Could the next big Bastille hit be a full-size folding e-bike, not radio-friendly pop music? That’s what the premium French bike brand that shares its name with Bastille the band (and the medieval Parisian fortress, which may have something to do with it) will be hoping, this week seeing the launch of its new Bastille E in the UK, an “e-bike that folds like magic” in six seconds and offers riders “the best of both worlds” according to the brand.
Coming with the tag line ‘the electric bike that won’t be stolen’, Bastille’s €3,190 (£2,790) E is, on the surface, a bike that looks (and apparently rides) like any other full-sized bicycle, only it has an electric motor and can fold down so it can be easily transported and does not need to be left outside at the mercy of the weather and bike thieves. Better hope any potential thieves don’t follow you into the office, then…
Anyone who has been to a gym and lifted a dumbbell might raise eyebrows at Bastille’s claim the 16.7kg weight is “light as air”, but that sits roughly in the middle of the folding e-bike weight range, and Bastille would argue in return you are getting an electric bike with 27.5-inch (650b) wheels, what they called “the best of both worlds” earlier.
> Best folding e-bikes – our favourites from those we’ve ridden (and folded and unfolded)
You might notice that weight when changing platforms in a hurry, but Bastille insists it is still “one of the lightest electric bikes on the market” thanks to the motor, battery and controller all sitting in the rear wheel’s hub. There aren’t any gears either, the Bastille E hub instead offering “progressive assistance that adapts to the terrain” and a belt drive drivetrain.
The brand says the design process has involved ten years of R&D and three patents to “reinvent” the folding mechanism “without compromising on performance or wheel size”. It apparently folds down in five to 10 seconds, although six is another figure given for folding time. When folded down it’s 82cm long, 33cm wide and 80 cm tall.
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The battery is 210Wh and has a range of 40-50km, with estimated charging time listed as three-and-a-half hours. The motor can be set to two modes, eco or speed, which will obviously impact battery life too.
With commuting in mind, the Bastille E comes with integrated lighting and mudguards, a Bastille app also letting riders see battery level, assistance mode and distance travelled.
Co-founder and inventor Giles Henry said: “This is the electric version I had dreamed of for Bastille: ultra-simple, without any unnecessary tech. All the joy of an ingenious, beautiful, and high-performing e-bike, with the ever-present magic of Bastille folding.”
The brand launched in 2023 and the Bastille E is made in France. This week Bastille announced the launch of this bike and its official expansion into the UK.
