Iconic British electric bike company Gocycle launched its fourth generation of folding e-bikes on March 30, featuring an all-new motor, a lighter weight frame and a new carbon fiber chassis and fork.
Weight savings and a new motor are the big takeaways from this new generation of fast folders, as new carbon fiber bits and the addition of other lightweight materials have shaved a claimed 2.2 lbs off the bike. Electric folding bikes have been plagued by their heavy motors and batteries since they became popular, making them slightly more cumbersome and less portable than their non-motorized counterparts. Gocycle’s been gunning for a solution to this since the company released its first e-bike in 2008, and their latest iteration is the lightest yet. The first two models in Gocycle’s three-bike G4 lineup weigh in at 37 lbs each. The high-end G4i+ clocks in a pound lighter at 36lbs, according to the company’s press materials. In addition to the carbon fiber, the company says it has worked to shave weight from wherever it can on the bike — even the disc brake rotors are lighter than previous models.
The G4 lineup builds on the successful GX bikes Gocycle released last year, which our testers at Electric Bike Report described as a “blast to ride” that “literally folds up in seconds.”
“G4 has been in development for many years and represents the most significant product update for Gocycle since our G1 to G2 engineering programme. Our generation four models have been developed through a combination of listening to our customers and our continued mission to develop the best urban electric bikes on the planet. G4 will not only set a new standard for Gocycle, but a new standard for performance for all of our competitors in the portable electric bike segment,” wrote Gocycle designer and founder Richard Thorpe in the company’s release of the new lineup.
“What I’m most excited about is our future road map and the potential for Gocycle to continue to innovate at a higher rate than our competitors. At Gocycle, we cook with different ingredients allowing us to redefine what an ebike can be and do. G4 is very exciting for us and provides a platform that will support even more significant developments in our pipeline in years to come!”
Gocycle G4 Specs
The G4 lineup also comes with the all new G4drive motor, which Gocycle says delivers more torque and better performance for low-speed starts. That motor is housed inside the (also new) single-sided carbon fiber fork that’s been engineered with more vertical compliance to dampen road bumps. The G4’s midframe is also now made of carbon fiber.
The new bikes also come with a redesigned MotoGP-inspired tire, an integrated USP port in the handlebar for charging electronics and better bluetooth connectivity.
Gocycle is offering its G4 lineup at three price points. Those are the $3,999 G4, the $4,999 G4i and the $5,999 G4i+.
Gocycle did not specify the wattage of its new G4drive motor, but the removable lithium-ion battery is fast charging (in 3.5 hours) and can power the bike for a claimed 40 miles for the G4 model and up to 50 miles for the G4i. On the GX model we tested last year, the proprietary front-hub motor produced 500w in the U.S. and 250w in the E.U.
The ultra-lux variation of the G4, the G4i+, will only be available in limited quantities and features lightweight carbon fiber versions of Gocycle’s proprietary PitstopWheels, which quick detach for easy maintenance.
The G4’s folding system is unchanged from the GX model aside from the introduction of a single titanium pin that keeps the folding joint “perfectly aligned,” according to the press kit. Goycle says the new G4 will have its own dedicated suite of accessories including mudguards, lights and a new pannier rack.
Even though Electric Bike Report’s home base of southwest Utah doesn’t see a lot of need for compact folding e-bikes, our staff has a bit of a love affair with the Gocycle GX we keep in the office. It looks cool, folds up nicely and — most importantly — the bike rides surprisingly well compared to some of the larger and more powerful non-folding e-bikes we have. We are excited the new G4 lineup builds on the things we fell in love with on the GX, and are nothing less than stoked on our first opportunity for a test ride.
Related
