Usual ebay fever has taken over me. I bid on the above bike - and although I did not win I have been offered the bike as a second chance. The vendor has 459 positive feedback comments and not a single negative. I know it does not meet my requirements stated in my previous thread but I think it might be a good "stick your toe in the water" bike which, with a bit of luck, I can re sell in a few months.

 

I have until tomorrow evening to accept. The price is sub £425 - about a third of new retail.

 

Summary below - any contributions/observations would be welcome!

 

Dahon Roo El Special Edition folding electric bicycle, complete with charger and spare battery

 

At a weight of under 17.5 kgs this is still the lightest electric bicycle ever built for general use.

 

It folds down to 33 x 66 x 80 cm (13" x 26" x 31.5"), light weight and folded size making it ideal for multi-modal commuting, but still comfortable for a fifty mile ride in the country.

 

This example is one of the few 2006 models imported to the UK with a:

7005 alloy frame, 16.8 volt electrics, brilliant front hub dynamo headlamp, and rear auto vibration/light sensitive battery lamp.

 

Now discontinued, it was designed in California and built in Taiwan,

 

(unlike many electric bicycles which are both designed and built in China, producing folders which are not ideal for the taller rider).

 

The Roo El will accommodate cyclist heights of 5 feet 4 to 6 feet 4 inches.

 

The 16.8 volt 8 amp NiMh battery cells will power the bicycle for at least 20 miles (assuming an inexperienced cyclist who never pedals the road speed up to and beyond the legal power cut-off of 15 mph), but will easily provide a range of up to 30 miles for the more experienced (or, with the power switch set to Economy, anybody who is happy with a longer more leisurely ride).

 

Using the spare battery which is included in this listing will double any of these distances.

 

This example was purchased new by me in the summer of 2006 and has seen only moderate leisure use as I do not commute: it is therefore in outstanding condition and full working order.

 

A detailed specification will be found at World Wheels - The No 1 internet source for Dahon Folding Bikes in UK and EU (errors and omissions excepted, of course).

 

Note the following changes which I have made:

 

the pedals are alloy non-folding, the grips are Ergon (which, unlike the originals, are locked on and do not twist on the bars),

 

and the tyres are Marathon Plus, the best puncture resistant tyres available, which provide a firm but flexible ride with low rolling resistance.

 

They add half a kilo to the weight but that is well worthwhile for the freedom from flats. Note the full tread as shown in the photos.

 

The power system is Sram Sparc, a unique well-tried pure (electronic) pedelec design, which contains

 

two 100 watt motors, five speed hub gear, and electronic controller inside the rear hub.

 

There are therefore only two cables, one to the battery on the rear rack for power, and one to the battery meter, Off, Econ, and Full switch on the handlebars.

 

The whole bicycle and power system complies 100% with the existing UK regulations,

 

and the forthcoming EU regulations for electrically assisted pedal cycles.

Hi pwylie,

 

That does seem to be about the price that they go for on ebay, allowing a bit more for the extras - the spare extra battery is definitely worth having if you are planning longer journeys (they cost around £125 new). I myself bought a 2005 version a few months ago, which I think is pretty much the same as this version except for the dynamo lighting and hub brake. (I will be selling this shortly - pm me if you are interested - no second battery though).

 

This is a good bike and one of the best electric folders around, but it is quite low powered which is ok if you are used to cycling. The Halfords Carrera Sparc uses the same motor and there is a review of that on this site here. (Incidentally there is brand new Carrera currently here on ebay with a Buy It Now price of £500, not too much more that this Dahon).

 

You will probably find that on the flat you are riding unpowered most of the time as you easily get above the legal 15mph powered limit. Without motor assitance it does feel just like a normal bike without any noticeable drag from the motor.

 

The range is very much affected by hills, rider weight/fitness and the amount of pedalling effort put in. I wouldn't agree with the statement that you can easily get up to a 30 mile range, unless you are using the even lower powered eco mode, weigh 10 stone or less and are riding unnassisted for much of the time without any hills. I think the 20 miles stated for an inexperienced cyclist never going above the 15mph cutoff is also stretching it a bit.

 

Hope that helps, let if you have any other questions.

 

Domeld

Edited May 5, 200817 yr by domeld

Hi pwylie,

 

 

 

 

 

 

The range is very much affected by hills, rider weight/fitness and the amount of pedalling effort put in. I wouldn't agree with the statement that you can easily get up to a 30 mile range, unless you are using the even lower powered eco mode, weigh 10 stone or less and are riding unnassisted for much of the time without any hills. I think the 20 miles stated for an inexperienced cyclist never going above the 15mph cutoff is also stretching it a bit.

 

Hope that helps, let if you have any other questions.

 

Domeld

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although i have no experience of this model i did immediatly think the range given was far too high, with my 36 volt battery i only get 21 miles unassisted, and i think anything less then a perfectly flat road is going to kill small batteries like that, even on my 24 volt folder it was perfectly ok on the level but any gradiernt or wind just slowed me to 10mph, in perfect conditions i just about got 20 miles but that was also with 24 volt battery which is a lot more then this, however for technical and corret advice just wait a short while and some of the knowledgeable bikers will give you experienced info..

Hi Domeld,

I could be interested in your Rooel. Had been thinking about bidding for the ebay one mentioned above but in the end decided not to. Is yours the 16.8v version? I'm not sure how to email you to discuss this. If either yourself or someone on the forum could let me know, I'll contact you directly.

 

Thanks

Hi Domeld,

I could be interested in your Rooel. Had been thinking about bidding for the ebay one mentioned above but in the end decided not to. Is yours the 16.8v version? I'm not sure how to email you to discuss this. If either yourself or someone on the forum could let me know, I'll contact you directly.

 

Thanks

 

You just click on the username and then you get different options for private message or email.

Thanks Erik

Hi Pwylie

 

I guess that you must have decided against as the bike appears to be back on eBay Dahon Roo El Special Edition folding electric bicycle. on eBay, also, Bikes, Cycling, Sporting Goods (end time 11-May-08 21:00:00 BST) - but this time without the spare battery!

 

What swung you against it?

 

John

Edited May 7, 200817 yr by John Fleet

I decided instead to go for what I really wanted.

 

I have ordered a Heinzmann system for my exisiting roadbike from Kinetics. The cost was hideous!

 

The Dahon would have been unlikey to cut down much on my commute which was key deciding factor for me.

 

I shall post a review on the system once it is fitted - hopefully in about three or four weeks time.