Finbike U4 Electric Bike

Is the Finbike U4 Electric Bike worth buying?

Yes, for anyone who has to store a bike indoors or carry it in a car: the Finbike U4 Electric Bike costs £379.99, folds at the handlebar, frame and pedals, and weighs 26.5 kg with a 120 kg payload. 92 owners rate it 4.2, which is a settled record rather than a handful of early reviews. Buy it for the fold and the low weight, not for long distances or steep hills.

It fits riders between 155 and 180 cm through a seat that adjusts from 69 to 95 cm, and the motor holds a 25 km/h top speed with a 20 degree climbing rating. That puts it squarely in legal pedelec territory for a UK commute, and it arrives 85 per cent assembled so the first ride is a short job with a spanner rather than an afternoon.

How far does the 374.4 Wh battery actually take you?

The pack is 36V at 10.4Ah, which is 374.4 Wh, and at £379.99 that works out at 0.99 Wh per pound. Put it next to the WITAMBIKE 29" at £649.99, which carries 892.8 Wh and 1.37 Wh per pound, and the extra £270.00 buys you 518.4 Wh more, close to two and a half times the energy for a bike that will not fold.

In daily use those watt-hours come out as 30 to 40 km on throttle alone and 50 to 60 km in pedal assist, with a four to five hour charge from empty. Three assist modes cap the motor at 15, 20 and 25 km/h, and a twist-grip shifter covers the three gears, so the fastest setting still leaves you pedalling on anything steep.

What comes in the box and what is it like to live with?

The bike arrives with its battery and a user manual, and the front and rear fenders, rear rack, front suspension fork, LED headlight, flashing rear brake light and bell are already on it. It rolls on 16 x 2.15 inch anti-slip tyres, the step-through alloy steel frame is easy to mount in a coat, and dual disc brakes work alongside electronic braking that cuts the motor as you pull the levers.

At 26.5 kg with the battery in, one person can lift it into a hallway, a lift or a hatchback, and the fold covers the handlebar, the frame and the pedals rather than just the stem. Keep the original packaging for a while: Finbike asks owners to return the bike in it instead of arranging a self-return, which avoids a parcel going missing in transit.

Where does the Finbike U4 fall short?

Three gears is the honest constraint. The 20 degree climb rating comes from the motor rather than the drivetrain, so a long steep hill with shopping on the rack will have you pushing hard. The 374.4 Wh pack is also the second smallest of the models we compared, and 30 to 40 km on throttle alone is the shortest motor-only figure in that group.

The 16-inch wheels are built for paved roads and urban surfaces, so gravel and rough towpaths feel busy through the bars, and the seat stops at 95 cm, which is why the fit tops out at 180 cm. And 26.5 kg is light for a folding ebike, but it is still 26.5 kg to carry up two flights of stairs with the battery left in.

How does the Finbike U4 compare with other budget ebikes?

Against the Finbike 26in Electric Bike at £359, the U4 costs £20.99 more and runs the same 374.4 Wh capacity, but the cheaper model has 26-inch wheels, seven gears and a Bluetooth app, and it does not fold. Take the EB3 if you have somewhere to park a full-size bike and want the smoother ride; take the U4 when the bike has to live indoors or travel in a car.

Against the URLIFE 26" Electric Bike at £419, the U4 gives up 93.6 Wh and four gears for £39.01 less, and it folds where the URLIFE does not. The URLIFE carries 170 owner ratings at 4.0 against 92 at 4.2, and its high-carbon steel frame rides bigger bumps better on 26-inch wheels. If the fold is not essential, the URLIFE is the stronger everyday commuter; if it is, the U4 is the one to order.