Pic shows how handlebars scuff frame when folded down on Gale. Suggest a rubber buffer is glued on frame to avoid damage to paint.

Pic shows where forks scuff frame when Gale folded. Suggest another rubber buffer here to avoid damage.

Pic shows where forks scuff chain-stay when Gale folded. Suggest yet another rubber buffer to avoid damage

thank you for the suggestion.

I'll sort out some velcro straps for the future.

The Gale headset may wear prematurely, and you may be unable to keep them adjusted. So fit new ball bearings in cages, with plenty of grease and hope the bearing races have not worn thru the hardened layer, or you'll need a whole new headset. Not expensive, but a fiddly job or costs if a shop does it.

thank you for the suggestion.

I'll sort out some velcro straps for the future.

If you mean to Velcro ON some buffers, yes. If you mean Velcro the frame folded, no, that wont prevent the parts of the frame damaging each other. I mean rubber buffers in BETWEEN the frame parts. They could even have the Woosh logo on them and be used as part of the branding on your folding bikes.

many thanks, MB, for suggestions and pictures.

They help a lot.

 

I was thinking of this kind of velcro tape:

 

http://uk.farnell.com/productimages/standard/en_GB/1454580A-40.jpg

 

When you fold the bike, they may hold the two parts together and at the same time, stop scratching the paint.

Velcro fold strap & buffer. Mmm, Well I'm always for killing two birds with one stone, metaphorically speaking of course

Takes care of one contact point, but there are two more.

A Dahon Magnetix type of catch would be better, with the handlebars folding in between the frame halves, tho the latter would be a tight fit.

A compromise would be a spring catch holding a straight handlepost folding backward at 45deg to the right, with a forward leaning angle. That would avoid the awkward forward handlepost curve that makes the present stick out, and the grips would be tucked into the frame.

Apparently there is a new Gale on the way. I wonder if it is anything like Addmotor Motan and its ilk?

The move to 1 1/8 headset means a Dahon style handlepost with a neat hinge can be used instead of Zoom.

no, the new gale looks suspiciously like the old one, except for some small changes (brakes, suspension fork, chainwheel).

The Gales going out from today have ant-scruff protections:

 

http://wooshbikes.co.uk/2016/gale/gale-antiscruff-800.jpg

I also forgot to suggest a cure for the steel motor axle corroding itself into the alloy dropout on the left, non-drive side.

I think the steel stand in contact with the ground makes a galvanic corrosion connection with the axle & dropout. When i had a puncture i had to put the axle nut back on, hold a piece of wood under it and hammer the wood to free the wheel from the upside down bike!

Suggest a rubber foot for the stand as many other bike manufacturers provide. No contact, no corrosion, hopefully.

This example seems to have a foot on the stand, but it's difficult to tell coz the logo gets in the way.

I notice that the stand is attached to the chainstay, and not under the axle nut, this will also avoid dropout/axle corrosion.

Edited July 4, 20178 yr by MikelBikel

no, the new gale looks suspiciously like the old one, except for some small changes (brakes, suspension fork, chainwheel).

The Gales going out from today have ant-scruff protections:

 

http://wooshbikes.co.uk/2016/gale/gale-antiscruff-800.jpg

"Anti-Scruff protection"! Yes, very important these days.There's a lot of scruffs about

Do they ever change their quality control stickers?

Does "20" and "02" mean anything?

Did they make a drain hole in the controller housing, or at least seal the entries? Cheers

Did they make a drain hole in the controller housing, or at least seal the entries? Cheers

 

not at the factory.

We put in a small cabletie to let the water out and seal the cable inlet in Southend.

I suppose we can drill a 3mm hole to let the water out.

Maybe it's just me but I think Velcro on the frame is a bit ridiculous. I'd want something more professional. For what it's worth, I think unpainted bike parts (whether chrome or aluminium) look really nice. You'd not have paint damage then. Perhaps you'd still get a blemish of some sort, but it might be a lot less ugly.

Re the new Gales black chainguard, suggest it be at least a half guard. Have ruined too many light coloured summer trousers with chain oil and muck.

The chain will also last a lot longer if protected from front wheel spray and grit!

Here is a picture of a real bike with a real chainguard, hehe. If only I was man enough to ride it further than 4mi :-/.

Edited July 10, 20178 yr by MikelBikel

Is it spot the difference?

"Anti-Scruff protection"! Yes, very important these days.There's a lot of scruffs about

 

Mike,

 

this is the other anti-scruff protection:

 

http://wooshbikes.co.uk/2016/gale/gale-antiscruff2-800.jpg

Haha, err no. It's either I had two pints, was seeing double, or accidentally posted twice. Cheers. :-)

Also if the Gales rear mudguard wasn't cut short but came down to the bottom of the controller housing it would keep water away from it and keep the bike cleaner. 'Two birds..' again

Edited July 10, 20178 yr by MikelBikel

Rain still getting in even tho ive plugged both cable entries! A rear mudguard like this would stop rain being directed over the frame to the bottom of the battery pad and into the controller housing.

Rain still getting in even tho ive plugged both cable entries! A rear mudguard like this would stop rain being directed over the frame to the bottom of the battery pad and into the controller housing.

the controller is well sealed, so it can resist a little amount of water but not for long, the water needs to be drained.

If you don't want to keep the cabletie on the lid of the controller box, you need to drill a 5mm hole at the lowest part of the controller box to channel the water out.