ecosmo folding mountain bike, any good?

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DRM

Guru
Location
West Yorks
Hi, I want to get a mountain bike but do not have the space to store it at home. I came across the ecosmo folding mountain bike but is is only sold online. I'm a little worried about buying a bike I have seen in person and it seems to have some mixed reviews on amazon.

https://ecosmobike.com/shop/folding-mountain-bikes/ecosmo-26-wheel-folding-mountain-bike/

Does anyone own one of these bikes?
Is it worth buying?
Is it safe?
To me it looks heavy, cheap components and over priced, the rear shock is just a spring, the front suspension is just adding weight, you'll have to do some basic assembly when it's delivered & I suspect such a machine will put you off cycling for life, the reviews look a bit suspicious too, If i were you I'd look elsewhere
Tilt 500 Folding Bike Btwin - Decathlon
Carrera Intercity Folding Bike - Grey | Halfords UK
These are more expensive, but far superior to the bike you've linked to, If you want a mountain bike a second hand hard tail would be better value, why do want an MTB, are you intending to ride off road on difficult terrain, or just canal towpaths & bridleways, no matter which type of terrain, the Ecosmobike will only disappoint.
 
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Cycleops

Legendary Member
Location
Accra, Ghana
As above I’m afraid it’s rubbish, avoid.
if you really want a folding mountain bike this Montague Paratrooper would be a good option. No longer made but plenty on the second hand market, found this one on the EvilBay. Seems prices have held upbut it was never a cheap bike. Around £600 is the ball park. There’s also a road version.

595851
 
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Tricia

New Member
To me it looks heavy, cheap components and over priced, the rear shock is just a spring, the front suspension is just adding weight, you'll have to do some basic assembly when it's delivered & I suspect such a machine will put you off cycling for life, the reviews look a bit suspicious too, If i were you I'd look elsewhere
Tilt 500 Folding Bike Btwin - Decathlon
Carrera Intercity Folding Bike - Grey | Halfords UK
These are more expensive, but far superior to the bike you've linked to, If you want a mountain bike a second hand hard tail would be better value, why do want an MTB, are you intending to ride off road on difficult terrain, or just canal towpaths & bridleways, no matter which type of terrain, the Ecosmobike will only disappoint.



Thanks for your reply. I looked at these bikes a few weeks back but ideally I would like a mountain bike. My understanding is that these folding bikes are not great for off road cycling.

I haven't owned a bike in something like 25 years, so not really sure what to look for. Do you know of any decent folding mountain bikes?
 
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OP
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Tricia

New Member
As above I’m afraid it’s rubbish, avoid.
if you really want a folding mountain bike this Montague Paratrooper would be a good option. No longer made but plenty on the second hand market, found this one on the EvilBay. Seems prices have held upbut it was never a cheap bike. Around £600 is the ball park. There’s also a road version.

View attachment 595851
Thanks, I'll have a look for them.
 

SkipdiverJohn

Deplorable Brexiteer
Location
London
One of my MTB's just lives outside chained to an immovable object, partly because of space and partly because I don't want to take a filthy muddy bike indoors and washing bikes every time I ride them isn't my idea of a fun activity. It's only a worthless Apollo, and the Chubb lock and motorcycle chain it's secured with would have cost at least as much as the bike new, but no-one has tried to nick it yet. Those folding suspension MTB's are the work of the devil in my book - pure junk even compared with a cheap rigid Apollo.
 

welsh dragon

Thanks but no thanks. I think I'll pass.
Not good. I had a folder to take with my when we were out and about. Heavy, clunky with cheap components.

Saying that, it did the job, as a now and again bike .
 

Cycleops

Legendary Member
Location
Accra, Ghana
Another thing to bear in mind @Tricia is that although the MTB might fold it’s going to be very heavy so if you’re going to haul it up stairs or any distance it’s going to be a real struggle. Even a conventional folder won’t be light.
Even the highly regarded Brompton and many of its aluminium framed rivals are going to be around 9-12 kilos.
 

vickster

Legendary Member
These guys specialise in folding bikes. Nothing accessible on their website, so given them a call (they have a shop in Paddington and one in Epsom)
https://fudgescyclestore.com/category/bikes_folding
 

raggydoll

Über Member
What will you be using the bike for?
You haven't owned a bike for 25 years - are you going straight into off road?
A lot of people getting back into cycling get a mountain bike because that's what they used to ride when they were younger, when in reality they never go off road.

If you are going to be going off road then of course by all means a mountain bike would suit.

In that case, could you look into a non folding mountain bike and look into storage options?
A small shed perhaps?
Or a bike lock and a tarp even?

As cycleops says, any folding bike (especially full sized ones) will be a hefty weight to lug up any stairs.

Either way, I wouldn't trust a cheap hinged bike on proper off road conditions.
 

Scotchlovingcylist

Formerly known as Speedfreak
I had this bike, or a version of it, when I first started cycling about 10 years ago. Its heavy, cumbersome, brakes constantly needed attention, wheels never stayed true, griphifters were awful and apart from the bombproof frame basically made of cheese.
Having said that I rode it for a year until I upgraded, mine cost around £150 from what I remember and I gave it to a friend who rode it another year until it finally died.
I thought I needed a folding bike for storage however it ended up using more space in an understair cupboard folded than a hardtail mtb in the end and a road bike tool up even less so think about why you need a folder.
My advice is avoid, especially at that price and get a 'proper' bike. I regretted mine in the end.
 
I have the Montague folding mountain bike. Heavy but rides like a normal bike and is very comfotable. Folded it is not too bulky especially if you take front wheel off.
 
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