Folding ebike recommendations

[MessyRaptor]

Does anyone have a folding e bike? And would you recommend it?

My commute has changed so I have a 25 minute walk to the station and then another 15 mins approx the other end.

I think a folding ebike would be a good solution.

I have looked at non electric folding bikes but think I'd get a lot more use out of an electric one.

I've looked at Volt metro and the Wisper. Does anyone have either of these? Have they worked out as a commuting bike?

I'm currently looking at both of these @MessyRaptor.

Did you get one? I have got a Brompton but am feeling like I want an electric one - I don't want to spend £3k on a Brompton and both of these seem like decent alternatives.

I have a folding ebike, but I never fold it as it's fairly heavy and a pain to do - it's a Raleigh stow-e-way. Having said that, I don't really have a reason to fold it - but if I was to change jobs and have a commute that wasn't fully cyclable then I would. Most ebikes are roughly 20kg-ish. 20 kg is also the weight that baggage in an airport starts getting labelled as heavy.

A non electric bike will be much, much lighter and probably better for a regular commute, to be honest - assuming it's not particularly hilly.

I've got non folding bikes. That isn't what I asked the OP about.

Weight is one reason why the Brompton e bikes are so expensive - from 15.6 kg.

And that's not what I wrote about either...

I was asking about the two bikes the OP had mentioned in her post as they are the two other than an electric Brompton that I have narrowed my list down to.

And I couldn't talk about them as I don't have one.. Instead I spoke about my experience with a folding electric bike of a similar weight.

I do apologise for taking up so much of your precious time in my clearly deluded attempt to be helpful.

I won't bother again.

I have a pedibal navigata, it weighs around 19kilos. Very easy to fold, comfortable to ride on. We have 2 as myself and husband have started to do more cycle paths, easily fit in the car. For the price £1000 I would say I good bike.

The distance you have to walk would be really quick to cycle on a standard bike. Folding E bikes are very heavy.
Are you adamant you want an e bike and not, say, a Brompton?

You can rent Brompton's from them, insurance included. Would you consider renting an electric one first to see if it's really what you want?

Recommend the electric Brompton. It's heavy but I only lift it up station steps. Electric means I arrive each end unsweaty and faster. It's expensive for a reason: beautifully made, safe battery, warrantee.

How do you find the range @sundaefunday ?

I’ve spoken to the place I bought my non electric Brompton from today and am now considering it. The lighter one at £3300. 5kg lighter is a huge difference isn’t it.

I’d convert mine but I’ve got the dynamo hub so the front wheel already has a job, apparently I’ll get more or less what I paid for it back used.

Once you’ve upped the spec onto the Wisper it’s £2300.

I won’t notice the difference between that and a Brompton on bike 2 work.

I can normally do 3 days of commuting (central London) before I charge.
Word of warning that a lot of traditional Brompton people (including the sellers) hate them, they think they're a pain if they malfunction and defeat the point of a bike. I ended up buying online as the shops were all sceptical. Never had any issues, it's transformed my journey.

Thank you. Did you, my dealer is great, one of their shops used to be Brompton only (York), the chap I spoke to earlier seemed to like them, well I didn’t get any vibes.

The shop is one of the reasons I’m prepared to consider it tbh. Great service. Wisper doesn’t have a dealer within a 60 mile cross Pennine drive which is a big negative. Volt have one closer but I think I’ve talked myself into an e Brompton.

I love my Brompton but I’ve not long since finished chemo and I’m not up to the bike part of my journey, I’m finding it frustrating.

I'm sorry you've had chemo, I hope you're doing ok. What a lovely treat and investment, to get to whizz through the city but without the exertion! Let me know how you get on

I have the Wisper. I wouldn’t want to carry it through a medium sized or large station/up and down stairs - it doesn’t stay folded brilliantly when being carried, and it’s unwieldy and fairly heavy.

a friend has a Brompton, and - if I commuted - I’d have chosen that instead of mine.

I have a Mirider, I commute to work on it, about 35 mins, it's fun! I would happily take it a train, DH is planning on trying this, however, where we live that wouldn't involve stairs or busy crowds. The food is easy.
DH researched extensively and we did a test ride!

If you live with a Brompton employee, you get 50% off all bikes, including e- bikes😀

Thank you everyone. I am OK thank you @sundaefunday .

Thanks for your feedback @ReignOfError, that is really helpful.

@Wbeezer I had looked at the Mirider which does look fun! The belt driven one looks absolutely amazing, but I prefer the more traditional styling of the Brompton. You also can't really beat the warranty period on a Brompton (7 year frame and 3 year electric). I'd definitely prefer a longer frame warranty than 2 years on a folding bike.

I also want a dealer close to home. Years ago when I did a lot of cycling I did two six week bike maintenance courses in the evenings. I'd happily do it all back then, including things like gear indexing/cabling and set up. These days I literally don't want to do anything beyond putting air in my tyres.

I'm definitely going for an electric Brompton, I've decided on a C line in black lacquer with a rack, I just haven't had time to do anything about it this week.

Love the colour!

How come I'm the only one that gets a hard time when talking about bikes other than the two you were specifically asking about? 😂😂

I hadn't realised anyone had replied!

I bought the Volt. I love it. I live up a massive hill and can manage it with ease. But it's far too big and heavy to commute. At the moment I cycle to the station, leave it and then collect on my way home. I also took it on holiday and used it loads - significantly reduced car journeys and was fun.

But I'm seriously considering the Brompton electric... And maybe a non folding electric bike.

@MessyRaptor so glad you saw this! Pleased you love it but sorry you find it too heavy. A colleague has a Volt bike and he feels exactly the same.

I’m definitely going for an e Brompton, haven’t ordered it yet because I want to do it in store and have a go on one and I haven’t had time.

As if the weight/size isn’t enough of a reason, I have actually sold my Brompton for £1,300. I paid £1,450 for it with a bag in 2018. I know the electric won’t hold value quite so well, but that is pretty amazing after five years.

@sundaefunday , did you put a rack on your Brompton? I’m trying to decide if I want the extra weight, but I think I’d like the option of a rack bag.

These look pretty easy/functional.

@Berninaa I have not. Part laziness and part not wanting to add more weight, as I already find it heavy enough. I have a giant rucksack and chuck everything in there, including my normal handbag.

Just coming back to update - I love it @sundaefunday . I didn’t go for the rack but I think I’m going to put one on it next week I at the 100 mile check as I’m finding a rucksack a bit limiting and I don’t like the front e bags on offer. Mind you everything says that it handles better with weight on the front. I just prefer the aesthetic of a rack/rack bag.

@Berninaa So delighted and thank you for sharing an update! Do let me know how you get on with a rack. How do you find lugging it around? My current bugbear is not knowing if places can accommodate it (if I have meetings elsewhere) as I won't leave it alone outdoors