GoCycle G4 Review – A Sleek & Sophisticated Folding Electric Bike
Bruno Long
Having the ability to stand out in a crowd is a skill reserved for the guy who shows up to a pool party dressed as an 8-ball, or wearing head-to-toe 49ers gear at your Eagles tailgate on Sunday afternoon. Maybe it's that one friend who has that special 'Je ne sais quoi', where people just gravitate towards them as you stand awkwardly in the background, trying to think of something clever to say so that maybe, just maybe, you can stand out too.
But I digress from my telling you about my weekend (dammit, Trevor is so cool). Instead, we are here to talk about the GoCycle G4, a unique electric bike offering that has no trouble standing out in a crowd wherever it goes.
The UK-based company is known for providing a striking electric bike that has won numerous awards for its innovative design and is at the forefront of pushing the boundaries by creating proprietary technology to complement its distinctive frame.
Quick Specs
Battery: 300 Wh (36v, 8.1 Ah)
Motor: 500W G4drive
Range: Up to 40 miles
Weight: 38.8 lbs
Class 2: Up to 20 MPH with thumb throttle
Sensor: Pedal torque sensor
Brakes: Proprietary hydraulic brakes
Rider Max Weight: 220lbs
GoCycle Story
GoCycle is a brand of electric bicycles developed by Karbon Kinetics, a British company founded by Richard Thorpe, a former Formula 1 engineer at McLaren, and it specializes in designing and manufacturing innovative electric bicycles. The GoCycle series is known for its stylish, foldable and lightweight design, making it convenient for urban commuting and those with limited space. The bikes are equipped with advanced technology, including a proprietary motor system, lightweight materials, and integrated features.
The first version of the bikes was released in 2009 and since then, they have continued to push their design ideas and become a favorite of riders who enjoy innovation and futuristic-looking electric bikes. Using techniques that come straight from the automotive industry, GoCyle loves to build its proprietary technology, from the G4drive front hub motor and CleanDrive 3-speed hub, it also makes its own handlebars and hydraulic brakes. You won't find many other electric bike companies building and creating their parts, which just adds to the mystique surrounding the GoCycle brand.
Unboxing & Initial Impression
The first thing I noticed when the box arrived at my house was that it seemed possible that the delivery man had left the other half of the box in his cube van. This is a testament to how small the GoCycle can fold up. Often bikes come in massive, oversized bike boxes and you might need to call over a friend or neighbor to help get it into the house. No worries here, with the GoCycle weighing in under 40lbs.
Unboxing and building the GoCycle was easy, as it came mostly pre-built in the custom box. From opening the box to having the bike more-or-less ready to ride took less than 10 minutes. The instructions were very clear and there were multiple options, either via a supplied instruction sheet or an online video via QR code. Ease of assembly is of paramount importance, since many people may not have the tools or knowledge to put together a full bike. Most direct-to-consumer companies are doing 75-80% of the assembly before shipping.
My initial impression of the bike was, to be honest, that it looked sort of odd. I'm a bit old school and love a classic-looking bike. This is not what you get from the GoCycle and I appreciate their focus on being different. I've never seen a bike quite like it and after spending some time studying it (as I changed a flat tire out of the box), I gained an appreciation for the sleek lines and detailed craftsmanship. I was looking forward to getting this mini-spaceship out the door and onto the pavement.
The CleanDrive, which is injection moulded magnesium.
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Frame Design
The three-piece frame design is a mini work of art. The monocoque frame design is centred around the G4's injection-moulded composite mid-frame, which is the middleman between the hydroformed aluminum front frame and the patented magnesium Cleandrive. It is obvious that the design team, spearheaded by CEO Richard Thorpe, has experience with racing design.
The frame looks so simple, yet is well-thought-out and yet more complicated than it looks. Integrating the folding mechanism, rear shock and kickstand around the sleek frame, while simultaneously making them functional and seamless, couldn't have been as simple as it seemed.
The front fork, which I nicknamed 'The Righty', as an ode to Cannondale's signature 'Lefty' fork, surprisingly didn't seem that odd to me. It blended in so well with the rest of the bike that I sometimes forgot it was a single-sided fork. The way it blended directly into the front hub motor and wheel had me more focused on the overall look of the bike instead of picking apart anything that drew my eye.
The folding mechanism is one of the highlights of the bike, especially compared to other folding bikes. It is simple to use and when folded, easily rolls by holding the handlebar and pushing it forward, making it ideal for office usage or using it as part of your 'last-mile' commute on public transit. Big thumbs up here.
The 500W G4drive motor.
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Engine & Battery
Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
– G4drive motor is powerful and beautifully integrated – More torque than expected – Quiet motor – Fast charging (3 hours) | – Proprietary motor may be difficult to fix/troubleshoot – Battery could be slightly more powerful |
At first sight, it may be difficult to even know where the motor on this bike is. With so many unique aspects integrated into this bike, finding the motor takes a keen eye for detail.
The seamless union between the 'Righty' and the G4drive motor is a thing of beauty, hiding the motor in plain sight. Designed to be one of the most compact motors on the market, this 500W motor packs a serious amount of power for its size.
The engine puts out very little noise, which is exactly what GoCycle boasts as one of its main selling points. The bike almost glides along without a sound, making it easier to pay attention to your surroundings.
The motor kicks in smoothly as you begin to ride, which can be attributed to the low-speed hill start control. It does not shoot off the line like a sprinter and the assist feels natural.
While the battery pack is compact and its location inside the frame is well-designed, it would be nice if the battery was a bit bigger, with just under 300Wh coupled with the 500W motor. It did provide the torque needed for most hills, but extended climbing drained the battery fairly quickly and may not last even close to the 40-mile range that GoCyle advertises.
The proprietary handlebar and braking system
Bruno Long
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Bike Fit
Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
– Easy mounting/low standover height – Great adjustability – Comfortable cockpit | – Adjustability on the handlebar/brake levers |
My initial impression upon setting the bike up is that it would feel small and awkward. With the 20-inch wheels and compact design, I thought there would be a chance it would feel like riding a miniature bike, like a clown at the circus. Yet after a few adjustments to the seat and stem, the bike fit felt quite natural.
Obviously, it does have that unmistakable feeling of being on a small bike, but as soon as you sit down and grab the handlebars, you can tell that a lot of thought went into making the riding experience as natural as possible.
The seat post adjustment, with its extending post allowing for both tall and shorter riders to find their preferred riding position, can be moved with an integrated tool under the seat. The seat itself is streamlined but comfortable, and coupled with the ergonomic grips, it makes for an overall natural feeling riding position.
The only thing I would have liked to be able to adjust were the brake levers on the handlebar. With its in-house designed handlebar, there is no room to move the brake levers along the handlebar to account for your personal preference.
The levers are pretty much locked in place and offer very little adjustability. As someone who is pretty specific about where his levers are located, this is one small gripe I have about the bike fit.
More proprietary technology.
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Drivetrain & Components
Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
– CleanDrive is smooth and efficient – Hydraulic brakes are powerful – Wheels offer easy tire swaps – All components are of the highest quality | – Tires are thin and prone to flats – Handlebar display is confusing – Phone holder/app difficult to use – Proprietary components may be more difficult to fix (ie CleanDrive) |
The drivetrain (or at first glance, lack thereof) is what I first noticed when breaking down this category. The sealed unit of the proprietary CleanDrive system looks like an oversized chain guard, that is until you take a closer look and realize that it is a sealed unit. This saves your pant legs from getting caught in any chain or getting the dreaded 'grease fingers' from reinstalling a thrown chain. For seasoned riders, this is something that we can all appreciate greatly.
The CleanDrive system is coupled with a Nexus 3-gear internal hub that is built right into the rear wheel and drive-side unit. It has a super clean look and is protected from dust, dirt and damage. There is seemingly no need for chain lubrication (you couldn't put any on the chain even if you tried) and the shifting was seamless with the Microshift integrated into the handlebar.
The one thing that did give me some worries was long-term maintenance. With a lack of cables (almost everything was internally routed) and the sealed unit of the CleanDrive, I can't help but imagine trying to fix any problem that might arise.
Bruno Long
Other than changing the tires on this bike (which were incredibly easy and convenient), maintenance would be a nightmare and most likely would include a stop-in at a local bike shop, which may need some extra time to figure out how to fix any problem you might have.
Having proprietary technology isn't a bad thing in itself, but it does make things a little more awkward when maintenance is needed because having easy access and familiarity with tried and tested components/systems helps the owners or mechanics fix any problems that may arise in the future.
The hydraulic brakes on the G4 had plenty of stopping power, which is of the utmost importance to me. Having a good braking system is the best safety precaution you can take other than wearing a helmet. Hydraulic brakes are a must-have on any electric bike and these in-house brakes had great stopping power. As mentioned previously, I do wish that the levers could be adjusted to fit in a specific spot along the handlebars but it isn't the worst thing in the world. The worst would be having mechanical brakes. Listen up electric bike companies: use hydraulic brakes.
Bruno Long
The Pitstop wheelset and integration are great features on this bike. They have a unique look, which fits well with the rest of the G4, as well as making it extremely simple to change tires without having to remove the wheels from the bike. Unfortunately, this might be something you need to do often, depending on where you live.
The race-inspired tires offer great grip and rolling speed, but they are thin and prone to flats, of which I had two during my time testing the bike. If you intend to ride this bike anywhere that has prickly plants nearby or a plethora of sharp objects along the roadways, be prepared with a pump, tube and/or patch kit.
Finally, the display and phone mount for this bike left much to be desired. The integrated display on the handlebar is just a series of red lights, indicating the power and battery life. There are no other displays on the bike and it becomes very confusing if you don't have the app open on your phone. The light changes often and it is impossible to know exactly what the battery life is or what mode you are in without the app.
The phone mount on the handlebar was very rudimentary compared to the rest of this high-tech bike. It was nothing more than a couple of very tight rubber bands that were extremely difficult to warp around the phone each time you set off on a ride.
They also blocked the screen app and stopped me from reading the app correctly or adjusting the settings easily. On top of that, the app was slightly confusing and had too many adjustments for my liking. This is an electric bike, not an F1 race car. A simple display on the handlebar could easily solve this problem.
Bruno Long
The Ride
Pros | Cons |
|---|---|
– Smooth acceleration – Stable handling – Good power and torque | – Throttle boost was intermittent – LockShock was a bit bouncy at times |
After spending a good deal of time on the G4, I must admit that this little bike grew on me, and it was mostly due to the ride performance. This race-inspired bike was a blast to rip around town. It rolled smoothly on the performance tires, accelerated with a smooth feel and carved corners with ease.
Sometimes a smaller bike with 20-inch wheels can feel a little odd at higher speeds but the G4 lived up to its F1 racing pedigree. I found myself enjoying the ride more each time I took it out to run an errand or hit up the local grocery store.
When it came to hill climbs, the G4 tackled most hills fairly well, although extended climbs drained the undersized battery quite a bit, cutting into the projected 40-mile range of this bike quickly.
If you live in a hilly area and are often doing 10-15-mile journeys on your e-bike, make sure the battery is fully charged before you head out. I had a few instances where the battery was not fully charged and my ride extended a bit further than anticipated, drudging up those awful feelings of 'range anxiety'.
Bruno Long
The rear shock (called the LockShock) gives the rider 1 inch of travel, softening up the ride when encountering bumps along the road. Most of the time I didn't notice the suspension. However, when I did, it was mostly due to an odd bouncing motion when pedalling the bike at a high cadence. When climbing uphill with a fast cadence or when at top speed, the suspension sometimes got into a bouncing rhythm that continued until you stopped pedalling or adjusted the cadence to a slower pace.
The thumb-button throttle was a bit of a love/hate issue for me. I loved the placement and incognito size of the throttle, which is just a small button on the left grip, perfectly positioned for ease of use.
However, it often cut out on me or didn't work at all when I pushed the button. After many tries with the app and troubleshooting, the problem never resolved itself and I simply stopped using it. Without many cables or options to fix it other than with the app, this goes back to my concerns about proprietary technology and familiarity with mechanical issues.
Bruno Long
Pricing
The G4 is the base option from GoCycle. It is priced at USD 2999, which is a fairly high price tag, but not uncommon in the electric bike marketplace. It is touted as a high-end specialty product and for the most part, it does fill the niche market. However, most bikes in this price range would come equipped with some accessories to complement the bicycle.
The G4 comes with absolutely no accessories, not even headlights or a taillight for safety. There are no fenders for wet riding or a rack for attaching a small bag. It is a no-frills bike that is streamlined for speed, not practicality. There are options for fenders, lights, bags etc, but at an added cost of more than $700 to an already expensive bike. I would love to see at least some lights and fenders included in the base models in the future.
Related: Best Electric Bikes of 2023
Overall Impression – 8.5/10
Despite what the rating might tell you, I very much enjoyed the G4 overall. It had a nice feel when riding, had more power than expected, handled well on the streets and its efficiency as a foldable bike were all appreciated aspects of the design. Thinking outside the box can sometimes be intimidating, especially when it comes to emerging markets like the electric bike industry. However, GoCyle has nailed it with a unique and eye-catching product that fits a very niche market in the market.
With that being said, there are a few things that definitely could be improved, especially the display unit/app, the flimsy race tires, and the lack of accessories included with the bike. The G4 fills the void in a niche market of riders who need an electric bike that is compact, light and fairly efficient. Other than that, it isn't as practical for day-to-day needs like running errands, getting groceries or longer rides in hilly areas as some other electric bicycles.
Innovation and pushing the envelope is what technology is all about, improving on already existing products to make them more efficient, or upsetting the apple cart and doing something truly unique that challenges our way of thinking. GoCycle is doing things their way, building proprietary technology and creating products that stand out from the crowd. Hopefully, they continue to innovate and be a market disruptor in this burgeoning space because there is always a need for progress as a market grows into itself.
Bruno Long
