About us – AS Folding Electric Bikes

About AS BIKES

AS BIKES is a family-run business founded in 2001, born out of a practical need. While living on a canal boat, we struggled to find a decent push bike that could fit neatly into the bilge area. That’s when we started with just two folding pedal bikes — one with 16” wheels and the other with 20”.

As electric bikes started gaining popularity, we saw an opportunity and introduced our first model: the MK1. At the time, regulations only allowed a 180W motor paired with a 24V NiMH battery, but the MK1 quickly became a popular choice.

When laws changed, we upgraded to the MK2, still limited to a 200W motor but now featuring a lithium battery — a significant improvement in terms of weight and performance.

Later, another regulatory shift allowed the use of 250W motors and 36V batteries. This advancement was a game-changer. The increased power and range made earlier models feel outdated. With that, we launched the MK3, which remains our flagship bike today.

Over time, we've continued to refine the MK3 — upgrading to disc brakes, improving the gear system, and boosting battery capacity. We now use a 13Ah lithium battery across all our models for better range and reliability.

We were proud to be one of the first UK suppliers of a fully folding 26” wheel bike — a rare find even today.

Our founder, Peter Drakeford, is an inventor at heart. After listening to customers with balance and mobility challenges, he designed a fully folding electric tricycle — only the second of its kind in the world. Folding down to just 16” wide, it's ideal for those traveling with motorhomes or caravans. It's helped many people with confidence or mobility issues rediscover the joy of cycling.

As our customer base grew and evolved, we adapted once more. Peter developed a folding mobility scooter, enhancing its design, motor, and controls to meet the needs of customers who enjoy venturing off the beaten path.

At AS BIKES, we treat our customers the way we’d like to be treated — with compassion, respect, and long-term care. No job is ever too small. We take pride in our service and our reviews reflect our commitment to going the extra mile — often at no or minimal cost to the customer.

Did you know?

Many of today’s car companies began as bicycle companies and the first car builders were in fact former bicycle mechanics. This apparently reaches all the way back to some of the bicycle’s originators. John Kemp Starley was the inventor of the original Safety Bicycle, that resembles those we ride today. Even more interesting is that he was the nephew of James Starley, the inventor of the Penny-Farthing and pioneer of the very first mass production of bicycles in Coventry. John Starley’s invention of the Safety Bicycle was truly revolutionary. Not only was it chain driven and have rear wheel drive, it also had two tyres the same size. All of these things made riding a bike much safer, hence the bike’s original name (it was not uncommon for a Penny-Farthing rider to “pull a header,” or flip over the front wheel). Mr. Starley and his business partner renamed the bike and their company the Rover from whence the Rover car company originated.

We at AS Bikes continue to nurture the spirit of innovation with our hand-built electric bikes.