barnabear

http://www.urbanmover.com/images/range/um24/thumbnail.jpg Reviewer: Barnabear Purchased From: Portswood Cycles, Southampton Purchase Price: £729 + £130 Upgrade to Lithium Polymer Battery Time Owned: 8 months Terrain: Long steady hills, tedious but nothing very steep --------------------------------------------------------------- Strengths: Folding bicycle (including folding pedals) Very stable, pleasant to ride, with straight handlebars Stylish Generally engineered to a high standard Functional Luggage rack as standard is very useful Good battery technology Torque sensing chainwheel gives smoother power delivery --------------------------------------------------------------- Weaknesses: Very long delays in delivery due to new battery technology (~4 months) Difficulty with supplies of spares and accessories Poor customer support from Urban Mover, who refuse to own problems Repeated failures of rear spokes Occasional temporary loss of drive Gearing is too short, cannot fit bigger chainwheel or smaller sprocket Doesn't fold particularly small Front brake is very jerky Handlebar twist grip throttle no longer supplied as standard (but can be retrofitted) 3 second delay in power only mode is very annoying Twist grip is too stiff --------------------------------------------------------------- Summary This is generally a good electric folder that is let down by technical problems and poor support from the manufacturer. --------------------------------------------------------------- Overall rating (out of 10): 6 --------------------------------------------------------------- Detail Generally I have been happy with my UM24, but with some issues. I have the LiPol battery and I now do an 8 mile journey to work with about 660 ft of hill climbs (and corresponding 540 ft of descents) in about 38 minutes. This was a journey that used to take me about 55 minutes at best on an ordinary bike as I was not able to keep going on some of the hills. I also arrive in better condition. Given my weight and the hills, I find that the range with LiPol is only about 12 miles so I'm really glad that I upgraded to LiPol rather than the then standard NiMH battery. I keep a spare charger at work, so the battery recharges at my desk in about four and a half hours ready for my journey home. So the UM24 has allowed me to cycle to work on a regular basis whereas it was not a pratical alternative for me on a conventional bike. However there are other bikes around which would also have satisfied that requirement. The UM24 is a folder, which is comparatively rare for an electric bike and it's quite quick to fold up. However it doesn't fold particularly small - I think the wheelbase is quite long. The flip side of that is that the UM24 is very stable for a folding bike. In fact I compared it with one of the larger wheeled UM's and I preferred the ride of the folder. I didn't like the handlebar style of the larger UM's, the UM24 having a much straighter handlebar. The stability of the UM24 makes for a relaxed ride - I tried a conventional folding Dahon once and it was very hard work as it seemed pretty unstable. The gearing is stupidly short - my legs twiddling round and round without actually doing any useful work. So I tend to use the twist throttle on the flat and downhill, but pedal hard on the uphill sections. The front brake is pretty jerky - like the rim is not particularly smooth. I had a very long wait between ordering and receiving the UM24 due to the lack of availability of the LiPol battery. Customer support from Urban Mover is notoriously poor. I have an ongoing issue with spoke failures in the rear wheel - that's the main problem. I don't feel that UM have taken ownership of the problem. Provided you are well below the maximum load of 90 kg spoke failures may not be a problem for you. The UM24 standard equipment seemed to change. It now comes with the Torque Sensing cranks/chainwheel and the rear wheel lock as standard but without the handlebar throttle control. My dealer was somewhat horrified and basically told UM that he wouldn't be able to sell bikes without the throttle control (much of his clientel are elderly not able to pedal effectively). So they supplied the parts for him to retrofit which he did for free. So I got the best of both worlds. Check the standard equipment configuration before making a buying decision. Spares are generally hard to obtain, there was a problem with the spring loaded battery contacts on the bike. I took the bike in for repair and the dealer only managed to get replacement because a new bike arrived damaged so he cannabalised it. Similarly this was how he got me the spare charger the same way. It's an ill wind that blows nobody any good. The throttle control on the handlebar has a 3 second delay which many find annoying. This is true across the UM range. The throttle control is also quite stiff. There have been times when the motor has cut out (no assistance) for periods of say 10-20 seconds. It's a real weird, but using the twist throttle seems to reset the problem state. Don't understand it, but other people have experienced this across the UM range. Happens maybe on average once every 30-50 miles. The bike is really really useful for my 2 mile journey into the centre of town to go shopping. It takes me about 10 minutes, and parking is free and very easy. So a range of technical issues - it's a brilliant concept and generally well engineered but with some technical flaws. Not sure I would buy a UM24 again, mainly because of the issue with the spokes and the lack of effective customer support. It is useful that it folds as if I ride it to work and then it's raining when it's time to go home I can take the bus instead then drive in the following day and put it in the boot of the car. So a bit of a mixed bag. I love it when it works, but am frustrated by reliability issues particularly the spoke failures.

Many thanks for that, I've just emailed Central Wheel Components. Particularly interested in their SM Pro Performance spokes, if I can get the same size with a stronger material then hopefully rebuilding the wheel with those may solve the problem. According to Keith Chamberlain the wheel is not dished by design, and Urban Mover only supply one size replacement spoke for the back wheel. Hence I would only anticipate needing spokes all of the same size to rebuild the wheel. Even if I can just reduce the failure rate from one every few hundred miles to one every few thousand miles will be a sufficient fix. Many thanks everyone.

Hi homemoz, Generally I have been happy with my UM24, but with some issues. I have the LiPol battery and I now do an 8 mile journey to work with about 660 ft of hill climbs (and corresponding 540 ft of descents) in about 38 minutes. This was a journey that used to take me about 55 minutes at best on an ordinary bike as I was not able to keep going on some of the hills. I also arrive in better condition. Given my weight and the hills, I find that the range with LiPol is only about 12 miles so I'm really glad that I upgraded to LiPol rather than the then standard NiMH battery. I keep a spare charger at work, so the battery recharges at my desk in about four and a half hours ready for my journey home. So the UM24 has allowed me to cycle to work on a regular basis whereas it was not a pratical alternative for me on a conventional bike. However there are other bikes around which would also have satisfied that requirement. The UM24 is a folder, which is comparatively rare for an electric bike and it's quite quick to fold up. However it doesn't fold particularly small - I think the wheelbase is quite long. The flip side of that is that the UM24 is very stable for a folding bike. In fact I compared it with one of the larger wheeled UM's and I preferred the ride of the folder. I didn't like the handlebar style of the larger UM's, the UM24 having a much straighter handlebar. The stability of the UM24 makes for a relaxed ride - I tried a conventional folding Dahon once and it was very hard work as it seemed pretty unstable. The gearing is stupidly short - my legs twiddling round and round without actually doing any useful work. So I tend to use the twist throttle on the flat and downhill, but pedal hard on the uphill sections. The front brake is pretty jerky - like the rim is not particularly smooth. I had a very long wait between ordering and receiving the UM24 due to the lack of availability of the LiPol battery. Customer support from Urban Mover is notoriously poor. I have an ongoing issue with spoke failures in the rear wheel - that's the main problem. I don't feel that UM have taken ownership of the problem. Provided you are well below the maximum load of 90 kg spoke failures may not be a problem for you. The UM24 standard equipment seemed to change. It now comes with the Torque Sensing cranks/chainwheel and the rear wheel lock as standard but without the handlebar throttle control. My dealer was somewhat horrified and basically told UM that he wouldn't be able to sell bikes without the throttle control (much of his clientel are elderly not able to pedal effectively). So they supplied the parts for him to retrofit which he did for free. So I got the best of both worlds. Check the standard equipment configuration before making a buying decision. Spares are generally hard to obtain, there was a problem with the spring loaded battery contacts on the bike. I took the bike in for repair and the dealer only managed to get replacement because a new bike arrived damaged so he cannabalised it. Similarly this was how he got me the spare charger the same way. It's an ill wind that blows nobody any good. The throttle control on the handlebar has a 3 second delay which many find annoying. This is true across the UM range. The throttle control is also quite stiff. There have been times when the motor has cut out (no assistance) for periods of say 10-20 seconds. It's a real weird, but using the twist throttle seems to reset the problem state. Don't understand it, but other people have experienced this across the UM range. Happens maybe on average once every 30-50 miles. The bike is really really useful for my 2 mile journey into the centre of town to go shopping. It takes me about 10 minutes, and parking is free and very easy. So a range of technical issues - it's a brilliant concept and generally well engineered but with some technical flaws. Not sure I would buy a UM24 again, mainly because of the issue with the spokes and the lack of effective customer support. It is useful that it folds as if I ride it to work and then it's raining when it's time to go home I can take the bus instead then drive in the following day and put it in the boot of the car. So a bit of a mixed bag. I love it when it works, but am frustrated by reliability issues particularly the spoke failures. I may be looking for a replacement bike in April 2009 under the Cycle 2 Work scheme. Having proved the concept, I may be investing say £1,500 in a Kalkhoff or similar.

They are struggling to find a suitable technical fix to the issues of the spokes breaking. The spokes are the thickest gauge that they have come across, and they don't have a proposal for a stronger engineering solution. The wheel builder there has commented that he feels there is little flex in the spokes so he feels that they are probably brittle. The spokes are stainless steel. So it's a struggle to find a stronger spoke, but I guess the good news is that the hubs and rims will take a thick spoke. What material would be better than stainless steel, and where could I source such a replacement spoke? Thanks in advance ...

Portswood Cycles is my local bike shop, the one that I have bought from and been using to date. They are struggling with the issue. Any other suggestions please?

Homemoz, you still want ownership experiences of UM24?

Thanks for that, but I'm in Southampton so Bristol is a bit far away - I'm trying to keep my carbon footprint down (and save diesel now). Any other suggestions a bit nearer Southampton please? Thanks in advance ...

Haku, when you derestricted the UM did your throttle control still work progressively, or did you get the full beans at say half power? How controllable is all this and do you feel any concerns about e.g. battery or motor warming? Do you still keep your UM derestricted and what issues, if any, have you encountered?

Interesting, but I think that on the UM24 the frame is designed to accommodate the asymmetry due to the block etc. Keith Chamberlain, who after all designed the bike, seems to think so. Whether any weakening is acceptable will depend on the loading that the wheel experiences. Talking with some of my colleagues, they feel that stainless steel is not an ideal material for spokes. They feel that it is too brittle. Yes I'd like to get the wheel rebuild with higher quality spokes, so my next question is where could I get replacement spokes for the UM24 back wheel made of a stronger/less brittle material? According to my local bike shop, the existing spokes are already the thickest gauge that he has even seen. Thanks in advance ...

No, I don't think that back wheels should be dished - that would always make the wheel weaker than necessary. According to Keith Chamberlain of Urban Mover .... "It should be possible to ensure true the wheel normally by any experienced cycle technician who has qualified in the art of wheel truing. Therefore the wheel would be symmetrical and not dished." Why do you think that back wheels are always dished?

Broken spokes on UM 24 I've had a UM24 since mid September 2007, and have been plagued by broken spokes on the rear wheel. I took the bike back after about 150 miles with an electrical problem, and 3 spokes were found to have failed on the rear wheel. After about the same distance, another spoke failed after an emergency stop. I checked the spoke tensions and found that the tensions were generally very high and that the spoke tensions on the sprocket side were all higher than those on the other side - thus the wheel was dished. It seemed to me that there was very little room to accomodate the rim were the spoke tensions to be evened out - it seemed that the wheel would have to be dished to fit within the frame, brake furniture and mudguard. I returned the bike to the shop and pointed out the problems. The shop agreed to replace the spoke and retension the wheel. The shop replaced the broken spoke and another which "looked wrong". They reduced the tensions "within specification", but said that they had not been able to even out the tensions between the two sides. One of the spokes feels loose, and the wheel rattles when I brake. Even so, I have now travelled another 300 miles but have just had a further spoke break, so I have returned the bike again for repair. They are awaiting spokes to come in, hopefully today. All of the spoke failures have been on the sprocket side. The shop seemed to imply that they are seeing spoke failures on at least one other UM24 - they have used up at least one pack of 10 spokes (I account for only 5 of that number). The shop also pointed out that the spokes are very stiff - there is very little give, so they may be brittle. Presumably this is due to their material - stainless steel. I have put these problems to Keith Chamberlain of Urban Mover. He strenuously denies any possibility that the geometry of the frame/brake furniture/mudguard requires the wheel to be dished. However he has invited me to return the bike to him for inspection (at my own cost). Since I live about 120 miles away from Cheltenham, this would be very expensive for me, I would have to take a day off and this is hardly achieving the emissions savings that I was aiming at. Furthermore I have been repeatedly blamed for the failures - I must be abusing the bike. However I have just been using the bike for commuting to and from work, or shorter trips into the city centre. I have no motivation for abusing the bike. I have to say that although Keith comes across as a really nice guy, I am thoroughly fed up with the ownership issues with the UM24 so far. When it works it's great, but these repeated spoke failures combined with Urban Mover's head in the sand approach to customer support means that I cannot recommend them. Plus, the resale value of the UM24 will be very low due to this fault. Probably even lower when people Google this append. I may well have to invoke the Sale of Goods Act, but I'd really much prefer a technical solution to the problem.