Isinwheel U4 E Bike Tested! Speed, Hills, Brakes & Comfort

 

In this video, I take my iSinwheel U4 16" folding e-bike out on the road for a proper real-world test. Rather than simply running through the specifications, I wanted to find out how the U4 actually performs when ridden in everyday conditions. I put it through its paces, testing the different pedal assist levels and their speeds, tackling some hills to see how it copes with inclines, and putting the brakes through their paces.

I also look at one of the most important things for me: the overall comfort of the ride. How does the U4 feel over different road surfaces, and is the seat actually comfortable after spending some time in the saddle?

So, if you're considering the iSinwheel U4, hopefully this road test will give you a better idea of what it's like to ride rather than just what it looks like on paper.

As always, these are my own experiences, views, and opinions based on riding the bike myself. Do your own research before making any purchase.

Thanks for watching, and don't forget to like, subscribe, and join me for more adventures from David Wilson Out & About.

 @baconbuttties   EBIKE Review HUB

Thanks to this gentleman, I got £40 off of the advertised price.

Link to video with a £40 discount code

There are a couple of things I didn’t test in this video: the bike unlocked, and the optional throttle.

Now, just to be clear, unlocking an e-bike on public roads so that it can travel faster than 15.5 miles per hour, or 25 kilometres per hour, is illegal here in the UK.

The same applies to the optional throttle. If the throttle can propel the bike at more than 3.7 miles per hour (6 kilometres per hour), that’s also illegal on public roads.

And simply saying that the throttle was fitted to see if it worked, or to test it, isn’t a valid excuse in the eyes of the law.

So, for this video, I’ve kept things completely legal and tested the bike as it would be used within the UK regulations.

isinwheel U4 Features Specifications & My Accessories

 Hello everyone, and welcome back to David Wilson Out and About.

In today's video, I'm taking a first look at my new iSinwheel U4 16-inch folding e-bike. I'll be talking you through the bike's specifications and features, as well as the accessories I've added to make it work better for me.

This is very much a first impressions video, so I'll be sharing what stood out to me after getting the bike set up and spending some time with it.

Then, in the follow-up video, I'll take the U4 out on the road for a proper test ride to see how it performs in the real world. So, let's take a closer look at the iSinwheel U4.

 

So, let’s have a look at the main features of the iSinwheel U4.

First of all, it’s a 16-inch folding electric bike, so it’s nice and compact compared to many full-size e-bikes. That makes it particularly handy if you’ve got limited storage space, or you want something that’s easier to take with you.

It’s a step-through design, which for me is a big advantage. Getting on and off is much easier, particularly if you don’t want to be swinging your leg over a high crossbar.

You’ve got pedal assist, with different levels to choose from, so you can decide how much help you want from the motor. There’s also a throttle, giving you that extra bit of assistance when you need it.

The U4 has a rear hub motor, a removable battery, and a simple display on the handlebars showing you the important information while you’re riding.

As a folding bike, the folding mechanism is another major feature. Fold it down, and it becomes considerably more compact, which is useful for storage or transporting it.

It also comes with front and rear lights, mudguards and a rear carrier, so it’s reasonably well equipped straight out of the box.

And I think that’s one of the appealing things about the U4. For the money, you get a lot of bike in a relatively small package.

Of course, it isn’t perfect, and there are a few things I’ve changed and added to mine to make it more suitable for the way I ride.

Disclaimer: My Experience, My Opinions & Your Responsibility ...

This video is based entirely on my own personal experience with the iSinwheel U4. I purchased this bike myself with my own money, and I am not sponsored, paid, or otherwise compensated by iSinwheel to make this video. I have no commercial relationship with iSinwheel. Everything I say in this video represents my own personal views, opinions, experiences, and observations. Your experience with the product may be different.

This video is intended for information and entertainment purposes only. Before purchasing the iSinwheel U4, or making any decisions based on what I say in this video, please do your own research, check the latest specifications and information, and make sure the product is suitable for your individual needs and circumstances.

I accept no responsibility for any loss, damage, injury, or other consequences resulting from reliance on the information, opinions, or recommendations expressed in this video.

In short, this is my experience and my opinion. Do your own research and make your own informed decision.

Transporting My iSinwheel U4 16" Folding E-Bike on Public Transport

After my iSinwheel U4 road test video, I got to thinking about the bike’s total weight and the problems I might face if I wanted to transport it on public transport.

The main issues are its 26.5 kg weight, my osteoarthritis and chronic lower back injury, and, of course, having to carry the folded bike up and down stairs and over railway footbridges.

Without going into too much detail just yet, I’m looking at using a ratchet strap to secure the bike when it’s folded, combined with a homemade carrying sling using Creel Hooks and a 3-metre, 25mm ratchet tie-down strap.

Obviously, I’m not going to build this thing and then immediately head off to the railway station! I’ll be testing my homemade bike sling at home for a while first, making sure it’s safe, secure and, most importantly, manageable for me to use.

Once I’m happy with it, I’ll give it a proper real-world test on a train journey to Whitstable.

That journey will involve carrying the folded bike over a footbridge at my local railway station, as well as making two train changes along the way.

Once I arrive in Whitstable, I’m planning to cycle along the Oyster Bay Trail to Reculver, travelling via Herne Bay, before heading back to Herne Bay to catch the train home.

I’m not going to attempt the journey until the schools are back, when hopefully the trains and stations will be a little quieter.

And yes, I’ll be filming the whole thing!

So you’ll get to see whether my homemade bike sling actually works in the real world, or whether it turns out to be one of those ideas that looks absolutely brilliant on paper but becomes a complete nightmare in practice! 😁

Either way, it should make for an interesting experiment.

£280 E-Bike Bargain or a Legal Trap? What UK Buyers Need to Know Before Buying

 Beware of offers that seem too good to be true.

Having recently bought a new 16-inch folding e-bike for £415, I was naturally drawn to the Twofish 16-inch fat-tyred folding e-bike, which is currently selling on Amazon UK for around £280 under the brand name IWAFO.

At that price, it certainly caught my attention. But when I started looking into the specifications, I noticed something that potential UK buyers really need to be aware of.

The bike is fitted with a 48-volt system and a 500-watt motor, and it also has an unlockable speed limit. That means it does not meet the requirements for an electrically assisted pedal cycle, or EAPC, here in the UK.

For an e bike to be ridden legally on UK public roads and cycle paths without a licence, registration or insurance, the motor must have a maximum continuous rated power of 250 watts, the motor assistance must cut out at 15.5 mph, or 25 kilometres per hour, and a throttle cannot propel the bike on its own above 3.7 mph, or 6 kilometres per hour, unless you are pedalling at the same time.

The IWAFO is advertised with a 500-watt motor, which is considerably above the 250-watt UK limit. Combined with the ability to unlock the speed restriction, this means the bike cannot simply be treated as a normal road-legal UK e-bike.

Now, this is where I think potential buyers need to be very careful.

The fact that a bike can be legally sold does not necessarily mean that it can legally be ridden on UK public roads. If a bike does not meet the EAPC requirements, it may fall into the category of a moped or motorcycle and would then be subject to completely different requirements, including registration, insurance, licensing and other legal requirements.

So, as my final thought, I suppose there is nothing necessarily wrong with the bike being sold in the UK if the seller is complying with the relevant rules governing the sale of the product.

But shouldn't the seller make it absolutely clear to UK customers that this particular specification of the bike cannot legally be used on public roads or cycle paths as a normal electric bicycle?

At £280, it certainly looks like a tempting bargain. But as I always say, do your research before buying, because sometimes that bargain isn't quite the bargain you think it is.