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12-11-2019, 20:16
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#1
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Registered User
Join Date: Feb 2013
Posts: 335
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Any recommendations for a lightweight folding electric bike to take cruising?
After sailing from Santa Barbara to San Diego recently I have decided that a lightweight folding electric bike could be ideal to have on a cruising sailboat. I would use it to get supplies, explore, and get to the beach with my surf sup.
So, does anyone have any recommendations for reliable brands or ones to stay away from?
Thanks
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12-11-2019, 20:31
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#2
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Registered User
Join Date: Oct 2009
Location: Seattle, WA
Boat: Island Packet 349
Posts: 668
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Re: Any recommendations for a lightweight folding electric bike to take cruising?
Heard good things about this one, but no first hand experience: https://www.ridecarbo.com/
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12-11-2019, 20:57
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#3
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Registered User
Join Date: Apr 2008
Location: Hawaii
Boat: Islander 36
Posts: 1,525
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Re: Any recommendations for a lightweight folding electric bike to take cruising?
I have electric stand up scooters. They go into the stores with me. My anti theft plan give me much more peace of mind. They also fold up smaller, and can go on busses, unless you get a cranky bus driver. Only had one, which just gave me a warning.
I used Goped gas powered scooters in Mexico. Bus once stopped for us, the driver got out and opened the storage compartment below for the Gopeds. Such a non-issue.
I love the electric scooters so much more than the gas powered.
__________________
Minggat
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13-11-2019, 12:14
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#4
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Registered User
Join Date: Feb 2013
Posts: 335
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Re: Any recommendations for a lightweight folding electric bike to take cruising?
Quote:
Originally Posted by Lost Horizons
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Thanks, but it's crazy how expensive some of these little folding ebikes are.
I have more digging to do but this is a possibility: http://tinyurl.com/twn9vbf
The challenge is figuring out how to add easy to install and remove racks to carry stuff and be able to transport an 8-6+- surf sup.
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13-11-2019, 12:16
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#5
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Registered User
Join Date: Feb 2013
Posts: 335
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Re: Any recommendations for a lightweight folding electric bike to take cruising?
Quote:
Originally Posted by Minggat
I have electric stand up scooters. They go into the stores with me. My anti theft plan give me much more peace of mind. They also fold up smaller, and can go on busses, unless you get a cranky bus driver. Only had one, which just gave me a warning.
I used Goped gas powered scooters in Mexico. Bus once stopped for us, the driver got out and opened the storage compartment below for the Gopeds. Such a non-issue.
I love the electric scooters so much more than the gas powered.
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I think I need something a little more bike-ish than a scooter to be able to carry stuff and take my surf sup, though. Right?
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13-11-2019, 20:23
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#6
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Moderator

Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: Jacksonville/ out cruising
Boat: Island Packet 38
Posts: 31,469
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Any recommendations for a lightweight folding electric bike to take cruising?
What’s wrong with pedaling a bike? The electrics are going to add quite a bit of weight, a hub motor and a battery large enough to do much has to be 8lbs at least.
Just me, but I doubt a stack of flashlight batteries in a seat post is going to provide a lot of power.
Either go pure electric or pedal. Not that I’ve ridden every electric bike, but those that I have pedal like crap without electric assist.
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14-11-2019, 10:25
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#7
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Registered User
Join Date: Aug 2015
Location: Back in Kingston, WA for the winter
Boat: 1999 Pacific Seacraft 40
Posts: 583
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Re: Any recommendations for a lightweight folding electric bike to take cruising?
You might send a PM to Kenomac on this forum. He has extensive experience w/ bikes (former racer I believe) and he and his wife carry 2 on their boat. I don't think either are electric, but they do know good bikes.
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14-11-2019, 10:43
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#8
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Registered User
Join Date: Nov 2019
Location: Grenada
Boat: Beneteau 49
Posts: 5
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Re: Any recommendations for a lightweight folding electric bike to take cruising?
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14-11-2019, 10:54
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#9
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Registered User
Join Date: Oct 2015
Posts: 24
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Re: Any recommendations for a lightweight folding electric bike to take cruising?
Quote:
Originally Posted by magentawave
After sailing from Santa Barbara to San Diego recently I have decided that a lightweight folding electric bike could be ideal to have on a cruising sailboat. I would use it to get supplies, explore, and get to the beach with my surf sup.
So, does anyone have any recommendations for reliable brands or ones to stay away from?
Thanks 
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Wish these were not so expensive. Light, foldable, even off road (abit) https://cycleboard.com/
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14-11-2019, 11:18
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#10
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Registered User
Join Date: Aug 2005
Posts: 72
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Re: Any recommendations for a lightweight folding electric bike to take cruising?
I have a Sondors Fold X which is a fat tire folding bike. It weighs 70 pounds so it’s not small or light, although it is a lot of fun.
I also have a Carbo which folds up very small and since it’s made of carbon fiber, it weighs 12kg which is about 30 pounds. I bought the fully loaded version with fenders and a rack and I got the single speed version with a belt instead of a chain. If you are riding a lot of hills the chain with the seven speed cassette is probably a better choice, but since it has four assist levels, you can just adjust that to help with hills. The Carbo is pretty easy to pedal with the motor off as well and they sell different seat posts with different amounts of batteries or none. I usually pedal about 10mph because of the 20 inch tires and single speed, but with gears you can pedal faster. The motor will go 20mph.
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14-11-2019, 11:26
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#11
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Registered User
Join Date: Oct 2019
Location: So Cal
Posts: 722
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Re: Any recommendations for a lightweight folding electric bike to take cruising?
Quote:
Originally Posted by magentawave
After sailing from Santa Barbara to San Diego recently I have decided that a lightweight folding electric bike could be ideal to have on a cruising sailboat. I would use it to get supplies, explore, and get to the beach with my surf sup.
So, does anyone have any recommendations for reliable brands or ones to stay away from?
Thanks 
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How about an electric skateboard? Wear a daypack for stuff and just carry your surf board in the normal fashion. You can find decent ones for less than $400 and they won't take up much space on your boat.
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14-11-2019, 11:45
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#12
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Registered User
Join Date: Jul 2012
Location: North East USA
Boat: 1975 Tartan 41'
Posts: 723
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Re: Any recommendations for a lightweight folding electric bike to take cruising?
For ~$200 you can buy a conversion kit ( https://www.amazon.com/AW-Electric-B...3756681&sr=8-7 ), which definitely makes sense if you already have folding bikes. Add $100 for a battery and you can bolt on for $300. Even if you don't have bikes, There's a lot available for $200 with racks ( https://www.amazon.com/Xspec-Folding...3756963&sr=8-5 ). So a few hours of assembly and you have your ebike for $500ish.
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14-11-2019, 13:21
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#13
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Registered User
Join Date: Jan 2013
Location: Seattle
Boat: Horstmar 38 Trimaran
Posts: 59
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Re: Any recommendations for a lightweight folding electric bike to take cruising?
Yes this Rad folding e-bike is off and on road bike with tough tires. Works really well. It is also on sale for black Friday. Not light at 60lbs.
https://www.radpowerbikes.com/produc...18180033675360
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14-11-2019, 13:43
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#14
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Registered User
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: Meandering around the Alexander Archipelago [NNE Pacific]— where the internet doesn't always shine...
Boat: Nauticat 43 [S&S Staysail Ketch]
Posts: 1,284
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Re: Any recommendations for a lightweight folding electric bike to take cruising?
Magenta,
Ben at Panbo wrote a few articles re: electric bikes he was trying out for his use when boating.
He wrote at least one follow-up article re: folding electrics as well. [linked in article above...]
In case that is of interest.
Cheers! Bill
__________________
SV Denali Rose
Short on opinions; focused on research, facts & experience [yours and ours...]
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14-11-2019, 13:51
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#15
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Registered User
Join Date: Feb 2013
Posts: 335
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Re: Any recommendations for a lightweight folding electric bike to take cruising?
Guys, I'm considering this one on Amazon for $599: http://tinyurl.com/twn9vbf
43 pounds. Aluminum alloy. Folded: 29.5 x 13.8 x 25.6
I'm going to hit up a local bike store that carries folding electric bikes and try one that has the little 16" wheels. I keep thinking of a circus character (or was it an animal in a circus) when I see those little wheels so hopefully riding one won't be ridiculous!
Quote:
Originally Posted by a64pilot
What’s wrong with pedaling a bike? The electrics are going to add quite a bit of weight, a hub motor and a battery large enough to do much has to be 8lbs at least.
Just me, but I doubt a stack of flashlight batteries in a seat post is going to provide a lot of power.
Either go pure electric or pedal. Not that I’ve ridden every electric bike, but those that I have pedal like crap without electric assist.
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I'm not a kid so the only thing "wrong" with pedaling would be the energy expended that I would rather use for surfing. I've been seeing a lot of surfers using these and they are amazingly powerful and do quite well going up hills even. Surfers in San Clemente use them to get to Trestles so they can ride right up to the beach instead of dealing with traffic in their car and having to park far away from the beach.
Quote:
Originally Posted by Smokeys Kitchen
You might send a PM to Kenomac on this forum. He has extensive experience w/ bikes (former racer I believe) and he and his wife carry 2 on their boat. I don't think either are electric, but they do know good bikes.
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I used to ride a full-suspension $4000.00 Specialized 29er mountain bike so I know "good bikes" too which is one of my concerns about this silly looking thing with 16" tires. I will contact him, though. Thank you.
Quote:
Originally Posted by IWOJones
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Scubableu
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Both are ridiculously expensive, but thanks. I'm considering this one for $599. http://tinyurl.com/twn9vbf
Quote:
Originally Posted by joelhemington
How about an electric skateboard? Wear a daypack for stuff and just carry your surf board in the normal fashion. You can find decent ones for less than $400 and they won't take up much space on your boat.
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It's a surf sup so it's longer, thicker and wider than a shortboard so I'm going to need a rack of some kind to carry it. (I'm 200 pounds and my favorite go-to surf sup at the moment is 8-6 x 29" x 4" thick. It's very light but still kind of a beast compared to a shortboard.)
Quote:
Originally Posted by zstine
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Good idea and that would make sense if I already had a folding bike.
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