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Review of £360 Argos E-Plus bike

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A BBS01 could be worse because it gives very high torque in low gears. It's the excessive torque that caused the problem.

 

Nah, with firmware finangulation. Very smooth and controllable, my 20" wheeler is a joy to ride. Does everything but offroad, because it's a folding bike with small wheels and no suspension. But I'm a road warrior from Mad Max, so that's fine.

 

 

guerney-leather.thumb.jpg.fb4d59b9b48570c3d027d8d38c7f6e8a.jpg

Edited by guerney

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  • Author

By the way - did you spot that post where I recounted having a low speed fall on the new folder?

 

The road was being flooded by an open water main stand pipe - probably an inch deep in flowing water, I came into the flood from a side path by some allotments at very low speed, made a sharp turn as I entered the road, leaned the bike slightly and just as I did, the speed control whammed in and spun the wheel enough to make the back wheel step out. It was literally a three mile an hour event, but I ended up with the bike on its side and me fending off the road with my right hand. Absolutely no harm done except I looked like a proper dick, sprawled on top of the bike cursing.

 

This event is a big black mark against the speed control system. It comes on hard and is quite unlike my other bike.

The speed control is much more acceptable on the larger wheeled bikes because the torque is 30% less, so not nearly as jerky. Its always very noticeable on small-wheeled bikes. When I worked in the shop, many customers (mainly females) said that they were scared by the way the power surged in as soon as they pedalled on such bikes.

  • Author

Nah, with firmware finangulation. Very smooth and controllable, my 20" wheeler is a joy to ride.

Blissful ignorance, I envy you. Unfortunately, I took a bite from the forbidden fruit, so in my enlightened state I have much less choice.

A BBS01 could be worse because it gives very high torque in low gears. It's the excessive torque that caused the problem.

Yes but especially the instant - full on application. The BBS01 comes on slowly and is configurable.

 

I would never add a BBS01 to this machine. I doubt I will alter any of t. It is what it is, and I knew what it was when I bought it. I am happy with what I got, even though it is, as expected, not the perfect ebiking solution.

In another wet road situation on that folder, I will control when the power comes on with the brake lever. Slightly depressing the brake stops the motor from coming on while not preventing pedalling. What happened was a particular set of circumstances that ended with a low speed loss of control.
  • 2 weeks later...

I added a 50 mm riser bar, has made the bike much more comfortable. 31.8 clamp size,720 wide,50mm rise, £16.42 del

 

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/265972117331?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0&ssspo=o1IPshWtSkS&sssrc=4429486&ssuid=Dst78JQnToG&var=565829231730&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY

 

[ATTACH type=full" alt="59512]59512[/ATTACH]

 

Still loving this bike

I am happy that you are enjoying this absolute bargain.

 

I too am really pleased with my cheaper, and slightly less ideal Argos bike - the 20" e-move folder. I think the key takeaway for me is to remember how little these bargain basement bikes cost us.

 

I rode mine twice yesterday, one trip up into the wilds, and one trip to the shops to buy half a gallon of milk, and the ingredients for a curry. These easily went into a smallish backpack. On both trips, i was grinning at what a bargain it was.

 

Is it a top class electric bike? No, it isnt. It cost me £252 delivered. :)

  • Author

I added a 50 mm riser bar, has made the bike much more comfortable. 31.8 clamp size,720 wide,50mm rise, £16.42 del

 

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/265972117331?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0&ssspo=o1IPshWtSkS&sssrc=4429486&ssuid=Dst78JQnToG&var=565829231730&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY

 

[ATTACH type=full" alt="59512]59512[/ATTACH]

 

Still loving this bike

It's a surprisingly well-sorted bike - sort of too good for the ridiculously low price, but it's also as good, if not better than some bikes costing over £1000.

Worth pointing out with our usual crap British weather around the corner, there's some quite big cable holes in the underside of the downtube that are likely to get caked up with crud and fill with water

 

Do yourself a favour and try and seal as best you can. I used gaffer tape, hopefully it'll keep the worst of winter out

 

Near the headset

1000037808.thumb.jpg.f798c89d210bd67ecaf55002c3cc174a.jpg

 

Near the bottom bracket

 

1000037807.thumb.jpg.664d5e1bdc6a2f04e622a33fb6ad8a88.jpg

  • Author

Worth pointing out with our usual crap British weather around the corner, there's some quite big cable holes in the underside of the downtube that are likely to get caked up with crud and fill with water

 

Do yourself a favour and try and seal as best you can. I used gaffer tape, hopefully it'll keep the worst of winter out

 

Near the headset

[ATTACH=full]59538[/ATTACH]

 

Near the bottom bracket

 

[ATTACH=full]59539[/ATTACH]

It needs mudguards for winter riding. The £10 Zefal ones should do the job nicely:

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/381235023503?chn=ps&_ul=GB&_trkparms=ispr%3D1&amdata=enc%3A1t_hFEDv8QdOQWV6csw0z3Q22&norover=1&mkevt=1&mkrid=710-134428-41853-0&mkcid=2&mkscid=101&itemid=381235023503&targetid=2338077058722&device=c&mktype=pla&googleloc=9193754&poi=&campaignid=17206177401&mkgroupid=165034047246&rlsatarget=pla-2338077058722&abcId=9300866&merchantid=101727352&gad_source=1&gclid=CjwKCAjw8rW2BhAgEiwAoRO5rGmcISYvAkRIl85xtBTt5noBzYVvi46MjC98SBMYjKIv2P2PD90rfBoCWT8QAvD_BwE

 

If the water gets in through the upper hole, it'll drain out the lower one, but if it goes in the lower one, which it will, is there a way out for it? It needs a drainhole in the BB shell, otherwise the BB will drown unless it's blocked off internally.

  • 2 weeks later...

 

If the water gets in through the upper hole, it'll drain out the lower one, but if it goes in the lower one, which it will, is there a way out for it? It needs a drainhole in the BB shell, otherwise the BB will drown unless it's blocked off internally.

 

Yep, that's what I was worried about. I can't see any drainage holes around the BB area so in time left unsealed those big holes with wet dripping cables going into them from the top will result in the BB rusting out from within.

I might try and build up some silicone sealant layers around the holes, it won't be perfect as the cables will flex a bit in use, but it'll keep the worst out. That and mudguards should do it

Yep, that's what I was worried about. I can't see any drainage holes around the BB area so in time left unsealed those big holes with wet dripping cables going into them from the top will result in the BB rusting out from within.

I might try and build up some silicone sealant layers around the holes, it won't be perfect as the cables will flex a bit in use, but it'll keep the worst out. That and mudguards should do it

Would it be possible / sensible to drill a small drain hole in the bottom of the bottom bracket to allow water to get out?

 

I have an old Raleigh Superbe in green that used to develop a creaking bottom bracket. I didn't want to pull the cotters and get off the cranks and regrease the bearings, so I used to drop a couple of ccs of EP90 gear oil down the tube under the seat and this ran down to the bottom bracket and the creaking stopped. I found it necessary to do this about once every six months of riding. The thing relevant here is that the surplus oil used to drip out through the bearings over a day or two after the oiling, so I am wondering if water in the Argos bike BB would not just find its way out through the bearing.... I suppose it would depend on whether the BB bearings are fitted with an effective oil seal or not. The Raleigh had no such thing.

Would it be possible / sensible to drill a small drain hole in the bottom of the bottom bracket to allow water to get out?

 

I have an old Raleigh Superbe in green that used to develop a creaking bottom bracket. I didn't want to pull the cotters and get off the cranks and regrease the bearings, so I used to drop a couple of ccs of EP90 gear oil down the tube under the seat and this ran down to the bottom bracket and the creaking stopped. I found it necessary to do this about once every six months of riding. The thing relevant here is that the surplus oil used to drip out through the bearings over a day or two after the oiling, so I am wondering if water in the Argos bike BB would not just find its way out through the bearing.... I suppose it would depend on whether the BB bearings are fitted with an effective oil seal or not. The Raleigh had no such thing.

i WOULD as the not very proud owner of a bike with 2 x gapping holes atop its down tube for cable access and a drain hole ABOVE the bottom bracket that arrived with a VERY crusty pedal movement, it would delay the inevitable imho..

  • 6 months later...
what's the deal with this bike? is it a pre-release limited number type of offer? need to be super fast to get one? likely to offer again in 2025?

what's the deal with this bike? is it a pre-release limited number type of offer? need to be super fast to get one? likely to offer again in 2025?

No - not likely to offer again - available here

 

https://www.e-bikesdirect.co.uk/electric-bikes/hub-driven/e-plus-pulse-hybrid-electric-bike-27-5in-wheels-black-red

 

or ex display

 

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/204586566863

 

or used

 

https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/197082952019

extraordinarily kind of you to do that for me!

Let us know if you go for one of those options, it seems a very good bike by all accounts and the one that [mention=3847]saneagle[/mention] bought is being used daily as I understand

  • Author

extraordinarily kind of you to do that for me!

The Ebay one would be an excellent buy if you're not too far away.

extraordinarily kind of you to do that for me!

Because I viewed the ex display model on eBay,I got a follow up offer on eBay saving 15%, making the price £509, if you wanted to put in an offer

The Ebay one would be an excellent buy if you're not too far away.

what do you think about it for a lady of about 5ft 6"?

  • Author

what do you think about it for a lady of about 5ft 6"?

The seat would go low enough, but I'm not sure about the reach to the bars. Some women don't like the lean forward position. I would say that it's perfect for a guy of around 5' 9". Anybody 3" either side would be able to ride it, but they might not find it ideal. Some would and some wouldn't. Different people accept different things.

The seat would go low enough, but I'm not sure about the reach to the bars. Some women don't like the lean forward position. I would say that it's perfect for a guy of around 5' 9". Anybody 3" either side would be able to ride it, but they might not find it ideal. Some would and some wouldn't. Different people accept different things.

For sure that's fair enough - as you say no guarantee either way.

 

On a separate note, anyone got any thoughts on this:

https://www.punkride.com/products/hidoes-bn1-electric-bike?variant=45623770513557&currency=GBP&country=GB&gad_source=1&gclid=Cj0KCQjwqcO_BhDaARIsACz62vMAxrLV0Tx4KHjzhuEyoHmW1gpHDztkvjKDrj1tX5JDy4JAhiEpmYsaAuLeEALw_wcB

 

I have some reservations but thought I would ask some experts!

 

All of the following features are illegal in Great Britain:

 

Maximum assist speed 25 mph (40kph)

 

Rated Power 800 watts

 

e-Power only mode.

 

Fully operational throttle

 

So it's begging to be confiscated and crushed if used on the roads here, which would make its £649 expensive.

.

Edited by flecc

All of the following features are illegal in Great Britain:

 

Maximum assist speed 25 mph (40kph)

 

Rated Power 800 watts

 

Fully operational throttle

 

So it's begging to be confiscated and crushed if used on the roads here, which would make its £649 expensive.

.

Thanks for confirming my doubts!

  • Author

A great bike and great value, but totally illegal.

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