NEW E-BIKES HOT TECH

IT’S RARE to have a company co-founder drop off a test bike, but with Estarli designing and building its bikes in Berkhamsted a London delivery was easily arranged.

The E20.8 Play is a riff on its well-received E20.7 electric folder (4.7 out of 5 on Trustpilot), only bringing more off-road use to the fore. It uses the same, clever 7ah battery hidden in the seatpost, plus better quality 8-speed Shimano Altus gears, tougher Schwalbe tyres, hydraulic disc brakes, offroad pedals (non-folding) and can handle riders up to 130kg (whereas it’s 110kg for the E20.7). Front and rear lights are included, though rack and mudguards come as extras

(£50). Seat and bar adjustment fit people from 5ft to 6ft5in (we can confirm the 5ft extreme was fine).

Our first trip on the E20.8 took on the steepest hills we could find locally — straight up to Ally Pally, including directly up the final grass slope with a kerb hop at the top. On our regular bike we usually walk, but this time it was a breeze thanks to the gearing and power-assist cranked up to 4 (it goes up to 5). We then cruised up and down off-road tracks and found handling to be very similar to an old-school rigid mountain bike with fat tyres. So it wasn’t the plush ride of a suspension bike, but easy to handle and ideal for a mix of roads, towpaths and moderate downhills. We burned up two bars of power (out of 4) over four miles when powering up hills, then clocked up another seven miles in mixed use, consuming another 1.5 bars. Overtaking roadies uphill on what looks like a pedal-only shopper was fun.

A couple of days on tarmac took us across London in comfort, with the odd incline for good measure, seemingly no different to a standard hybrid. Using mostly power level 2 we averaged 20 miles for four bars of battery, with an extra three miles on ‘empty’. That’s as well because pedalling a 19.5kg bike without power-assist is hard work. The 50km range cited by the maker is optimistic, however at around 32km (using power level 2) it’s more than adequate for mid-length rides.

The componentry, whether gears or brakes, is quality stuff as is the finish. The Samsung motor in the rear wheel was consistent across modes, and predictable, which really helps on off-road ascents. What we don’t yet have (the bike was the second off the line) is the price of new batteries. The co-founder estimated £150 for refill of the seatpost with cells, and £250 for new seatpost and pack — well below the price of rivals, with the added benefit of recycling.

And finally let’s not forget that this is a folder. The fold is quick and simple (though the two halves don’t clip together like the E20.7), and being a folder, it has a convenient step-through frame.

Verdict

Factfile

n Choice of colourways available.

n The seatpost, which contains the battery, can be removed for charging. And an anti-theft seatpost collar costs an extra £30.

n A tool kit is supplied with the bike.

n Recharging takes 3 to 4 hours.

n You can wheel the folded bike by holding the extended seatpost.

n The handlebars can be adjusted up and down by 6in.

+ The E20.8 offers an excellent ride for a folder, especially off-road, and considering the kit, it’s reasonable value. The downside of ruggedness is increased weight and a shorter range, so if you live up a staircase you may wish to consider its stablemate, the E20.7. This doesn’t offer off-road credentials, but takes £500 off the price and 2kg off the weight .