Hi,
http://www.electricbikesales.co.uk/shop/special-offers/kristall-ed3-low-step/prod_843.html
I tried this bike at the Electric Transport Shop in Oxford last weekend. From my limited experience (I only tried a few Smarta and Wisper models as well as a couple of others I don't remember) it seems like a nicely built bike with quality components and comfortable ride quality. I particularly liked the 8-speed Shimano Alfine hub, it just felt much better than derailleur gears (I'd love to try a NuVinci now). And the PAS felt at least as powerful and responsive as the other e-bikes I've tried.
There were a few things I didn't like:
- The big one: no throttle. It does have a red "Boost" button but I couldn't quite figure out exactly what it does. My best guess is that it temporarily increases the PAS level, but I found it hard to reach, ugly, and not particularly useful.
- While I really liked the hub gears that feeling did not extend to the Shimano rapidfire shifter.
- Gear range seemed to be lacking at the upper end. With motor assist I didn't find a reason to use the lower gears even up a steep hill (steep for Oxford, anyway), but to go faster than motor-assisted speeds on flats in 8th gear I have to pedal faster than I'd like.
However, what's odd is that this model doesn't seem to be mentioned anywhere else, not even on Kristall's website. the only reference I can find to a "Kristall ED3" is this:
http://www.velomaerkte.ch/Kristall_ED_3.pdf
This seems to be an older model, though, as it has a slightly different frame shape, different brakes, and no suspension fork.
Does anyone have more information on this bike? Does it seem reasonably priced? Is there any hope a throttle could be fitted?
http://www.electricbikesales.co.uk/shop/special-offers/kristall-ed3-low-step/prod_843.html
I tried this bike at the Electric Transport Shop in Oxford last weekend. From my limited experience (I only tried a few Smarta and Wisper models as well as a couple of others I don't remember) it seems like a nicely built bike with quality components and comfortable ride quality. I particularly liked the 8-speed Shimano Alfine hub, it just felt much better than derailleur gears (I'd love to try a NuVinci now). And the PAS felt at least as powerful and responsive as the other e-bikes I've tried.
There were a few things I didn't like:
- The big one: no throttle. It does have a red "Boost" button but I couldn't quite figure out exactly what it does. My best guess is that it temporarily increases the PAS level, but I found it hard to reach, ugly, and not particularly useful.
- While I really liked the hub gears that feeling did not extend to the Shimano rapidfire shifter.
- Gear range seemed to be lacking at the upper end. With motor assist I didn't find a reason to use the lower gears even up a steep hill (steep for Oxford, anyway), but to go faster than motor-assisted speeds on flats in 8th gear I have to pedal faster than I'd like.
However, what's odd is that this model doesn't seem to be mentioned anywhere else, not even on Kristall's website. the only reference I can find to a "Kristall ED3" is this:
http://www.velomaerkte.ch/Kristall_ED_3.pdf
This seems to be an older model, though, as it has a slightly different frame shape, different brakes, and no suspension fork.
Does anyone have more information on this bike? Does it seem reasonably priced? Is there any hope a throttle could be fitted?
, and the the 2013 brochure, its not in the 2014 one so thus the reduced price and not on the site.
