Originally Posted by
AndrewP
I am thinking of buying a folder to use for a mixed subway commute during the winter. I consider 29 lb folders a bit heavy for carrying up and down the stairs on the Montreal Metro system, so 49 lb would be totally out of the question. Folders are primarily for short rides toéfrom the bus or train, so I think electric assist is pointles. Electric assist is great for non-athletic riders who want to keep up with fitter partners on longer rides.
I added electric assist to my mountain bike this summer and love it. I retired to the northern US Rockies and found I wasn't riding my bike much because pedaling up the hills was killing my knees. I now ride daily. I'll admit, with SLA batteries, conversion kits add quite a bit of weight to a bike. For a folder, I think it would be critical to spend the money for LIFEPO4 batteries, which are considerably lighter and punch more power in a small configuration (they also can be recharged many more times than SLAs before they loose their capacity). A hub motor will will add weight, but with a LIFEPO4 battery that you can remove and place in a back pack, the weight of a folder shouldn't be increased too much if the original weight of the bike was low.