Geriatric

Thanks for your reply.

Thank you, Much appreciated

A very effective persuader, real 'Road Runner' kit! I take it Schwalbe have some form of reinforced layer. The tacks on the vid are actually larger than the one's favoured by our young hardware enthusiasts round here. They must just have a better equipped class of social assasin in Indonesia? Thank you sincerely, I think its the route to go. The 'Solids' I have are the wrong size anyway, so I've returned them today.

The more I read and watch the posted vids I think I'll go belt and braces (bluetube inner tubes and Schwalbe Marathon tyres. The only slight problem is that Marathon only seem to have 20 x 1.75 as a max profile available which means the profiles a bit lower and the rim size is HB420 - my wheels are 422? I'm unclear quite what either 420 or 422 signifies, much less if its significant as a contrast?

Simple and effective I would think, I expect today a combination of the EU & H&S would find them suicidal and ban them? (along with everything else!)

Hello and thanks for your post and easily understand the thinking behind your comment. The reason I undertook this course of action (puncture proof consideration) was in direct recognition to my physical limitations re puncture repair, within an E-bike suspicious environ. Pre planning would also certainly be a maxim for others to consider including Politicians, Bankers, NHS bosses etc...

Thank you everyone, all very helpful opinions for which I'm very grateful. After watching this video Link we then removed the front wheel and measured it's width, (as shown), which was 26mm and so the 1.50's were, as I'd suspected too narrow. I am returning them for a refund after the weekend. We are definitely going the 'PP' route as my wife's journey is less than 4 miles return (along the promenade next to the sea, not public roads) twice a week. Any deterioration in ride quality is compensated by corollary utility of a puncture free existence. Recently local 'children' (definitive purposes only!) are spreading tacks across the ride way. Unfortunately this activity is cyclic (no pun intended) and provides seasonal variety for the major past time of murdering sea-gulls. Puncture proof inner tubes (available in 20 x 1.95) are another exactly matched consideration Link/tubes hopefully they're easier to fit too!

We reside near Frinton on Sea, (North Essex) but would be happy to drive down to Southend to get them fitted. I'm glad to make contact, as I'd like to get this bike serviced every year and it's a relief to find a specialist who at least will consider working on such a device! It's a Pro-rider e-Wayfarer by the way, new in November last year.

I don't like mentioning this, but for the sake of my dignity feel I need to respond. Following a little dispute at the bottom of the world 30 odd years ago, I'm now limited to one arm. The bike in question is used by my wife for work. Whilst she never complains at mending punctures, I still feel inept and inadequate, even after all this time, in not being able to help much. My aim is always to be self sufficient in everything I do. I therefore sought a solution to a not infrequent problem, hence the request for opinion and advice on match and fitting. My thanks to those who have replied, suitably admonished I'll now withdraw...

Hello Wissy, Exactly, I've found a distinct rejection of all things ebike round here. One shop said "no we don't work on them". When I used your analysis I was advised, "but you have to disconnect all the wiring"... which I couldn't quite grasp. Even if this was so, surely it's not far removed from unplugging a socket - no degree in electronics necessary I would have thought - very strange?

Just bought some puncture proof tyres, after re-assurance that these to me 'solid' replacements (20 x 1.5) will replace the existing (20 x 1.95) pneumatics that are fitted. The rims are HB 422's by the way. The solids look a bit narrow to me, but expect they spread as they are stretched on? My two local cycle shops are terrified of 'electric' bikes and won't work on them, even to change tyres, because of the connections for the back drive wheel apparently. Assuming they are the right size? does anyone have knowledge if are they easy to replace, any advice gladly accepted. Many thanks

Thank you for the information, their folding range seems to be the next 'price-up' bracket from Viking, AS etc, but if the quality's better it's worth it,

Thanks, PM sent Sunday

Thank you for this information. It sounded a right lash-up, 'friction drive' sounds something Fred Dibnah would have been more familiar with. I'm surprised there wasn't a 'steam driven' alternative, with a coal tender too. I'm worried that Viking might not have a focused position towards after service and parts, and relying upon China for those functions in anything seems wishful thinking too. I emailed them with a few questions on Friday, which were clearly buying signals. I've not even received the decency of an acknowledgement. Whatever I get, I'm going to get a spare battery from the off, so when the model becomes redundant after a few months, I can hopefully revert to a spare for the next couple of years and pray everything else holds together.

8Fun Ltd Thanks Roy, Yes it is the same address as was/is used for Sunlova. I sincerely advise anyone considering dealing with these people to avoid them like the plague. They were extremely unhelpful and never replied to emails about parts enquiries. Unlike there lightening response to a sales question!

Sunlova Here's a pic of the Sunlova bike. it's is/was known as the "16" New Patented Electric Stretch Folding bike-E16F01S" I'd repair it if it were possible and retain it as a spare, but my problems are; 1) I'm a one armed Economist, with no bent for things mechanical. 2) I am therefore also unable to source parts etc without the practical knowledge needed to know the wood from the trees. Also agents/shops etc prepared to work on it last time a fault developed around the Frinton/Colchester area were zero. Thankfully a friend managed to trace a simple problem eventually and it has run for a year since 'Battery Armaggedon' occurred last week. I'd gladly pay, if I could source the service? Hence my reasoning to try and find either a British Manufacturer (seems a no brainer), or a Chinese importer with back up and ethics (Viking, or A.S. at Coventry maybe?). It's a shame, because despite the shambolic service from the seller, it's not been a bad little machine and its telescopic folding is very easy for a lady to operate. However I understand the ever helpful Mr Van Rompuy's meddlers from Brussels appear to have put the ki-bosh on our choice to buy what we want yet again here, and accordingly it's been banned in Never Never land Europe!

My wife has used a 'Sunlova' folding ebike from new for 3 years, but last night the battery went poof and blew out the connector! It was quite cheap, but I realised when I attempted to contact the company c/o 'Mao Tse Tung House' in West London, two years back, that customer after care was not a priority, and spares were not an option. I was considering the Viking Eco Stepper (Eco - Stepper Folding Electric bike - Black, 20 Inch from Eco - Stepper - Viking Bikes as a replacement? Mrs 'G' only travels 3 miles a day return, twice a week along the concrete promenade here by the seaside, with no hills, or open country. It would be nice to have something that could fit in a car boot as well. I selected Viking, because I had one as a boy, 50 years ago (Hosteller), and they still 'appear' to be British. Also hopefully basic things like batteries could be purchased without 3 hours of googling first? It's amazing how many firms don't show their products 'folded', a mistake in my opinion when selling 'folding bikes'. One good point of the late 'Beijing Banger' is that it doesn't actually fold, but 'telescopes' closed, rather like its been squashed front to rear, but I can't seem to find any current bikes that have this feature, perhaps The EC say we can't have them nowadays, like bent banannas? Has anyone out there got any feedback about Viking as a product, or know of any 'telescopic' folding small frame Ebikes? Also more interested in the electric bit, rather than the health benefits of pedalling!

Thank you Blew it, I've ordered from your reference and the flange-head matches our one perfectly. Not to mention the price, £2.56 for 10, v's £3.10 for one! My sincere appreciation, Martin

Help please. Have now found a spacer, (used but fine) at a market stall and our original bolt fits perfectly. However I now have to replace the missing one. I bought (with an academics brain) an M5 x 16 Dome Head Bolt - 12mm Head - thinking this was the size I needed, I believed the 16 reference was the number of bolts in the pack - idiot it of course refers to the thread length, but this is all new to me anyway. However it arrived today via Ebay at a cost of £3.10 for one! and its too small (thread diameter) Does the M5 refer to the width of the threaded part (5mm), if so I think I need an M6? The thread length is 12mm This seems to be the ticket but? ... 10 pcs M6 X 12 *FREE NUTS AND WASHERS* STAINLESS A2 BUTTON DOME HEAD ALLEN BOLTS | eBay

Thank you so much, I've ordered the round variety - really much appreciated. Martin

Bob, Thank you so much, your kindness to a complete stranger is very much appreciated. I think the previous post to yours from NRG gives me a lot of hope, especially as the supplier lists hexagonal and round fittings for the spacers. I'tt get sone and follow your fitting advice (Locktite thread-lock). I'm sure if that had been fitted in the first place, the probable cause of the trunnion failure (vibration) would not have happenned. Again my sincere thanks and I'm so pleased I have joined this forum. Martin

Hello everyone and thanks for your support. I've taken a photo of the connector which is 40mm long and 12mm wide. Its threaded at both ends which receive male M5 allen capped bolts as per the one in the picture. We are missing one, which must have vibrated loose over the years, and the thread at one end of the connector is also dysfunctional. I've located (after much trawling on Ebay) what looks like the bolts, described as "M5 Stainless Dome Head Bolts 12mm head". I presume the M5 is the width of the thread? although the description says Pitch - 0.8mm. I'm afraid the only pitch I know is the 22 yard one in cricket However not knowing what the connector thingy is called (I've tried spacer, shim, connector, shoulder bolt), my searches have proved fruitless and I'm stumped. I tried Halfords Friday, where they have the complete assembly (2 bolts + nameless bitsa) on their own brand 'Atlantea Oceana'. A very helpful young chap searched their database, but couldn't find the part listed for their model either - origin China no doubt! I attach a photo showing the connector with surviving allen headed bolt, and another of the bike. There are two bolts shown, the top one is correct and the bottom hexagonal headed nut location is where the unidentified connector lives. I've removed it, and used the nut and bolt to keep things in place, but we've not used the bike since removal. Any help/suggestions most helpful. I suppose from reading your replies, I'm looking as an end game for a small engineering shop, like those utilised by Fred Dibnah on his steam engine forays?

My wife has an E16 folding electric bike, which is two years old. Iv'e contacted Sunlova UK at Sutton Coldfield twice for help with spares in that time. On the first occassion after threats to contact Head Office in the land of the free, they eventually co-operated. This time after many emails I give up. In my case for the sake of a 40 x 10mm allen headed bolt type spacer, probably two quids worth, the £500 investment is now a write off. I have found that servicing/parts for electric bikes almost impossible to source and normal cycle shops seemed terrified of them - shame because she really enjoys the utility and ecological benefit.