Please help me decide on which one...

[Fromadiva]

I have picked the following bikes

Amego freedom

Emmo f7

The metropolitan

Volt bike urban

I prefer to buy locally in Toronto. Reason for this type of bike. I have to bring upstairs into my apartment. Using it to run errands and take my senior fur baby out to get some wind in her face.

 

[harryS]

You probably want the one that's easiest to carry upstairs. All things being equal, you may do better with one that offers 48V instead of 36. The higher voltage usually gives better range.

Also look at the levels of pedal assist. Five levels will give you a better chance of finding a comfortable pedal cadence than three.

 

[Fromadiva]

You probably want the one that's easiest to carry upstairs. All things being equal, you may do better with one that offers 48V instead of 36. The higher voltage usually gives better range.

Also look at the levels of pedal assist. Five levels will give you a better chance of finding a comfortable pedal cadence than three.

Thanks for responding. Any suggestions on some bikes I should look at?

 

[TomD]

Do you have an elevator or will you physically need to carry the bike up stairs?

 

[harryS]

Well you had four. I didn't look at them, but they're all folders.

We have three. One is a step thru which is nice for easier dismount, One has front/rear suspension which is nice for jumping the curb. Our streets are smooth except when we ride in Chicago so suspension isn't needed. I like mine, which has nothing and is lightest. All are 36V with assisted and throttle. Not fast, but nice for slow paced riding. 15mph is about as fast as we ride. These are regular bikes with motors and batteries hung on them, not commercial boughts, They're all under 40 pounds as a result. Many commercial bikes tend to be like 50 pounds. Stronger frames.

I would look at the Qualisports Dolphin for a short range folder.

 

[Fromadiva]

Do you have an elevator or will you physically need to carry the bike up stairs?

I need to physically carry it up the stairs

 

[goldconch]

I need to physically carry it up the stairs

Toronto is a great city to ride, with fantastic infrastructure, but also quite aggressive on bike thefts, so anything left outside is not necessarily going to be waiting there for you the next morning. For hoisting, I guess it depends on the width of the stairwell, floor you live on, personal patience and strength of the user. For reference, I would have preferred a larger electrified cargo bike with removable battery, but have similar overnight theft risks, and also opted on a folder for that reason. I carry my QS Dolphin fully assembled up 4 flights of stairs. An elevator would def be way easier (if it were available). I don't have that option, so for now, I lift up under seat with one hand and other hand is on the handle bars to swivel the front tire away from walls and railings. With some skill at landings, and with front, rear racks and paniers, it's heavy but doable. Maybe 50lbs with racks etc. I wouldn't want any animals/their leashes, around me or anyone else on the stairwell during those maneuvers. Pets over 20lbs would still be a cargo problem. The bike packs down well for apt/condo living. If I were doing it again, I'd consider lighter/smaller Brompton (giving up frame-loaded cargo capacity), Cero One, and/or cheaper non-electric leave outsides like the Raleigh Lorry (which you could "stealth electrify" with a detachable hub motor if you wanted).

 

[vincent]

If I was going to have to carry a bike up stairs would opt for one with a throttle that I might could use to help me

I have used that for a few steps here and there, not sure about a lot of them
Hopefully someone with more experience using throttle on stairs can chime in

good luck

 

[Alex M]

You'll want the lightest possible, unless you can make it climb stairs on throttle - never tried this.
It sounds like you also want a rear rack or at least a front basket. Decent quality commercially available folding bike with rack would weigh from 50 lbs, this is a lot.
Smaller 16" folders are lighter, less comfortable to ride and attaching a rear rack or front basket will be a challenge.

Go to Amego store. Ask if they could let you rent Freedom for a few hours to see if you can drag it upstairs without feeling like the end of the world, and if throttle will be of any help in this. Some folding bikes can be rolled on flat surface when folded, don't know if Freedom can or if this will be easier than dragging it unfolded.

 

[Fromadiva]

That's a great idea to rent one. Basically I have 5 steps in the front of my house. Then 12 stairs up into my apartment.

 

[vincent]

If your apartment is the only one at the top of the 12 steps could u put a skinny portable ramp or even a board to one side and use throttle to go up that ...

 

[Fromadiva]

Not really. I think I can handle up to 45 lbs as my furbaby weighs 20 lbs and I carry her in one arm no problem. If there's a way to lock it so nobody can walk out with it I could leave it in the hallway downstairs

 

[Alex M]

Freedom is 51 lbs with battery, 43 lbs without. 2 trips, up and down and up again. Like with any bike, it's the bulk that makes it feel heavier than it is.
If there is a secure hallway, I'm sure that Freedom will accept regular U-lock or chain, and you'll remove saddle and battery. Amego shop owner is also the company owner, she knows her bikes and could suggest the best security device. Any lock can be cut or picked, given enough time and proper tools. It's more a deterrent to make it not worth the trouble when a bike is not terribly expensive.

 

[rkracketeer]

Well you had four. I didn't look at them, but they're all folders.

We have three. One is a step thru which is nice for easier dismount, One has front/rear suspension which is nice for jumping the curb. Our streets are smooth except when we ride in Chicago so suspension isn't needed. I like mine, which has nothing and is lightest. All are 36V with assisted and throttle. Not fast, but nice for slow paced riding. 15mph is about as fast as we ride. These are regular bikes with motors and batteries hung on them, not commercial boughts, They're all under 40 pounds as a result. Many commercial bikes tend to be like 50 pounds. Stronger frames.

I would look at the Qualisports Dolphin for a short range folder.

View attachment 49958

We have put over 150 miles on his and her Dolphins our first 2 weeks of ownership. I am estimated that we would get at least 50 miles in range with some moderate hills. Very happy with the Dolphin's the fold easy and are a great value. I was a little skeptical regarding the lack of a traditional rear triangle, but the bike seems to be built well, maybe borrowing from motorcycle design that often uses a single swing arm for the rear wheel.

Good luck!

 

[antboy]

The easiest answer is the Amego Freedom. They've got a local store, been around a long time, and have a solid reputation, so you'd have an easier time with support. For $1299 CDN it's seems like the right choice.

To give you an idea of what to expect in range in "Toronto Speak", you could ride from Bathurst/Queens Quay all the way up to Yorkdale Mall, and back with the 48V/10ah battery of the Amego Freedom and still have at least 30% battery left over, as long as you're doing some pedaling yourself - the big hill south of St. Clair is a pain, but doable with the 350W motor of the Freedom.

If you don't need anywhere close to that range, and prefer compact/light, harryS and rkracketeer mentioned the Qualisport Dolphin, but I'd suggest going even lighter, with the Qualisport Volador. Similar form factor as the Dolphin, but 10 lbs lighter, and a smaller battery. It would be good for riding from Bathurst/Queens Quay, up to about Bathurst/St. Clair and back, and still have some charge, but not tons.

Don't know if there's Qualisport dealers in Toronto though.