Electric Folding Bikes - Any good for my commute..?

Robert B 2

Hello.

Right, I will shortly be commuting 7.5 miles each way to and from Leeds city centre for my commute, and there are one or two big steep hills, and also a really relentless hill at one point. My plan is to cycle by road, but I also have the option of the canal, which is flat but very nobbly.

I want to spent around £500 on a bike, but am willing to pay up to £1000 for something that suits me well and lasts.

I was thinking I would like a small folding bike so that I can sometimes get a lift half way with the missus, plus they are easy to take into the office and store in the house. But I am not sure if these are cut out for doing the full 15 miles a day with hills. I notice Dahon do some good ones. Are small folding bikes cut out for my type of commute, or only for wizzing around city centres?

I am also interested in electric small folding bikes like the Dahon EL Roo; are the electric brushless motors actually any good? Are these things just heavy and clumsy?

Any advice would be very much appreciated.

Thanks

roger_merriman

well a electric bike will be heavy (motor and battery) so yes likely to be a pain folding,

last time i looked you don't seem to get a lot of bike for your money with electric plus batteries need replacing every few years or so.

they (electric) bikes are very like the orginal mopeds in that they are dual power, and fairly feeble at that which means they tend to be fairly limited.

which is why they are uncommon.

this all said if your happy with what the electric bike is, a folding one may well be a good idea.

but be sure it is what you think it is.

Robert B 2

Thanks Roger,

I do like to put a bit of pedal power in when I'm cycling so I think a battery powered one might end up frustrating me with its heaviness and clumsiness.

However, I am still keen on a small folder. Are these cut out for a 7.5 mile ride with lots of hills? - In terms of comfort and performance.

Cheers

Aidy

I'm not convinced that folders are the best solution if the only reason you want one is to get it in the car occasionally. Really I'd only use one for busy train journeys.

I'd've thought most cars would be able to take a bike with the front wheel off without too many problems, and for an occasional trip, this would be better.

Robert B 2

Well, I want something that is easy to store inside the house, and which I can carry into the office and leave under my desk so I always know it is ok. A folder would give me more versaility.

The one I am now most interested in is this, and I don't see that it is a disadvantage to a bigger bike. Good range of gears, good equipment, firm frame, plus the flexibility of a folder.

http://www.dahon.com/intl/speedtr.htm

Aidy

Storing them in the office is fair enough.

I'd still be looking at the bigger folders, though, I reckon they might ride better.
The range of accessories and gears isn't really a question - it's hard to make something which folds to a compact package and retains good handling and performance.
If you can, I'd have a try of a few before making your mind up.

RockyHopperShow

I own a 20" wheeled, Dahon-designed Trek and it is lovely. It certainly copes well with hils and the handling isn't all that different from say, a comfort bike. A proper road bike would blitz it obviously. But I wouldn't want one if storing it under a desk was my priority - they don't fold down that well (I doubt even the 16" wheel variants do) with one exception.......a Brompton. If you can think of it as a purchase for life, this wonderful little bike will pay for itself many times over.

snailracer

RE electric bikes that are also easy to pedal, look for one that has a freewheeling motor so it doesn't "drag" if you run out of batteries or are going downhill. Gears would also be essential in on a hilly route.

RE hills, most folders are naturally low-geared due to their small wheels, so climb fairly well (though the Brompton has oddly high gears, I have heard). In terms of total journey time, being able to climb hills faster usually more than offsets the limited top speed on the flats/downhill.

RE handling/comfort, only a test ride will tell you for certain if these meet your expectations. I have 2 almost identical-looking folders, their handling/comfort characteristics are totally different.

RE electric folders in the car boot or under a desk, they are likely to be extremely heavy and therefore difficult to lift/manhandle.

il_principe

7.5 miles is not far, you won't need a lift. It might sound far to the uniniated but it really really isn't. As for electric, if you are a grannie in your 80's then go for it, otherwise Mtfu and get a proper bike, preferabley a lightish roadbike, that'll make going uphills much easier than anything else.

ride_whenever

I'd say get a brompton. They fold really well and you can get them with a 6 speed rear hub and gear down the chainring on the front so it is a bit climbing biased.

Make sure you try them first as the different bars (S, M and P type) are pretty different and really effect how it feels.

moonio

I ride a non folding electric bike from Bromley to Grays Inn Rd every day.
I didn't think I could do the journey every day on a normal bike when I started cycle commuting a year ago but my fitness levels have increased to a degree where I'll soon be buying a road bike of some sort.

Electric bikes are heavy, slow, the motor can drag the wheels, the batterys are costly and need replacing every couple of years.

They are also great fun! Perfect for getting around town and shopping without a car, my bike is my ownly means of transport and I would be lost without it.