Portola vs XP4

[Rknapp]

I have never owned an ebike before and would like some help picking one out. I have done a lot of my own research so far and have narrowed it down to the Portola and the XP4. I feel like the folding bikes will be more convenient to transport and store. I’m also on the shorter side at 5’6. Also older just about 60 years old. I had a standard bike most of my life but haven’t been riding in years due to having to much trouble with hills. I would like to use the bike for a mix of light trails and city streets. I originally was going with the Portola but the lack of a torque sensor and the positive reviews for the xp4 made me rethink my decision. I also like the better range of the xp4. What I like about the Portola is the lighter weight and easier access to the battery. My biggest concerns are comfort and ease of use being I’m new to e-bikes in general. If anyone is older and new to e-bikes I would love to get your take on which one you would recommend. Thanks so much

 

[gromike]

I'd go for the Portola as it has a lower step through, a more powerful motor, and is 5 pounds lighter. Range might be limited by how long you want to sit on a bike, and pedaling will make you go farther. Though, if you want to pedal get a bike that feels good for you to pedal. That would entail test rides.
Most people don't use the folding feature. Maybe if you RV, or transport the bike in the back of your car. But 60 pounds gets heavier every year.

 

[Jeremy McCreary]

Welcome aboard! If you have no experience with ebikes, it's essential to test some before buying — even if they aren't the Portola and XP4. Truth is, there are many important things about an ebike that you just can't get from specs alone. And a year out, these can easily make the difference between a bike you still like and one you regret.

For example, the decision between torque-sensing and cadence-sensing PAS is one best made after trying both and feeling the difference for yourself. Once you do, you'll know how much weight to put on torque-sensing PAS.

I also strongly urge you to buy locally. The internet can't fix your bike, and it WILL need service at some point.

If you must buy online, make sure you can get local service beforehand. Ebike electrical systems are usually proprietary to some extent, and you'll need a repair shop able to get parts and manufacturer support. Plus, some shops service only what they sell, and some won't work on ebikes at all.

So, your best bet is to visit some local shops, test what they have, let the tests and the shop staff educate you, and then come back here with narrower questions. Really.

 

[Rknapp]

Welcome aboard! If you have no experience with ebikes, it's essential to test some before buying — even if they aren't the Portola and XP4. Truth is, there are many important things about an ebike that you just can't get from specs alone. And a year out, these can easily make the difference between a bike you still like and one you regret.

For example, the decision between torque-sensing and cadence-sensing PAS is one best made after trying both and feeling the difference for yourself. Once you do, you'll know how much weight to put on torque-sensing PAS.

I also strongly urge you to buy locally. The internet can't fix your bike, and it WILL need service at some point.

If you must buy online, make sure you can get local service beforehand. Ebike electrical systems are usually proprietary to some extent, and you'll need a repair shop able to get parts and manufacturer support. Plus, some shops service only what they sell, and some won't work on ebikes at all.

So, your best bet is to visit some local shops, test what they have, let the tests and the shop staff educate you, and then come back here with narrower questions. Really.

I agree about trying a few bikes out before buying. I will definitely do that but after checking out a couple of local shops , the prices are almost triple what I would pay for either of these bikes so I’m leaning towards one of these two. They both have a 30 day return policy and both companies have a good reputation for costumer service.

 

[Rknapp]

I'd go for the Portola as it has a lower step through, a more powerful motor, and is 5 pounds lighter. Range might be limited by how long you want to sit on a bike, and pedaling will make you go farther. Though, if you want to pedal get a bike that feels good for you to pedal. That would entail test rides.
Most people don't use the folding feature. Maybe if you RV, or transport the bike in the back of your car. But 60 pounds gets heavier every year.

I live in a very congested area so I feel that i’ll be transporting the bike most of the time. I also travel a lot by car and feel that i would use a folding bike more often than most. I’m leaning towards the Portola but one concern I have is the Portola being a couple of years older than the xp4. Just think the portola may not have the best components compared to a newer bike. I also have heard that a cadence sensor is easier to maintain than a torque sensor so that is also leaning me towards the Portola.

 

[Jeremy McCreary]

I also have heard that a cadence sensor is easier to maintain than a torque sensor so that is also leaning me towards the Portola.

I've never heard that and have a hard time understanding how it could be true.

Please try both kinds of sensors before making that decision. Because the riding experiences are so different, people tend to have strong preferences on that front.

Those who like to pedal, want a natural-feeling power delivery, and don't want abrupt starts strongly prefer torque-sensing. I'm in that camp and frankly wouldn't have a cadence-sensing ebike.

Those who want the bike to do most of the work strongly prefer cadence-sensing to enable ghost-pedaling. Ditto for those who can't generate much pedal force — say, for medical reasons. Nothing wrong with that — many utility riders here prefer cadence-sensing — but a VERY different riding experience.

Some ebikes like my wife's Velotric Breeze offer both, selectable with a button on the fly. She vastly prefers torque-sensing for general riding but finds the cadence-sensing option useful on our steepest hills, which run well above 10%.

 

[Rknapp]

I've never heard that and have a hard time understanding how it could be true.

Please try both kinds of sensors before making that decision. Because the riding experiences are so different, people tend to have strong preferences on that front.

Those who like to pedal, want a natural-feeling power delivery, and don't want abrupt starts strongly prefer torque-sensing. I'm in that camp and frankly wouldn't have a cadence-sensing ebike.

Those who want the bike to do most of work strongly prefer cadence-sensing to enable ghost-pedaling. Ditto for those who can't generate much pedal force — say, for medical reasons. Nothing wrong with that — many utility riders here prefer cadence-sensing — but a VERY different riding experience.

Some ebikes like my wife's Velotric Breeze offer both, selectable with a button on the fly. She vastly prefers torque-sensing for general riding but finds the cadence-sensing option useful on our steepest hills, which run well above 10%.

That is good to know. Thanks a lot

 

[indianajo]

The ones from the bike store will most likely have real steel cables and spokes, and real aluminum rims. The <$1300 ebikes tend to have the same grey metal parts as $200 bikes from the discount stores. The ones that require the cables to be adjusted biweekly: the spokes to be tightened 4 times a year. The tires can fall off the rim because they are undersized. My diamondback did that. Also the undersized rear axle broke under my enormous 180 lb. My Pacific, the crank arm wore out in 2000 miles, and would not come off because of glue. I don't know the price points of the two models you mention, but newbies tend to buy the ebikes built of trash metal. People obsess about the features then get, not the quality of the materials. Known top tier brands are trek, giant, momentum, kona, cannondale, gazelle, pedego, lectric, aventon, reiss&mueller, liv, orbea, specialized. Brompton is a folder that has had 21 posts on the known problem thread. Montague is a folder that has 0 posts. Most stores will not stock a bike that requires frequent adjustment or repairs during the warranty period.
Portola and XP4 are brands that do not even have a brand forum to list any complaints. Scanning through the threads EBR has about a Portola, it may be a Ride1Up trademark. Ride1Up has some reputation. There are 87 posts on the Ride1Up known problems thread, not all complaints. Middle of the pack for brands 7 years old.
Cadence sensors on the bottom of the crank boss get snagged by road trash and bushes and weeds frequently. Getting that damage repaired may not covered under warranty.

 

[Jeremy McCreary]

@Rknapp
If you haven't already, watch the video below in its entirety. Yes, it's long.

Great education on what to look for and what to avoid in an ebike under $3000 from the EBR owners — 2 very knowledgeable experts who've thoroughly tested all ebikes in the video.

Because they're testing-based, worry about bike and manufacturer longevity, and know the industry well, I'd bet on these guys over anything else you see on the internet — including this forum.

You might even find some better candidates than the Portola and XP4.

Finally, just to hammer it in, an hour of test riding is worth many, many hours of online research.

 

[stompandgo]

The ones from the bike store will most likely have real steel cables and spokes, and real aluminum rims. The <$1300 ebikes tend to have the same grey metal parts as $200 bikes from the discount stores. The ones that require the cables to be adjusted biweekly: the spokes to be tightened 4 times a year. The tires can fall off the rim because they are undersized. My diamondback did that. Also the undersized rear axle broke under my enormous 180 lb. My Pacific, the crank arm wore out in 2000 miles, and would not come off because of glue.

Another design trend that we see in these brandless DTC bikes are single or two piston brake calipers on 80+ pound bikes. They will come in and ask us to adjust the brakes because they are squealing. They are squealing because their pads are down to metal and their rotors are shot in a few months or less. We tell them that we can replace the rotors and pads, but they'll be back in a few months to do it again, or we can upgrade the brakes to proper 4 piston brakes that are appropriate for that heavy a bike. That means new levers, calipers, pads, appropriately sized rotors and post mount adapters, hoses, and labor. Once they add that up, they realize that they should have invested in a better bike to begin with.

 

[indianajo]

My Yuba bike has cable pull brakes. The front caliper needs tightening at ~1000 miles which takes 2 minutes. The front pads need replaced at ~2000 miles. The disks are 160 mm. With panniers, spares, tools, water, weather gear, the bike weighs 94 lb. The OEM 3.5" handles were too short, but the 5" long handles that came with the ebikeling motor kit were 5" long. Those are long enough to allow me to lock the rear wheel if a deer, rabbit, or squirrel darts across the road. The bike was made in China, but the cables and spokes never need adjustment. The tire fits the wheel. So good parts can be bought from China, but you won't get those on a <$1300 ebike. I have 13000 miles on it. It cost $1800 with freight panniers front basket in 2017. The power wheel kit and battery were $830.

 

[Rexlion]

Ride1Up Portola and Lectric XP4 both should be decent ebikes, from companies that have decent reputations.

A thought: If you can find any used Lectric folders for sale in your area (check fakebook marketplace), you'd be able to get a test ride (just say that you're thinking of buying the used ebike) that will give you some feedback on the brand. Portolas are not so plentiful, so I doubt you would find any to try.