I'm in the happy position of being offered birthday and Christmas money towards an ebike, so now I have to get on with it. I have lurked on these forums and I think I want a folder, as light as possible (I have to get it in and out on my own), as low-step as possible (that birthday reminded me I am getting older) that will help me up the local hill. (This is Norfolk. It's supposed to be flat. We just happen to live at the top of the only hill for miles.)

 

Now I (just?) have to narrow the field enough to take the advice to test ride. It was much easier sitting and daydreaming.

 

Chris

I'm in the happy position of being offered birthday and Christmas money towards an ebike, so now I have to get on with it. I have lurked on these forums and I think I want a folder, as light as possible (I have to get it in and out on my own), as low-step as possible (that birthday reminded me I am getting older) that will help me up the local hill. (This is Norfolk. It's supposed to be flat. We just happen to live at the top of the only hill for miles.)

 

Now I (just?) have to narrow the field enough to take the advice to test ride. It was much easier sitting and daydreaming.

 

Chris

 

Hi Chris & welcome to the forum☺

Best advice I can give, other than continuing to do more research on the interweb,is to find a/ some dealer/s within traveling distance & go & try a few out.

Regards, Mark

Thanks for the welcome, Mike. There are a couple of places within reasonable distance I hope to make contact with to ask about test rides - definitely needed; this is a completely new venture.

Thanks for the welcome, Mike. There are a couple of places within reasonable distance I hope to make contact with to ask about test rides - definitely needed; this is a completely new venture.

 

It's Mark,lol

Aaagh, apologies. Let's hope I'm safer on a bike than I am typing.

Aaagh, apologies. Let's hope I'm safer on a bike than I am typing.

 

No worries Chris. Good luck with your search

I'm in the happy position of being offered birthday and Christmas money towards an ebike, so now I have to get on with it. I have lurked on these forums and I think I want a folder, as light as possible (I have to get it in and out on my own), as low-step as possible (that birthday reminded me I am getting older) that will help me up the local hill. (This is Norfolk. It's supposed to be flat. We just happen to live at the top of the only hill for miles.)

 

 

 

 

Now I (just?) have to narrow the field enough to take the advice to test ride. It was much easier sitting and daydreaming.

 

Chris

 

 

 

Hi

My limited experience is that unless you have pressing reasons to get a folder that an ordinary model is better. My first ebike is \was a folder and in all the years I have had it it has been folded I think ona maximum of 4 occasions over some 8 years. I thought that having the flexibility of folding it would increase the number of times I would just stick it in the boot and bring it out country. ... But a car bike rack is as least as convenient.

All bikes are a compromise of course but there are additional compromises in a folder. The hinge, the folding pedals, the longer handlebar and seat shafts, are more expensive than their fixed frame counterparts and the bike will either be more expensive or economies will be made elsewhere.

There is also another consideration. .. in the case of my UrbanMover the position of the crank relative to the saddle was shorter than on an ordinary bike resulting in less muscle power . This was a result of where the hinge was placed. It may not be a problem for you but only test rides will prove this.

I bought my first e bike from Halfords in August. It is a standard frame. All the advice and research I could get when looking for an E bike was to avoid folding bikes unless it is an absolute necessity. The constant folding unfolding can apparently put a stretch on the cables and possibly cause wear elsewhere.

Thank you Danidl for the thought about the relative position of the crank. That's definitely something I'll bear in mind as I test. I do have a bike rack (fits over the hatchback) but I think weight is an issue - both for getting the bike on to the rack and just getting it in and out of the the place it will be kept (a narrow space where it has to be got over a door cill). And I should have said that the budget is not unlimited! £1500 is the absolute maximum.

Thank you, too, for the info about the cables, Old grumpy.

Worth having a look at the Wisper 806.

 

A bit more quality than a standard 'no name' Chinese folder, but still relatively cheap at just over £1k for the smaller battery version.

 

Leaving aside brand, 20" wheels - with balloon tyres - is as small as I would go unless you only ever want to do a few miles at a time.

 

The 20" wheels lack the comfort of full-size ones, but they are pretty good.

 

I have a Bosch bike in that configuration have done a 90 mile ride on it.

 

A Bosch bike like mine is £2k, but there's this Winora which is a semi-folder with the Yamaha motor - just as good as a Bosch.

 

Probably no such thing as a bargain, but £1,500 is reasonable.

 

http://www.50cycles.com/electric-bikes/winora-bikes/radius_plain.html

 

https://amps.bike/product/wisper-806se/

Thanks RobF. Helpful to have my thoughts on 20" wheels confirmed. I need to revisit my research, find some places to do test rides and move into the 'Which electric bike should I buy' section. Might have to wait for January, now.

The comment about folding the bike is valid but I find I rarely fold my bike,but collapsing the handlebars and seat post makes carrying easier.

The Kudos Secret is now on Mk4,we have gradually improved the bike with a bigger chainring,improved lighting and larger battery with no increase in weight.

The Secret must be one of the best selling e-bike folders in the UK,light at 18kg,good hill climbing,good value at £765.00

KudosDave

Thanks, KudosDave, I'm making notes on sizes and weights and come January I'll put a list together for test riding and for help in the "which bike" section.