Need a new E-Bike Low step Foldable/ Non foldable

[JessWess]

Hi everyone,

I’m looking for a good-quality e-bike with a budget of up to £2,000. Ideally, I’d like a lightweight, foldable, step-through model that I can easily carry and store.

That said, I’m also open to non-folding options. I recently saw the Trek District+ and absolutely loved it, but I’m concerned about theft given the value of the bike.

My main use case will be a short commute between home and the train station, and back again. I’ve heard that bike theft can be quite common where I live (Milton Keynes), which is making me wonder whether a foldable bike would be a safer choice since I could take it with me more easily.

I’d really appreciate any recommendations for reliable e-bikes, as well as your thoughts on whether I should go for a foldable model or something like the Trek District+.

Thanks in advance!

[richardfm]

Wisper are a long established UK brand with a good reputation.
https://wisperbikes.com/product-categor ... ng-ebikes/

[stodd]

For a short commute quite a basic ebike gives a perfectly good ride and should be reliable, and also easy to fix. Might well not meet the 'lightweight' requirement. That's not as important for riding an ebike as a regular one, but can be very important if you need to lug it regularly. A cheap one may be less vulnerable to theft.

Wisper are a long established UK brand with a good reputation.
https://wisperbikes.com/product-categor ... ng-ebikes/

They have earned an excellent reputation. They have recently been taken over and there seem to be some issues. In particular with the new owners accepting warranty claims.

This is second hand information: Check the Pedelecs site: https://www.pedelecs.co.uk/ for recent threads covering Wisper.

[Galactic]

Seeing as I'm a little paranoid about leaving my bike at the station I have an old banger that is used only for that. I don't know what the situation at MK is like, perhaps you have semi-secure lock-ups or something there?

Given my station-related paranoia, in your position (if having electric support is non-negotiable) I'd be doing one of two things:

• Have a look on Craigslist and the like for a second hand electric bike. A quick look locally shows me 7 or 800 will get me something that I'd be happy to cycle around on day trips. Usual caveats about checking it's not been stolen etc
• Alternatively, buy a reasonably decent second hand bike for a couple of hundred, then put on your own electric conversion kit. https://www.yosepower.co.uk are cheap, safe and reliable, and something like this one is very easy to fit and has a nice small battery that you can take with you: https://www.yosepower.co.uk/collections ... odel-a3pro

Obviously both these options assume you are confident enough to check over a second hand bike and fit an electric conversion kit or know someone who will do it. I appreciate this isn't everyone, but if this is you then you can get a decent bike for much less than a grand.

[Anthony-C]

https://wooshbikes.co.uk/?rambletta
https://wooshbikes.co.uk/?secondhand

I'd suggest keeping to your plan A of getting a folding e-bike:
- TfL's sensible ban on non-folding ebikes may be copied elsewhere
- Stations are often theft hot-spots
- A first electric bike often gets far more varied use than expected

Woosh mostly use Samsung cells, in their folding bike too, and it's fair to say that the battery has the most influence on the quality of an ebike.

[dragonrider]

For what it’s worth I have now owned 4 folding e-bikes over a 6 year timescale . I use them mainly for popping in the car when my athletic wife is doing races so I follow around in support plus I often use them for a 20 mile coffee ride with friends.
The first 3 had failings -
Carrera CrosssCity, well made and thought out but let down by cheap and nasty power control. Far too sudden starting surge.
Furo X, carbon frame great idea, shame about the build quality, no wonder they went bust.
Eovolt (now UTO) Afternoon, much too heavy for a commuter folding bike because of very large battery giving a massive range.
My current one is an Estarli 20.7. Very reasonable priced, lightweight, 30 mile range and well made. My only reservation is the tiny controller screen and with my eyes makes it difficult to see. Otherwise excellent.
Hope this helps.

[UpWrong]

The Tern NDB is a quality low step eBike which has folding bars and seatpost, and can also be stored vertically. I have one. Feel free to ask Qs, https://www.ternbicycles.com/en/bikes/471/nbd

You might find a used one for £2K.