Kuma F1 folding e-bike, €1,800

Have you noticed the number of electric bikes on Irish roads lately? It seems like post-lockdown, with public transport still operating at reduced capacity, they have been multiplying. They’re an increasingly common sight, especially the smaller e-bikes that are zooming around the roads and bike lanes around here at speed.

Another trend since the Covid-19 pandemic hit is the increasing emphasis on buying Irish. E-bike company Kuma combines the two into one: an Irish company that makes electric bikes, and most recently, a folding version.

The Kuma F1 combines the convenience of a folding bike with the power of an electric one. It also came with a warning: “it’s a rocket”. Obviously not meant literally, the F1 is however faster than you’d think.

The bike has an electric motor that can help you power through the commute, tackling hills with relative ease. An optional throttle, which was included on the review unit, turns it from pedal assist to electrically propelled, similar to the scooters that you see on the roads.

It all depends on how hard you want to work. The F1 has several electric assist levels. At zero, you are pedalling by yourself, with no assistance. It then gradually increases the aid as you switch between one and five. Speedwise, it tops out at 25km per hour, which is the EU legal limit.

Early on, I learned – as per the warning – to make sure the electric motor was set to zero before turning off the bike, because an accidental throttle press even on the lowest setting would be enough to make the bike take off at speed. It’s a surprise that you can do without.

Once out on the road, how smoothly the bike rides depends on where you are taking it. On normal roads, the F1 wasn’t noticeably more juddery than a standard bike. That is down to the 20 inch wheels and the suspension front and back, which isn’t something that every folding bike has but it is a feature that Kuma bikes said it wanted to include. The idea is that the folding bike would be as comfortable to ride as the road versions.

For the most part, that’s true. At the top speed, you will feel the bumps on the road though, so bear that in mind if you are treating a speed bump as a challenge.

The 500Wh battery is inside the bike’s seat post, but it can also be removed for charging. You get 100km of range on the bike as a general rule, but it depends on what level of electric assist you are using, the terrain, rider weight and pace. Regardless, it’s a respectable range to aim for and one most people will find only requires charging once or twice a week.

Kuma has also brought over some other features from other models, including integrated lighting – very handy when on darker roads as the lights built into the sides of the bike in particular make you more visible to other road users – and the integrated display.

In terms of performance, the Kuma F1 is a nice little bike. Like other electric bikes, assuming you forgo the built in throttle, you’ll need to peddle to get any benefit from the electric motor. But once it kicks in, even on the lower settings, it gives a noticeable helping hand to you. You could easily get away with leaving it on level two or three and never going any higher.

If you’ve added the throttle, you won’t even need to pedal. That means you’ll need to keep the power topped up though; as the battery drains, you’ll notice the speed achievable decreases notably. You may have to start pedalling to get yourself home, but at least you have the option.

The good

The F1 is small yet powerful, tackling hills as well as Kuma’s other electric bikes and getting you around from place to place quickly.

If you have limited storage space for your bike, or want to stick it in the boot of the car without sacrificing your back seats, the Kuma folding bike will fit the bill without scrimping on performance.

The not so good

It can be a bit bumpy at the top speed, so slowing down over speed ramps and on bad roads helps a lot.

As far as folding bikes go, this isn’t the lightest at 24kg. It took a bit of practice to get it to fold easily, but a couple of goes at it to perfect the technique and you are folding and unfolding like a pro.

The rest

The F1 also comes with Tektro disc brakes and eight-speed Shimano gears, front and rear pannier racks – removable – and a kickstand.

The verdict

Small but powerful, the F1 is the perfect commute companion for those with limited storage space. Just take it easy over the speed ramps.