GOCYCLE G4
£3999 It’s go go gadget for this UK-designed high-tech folder
GoCycle is a genuine British success story. Its founder Richard Thorpe started out life as Formula 1 engineer for McLaren before designing the original G3 GoCycle a decade ago. The commitment to the single-sided frame and fork, and small wheels wrapped around clever electronics continues, and the latest foldable G4 now features a full-carbon fork and a carbon mid-section, helping to shed weight.
The single-sided design not only makes the fold compact, but the stub axles mean you don’t need to remove a wheel to fix a puncture. Although, with toughened tyres over two inches wide, punctures aren’t that likely anyway.
The GoCycle’s rear-end swingarm pivots at the bottom bracket and is suspended from the main frame via a one-inch-travel shock. The swingarm is made from magnesium alloy, and as well as being a structural part of the bike, it encloses the ‘Cleandrive’ drivetrain. So, it’s clean as well as neat, which is also true for the GoCycle’s proprietary hydraulic disc brakes, both of which feature rotor covers. The braking is superb, with well-shaped levers and bags of power.
The three-speed Shimano Nexus hub gear delivers a 39.172.5in range that I found ideal for suburban and urban riding. The bottom gear is low enough for steep climbs, the 53.3in middle gear enables you to spin along at a fair lick, and the top is big enough to power you along at close to fullon road bike speeds.
GoCycle’s newly updated motor provides more power than the previous generation’s motor and because the GoCycle isn’t a ‘hands-on’ system, you have to rely on the bike’s programming and speed/cadence monitoring for it to judge how much power you require. However, a small bar-mounted button does let you override the assistance should
you want more of a boost at the start of a climb or when pulling away from traffic lights.
As with the Van Moof, the GoCycle is at its best when used with its own app. This has lots of editable tuning options and its comprehensive display info includes the average power you and the bike are producing and how much fuel you’re saving by not driving.
GoCycle doesn’t state a torque output for the G4, but the constantly changing power output delivers between the equivalent of 20Nm up to around 70Nm. And what quickly becomes apparent is just how impressive the G4 is. Plenty of torque and small wheels deliver rapid acceleration, making it the nippiest bike here and one well suited to city rides. And yet, thanks to its big tyres, suspension and traction control, it can also tackle rural riding.
GoCycle claims a range of up to 40 miles/65km but the most I managed was 33.55 miles/54km. Where I live is quite hilly, though, so that did take in 1,343ft/409m of climbing. However, a range of over 50km is more than enough for all but the longest commutes, and a charge time of just three hours is impressive.
The G4 may be nippy but it’s also stable. It has a full-length 1065mm wheelbase, a relaxed 70-degree head angle and its 68-degree seat angle means that, as you extend the telescopic seatpost, the reach lengthens so the riding position isn’t cramped. The result is a ride that’s a world away from the twitchiness often associated with most smallwheeled folders. Two differentlength seatpost extensions also meant it fitted both me and my much shorter partner.
Its 830x370x750mm folded size is small enough to fit the boot of a small car but it won’t slide under a desk like a Brompton – but then the Brompton electric doesn’t have the G4’s suburban chops and can’t match its smooth all-terraincapable ride.
I really, really like the G4, thanks to its unique, no-compromise design that’s perfect for its purpose. However, while it’s lighter and more powerful than before, it’s also more expensive. This wasn’t helped by production costs pushing the price up from £3399 when we first requested the bike to its present price of £3999 – though this does now include lights and mudguards, both of which I consider commuting essentials.
Plenty of torque and small wheels deliver rapid acceleration , making it the nippiest bike here