Folding e-bike for small airplane

[Art Deco]

Doesn't apply to small planes, only commercial flights.

If you choose to risk it on a small plane where you know about it, that's OK. If it's commercial, where you endanger the clueless dozens or hundreds of others, it's not OK. At all.

 

[Biplaneguy]

If you choose to risk it on a small plane where you know about it, that's OK. If it's commercial, where you endanger the clueless dozens or hundreds of others, it's not OK. At all.

Exactly.

 

[bikeOnPlane]

Thanks for the thoughts everyone. I've ordered a couple of different models and will see how they turn out.

 

[sc00ter]

bikeOnPlane, please keep us posted on what you tried and finally settled on.

 

[stompandgo]

Velotric Fold2
Urtopia Fold

 

[bikeOnPlane]

bikeOnPlane, please keep us posted on what you tried and finally settled on.

Will do. I bought the Lectric XP4 (70lbs). This is *not* the bike for a plane for one person, but it'll hold a 2nd person at 150 lbs, so if you aspire to carry two people, it might be one you carry.
Everyone's going to have different weight tolerances, but at 70lbs, and only a velcro strap compressing the tires together at a not-healthy looking angle, I was able to get the bike aboard, but it was above my threshold for something I'd like to do, without damaging me or the plane.
I handled a Gocycle 4, and there's a huge difference between it (38.5 lbs, I personally measured on a scale) and the 70 lb range.
@stompandgo I tried the urtopia Fold, and it was an outstanding bike. Really really solid and "tight" (test rode 2 miles), and the gears shifted properly (much better than my electric XP4). the pickup / torque was "fine." I passed on buying because I've convinced myself I need a throttle. @stompandgo do you have one?
Just fyi, I also test rode a Velotric Fold 1. It beats the Lectric XP4 in every way (particularly the control button ergonomics), but daughter liked the color of the XP4. It's roughly the same weight, maybe slightly lighter.
Will let yall know about my next tests. (targetting sub 45lbs)

 

[Jeremy McCreary]

Will do. I bought the Lectric XP4 (70lbs). This is *not* the bike for a plane for one person, but it'll hold a 2nd person at 150 lbs, so if you aspire to carry two people, it might be one you carry.
Everyone's going to have different weight tolerances, but at 70lbs, and only a velcro strap compressing the tires together at a not-healthy looking angle, I was able to get the bike aboard, but it was above my threshold for something I'd like to do, without damaging me or the plane.
I handled a Gocycle 4, and there's a huge difference between it (38.5 lbs, I personally measured on a scale) and the 70 lb range.
@stompandgo I tried the urtopia Fold, and it was an outstanding bike. Really really solid and "tight" (test rode 2 miles), and the gears shifted properly (much better than my electric XP4). the pickup / torque was "fine." I passed on buying because I've convinced myself I need a throttle. @stompandgo do you have one?
Just fyi, I also test rode a Velotric Fold 1. It beats the Lectric XP4 in every way (particularly the control button ergonomics), but daughter liked the color of the XP4. It's roughly the same weight, maybe slightly lighter.
Will let yall know about my next tests. (targetting sub 45lbs)

Kudos for testing — as opposed to just reading — your way through this complex purchase. How many of the really decisive observations could you have gleaned from product pages and online reviews? Probably not many.

 

[sc00ter]

Carrying a passenger can complicate the search. I rode my wife on the back of the XP3.0 we had and the ebike did fine but I couldn't pedal with her on the back, as I kicked her in the knees. The XP4 you mention has a much easier to remove battery (saving a few pounds when manhandling). Only other options I can think of are get 2 JackRabbit ebikes? I really like my OG but it rarely gets ridden. Nice power for the size and crazy light weight. I've never rode a Velotric so I have no comments. I know GoCycle was teasing a cargo ebike before getting "acquired" by a new company. So anyways, keep on testing and posting your results! I'll rack my useless brain and see if I can uncover any other potential ebikes we may have overlooked.

 

[bikeOnPlane]

Ok, to recap here's what I've tried, may be repeating some:
Urtopia Fold
Gocycle 4xi
Carbo X (bought)
Qualisports Volador (bought)
Lectric Xp4 (bought)
Luna Eclipse (bought)

Thinking just about the airplane mission / use-case, I can recommend the Volador and Carbo x. Lightweight, enough power to ride throttle-only if you're using this for transportation vs a workout, plus a usable rack (Volador rack is out of stock till september, but appears usable.normal).
Others:
If you can live with panniers and don't mind spending >$3k, the gocycle was great for riding & has gears, but the inability to set something on the rack would irk me. The enclosed gears do make a difference handling (and I'm sure packing in the plane).
There was nothing wrong with the Urtopia. I thought I wanted a throttle to avoid pedaling, but now that I realize how subtle the throttle power is on all (see below), that's not a top 1 or 2 priority.
Eclipse: this was my last hope for something strong enough to add the 'fun' factor (the motor specs and some claims of getting more than the specs typically put out imply 2x the torque of others on the list). The bike is huge compared to the others, and doesn't fold as small w/o modding the handle bars. The upside is that it performed great in the woods (tried on a trail and just the forest floor over up to 3" logs), and it will accelerate more responsively than the rest, but it's not going to pop a wheelie (I had hopes based on multiple reports that a pedego latch would) or even give you that hit of adrenaline that accelerating in 2nd in a dual sport does.
Finally, if you have kids, there's a not-obvious limitation of the seat-post battery bikes that they can't be lowered too far. (I scraped the seat post bottom on a curb on both the carbo and the volador).

If I had it to do over again, I'd probably pass on the Luna (that was my impractical splurge). I also would try the PVY Libon (I think), if I could find a shorter seat post. From a cost-to-weight+features standpoint, the Qualisports seem to lead. ... unless you insist on the 2-up option (XP4) or a belt drive. And again, based on just a test ride, I'd prob opt for the velotric over the Lectric. Interested in any thoughts on gears in this application. I think in my use case (throttling from A to B) having gears is a nice to have vs have-to.

Let me know any questions-- obviously tough to be able to compare these IRL, and find reviews that aren't affiliates.

 

[Nvreloader]

M-E1 | Montague Bikes

Powerful pedal assist

www.montaguebikes.com

 

[bikeOnPlane]

Carrying a passenger can complicate the search. I rode my wife on the back of the XP3.0 we had and the ebike did fine but I couldn't pedal with her on the back, as I kicked her in the knees. The XP4 you mention has a much easier to remove battery (saving a few pounds when manhandling). Only other options I can think of are get 2 JackRabbit ebikes? I really like my OG but it rarely gets ridden. Nice power for the size and crazy light weight. I've never rode a Velotric so I have no comments. I know GoCycle was teasing a cargo ebike before getting "acquired" by a new company. So anyways, keep on testing and posting your results! I'll rack my useless brain and see if I can uncover any other potential ebikes we may have overlooked.

I'll see if I can test ride a jackrabbit, and look at the dimensions for feasibility. Tell me any more pros/cons if you think of them. (like if I run out of battery in town (no peddles), what would charging look like.... practical rack options, acceleration power "fun factor," etc.)