace

Hi everyone and thanks again for the warm welcome and useful advice. Still not been able to get to my (not so) local bike shop to see some in action, but after picking up a 20kg tent the other day I am rapidly reassessing my priorities in terms of weight! The Brompton plus kit option was looking good til I contacted my C2W scheme who confirmed you can only get one “loan” at a time, so I can’t buy the Brompton and the kit on the scheme. Not giving up yet might be able to get one on the wife’s scheme. Can I ask the typical weight a kit adds to a bike or even better if allowed, Woosh Bikes mentioned 3 kits the Q70 and two others for shorter journeys. Can you post the weight, cost, battery size and expected flat range with peddling for these? Not to worry if not allowed I can ask direct, just thought might help future forum members looking for info. thanks

Thank you Fat Rat lots of really helpful advice already!

Thanks again more food for thought! I had been quite “anti” 16” wheels but as ever there is clearly going to be a compromise somewhere-if no where else then in the budget! I need to get to the shop and compare them for price, weight/size and “functionality” If size and weight turns out to be key I might have to look again at the E-go lite and lite plus options and also the Gocycle GS which were all a bit lighter. The converted Brompton is an interesting idea I hadn’t considered. I can get a Brompton on the cycle to work scheme although maybe not the conversion kit. Even so that still probably brings it down to just about affordable, and certainly cheaper than the GS option. I may well change my priorities once I get my hands on some test rides, but I don’t think folded size and weight will be a day to day issue, provided it can be wheeled. If it’s awkward at work then it can just live in the bike sheds-I’ve not heard of any issues there. At home it would be convenient to leave in the hall overnight, and presumably it would be slightly less of a space hog than a non folding bike. If that doesnt work it would need to be taken through the house but can then be stored in a shed at the back. I’d only need to get it on a bus on rare occasions when things change and I have to pick the son up and take him home on the bus. Luckily he is largely self propelled!

Thanks all for your replies so far. Yes I definitely want to find somewhere where I can try them. I don’t intend to be folding it on a bus everyday, just maybe very occasionally might need to. More want to be able to fold it for overnight storage at home and maybe to keep by desk rather than in bike sheds at work. For the Wisper vs the E-go lite there is a definite pay off in terms of weight/size vs range. At least we are lucky enough to have a specialist ebike shop nearby where I can try some and get the cycle to work benefits. They don’t stock the Rambletta at least at the moment and from what I know I’d be reluctant to buy without being able to rude one and try it folded too

Very Newbie here. Really pleased to have found this forum. Sorry for the long post, but it does say to say what you are looking for here! I’m wanting to get an electric bike mainly to avoid bus journeys once no longer working from home. I’d like a folding one because of storage at home and so I also have the option to hop on a bus with it if needed, or occasionally maybe even put it in the car. Commute is about 5 1/2 miles each way mainly flat with one probably 1/2 mile stretch at around 5% incline. I’m about 6’3 and 14-14 1/2 stone. Work has a cycle to work scheme through Cycle Solutions which also allows use of some local bike shops. I would consider bikes not available on the scheme, but obviously these are a big saving. I’d prefer one with larger (20 inch) wheels. Weight or folding size isn’t an absolute issue. I need to be able to get it easily through the house for storage or onto a bus. Range is also not a major issue, as the main requirement is 11 miles a day and I could recharge at work. I guess upwards of real life 20 miles (15 at a push) would cover the journey. I need to carry a 1kg ish laptop but not much else, would probably prefer not to have to carry the charger back and forth though. Other than the hill I don’t think I’d need to use maximum assistance so that should help with range. I’d prefer one with reasonable gears, and ideally a fully removable battery to make charging easier. Be useful too if replacement batteries weren’t half the price of a new bike. I wondered if anyone had any views or suggestions on these ones currently available (with their current scheme prices) Falcon compact 2021 £459. Can’t find this listed anywhere other than Cycle Solutions, but it looks to have the same specs and RRP as the Falcon Surge. These are all available from a local bike shop (and Ebike specialist) on the Cycle Solution local bike shop scheme, and they offer test rides so I should be able to try them out which might change my view but I’d be interested in them all. I’ve had to estimate the end prices through, I think works out at 60% of retail. E-Go lite + £690 (Ego lite also available at £529 but fairly sure it’s not what I’m looking for). Don’t know if they can offer the E-go max which I might be more interested in. Raleigh Stow E way £810 Wisper 806 (525kw/h battery) £869 They also list the 806 high torque with 700kw/h battery for £1139. Not sure if they can supply the basic 375 kw/h battery that should be £749 if they can. Probably worth the extra for the 525 kWh version. I know I said folded size and weight weren’t the main criteria but the Wisper does look a bit large and heavy so it’s definitely one I’m keen to test and see for myself. They do also offer the Gocycle GS which should work out at £1540 and the GX which would be £1739 which both look great, but I think are more than I’d want to pay. Do any of these options jump out as a really good (or even a really bad option?) I think I’m most interested in one of the Wisper configurations but I obviously need to try it first.