New Gtech ebike

[Fingers]

Ah, there we are then, she doesn't need to lift it into a chip shop, just ride it
Maybe if you didn't go to the chip shop you would be able lift heavy things tooView attachment 13361

It's not my fault.

It's my glands.

 

[Cyclezee]

It's not my fault.

It's my glands.

No photos of the aforementioned please, it might put me off my fish and chips

 

[Fingers]

No photos of the aforementioned please, it might put me off my fish and chips

I said glands.

Not glans.

 

[Cyclezee]

I said glands.

Not glans.

As a former student of human anatomy I know the difference and don't want to see either thank you

 

[JuicyBike]

I could help you. But I think your stuck in your ways and are dead set against anything that doesn't conform to your long held experience of what you think the market is.

I also think you are being a bit disrespectful by insinuating I am in some way a troll by giving a counter argument.

Riding a bike is like, well riding a bike. You don't own the patent on that. I can form an opinion and defend it without being rude.

Try it. It's quite liberating.

You've formed AN opinion. And seem to be proposing that one opinion to be a whole solution for the ebike industry. Which is naive.

You've also insulted ebike shops, which is why I took issue with you.

I know there are many slices to the market. I have stated so on many occasions. Most, by the sound of it, you dismiss as irrelevant.

You seem to be promoting one bike in particular and engaging in any argument you can with those who don't fully agree with you.

Fact is, most agree with much of what you say, and your general enthusiasm for electric bikes is welcomed. But your insistive manner is what you will have to learn to control, to be effective marketing your opinion.

 

[Kudoscycles]

I think you are stuck in the past.

Literally everyone I have shown this to from experienced semi pro riders to people who haven't stepped on a bike for 20 years have squealed in delight when their legs make the first revolution of pedals on the Gtech.

The largest customer base is obviously in the cities. Most cities are in the main, flat with at most 1 'hill' to tackle twice a day. Wind is the real heartbreaker for non pedelec journeys.

Two people I know are ordering a Gtech off the back of having a go on mine and it's not because their primary reason is to go up a hill. It's about the joy of rediscovering cycling at a level that reminds them of being a kid. Everyone bar one that tried this bike bar one was under 40 and had no idea such technology existed. The chap that was aware of them was over 50 and bored me rigid for 10 mins whilst I patiently listened to him going on about lithium batteries. He was an engineer tbf...That is the biggest problem for your industry. You are not targeting the right people.

My experience of Ebike shops was disappointing to say the least. It reminded me of a little bit of dungeon and dragon stores in the past when I was a kid, or RC model shops. Great if your a fan but not great if your not a fan of being talked down to.

Off the peg sub 1k bikes will fly in the next year or so. They will be a huge seller this Xmas if someone with the clout can stump up the money for a decent advertising campaign or employs someone with nous to tap the enormous market for what is undoubtedly an excellent product that is already a major success in the biggest metropolis in the world.

This is a cottage industry atm but it's clear to me it won't stay that way for long when people realise the demand is there.

I wish I could get involved. There is a fortune to be made here.


Edit. Lol. I want to make clear I was not a Dungeons and Dragons fan. I just liked painting and making the little models.

What a load of rubbish.
The fact that G-tech had to halve the price within a few months means that they weren't moving them,even at £900.00 they are not a bargain,I think the similar Raptor is much less than that.
G-tech just got it so wrong,they didn't do their homework on the design,which is not easy to overcome,especially if they have stock that isn't moving.
You quote' someone who has the clout to stump up the money for a decent advertising campaign'....in this respect G-tech did a wonderful job,brilliant website,full page adverts in national newspapers,that costs a fortune. Their troubleshooting guide is an excellent job,very well done.
All of this makes it surprising that they didn't do their research on the product spec. If you spent any time in a good electric bike shop you would realise that 90% of customers want these e-bikes to help them ride the bike,especially up hills...if your bike doesn't up hills without a lot of rider input you are now satisfying only 10% of the market.
Most cities are not flat,even London has an incline down to the river. I am sure every Bristolian struggling up Park Street would not describe Bristol as flat.
It is a small industry in the UK but actually a very knowledgeable and progressive one,the BPM motor is widely used in the UK,it is a brilliant hill climber with a wide torque spread,but you are clearly not someone who wishes to listen and learn.
It is somewhat amusing how many outsiders look at the UK e-bike industry and point out all our faults,the Chinese have a not too complimentary term for the 'one hit wonders' who know it all and build a container load of bikes especially for them,only to find their way onto e-bay 6 months later,invariably at a loss.
With e-bikes the devil is in the detail,G-tech got it right in some details but without gears they restricted themselves to a very small market and without a decent size battery they restricted it again,I am realistic they have a market place of 10 people.
If they had engineered a hidden battery of about 10Ah and put a set of 105 gearing on it,maybe with an electronic Di2 shift,kept the weight to 15kg they could have been onto a winner...that bike would have sold well about £3k to wealthy and younger customers,shops like Bespoke Cycling in Canary Wharf would be an obvious style of outlet,but it will always be a niche e-bike not a volume seller.
Interesting world,
KudosDave

 

[trex]

Ahhh.

Is this the sound of the penny dropping?

I'm 38. Relatively fit but quite lazy. Always liked cycling but hated the wind and slopes.

Want to zoom to my friends and work without getting sweaty or oily. Will never go further than 30 miles in a day. Don't want to look like I'm Mary Poppins either.

I don't NEED an electric cycle per se. I could spend a grand in Evans and get the ******* of a bike. But that's not the point.
Fingers.

yes, possibly. If Gtech can get the under 40 into e-bikes then a lot of good will come of it.

 

[Plasmadaddy]

yes, possibly. If Gtech can get the under 40 into e-bikes then a lot of good will come of it.

Absolutely right trex - here's a copy of my post #44 much much earlier in this thread.

"For what it's worth the GTech ad is what got me turned on to e bikes.
I was seriously considering buying the sport version and had they not mailed me I'd
A. Never had heard of e bikes
B. Never considered buying another bike
C. Found this invaluable forum and source of info
D. Not have just purchased a Haibike Sduro full nine which I absolutely love!

So thanks to G Tech for sending me your email!"

Thankfully I did a lot of research and didn't buy the G Tech, it would have been totally unsuitable without gears.

 

[trex]

my concern is the drooling effect of the carbon belt on the under 40s.
Take the carbon belt away, they won't want to know.
Gates recommend a preload tension of 85lbs (a chain is tensioned to 2lbs) to prevent slippage of their belt. In turn, higher tension is translated into stiffer, heavier rear triangle and it also adds a fair bit to the power consumption.
That defeats somewhat the object of a light assist bike. The other problem with gears is carbon belt is usually matched to the Nexus-8, forcing the motor to go to the bottom bracket or the front.

 

[anotherkiwi]

What a load of rubbish.
The fact that G-tech had to halve the price within a few months means that they weren't moving them,even at £900.00 they are not a bargain,I think the similar Raptor is much less than that.

Disclaimer: I have taught marketing at a Chamber of Commerce Business School.

The initial price is the early adopter price, they were testing the water they didn't have to halve the price it is obviously worth much less than that. "How many can we move for £xxxx?" kind of stuff. Look at Apples history, my first Mac cost the price of a small car now you can have one for under 1000€. And that is a high end computer.

At £900 opposite the Raptor at £799 they are moving more to the under 40s. Maybe the god awful Raptor handlebars have something to do with that? And it isn't matt white and bright fashionable green either...

They still have plenty of margin but I have a hunch they prefer selling fewer bikes with higher margins than container loads with lower margin. They are entering the market you helped create. I think they figure that you and others have the general public over 50 years old cornered and they are looking for another niche. Maybe they have found it?

Early days for them but keep you eyes open they are a big company with deep pockets and young smart @ss marketing guys...

 

[trex]

I know the pulling power of '50% off RRP' - Cyclamatic and Pro-Rider have done that for as long as I can remember. Many will agree that's clever marketing.

 

[Kudoscycles]

my concern is the drooling effect of the carbon belt on the under 40s.
Gates recommend a preload tension of 85lbs (a chain is tensioned to 2lbs) to prevent slippage of their belt. In turn, higher tension is translated into stiffer rear triangle and it also adds a fair bit to the power consumption.
That defeats somewhat the object of a light assist bike.

Trex.....I am afraid your knowledgeable posting has bored our friend,he got switched off when someone started to talking to him about lithium battery types.
Dave

 

[EddiePJ]

I think that I might well have to investigate the chance of getting one to review.

I can see the place for fast lightweight ebikes for cross town riding that sacrifice battery range in favour of weight, but I would also expect them to be able to complete a ride such as this short 18 mile one of mixed terrain.

I see this as a real world test, that many an ebike rider is likely to tackle at some stage or another through daily use of their ebike* irrelevant of price or spec.

http://www.pedelecs.co.uk/forum/threads/kudos-rapide-gets-108-miles-out-of-a-10-4-ah-battery.23491/page-3#post-295252

Or am I wrong, and I'm expecting too much?


* A riders health and or physical weight accepted in respect of bike performance or suitability.

 

[anotherkiwi]

my concern is the drooling effect of the carbon belt on the under 40s.
Take the carbon belt away, they won't want to know.
Gates recommend a preload tension of 85lbs (a chain is tensioned to 2lbs) to prevent slippage of their belt. In turn, higher tension is translated into stiffer, heavier rear triangle and it also adds a fair bit to the power consumption.
That defeats somewhat the object of a light assist bike. The other problem with gears is carbon belt is usually matched to the Nexus-8, forcing the motor to go to the bottom bracket or the front.

A Karoo with Magura rim brakes (-450 grams), a GSM mid drive, Nexus 8 Inter (+1.7 kg) and no throttle or brake cut-offs (-350 grams) painted matt white with fire orange accents that could possible get my heart rate up a little. Chuck on the Gates carbon belt or competitor, a decent Selle Italia seat and ergonomic grips hmmmm... Can you feel the love? Oh and offer a diamond frame option (woman's frame if you wish, almost a kilo lighter than the step through frame) for us old geezers who are starting to have problems lifting our leg over the seat (and the ladies of course).

I will of course need a free bike after spending many hours working on the above specifications.

 

[Alan Quay]

At £900 opposite the Raptor at £799 they are moving more to the under 40s. Maybe the god awful Raptor handlebars have something to do with that..

Agreed. Those bars are just wrong, and spoil the lines of that lovely GT (or GT inspired) frame.

Easily changed for £20 though.

 

[anotherkiwi]

I think that I might well have to investigate the chance of getting one to review.

You mean a 14 day free trial but remember you have to send back with "reasonable use" which means... no mud Eddie

 

[EddiePJ]

So is that 14 days without spending a penny?

Something that will appeal to you (and me now) is that I might have the opportunity to scrounge for free, an mtb that has a rohloff 14 speed hub fitted. A chance for me to start accumulating parts for a mid drive build.

 

[anotherkiwi]

Agreed. Those bars are just wrong, and spoil the lines of that lovely GT (or GT inspired) frame.

Easily changed for £20 though.

Ah with those the Raptor is now at £819, getting closer to £900...

 

[anotherkiwi]

So is that 14 days without spending a penny?

Something that will appeal to you (and me now) is that I might have the opportunity to scrounge for free, an mtb that has a rohloff hub fitted. A chance for me to start accumulating parts for a mid drive build.

Are you reading my lips Eddie... A free Rohloff!!! arrrghhhhh!!!

 

[EddiePJ]

Everything else on it is XTR as well.

It's sadly about two frame sizes too small for me though.