Batavus anyone?

[indalo]

At one time or another, I think I've heard mention in these pages of most of the ebikes being marketed in the UK. The one exception, though maybe I've just missed it, is Batavus, the Dutch maker.

The only outlet I'm aware of for these good-looking machines is at Littlehampton in Sussex and the prices seem reasonable given the quality build....I'm assuming their ebikes are as well put together as the non-electric ones I've seen around Cambridge.

Presumably, as there is a dealer in Sussex, somebody must buy Batavus and I just wondered if any of our members own one. I remember having one of their models on my shortlist back in 2008 before buying my first ebike but chose a Gazelle later instead. I've never really thought about Batavus since and would be interested to know if they're any good.

Indalo

 

[jerrysimon]

Intersting.

I think this is a link to them.

Regards

Jerry

 

[flecc]

I know they are highly regarded in the Netherlands, but the motor looks like the low powered direct drive Sparta one used in the Sparta and Koga e-bikes. Both Sparta and Batavus are owned by the giant Accell Group of bicycle companies.

That motor was always a very poor hill climber, but a Sparta importer has claimed the torque has been greatly increased now. I'd still advise caution for anyone having hills to climb, try the bike first in suitable circumstances.

 

[indalo]

the motor looks like the low powered direct drive Sparta one used in the Sparta and Koga e-bikes. Both Sparta and Batavus are owned by the giant Accell Group of bicycle companies.

Without trawling through their website again, I thought I read the motor was by Sanyo. If that's correct, I hadn't realised that Sanyo made motors for ebikes. If, as Flecc suggests, the motor should be the same type as used by Sparta and Koga, then they must have made a few of those by now. I can't think of other machines which utilise this motor but others may know better.

Again, as Flecc has said, if the motor is common to those brands, (which would be logical) and has been uprated, I'm curious to know if the criticism of hill-climbing ability remains valid. I haven't checked to see who imports Sparta ebikes but I know James of "Justebikes" is one so perhaps, (if he reads this) he might comment about this uprating of the motor torque on these bikes.

I do like Dutch bikes particularly for their old-fashioned style but also for their enclosed chains, gears and, in many cases, brakes. I happily concede that they are less than dynamic when it comes to hills but I can forgive that as I have tried some hub-driven bikes which were really nothing other than electric mopeds and I'm not in need of that type of ebike yet....please God, it stays like that. I need to feel that hills are challenging and I have to pedal.......God bless Panasonic crank drives! (and probably Bosch!)

Sparta and Koga seem to advertise their drive system under the name of Ion drive or something similar so I'm interested to know if that's exactly what's 'under the bonnet' of the Batavus models. The importer in Sussex is somewhat coy about power details so perhaps they are still underpowered?

While I think all regular readers of these pages are familiar with the sub-£1000 bikes we read of in these pages as well as those iffy bikes up to maybe £1500 on ebay, I suspect not too many members are aware of this Dutch brand which produces rather decent bikes, both electrically assisted and "normally-aspirated" so to speak. Perhaps some of our members in proximity with Littlehampton might inform us better...well, me anyway! of the pros and cons of this poorly-advertised Dutch bike brand.

Indalo

 

[flecc]

The Sparta rear hub motor used in the Sparta and Koga is a direct drive one, a type noted for silence in moderate powered versions, hence the statements in that respect. The downside is that they are poor climbers due to low torque in moderate power types. Anyone used to the Panasonic systems would have a shock at the comparative lack of climb ability on steep hills.

I think James might have been the member who claimed the Sparta motor torque had been increased from 20 nm to 40 nm and then further to 60 nm. That stretches my credibility too far, hence my warning to try first and not buy on spec. I still remember the member who went against my advice on this. After his first ride home he immediately emailed me to say how terribly disappointed he was with the bike's ability, not what one wants after spending over £1500.

As for the Sanyo mention, one of the Batavus versions uses a front hub motor which might be the Sanyo. That Sanyo motor only comes as a front hub version and it's the one Giant use on their Express and Freedom e-bikes. It's an average power typical internally geared hub motor like the Suzhou Bafang ones.

I've noticed that Sparta have increased their sales recently with a front hub motor version as well. I don't know what motor that has, though it looks similar to their rear one. The rear motor one I'm referring to above is the Sparta Ion M-gear model.

As I remarked before, always try before buying.
.

 

[yselmike]

I did have a quick test ride on a Batavus it was a top of the range but that cut off at 25kph is a deal breaker for me.
I also tried the Sparta was the same as the batavus and a giant all much the same ,sit up and beg, look well made
and fine for the shops and a gentle country ride in the summer but not for my fast commute.
The koga myata all from the same company had the look but seems to be plagued with software problems.
I see a lot of these bikes where i live in Purmerend all riden by 60 year olds and up and for the ride out in north holland
perfect, they look well made and bright and shiny so they are fair weather bikes and nothing wrong with that.
Still to see a flyer or kalkhoff yet, saw my first e-bike in Amsterdam this week chained up.
I guess the older dutch people are very happy to still be able to ride a bike in there dotage and fair
play to them.

 

[indalo]

I guess the older dutch people are very happy to still be able to ride a bike in there dotage and fair
play to them.

Thanks for that Yselmike and I think that's a very good point. Young people, for the most part, don't need power assistance to cycle whereas older and/or infirm folk, by and large, probably appreciate the benefit which ebikes provide. Ultimate power, speed and hillclimbing ability are probably non-issues for those people.

In the specific case of Batavus, I'm surprised that the dealer(s)? don't advertise their product more widely. If they go to the trouble of importing them, surely they must believe there's a market for them here in the UK yet they are not being promoted in the way that some much cheaper bikes are from dealers, in some cases, working on a shoestring budget. Strange!

Indalo

 

[yselmike]

Accell Group - The Premier Cycle And Fitness Group - Accell Group,Accell,Koga,Batavus,Lapierre,Seattle Bike Supply,Loekie,Sparta,XLC,Hercules,Winora,Staiger, Bike Parts, Heerenveen, bicycles, bikes, fietsen, fiets, BMX, e-bike, pedelec, Ion. Koga Miy

It may be a corporate thing the parent company own a lot bike firms.

 

[indalo]

It may be a corporate thing the parent company own a lot bike firms.

Now that is interesting to me Mike as at least one of those brands already sports the Bosch drive system. I wonder if the likes of Koga or Sparta will follow suit?

Regards,
Indalo

 

[Oxygen Bicycles]

Batavus defo a nicely finshed bike and I love the way they hide the battery now, it's hidden in the chain cover, brilliant

 

[eddieo]

Now that is interesting to me Mike as at least one of those brands already sports the Bosch drive system. I wonder if the likes of Koga or Sparta will follow suit?

Regards,
Indalo

At least 4 different brands with Bosch system actually. They have taken over Van Nicholas as well, a bike I considered for my DaaHub project (went for specialised instead - fantastic bike)

 

[flecc]

In the specific case of Batavus, I'm surprised that the dealer(s)? don't advertise their product more widely. If they go to the trouble of importing them, surely they must believe there's a market for them here in the UK yet they are not being promoted in the way that some much cheaper bikes are from dealers, in some cases, working on a shoestring budget. Strange!

Indalo

This may be connected with the Batavus models that use the Sparta motor. On that if the rear wheel has to be removed for a tube or tyre change for example, the electronics have to be reset by an authorised dealer using equipment supplied for that purpose. No problem in the Netherlands and Germany where there are numerous dealers, but it's been a big problem for Sparta and Koga owners here in the UK. One owner having spent over £3000 for a pair of Sparta Ions found himself over 100 miles from the nearest dealer with a disabled bike after the local agent he bought them from stopped representing the brand.

Looking at all the Batavus models, they seem to be using a real mix of motors. Some with the Sparta rear hub one, some with what looks like the Tongxin Nano front hub motor and some with a larger front hub motor looking like the one in the Gazelle Innergy. That doesn't inspire confidence in me.

 

[Daif21]

Hi there
I couldn't find a better thread to ask you guys a question
My wife's batavus staccato ebike is showing a 0006 error that means short circuit in the lighting
Is there anyone who has an idea what it could be.
Tx in advance

 

[vfr400]

Could it be a short circuit in the lighting?

Seriously though, it's telling you what the problem is. Check the wires from the lights all the way to where they come from.