Last updated on March 22nd, 2022 at 01:39 pm
- Easy to fold
- Disc brakes
- Uncomplicated controls
- Integrated lights and horn
- Expensive
- Can’t be wheeled when folded
- Hard to add on-bike cargo carrying
Assisted Range: 25-30 miles Top Assisted Speed: 15.5 mph Cost/Mile (@14p/kWh): 0.1p
Introduction
Ebikes can enable people who wouldn’t consider cycling to work to make this their regular mode of commuting. An electric bike can provide a healthier, cheaper and more convenient journey without risking too much fatigue (or sweat) in transit. However, if your commute also involves public transport, or you have nowhere outside that's safe to store your bike, a regular e-bike won't be viable. This is where folding bikes have become popular, and electric versions can give you the best of both worlds. Axon Rides specialises in this area, and we took at a look at the Axon Pro in top-of-the-range Max form.
Price and Options
Axon makes three different versions of the Pro. There's the Axon Pro Lite, the regular Pro and the Pro Max, the one we tried out. Although Axon Rides also makes a few other bikes including an Eco version, the main ones the company is currently marketing are these three. They’re not cheap, either. Where an entry-level folding e-bike costs £5-600, the Axon Pro Lite costs £1,665, the regular Pro is £1,850, and the Max is £2,280 (our video states it is £1,995, which is the price of another Axon Rides model with similar features).
On the other hand, a top-end Raleigh will be more like £2,500, Brompton e-bikes are around £3,000, and there are a few even more expensive specialist brands. So the Axon Pro is towards the top of the price range, but it’s not the most pricey folding e-bike on the market. It's also worth pointing out that the Axon Rides bikes are available through the Green Commute Initiative, which is a cycle to work scheme that doesn't have a £1,000 price limit. Otherwise, the Axon bikes wouldn’t qualify. You can also buy online direct from Axon Rides as well as from select retailers.
The bikes come with a two-year warranty and 30-day money back guarantee. They all have basically the same design, but with some subtle feature differences that justify the variety of prices. The Pro and Pro Lite have a 5.2Ah battery, whereas the Max has 7Ah. All use a 36V system, so the batteries are 187.2Wh and 252Wh respectively. All three models have disc brakes, but the Pro and Pro Max have hydraulic systems whereas the Lite's brakes are just mechanical.
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