Can anyone help me decide?

[BobJ]

Hi all

I’m completely new to e-bikes and don’t even do much cycling at all at the moment, mainly due to where I live and my fitness (lack of). I’ve recently lost a lot of weight (was 21st now 16st and still losing – 6’1” tall with 31” inside leg) and want to get fit as well as slim(mer).

I live in South Wales, at the top of one side of a valley which means a long steep hill down whichever way I leave home and, more importantly considering my lack of fitness, a long steep hill back home when I’m tired and emotional after my exercise!!

Having spent much time looking around the internet, particularly this forum, I decided that I wanted a bike that used the Panasonic Pedelec system. That originally seemed to mean one of the Kalkhoff bikes, and I had settled on the Tasman. I have since found that that E-motion use the Panasonic system and so am considering their City Deluxe 700 and have also found that the Gepida Reptila 1000 uses a Yamaha system that seems very similar to the Panasonic one.

My personal criteria:

Kalkhoff Tasman - £1795
Pros:

1. Suspension forks and sprung saddle post
2. Hydraulic brakes
3. Hub gears
4. Dynamo lights
5. The reputation of Kalkhoff cycles

Cons:

1. Don’t like the fully enclosed chain, would prefer the chain guard off the Agattu
2. The price
3. Issues with wheels
4. Mixed reports about 50cycles

E-motion City Deluxe 700 - £1550
Pros:

1. Suspension forks and sprung saddle post
2. The price is a little better than the Kalkhoff

Cons:

1. Derailleur gears
2. Cable brakes
3. Main battery lights
4. New

Gepida Reptila 1000 - £1650
Pros:

1. Suspension forks and sprung saddle post
2. Hub gears
3. Dynamo lights
4. The price is a little better than the Kalkhoff

Cons:

1. Cable brakes
2. 8.2A battery
3. The price is a little worse than the E-motion

Can anyone offer advice / inspiration to help me chose?

 

[flecc]

The Kalkhoff Tasman is worth that extra money, and there isn't any issue with the wheels. That issue was confined to the initial production of Pro Connect models which had 24 spoke wheels which are no longer on that model.

The Gepida is an unknown quantity, the Yamaha unit being a completely new one and the bike only just on the market.

To judge the E-motion and Gepida models, I think it's worth you taking a trip to Onbike at Kidderminster or Presteigne who are agents for both of those, so you can try them out for suitability.
.

 

[Mussels]

I think you are right about the chain drive drive, I don't know which valley you are in but all the ones I have seen are too steep for hub motors.

Regards the mixed reports about 50Cycles, from what I have seen over a few months on here most customers are very happy with their service and there have certainly been worse retailers. Mistakes stick in the mind and I think that due to the exposure they have on here you remember complaints about them more than others. I've never been a customer of theirs but if they sold something I wanted then I'd be happy to use them.

I don't know how far you plan to travel but with conditions you describe I'd expect mileage to be well down so get a plenty big enough battery.

 

[tillson]

Cons:

1. Don’t like the fully enclosed chain, would prefer the chain guard off the Agattu
2. Issues with wheels
3. Mixed reports about 50cycles

Can anyone offer advice / inspiration to help me chose?

Seeing as it was me who probably had the most to say about 50 Cycles and the issues regarding the wheels, I think it is only fair of me to say that the wheel issue in question was confined to the early Pro-Connects. The problem does not exist on new bikes.

50 Cycles / Derby Cycles have now resolved the issues that I had and the solution far exceeds my expectations. Prior to this particular problem, I had received nothing but good service from 50 Cycles.

 

[AndyOfTheSouth]

Hi Bob

I've jotted down my impressions about the Emotion range on a recent thread. In short, very good bikes and definitely worth a look. I suggest you go to Presteigne, not Kidderminster for the hills.

You might also look at Heinzmann kits, although using hub motors, they are very powerful. 'Emotivepete' on this site is their UK agent - emotivecontrolsystems.com. Kinetics - UK Specialists in Folding Bikes, Recumbents, Electric Bikes, Cycling Esoterica... and electricmountainbikes.com are worth looking at.

Good luck

Andy

 

[JamesC]

Kalkhoff Tasman

Cons:

1. Don’t like the fully enclosed chain, would prefer the chain guard off the Agattu
2. Issues with wheels
3. Mixed reports about 50cycles

Can anyone offer advice / inspiration to help me chose?

And it was probably me who was rude about the chainguard !

Well it is very fiddly when you need to remove it, which would normally occur if you need to remove the back wheel.

Fortunately, there is very little reason to assume that you need to do this, particularly if you minimise the risk of tyre problems by putting puncture resistance at the top of the list (Marathon Plus).

At the very least, if you think that you may need to remove the chainguard, practice calmly at home the first time rather than under pressure at the roadside.

But it is not so bad as to be a reason to put you off the Tasman - it would be an excellent choice to deal with fitness and living at the top of a mountain.

Most likely the 53cm or possibly the 49cm - I ride the 49cm with a high saddle and a 31" inside leg, but I am only 6'0".

James

 

[Phil [OnBike]]

Hi Bob,

Choosing a new eBike can be a little daunting at first - there are so many bikes to choose from nowadays.

You'd be more than welcome to come and try out an E-motion City Deluxe 700 at OnBike and go through all the pros and cons and any other questions you may have.

If you do drop by, you can also try out many other bikes too, as we have around 15 in-store demonstrators from eZee, Wisper, Powabyke, Monark, plus many more...
Trying the other brands may help firm up exactly what you like and you can try them out all in one place one after the other.

If you have any questions, please don't hesitate to call or e-mail or post on here.

Cheers Bob

 

[BobJ]

Thanks for all the great advice, it's greatly appreciated.

My doubts about Kalkhoff wheels and 50cycles have been laid to rest and the chain guard issue obviously isn't an issue.

I am arranging a test ride on a Agattu locally, from one of the 50cycles customers who offer demonstrator rides, and if that goes well it is likely that a Tasman/Agattu will be favourite with the E-motion City Deluxe 700 being my other option.

As I hope to get a second battery with whatever I choose I guess that, given the three bikes are similar, the overall package costs will be a factor in my final choice (convincing SWMBO that £2k for a bike would be a great fathers day gift will use up all my brownie points for some time to come ).

Finally, thanks to both Phil (OnBike) and Scott (50cycles) for also taking the time to offer their help and advice.

Regards
Bob Jeffries

 

[jac]

hi you could look at the helkama bike on ebay at £1500 it seems to be reasonable value

jim

 

[Gepida uk]

Hi all

I’m completely new to e-bikes and don’t even do much cycling at all at the moment, mainly due to where I live and my fitness (lack of). I’ve recently lost a lot of weight (was 21st now 16st and still losing – 6’1” tall with 31” inside leg) and want to get fit as well as slim(mer).

I live in South Wales, at the top of one side of a valley which means a long steep hill down whichever way I leave home and, more importantly considering my lack of fitness, a long steep hill back home when I’m tired and emotional after my exercise!!

Having spent much time looking around the internet, particularly this forum, I decided that I wanted a bike that used the Panasonic Pedelec system. That originally seemed to mean one of the Kalkhoff bikes, and I had settled on the Tasman. I have since found that that E-motion use the Panasonic system and so am considering their City Deluxe 700 and have also found that the Gepida Reptila 1000 uses a Yamaha system that seems very similar to the Panasonic one.

My personal criteria:

Kalkhoff Tasman - £1795
Pros:

1. Suspension forks and sprung saddle post
2. Hydraulic brakes
3. Hub gears
4. Dynamo lights
5. The reputation of Kalkhoff cycles

Cons:

1. Don’t like the fully enclosed chain, would prefer the chain guard off the Agattu
2. The price
3. Issues with wheels
4. Mixed reports about 50cycles

E-motion City Deluxe 700 - £1550
Pros:

1. Suspension forks and sprung saddle post
2. The price is a little better than the Kalkhoff

Cons:

1. Derailleur gears
2. Cable brakes
3. Main battery lights
4. New

Gepida Reptila 1000 - £1650
Pros:

1. Suspension forks and sprung saddle post
2. Hub gears
3. Dynamo lights
4. The price is a little better than the Kalkhoff

Cons:

1. Cable brakes
2. 8.2A battery
3. The price is a little worse than the E-motion

Can anyone offer advice / inspiration to help me chose?

Hi Bob
I thought I would give you a little insight in to the Gepida’s, regarding the possibility of a demonstration.
The retail price is actually £1599.
The bikes are available in about 10 selected shops across the UK at present,for demonstration: The nearest to you is probably:
Atmosphere Electric Bikes: 137 St. Georges Street. Bristol. BS1 5UW

For anyone else interested please contact us to find your nearest dealer.
We can also set up home demonstrations in some cases. And offer a flexible returns policy.
Please feel free to contact us anytime with any questions.

Regards
Aidan
Gepida UK
01580 830959

 

[Gepida uk]

The Kalkhoff Tasman is worth that extra money, and there isn't any issue with the wheels. That issue was confined to the initial production of Pro Connect models which had 24 spoke wheels which are no longer on that model.

The Gepida is an unknown quantity, the Yamaha unit being a completely new one and the bike only just on the market.

To judge the E-motion and Gepida models, I think it's worth you taking a trip to Onbike at Kidderminster or Presteigne who are agents for both of those, so you can try them out for suitability.
.

Hi Flec

Your quite right Gepida is an unknown quantity in the UK market. But is very big In Europe.

It would be nice if an e-bike scholar such as yourself, Would consider a test ride on one of the Gepida’s? It would be nice to have some authoritative feedback on the bike . Where are you based maybe we can arrange a home demo for you?
Please feel free to contact us gepidauk@e-bikesdirect.co.uk
Tel:01580830959
Just for your reference onbike are not currently a stockist of Gepida.

Regards
Aidan
Gepida UK