Would a foldable electric bike be ok for food deliveries and what should I pay?
Posted by Major_Mortgage2026@reddit | ebikes | View on Reddit | 13 comments
Hi, first of all, I live in UK if that makes a difference.
I need a flexible job and I was thinking towards going for some food delivery activity (Uber Eats, Just Eat, etc). The problem is that I live at the 8th floor of a council flat and I have no access to a garage. Leaving it outside is just not an option.
I was thinking of buying a foldable electric bike, so that I can fold it and store in my poxy apartment.
1) Would it be suitable for this kind of work?
2) Would food delivery companies and insurance (I don't know is insurance is needed on electric bikes) accept a foldable bike?
3) What is the bare minimum to spend on a decent bike? I am not broke but I have seen foldable bikes for £1500+. Is this what I have to pay?
Thanks.
SixeIaa@reddit
The only foldable bike I can recommend, because it was my first ebike, is the Engine Pro 3.0 Boost. Should be legal on the UK since it's limited at 25km/h, doesn't have throttle and has 90NM of torque so you don't struggle much on hills. It's quite heavy though.
Major_Mortgage2026@reddit (OP)
Thanks. Do you think something like this is too cheap?
https://www.decathlon.co.uk/p/mp/electric-folding-bikes-rk6-e-bikes-20-52-80km-36v-15-6a/58bf5927-7075-4783-98a8-c628733d6c26/c1
SixeIaa@reddit
Found the model or their website: https://www.rcb-scooter.com/products/rcb-rk6-fat-tire-folding-electric-bicyclercb-e-bike
The things I look for when buying an ebike are the following:
- Watt-hour (Wh). Saw that the this model (RCB RK6) has 561.6 Wh, mine has 720Wh and that allows me to cycle for about 4 hours around the city and I only consume around 40 to 50% of the battery, depending on some conditions like the inclination of the roads, which PAS mode you are using, etc...
- Torque. The RK6 has 60Nm of torque, which should be enough if you are riding on flat roads. In my case, I had to look for an ebike that had high torque like 90Nm because I have to go uphill a lot of times carrying cargo like groceries on the rear rack.
- Type of sensor. I think this one is more of a personal preference, some people like Torque sensors while others prefer Cadence sensors. In my case, I like the torque sensor because it feels more like a normal bike and you have more control on the speed because the harder you pedal, the faster you go, the slower you pedal the slower you go, like a normal bike. With cacende sensor, you only need to pedal, doesn't matter how hard, and the motor will start working regardless of which gear you are on. That one works well if you don't want to get tired when working as a bike delivery driver.
- Post customer service. I have no experience how RCB as a company because I've never bough anything from them. In case of Engwe, I have to tell that I had a good experience with them. Since the Engine Pro was my first ebike and I had no previous experience, they answered all the questions I had by email, like when I wanted to bleed the brakes, they even attached a tutorial they made so I could follow, and even offered to cover the expenses when I had to take the bike to a mechanic because I had a problem with the bottom bracket. They take a couple of days to answer the emails though, but that wasn't a big problem for me.
One thing I noticed while looking at the picture of the RK6 is that the brakes seem to be a mix of hydraulic and cable, just like the ones that the Rattan LM Ultra has. The people that reviewed that bike tend to say that they don't like the "feeling" of those types of brakes and that the customer should change them for a hydraulic brake system. I've never tried them so I cannot give you an opinion about them.
Hope it helps! 😄
Mobile_Ad8543@reddit
It costs more than you listed, but Brompton makes foldable ebikes, iirc
Fair-Discipline-1005@reddit
Ofcourse,it will be suitable... For delivery companies You must ask.... My foldable bike is very strong and solid,and I know people who do deliveries with foldable bikes for years, without problems...👍
Major_Mortgage2026@reddit (OP)
What's your bike model?
Fair-Discipline-1005@reddit
Engwe X20...dual batteries, original hidraulic brakes and throttle,and on side roads is unlocked...👍
Familiar9709@reddit
Don't get a folding bike for that 100%. Get a hybrid type bike
Major_Mortgage2026@reddit (OP)
Roger that but how I carry it to the 8th floor? Do bikes get in a lift/elevator?
Familiar9709@reddit
Most do, especially if you remove the front wheel, which is very easy to do
Zentransit@reddit
I'd prefer compact and sturdy to a folder for deliveries.
A Tern would be perfect!
Brisollie@reddit
The more you spend the better they are. I'd say that 1200 is the minimum you'd want to spend to get something with a warranty and that a regular bike shop will touch. All the cheaper folding Ebikes are direct to consumer from china and no one wants to touch them.
So if you have to get a folding Ebikes the more you spend the better. Decathlon used to do a half decent one, about 1200 but not sure if they still do
Also make sure it's not a fat tyred bike. They hardy fold at all
Major_Mortgage2026@reddit (OP)
Do ebikes require insurance in UK is used for food delivery?