Electric Bikes are becoming one of the most popular ways to commute throughout Europe, and the UK is no different. Whilst electric scooters are still an unknown entity, as far as legality is concerned, the e-bike is now a regular sight on Britain’s rush-hour roads. The average commute in the United Kingdom is less than 9 miles, therefore, the electric bicycle offers a comfortable way to get to the office – weather permitting.
However, many British commuters need to involve a train journey as part of their daily jaunt to work, and the standard rigid-frame e-bike can be too cumbersome when getting on and off the train. So, we’ve decided to look at the two most popular folding electric bikes and see how they stack up head-to-head.
The Wisper 806 Folding Electric Bike
Wisper are a UK based e-bike brand that has been manufacturing electric bikes since 2005. Being one of the first e-bike brands to the UK market has given them nearly 20 years of experience in refining their range, and this shows in the build quality of the Wisper 806 Folding Electric Bike, hence it being regarded as one of the finest folding e-bikes available.
Pros:
Robustly built, and greatly reliable, the 806 also offers supreme comfort for regular users with its ergonomic handlebar grips and beautifully padded saddle. Wisper’s flagship folding e-bike also has several battery and motor options, meaning that you can tailor your bike to your own use. The top of the range package provides up to 70 miles assisted riding on a single charge, and offers a fantastically easy ride as the motor adds 4lbs of pressure to every 1lb applied through the crank. This makes riding the 806 an absolute pleasure on uphill sections as the power assistance means you will never notice whether you are on a steep gradient or a flat pathway. There are also many added benefits to owning a Wisper, as their customer service and after-sales support is hailed as being the best in market.
Cons:
There is only one drawback to using the Wisper 806 as a commuter bike, and that is the weight. The folding mechanisms and hinges are brilliantly engineered, and very simple to use, so reducing the bike to a fraction of its ridable size can be done in seconds. However, once folded down, the bike can be quite cumbersome to manage in comparison to some of the cheaper models on the market.
The Ecosmo 16” Wheel Folding e-Bike
A fraction of the size of the Wisper 806, Ecosmo’s 16″ folding e-bike is significantly lighter, and has the battery concealed in the frame. With an ‘up and under’ folding mechanism, the bike is able to fold down to the size of general hand luggage. Being so compact, the Ecosmo lacks the luxury and stability of the Wisper model, however, for the daily commute, this great little folding e-bike is a pleasure to ride. It’s responsive and sturdy, although not quite as comfortable, nor as powerful. That said, if your daily commute includes a journey by rail, then the Ecosmo is much lighter and folds down to a smaller size, meaning it can be stowed away in a luggage compartment with relative ease.
Pros:
The Ecosmo folding e-bike is a pleasure to ride, and feels remarkably sturdy for such a small frame and wheel size. Having the battery hidden inside the crossbar means that charging and, importantly, cleaning your bike is fuss-free. The charging times are similar to the 806, taking between 4-6 hours to reach full charge. The lightweight frame is diminutive when folded, and much easier to carry.
Cons:
The 250W brushless rear hub-motor, lacks the power of the Wisper, and you will need to apply yourself a little more on uphill sections. Also, the available range on a full charge is only 40km/25 miles, meaning that you will need to recharge it more often.
Summary
Overall there is no doubting the superiority of the Wisper 806 folding electric bike, as it offers significantly greater comfort and a more enjoyable ride. That said, it is probably a little too cumbersome to use for the daily commute, as it is much heavier than the Ecosmo. Ultimately, the choice should be determined by how you intend to use your bike. If you are just looking for a handy, lightweight folding e-bike to make light work of the daily commute, then the Ecosmo 16” wheel folding e-bike is perfectly adept to the task.
However, if you are looking for a reliable and comfortable way to tour the countryside, then the Wisper 806 is the perfect choice.