Which electric bike shall I buy?

[Lightning]

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So, this utter pile of junk has given me nothing but problems. About 3 or 4 times a ride, a random innocuous bump would sent into a fault mode , usually half way up a hill, where it lost all power and required turning off and on again, until the next bump.
After 5 attempts to fix it replacing the motor twice, the cadence sensor, the battery mount etc over a period several months, they are now replacing it with a whole new bike.

Brompton customer services are around 10/10 you deal with the same person until your issue is resolved.
Brompton approved repair centres are around 2/10, absolutely clueless and slow, I tried two different ones to make sure it wasn’t a fluke.

Fingers crossed for the new one. I wish I had got a non electric Brompton instead.

 

[SusiBus]

OH NO ! We've just ordered two new Bolt Blue Brompton Electric bikes ! They are British, built in London. In these post B------- times, they must be world betters, not a pile of utter junk.

 

[Amarillo]

So, this utter pile of junk has given me nothing but problems. About 3 or 4 times a ride, a random innocuous bump would sent into a fault mode , usually half way up a hill, where it lost all power and required turning off and on again, until the next bump.
After 5 attempts to fix it replacing the motor twice, the cadence sensor, the battery mount etc over a period several months, they are now replacing it with a whole new bike.

Brompton customer services are around 10/10 you deal with the same person until your issue is resolved.
Brompton approved repair centres are around 2/10, absolutely clueless and slow, I tried two different ones to make sure it wasn’t a fluke.

Fingers crossed for the new one. I wish I had got a non electric Brompton instead.

My n+1 is an electric Brompton.

 

[SusiBus]

My n+1 is an electric Brompton.

Sorry Amarillo, what is a n+1 ?

 

[soulstyledevon]

So, this utter pile of junk has given me nothing but problems. About 3 or 4 times a ride, a random innocuous bump would sent into a fault mode , usually half way up a hill, where it lost all power and required turning off and on again, until the next bump.
After 5 attempts to fix it replacing the motor twice, the cadence sensor, the battery mount etc over a period several months, they are now replacing it with a whole new bike.

Brompton customer services are around 10/10 you deal with the same person until your issue is resolved.
Brompton approved repair centres are around 2/10, absolutely clueless and slow, I tried two different ones to make sure it wasn’t a fluke.

Fingers crossed for the new one. I wish I had got a non electric Brompton instead.

So sorry Lightning.
Personally, I wouldn’t buy any eBike unless it was a Bosch mid-drive. We have 3 Bosch bikes in our house and zero faults so far.
Really impressed with all of them.

 

[dartmoordingoe]

I can certainly recommend Bosch mid drive engines. Had my Cube for 1 year. No problems. Then a massive problem and an engine failure. Replaced without question AND a further 2 year quarentee ....

 

[Amarillo]

Sorry Amarillo, what is a n+1 ?

It’s a sophisticated mathematical formula to calculate the number of bicycles a cyclist needs.

If n is the number of bicycles owned, n+1 is the number required. Thus n+1 is always the next bike to be added to the shed.

 

[Lightning]

OH NO ! We've just ordered two new Bolt Blue Brompton Electric bikes ! They are British, built in London. In these post B------- times, they must be world betters, not a pile of utter junk.

The replacement is a dream machine, all bump anxiety has dissipated, so far.

 

[GrannyJen]

I am just waiting for Specialised rider support to call me back.

3 bicycles, 3 problems, and the start of a 900 mile bike ride on Friday. All to do with the battery seating.

I would dearly love to buy cube but my local dealer laughs like a drain when you mention it. 2021 was completely sold out by august last year unless you are lucky enough to find a stock bicycle. I have a 604 kathmandhu provisionally on order for early next year.

 

[Denzilgts]

My n+1 is a standard Brompton , found it a brilliant bike .. even better than my orange mountain bike, my boardman pro hybrid ... equal terms with my ice qnt trike. (I know Not quite the same. )

did loads of test rides on a std m6l and an e Brompton .. I would of boughht the 3lectric bike to share with my wife ... she wanted to stick with her current e bike.
anyway iam quite happy with my m6l

 

[SusiBus]

That's what l want to read, positive Brompton postings while we wait for delivery. After all, everyone gets sent positive vibes while they're waiting for their Calis that are stuck somewhere the other side of the channel. By the way, great picture, where was it taken?

 

[Denzilgts]

Took the photo in carlisle .. the street is west walls, part of the historic quarter of the city. The tower to the left is actually a bridge to carlisle castle .

as for Bromptons ,I looked at buying one for years . Should I shouldn’t I .... so pleased I eventually opted for my m6l, I use it nearly every day for shopping as well as leisure. I added the large roll top bag . can get all of my shopping safely in the bag. So if opting for the Brompton electric definitely get the large bag as well . You will definitely use it.

 

[SusiBus]

Took the photo in carlisle .. the street is west walls, part of the historic quarter of the city. The tower to the left is actually a bridge to carlisle castle .

as for Bromptons ,I looked at buying one for years . Should I shouldn’t I .... so pleased I eventually opted for my m6l, I use it nearly every day for shopping as well as leisure. I added the large roll top bag . can get all of my shopping safely in the bag. So if opting for the Brompton electric definitely get the large bag as well . You will definitely use it.

Buying a Brompton appears to be a bit like buying a Cali. First reaction is how much ! I'm not paying that for a bike, especially as it's only got 16" Wheels. As you do your research you realise, owners love them because it's a package that works. Yes they are expensive like a Cali, but should we not like them, the residuals are pretty good like a Cali. There's also a long waiting list for some models.

 

[Denzilgts]

Buying a Brompton appears to be a bit like buying a Cali. First reaction is how much ! I'm not paying that for a bike, especially as it's only got 16" Wheels. As you do your research you realise, owners love them because it's a package that works. Yes they are expensive like a Cali, but should we not like them, the residuals are pretty good like a Cali. There's also a long waiting list for some models.

compared To my other bikes the Brompton a good deal. Around £1200 .. my trike today would be around £5000 compared to some of the race bikes around £10k ... it’s a bargain. I’m planning to use my Brompton to ride Edinburgh to Glasgow in July so will certainly get my monies worth

 

[Lightning]

Feels like a completely different bike, the last one must just have been a lemon.

 

[The Blue Merle]

That looks broken (sorry)

 

[The Blue Merle]

So I’m thinking of getting an emtb (not cheap so don’t want on back of van), I was toying with storing it in van.
My old hard tail will fit like this, can you see any problems doing the same with ebike

 

[cathylw]

My sister has one of these https://e-gobike.co.uk/ it’s very quick and easy to fold

 

[The Blue Merle]

My sister has one of these https://e-gobike.co.uk/ it’s very quick and easy to fold

Very clever stuff, but want a bike for the mountains and trails

 

[SusiBus]

compared To my other bikes the Brompton a good deal. Around £1200 .. my trike today would be around £5000 compared to some of the race bikes around £10k ... it’s a bargain. I’m planning to use my Brompton to ride Edinburgh to Glasgow in July so will certainly get my monies worth

For us it's ended up like the buying decision on what California to buy. Do we spend our pension pot on a Cali, or keep it for carehome fees in the future. There was enough in the pot to buy a 204 4Motion, so sod it, that's what we will have.
Now Bromtons don't come cheap. Luckily we have a friend and who works at Brompton's. So have been able to avail ourselves of his friends and family staff discount. Which is luckily, because everything is out of stock, except the top of the line, Electric Brompton's, at a list price of £2875 for a 2 speed Black, rising to £3215 for a 6 speed with a "Bolt Blue" crossbar, wow! Sod it, Bolt Blue it is. The pension pot has taken another massive hit.
Now just got to have a Robotic Arthroplasty, (knee replacement), so that I'm capable of riding it.

 

[davidgmo]

We are checking at GoCycle which have been designed as electric from the ground up by F1 engineer.

Fold as well. Starting £2,400 ish

Going to have a test drive next weekend - will report back

 

[SusiBus]

We are checking at GoCycle which have been designed as electric from the ground up by F1 engineer.

Fold as well. Starting £2,400 ish

Going to have a test drive next weekend - will report back

The GoCycle certainly look the business, making the Brompton look very old fashioned and basic. What with all those cables flapping about. Ongoing maintenance might be a problem with the GoCycle. I've test ridden the Brompton Electric and non, and they impressed me, yes potholes are a problem with 16" wheels.
The fact that you could travel with them on the bike rack, then take them off, fold them quickly into a small package when leaving the vehicle unattended seems like it would work.
I look forward to your report on your test ride on the GoCycle. Any chance of doing a Brompton ride, so we get a back-to-back test report?

 

[Skootyalan]

Mt wife has an electric Brompton and there are issues with front wheel drive on loose surfaces and the wet. She has fallen off twice. Any wobble on the handle bars can lead to sudden instability. on the flat in town its great

 

[soulstyledevon]

Mt wife has an electric Brompton and there are issues with front wheel drive on loose surfaces and the wet. She has fallen off twice. Any wobble on the handle bars can lead to sudden instability. on the flat in town its great

Im not surprised.
That’s why all high end e-bikes are mid drive. It’s central to the bike and the lowest point.
Hence, better balance, stability and control...

I hope the incidents haven’t put your wife off. Ebikes are fantastic to own and ride and a perfect companion with a California.

 

[SusiBus]

Mt wife has an electric Brompton and there are issues with front wheel drive on loose surfaces and the wet. She has fallen off twice. Any wobble on the handle bars can lead to sudden instability. on the flat in town its great

Alan, please thank your wife for doing the testing with regard to Brompton front wheel drive adhesion on loose and wet surfaces. I'm sorry that she fell during the testing, hopefully with no dire consequences. I shall be mindful of this when we get ours.