Gocycle G4 Review: Premium City E-Bike What is it?

A true success in Britain is GoCycle. Richard Thorpe, the company’s creator, first worked for McLaren as a Formula 1 engineer before creating the original G3 GoCycle a decade ago.

In theory, folding bikes are a terrific idea, but all too frequently, they are ugly and difficult to ride. All of these notions are refuted by the G4 from Gocycle, though.

The newest foldable G4 now has a full-carbon fork and a carbon mid-section, helping to shed weight. The devotion to the single-sided frame and fork, compact wheels wrapped around sophisticated electronics, and this continues.

Gocycle G4

Gocycle G4

£2.00

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Gocycle.com

With a price tag of around £4,000, you get a no-compromise folding electric bike with an upgraded engine, the brand’s own app, and useful extras like lights and mudguards.

There is no disputing that the G4 is a pricey alternative at about £4,000. So how exactly does Gocycle justify the high price?

Gocycle G4: Design

The G4’s mono construction not only keeps the fold small, but the stub axles allow you to repair punctures without removing a wheel. Although punctures aren’t all that common with hardened tires wider than two inches.

The frame and construction, which are exotic and made of a combination of carbon fiber, composite material, and aluminum, appear to have consumed the majority of the money.

The rear swingarm of the GoCycle swivels at the bottom bracket and is supported from the main frame by a shock with a one-inch travel. The Gocycle unique magnesium “Cleandrive” mechanism is lastly located at the back. Similar to the enclosed chain drive of a standard bike, this one is totally concealed, making it less likely to spill oil on your pants. A clever Microshift three-speed hub gear is also concealed inside the back wheel. You can effortlessly change gears whether you’re pedaling or at a stop thanks to the handlebars’ matching twist grip.

The carbon fiber fork is a single-sided type that was created especially for this Gocycle. The hydroformed aluminum middle part, which also houses the battery, comes next. A molded composite component is located in the middle, close to the pivot on the main frame that enables the bike to fold down. Gocycle was able to lower the price of the 2022 G4 thanks to the substitution of this material for the prior usage of carbon fiber.

Each the GoCycle’s patented hydraulic disc brakes, which have rotor covers on both, and the design are sleek and clean. With well curved levers and plenty of torque, the braking is excellent.

I found the 39.1-72.5in range of the three-speed Shimano Nexus hub gear to be perfect for cycling in suburban and urban areas.

The top gear is large enough to propel you along at speeds that are comparable to those of a road bike, the medium gear, at 53.3 inches, allows you to move at a reasonable clip. The bottom gear is low enough for difficult hills.

Its folded dimension of 830x370x750mm is tiny enough to fit in a small car’s trunk, but it isn’t small enough to fit under a standard desk. If space is a major concern for you, a Brompton electric could be a better option for you.

Gocycle G4: Motor and Driving

A 36V, 294Wh lithium-ion battery is housed inside the front aluminum frame portion and provides power to a patented G4drive 250W motor that is integrated into the front wheel hub. This may be removed when the bike is folded and charged separately from the bike via a tiny socket on the side of the frame.

Because the GoCycle is not a “hands-on” system, you must rely on the bike’s programming and speed/cadence monitoring for it to determine how much power you need. The freshly upgraded motor of the GoCycle offers greater power than the one from the previous generation.

However, if you need more of a lift while starting a climb or pulling away from traffic lights, a little bar-mounted button does let you override the aid.

The G4 is a very easy bike to ride. You can climb aboard, switch on the electricity, and leave whenever you please. The Gocycle app is necessary for getting the most out of the G4, though. You may spend many hours fine-tuning the features of the power supply from the motor once this is loaded on your phone, and you can also use it as a digital dashboard.

So here is the only one illustration of how carefully the Gocycle G4 was designed. Gocycle provides a pair of clever rubber straps to attach your phone to the handlebars because you’ll be using it as a digital dash, and there is a USB socket hidden beneath the bars.

For the G4, GoCycle does not provide a torque output, however the variable power output ranges from the equivalent of 20 Nm to about 70 Nm.

What will become immediately clear is how remarkable the G4 is.

However, because of how steep my neighborhood is, that amount includes 1,343ft (409m) of ascent. Even the longest commutes can be completed with a range of more than 50 km, and a three-hour charge time is excellent.

The G4 is steady even if it is quick. It boasts a full 1,065mm wheelbase, a loose 70-degree head angle, and a very slack 68-degree seat angle, which results in a large increase in saddle-to-bar distance when you extend the telescopic seatpost, ensuring a comfortable riding posture.

The torque sensor on the bicycle changes the degree of help in City mode based on how hard you are pedaling; the harder you ride, the more power the bicycle provides. It works similarly when you switch to Eco, however the motor doesn’t engage until the bike is putting out 250 watts of pedal force, whereas in City mode, just 100 watts are required to engage the G4drive.

You can only use the On Demand option with the Boost button to control when power assistance is used. Even better, you may design your own unique custom modes that specify the power levels for when the power starts working and how vigorously you need pedal to obtain maximum power.

When I frequently felt like I needed a little extra power, I just pressed the boost button located under my thumb under the left grip. When riding up hills or when you need to clear traffic when accelerating from stoplights, this rapidly applies full power and can be helpful. Additionally, it comes in useful when you fail to shift out of high gear when you stop; a fast click of the boost button gives the bike just the right amount of prod to get it moving swiftly.

The end effect is a ride that is very different from the jittery feeling that most small-wheeled folders are known for. It even accommodated my considerably shorter companion and me thanks to two seatpost extensions of differing lengths.

Gocycle G4: Conclusions

Because of the G4’s distinct, no-compromise design that is ideal for its function, I really, really appreciate it. Although it is lighter and more powerful than before, the price has increased as well.

This adds extra technology to the already cutting-edge G4 line with integrated running lights, a multicolored display, predictive automated gears, and a larger battery. The handlebar height may also be changed.

The most recent 2022 variants of the G4, which is a very competent motorcycle, provide substantially better value than earlier generations. It’s nice that lights and mudguards are included as standard equipment, and the model I rode had a front pannier attachment that is a terrific addition but costs an additional £150.

Security was my main concern with the G4. I am aware that the whole point of a folding bike is that you can bring it inside with you as opposed to locking it up outside. That isn’t feasible for a fast trip to the store, though. There is no place on the G4 where a lock may be passed through the frame due to its design.

Gocycle G4: Price and Where to buy cheaper? 

A folding bike is simply the ideal choice if you want a bike you can store indoors and live in a flat or tiny house. The G4 from Gocycle needs to be at the top of your wishlist if you’re looking for one of the best electric folding bike solutions. When folded, it can fit below a typical desk and weighs little under 17 kg, making it almost light enough to carry short distances.

The price increase from £3,399 when we initially requested the bike to its current price of £3,999 — while this does now include lights and mudguards, both of which I consider commuting requirements — wasn’t helpful in this regard.

The entrance Brompton Electric, for example, is almost £1,000 cheaper and even more smaller when folded than other alternatives. Other solutions are also lighter or more affordable. The Brompton, in contrast to the Gocycle G4, has less gears, manual rim brakes rather than fluid disc brakes, smaller wheels, and a harsher ride due to its poorer quality.

Gocycle G4

Gocycle G4

£2.00

BUY NOW

Gocycle.com

Video Review Of Gocycle G4