Robert C

It seems, to me, like a good idea. That is, of course, requisite, on it being a good quality frame. The fact that they are using a Bosch drive says that they are not using any of their existing frames.

Not having an e-bike, as mentioned, limits their Chinese market. While my daughter has a conventional Dahon, where she lived in China, as was mentioned, e-bikes are the norm.

As an aside, this is the folding bike sub-forum. While this Tern is clearly on topic, generalized e-bike rants are not. At least try to include some "on-topic" material in your posts.

bhkyte

I was quite enjoying the squabble!
It may raise the boardness of apeal and image of electric bikes. Thats on topic. Yeah lets see the bike. Remember it a Tern and I want them to go bankrupt....

tcs

On the face of it, a folding e-bike seems like the ultimate urban vehicle. Extend your commute range, tote groceries home in street clothes, laugh at those hills, arrive (relatively) fresh instead of sweaty, carry it on the bus or train, fold it into a taxi's trunk, latch it into the bus' rack, take it inside so it won't get stolen.

The glitch as I see it is...weight. Folders tend to get picked up more than regular bikes. Batteries are heavy. Electric motors are heavy. Folding bike are already heavier than similar non-folders. Then the bike has to be built sturdier than typical because of the extra power. It adds up.

Dahon's Ciao Ei7 would seem to be on the right track with its no-lift fold, but surely a folding e-bike would find a really excellent 'rolls while folded' system advantageous. And maybe the taxi driver could schlep it into the luggage compartment. Hmm.

mconlonx

This. Portability is supposed to be a hallmark of folding bikes. But where you have some regarding the fine line of "true portability" somewhere in the 20-30lb range, as evinced in the New Bike Friday Model thread, emotor and battery would truly challenge portability. On a regular bike, such systems typically add something like 20lbs, give or take.

I did work on one woman's folding ebike... which she toted around on a dedicated tray carrier hitch rack mount out back of her car, and admitted to never actually folding it...

Robert C

I notice that in China too. There are a lot of folding bikes; but they are almost never folded. In fact, other than my bike, and in shipping to the bike shop, I don't recall ever seeing a folded bike.

2_i 

While this is generally true, people do take their more valued 2-wheelers into their offices. One that folds can take less space. One case when I saw a folder being folded was in a line to the check-in counter at a domestic airport. I subsequently saw the particular passenger placing the bike in the overhead bin on the plane. I don't think the airline personnel even blinked.

linberl

My first bike, after 40 years of not riding, was a folding e-bike. It was a 26" wheel, however. I did fold it to store it in the house, near a plug. Never folded it anywhere else. Eventually, I will put a motor on my BF as my knees finally tell me to F off or else. But weight is a big factor, which is why I may put up with the high pitched noise of a friction drive...you can get them complete at around 5 pounds, powerful enough for commuting and errands. Shareroller is particularly attractive as a solution. So the folding bike is still valuable as a folder... Most folding e bikes are 40+ pounds, yikes.

cocoabeachcrab 

I'd like to resurrect this thread and ask if anyone has any real experience with electric folders. i'm considering a fat bike folder. i'll be moving back to myrtle beach soon and do beach weddings. it would fit my needs to have a smallish bike that would fit in my apartment (i'll probably never actually fold it), and be easy to commute to my local beach spots without arriving all sweaty, and it would be parkable in sometimes crowded beach parking lots. i'm looking at some on youtube, like this one..

I considered a moped as well, but the HOA rules prohibit motorcycles, so this would be a great solution.. I can roll it in my apartment easily and park it inside and out of the weather.

cocoabeachcrab 

and this one.. Rad Power Bikes | Electric Fat Bikes and Electric Cargo Bikes ,

cocoabeachcrab 

well, interesting couple of days doing research! from radical cool machines from these guys.. Official Big VinTage Bicycle ® | HUGE Fat Tire Beach Cruiser Bikes to something more scooter like.. . I keep coming back to the rad mini, so that looks like #1 right now.

Rick Imby

I understand the folding thing---I really like folders and I understand the electric thing. I have access to electric bikes any time, my son rents them. I will use an electric for a lady friend in a heartbeat to get her out and riding with me. Then she can make me really sweat.

The electric option kinda makes the folder a lot heavier and bulkier which kinda cancels the fold but a little boost from the Bosch is awesome for a lot of riders in hilly areas especially.

cocoabeachcrab 

not happy about the weight either, but I have 3 other bikes for that! I would have opted for a scooter or moped, but my apartment complex rules don't allow that.

ThorUSA

weight is a big deal. I know I have a tern with Bionix. I think mine is a little more heavy even. I am loving it, especially riding with the lady. If she tires she can bump up the assist, if I tire I can do the same. Big hills which were avoided in the past are now on our route. She takes hers to go to work at times, which would be impossible on a non assisted bike ( no showers or anywhere to change clothes )
I love the red button on the Bionix ( which makes the bike go with pedaling ) The Bosch does not have a throttle. But than the Bosch has other features, like the walk along assist ... it powers the bike while you walk next to it ( like up a steep ramp ) etc etc
I also like the low and centered weight of the Bosch better than the heavy rear wheel ...
Not to mention that changing a flat on the Bosch is the same as on a regular bike. With a Bionix this is a chore ...


thor

cocoabeachcrab 

the prices for ebikes seems a bit much though. 3 grand would get me an awesome genuine buddy 170i, but I know the way it works... whatever the market will bear when it comes to price. i'm going with the rad mini. the grocery store is just down the road, and the beach is a block away, and i'll be living in a beach community where everything is close by. i'll cut my vehicle gas bill down by 3/4s.

fietsbob

Bosch system is a mid drive motor requiring the frame be non standard..

Wheel hub motors Dont.. the Article mentioned Bosch Drive.

downtube

FYI Bosh is a horrible company to deal with. I tried to get set up with them and they took 6 months to refuse. They had only one rep in the USA and he never called me....he wasn't busy. I found them to be very troubling.

Thanks
Yan

ThorUSA

because Downtube doesn't do Bosch its an awful company ?
Its Christmas time Yan, try to be happy.

One of the Bosch Service Center is actually in Olney, 3 miles away ! Bosch has clinics where they certified hundreds and hundreds of Dealers. They have a strong leadership team here in the USA and they are poised to have a similar success like in Europe.
Bosch has the means to do this right.


There is no better system than the Bosch system, period. The only thing I don't like is the price they are asking for their systems.


Thor

tds101 

These bikes need to be realistically priced, or ebikes will never take hold in North America. The average seems to be, for a decent quality ebike, around $2,500 just to start. That's not even considered a solidly spec'd ebike either.

ThorUSA

yes and no
in europe they started with good quality and expensive bikes and they selling them.... after that all that junk arrived and people knew the dfference
over here cheap bikes with lousy batteries flood te market and only very few peeps can tell the difference

downtube

There is proper behavior and improper. They were well over the bounds of improper...I was shocked.

Please try to call their rep in the USA and see how long it takes to get a call back. I would expect it would be never.

Thanks
Yan

sslonkosky

I saw a mention of an electric scooter on the (Southern California) Metrolink web site, URB-E Electric Scooter | Metrolink

I'm not going to buy one, but I might stop by their shop some time and have a look.

I think the small wheels might be problematic on the bumpy roads in the San Gabriel Valley that I frequent. On of the reviewers said he didn't think it suitable to ride on wet roads, which my Downtube 8H has no problem with.