New to Pedelecs and with 2 new Gocycle GS

[Peter Kinnaird]

Hi I am new to the community having recently purchased 2 x Gocycle GS for myself and my wife Jude. Being retired we have taken to having the odd day out cycling using the sustrans network of circular bike tours. We figured the tours will become even better fun now we both have ebikes to tackle the hills and maintain a good pace. The gocycles will pack into the back of the car and enable us to travel to do tours out of our immediate area.
To be honest I did relatively little research before opting tor the gocycles. I remember riding on demo in london one way back when they first appeared and being immensely impressed. Then I saw they had a 10% discount offer during October on the new lower price GS model. It certainly did not seem like a budget model on paper and the extra spec of the G3 model for £1000 more were not features I attached much value to, so the GS seemed ideal. Prior to purchase I did pop by my local Halfords where they had a Carrera fold up for £650, but it looks so crude by comparison to the gocycle. And I dropped by a local dealer and test rode several german Reiss and Muller bikes all in the £2 to £4k bracket. Nice bikes, but none folded so none could go into the car boot. Also realised that 8 or more gears seems an unnecessary complication on a road bike with aid restricted to 15mph. So realised the 3 speed Gocycle would be fine.
Bought the first Gocycle online and generally quite impressed with the online experience. Ordered it with a number of accessories including mudguards, lock, front bag etc. Delighted that the bike itself arrived within 48 hours, but not the accessories, and no explanation volunteered by gocycle. Checking with customer service produced very quick response and news that items on back order and would be shipped when available, but disappointing that no eta provided. Meantime assembling the bike that arrived was a doddle, aas was connecting to the gocycle app. Not sure I should admit this but the app gave me the option to use the US version firmware which provides power assistance up to 20mph and all works perfectly. Early riding experience has been excellent. The bike handles nicely feels very stable and absorbs road bumps very well.. It is easy to change the ride assistance mode via the app, although I have yet to set up my own custom setting.
Anyway given early positive impressions of the bike, I quickly ordered another GS for my wife before the end of October to get the 10% discount. The second bike and accessories have yet to arrive.
Very impressed so far with ebiking, and now considering fitting an ebike conversion kit to my Kona Ute road bike. Will use this site to research best options.

 

[Deleted member 4366]

Yes, They're very nice bikes. They've been discussed here a bit in the past, but I think most people look at them with blinkers on and from the wrong frame of reference. Once you've ridden one, you know how good they are. They can go even faster than 20 mph if you have access to the software, and they pack a substantial punch if you turn up the power. The main problem is that the gearing doesn't allow you to pedal much past 15 mph unless you have a high cadence.

 

[Woosh]

The main problem is that the gearing doesn't allow you to pedal much past 15 mph

then there is no point claiming that the bike can go faster.
I bet you can design a better bike for the same money.

 

[Peter Kinnaird]

Yes, They're very nice bikes. They've been discussed here a bit in the past, but I think most people look at them with blinkers on and from the wrong frame of reference. Once you've ridden one, you know how good they are. They can go even faster than 20 mph if you have access to the software, and they pack a substantial punch if you turn up the power. The main problem is that the gearing doesn't allow you to pedal much past 15 mph unless you have a high cadence.

Yes I wondered how these bikes might be viewed here! Maybe a hint too design conscious and Avant Garde for the more hair shirt biker, and also being relatively expensive always encourages criticism from those who can't see value beyond the price. For me the form combined with function is part of the appeal.
I have set the bike up with US firmware for aid to 20 mph, and yes that is the point where another gear would be nice. But realistically 20mph is quite enough for me and that further gear would rarely be used but still nice to have.So far so good I could not be happier. And good to buy Btitish, given if Brexit goes ahead our economy will need every bit of help it can get.

 

[Woosh]

and also being relatively expensive always encourages criticism from those who can't see value beyond the price.

I may have jumped to the wrong conclusion but in case that remark was pointed at my last post, let me say this: I do like the Gocycle bikes and my best wishes to their continued success.
There is a point I would like to make that is not in its favour though, and it relates to a thread by d8veh, who knows a lot more about these bikes than most of us on here.
http://www.pedelecs.co.uk/forum/threads/gocycle-internals.27549/

This is the chain box of the Gocycle, posted in that thread:

Is it design for design sake? but to me, it is unnecessarily complicated.

 

[Peter Kinnaird]

I may have jumped to the wrong conclusion but in case that remark was pointed at my last post, let me say this: I do like the Gocycle bikes and my best wishes to their continued success.
There is a point I would like to make that is not in its favour though, and it relates to a thread by d8veh, who knows a lot more about these bikes than most of us on here.
http://www.pedelecs.co.uk/forum/threads/gocycle-internals.27549/

This is the chain box of the Gocycle, posted in that thread:

Is it design for design sake? but to me, it is unnecessarily complicated.

Hi
Had not seen your post, my comments were made given I had some anticipation rather than experience that the gocycle might be a bit controversial in the ebike community. This on account that it is a bit different and relatively expensive and could easily be dismissed as a bike for well heeled posuers! Thanks for the photo of the crankcase. I suspect the complication shown relates to the electronic auto gear shift if the G3 model. The GS with a manual shift is doubtless a simpler set up.
Actually at around £2.5k the GS is not as far as I can understand that expensive by current ebike prices. I presume the weakness of the pound has pushed up prices of imported bikes considerably over the recent past. Certainly the Reiss and Muller bikes I test ride before buying were all much the same if not considerably more, and I took the view that the gocycle GS is actually quite good value particularly in view of its form function and versatility. And it met my personal nerds very well.

 

[Deleted member 4366]

Is it design for design sake? but to me, it is unnecessarily complicated.

I'm not sure what you mean by that. All i can see is purposeful design to make riding and owning the bike more convenient. The photo shows the chain tensioner, which eliminates the need to keep adjusting the chain with hub gears, and the auto gear-shift mechanism. The GS doesn't have auto-shifting.

The chaincase is a structural part of the bike.

 

[anotherkiwi]

Actually at around £2.5k the GS is not as far as I can understand that expensive by current ebike prices. I presume the weakness of the pound has pushed up prices of imported bikes considerably over the recent past. Certainly the Reiss and Muller bikes I test ride before buying were all much the same if not considerably more, ...

Not to mention Stromer... 5050€ with the big battery...

 

[Peter Kinnaird]

I'm not sure what you mean by that. All i can see is purposeful design to make riding and owning the bike more convenient. The photo shows the chain tensioner, which eliminates the need to keep adjusting the chain with hub gears, and the auto gear-shift mechanism. The GS doesn't have auto-shifting.

The chaincase is a structural part of the bike.

Well said. As far as I can see the gocycle excels with innovative and practical design while also delivering aesthetically and functionally. It adjusts easily to suit riders of differing sizes, It rides and steers well and feels very stable and sure. It is very manouverable. It is comfortable. It is light. It has concealed cabling. And an enclosed chain case. You can mend s puncture without removing a wheel. The design integrates a stand and a lock. It goes well and fits into the boot of your car, and yes it looks good and still turns heads. What is not to like?

 

[Peter Kinnaird]

then there is no point claiming that the bike can go faster.
I bet you can design a better bike for the same money.

So who in your opinion has designed and offers a better bike at around £2100 this being the offer price of the GS.? It would be good if your suggestions could meet my needs and pack into a car boot and not be too heavy, say no more than the 16kg gocycle. Very interested in what you suggest.

 

[Peter Kinnaird]

then there is no point claiming that the bike can go faster.
I bet you can design a better bike for the same money.

In my experience so far with the bike set up for assistance to 20mph, 3rd gear is perfect up to the 20mph cut off, but you would be ideally looking for another hear if you wanted to go faster. Of course if you could program the bike for more than 20 mph you could always stop peddling if you wished and just use the throttle button to take you beyond 20.

 

[Woosh]

So who in your opinion has designed and offers a better bike at around £2100 this being the offer price of the GS.? It would be good if your suggestions could meet my needs and pack into a car boot and not be too heavy, say no more than the 16kg gocycle. Very interested in what you suggest.

Hi Peter,

You know that comment was for d8veh with whom I have had many technical discussions with over the years. It should not be taken in the context of me suggesting there are better value for money products in direct competition with your Gocycle. The 16" e-bike market is a niche market, my 16" Woosh Gallego sells for £769 and folds down small enough to go in its carrying bag.
If I were to bring in something to sell for that sort of money (£2k), I would commission a carbon fibre folding frame with semi-hidden battery, magnesium wheels, CD motor and an air suspension fork.

In my experience so far with the bike set up for assistance to 20mph, 3rd gear is perfect up to the 20mph cut off, but you would be ideally looking for another hear if you wanted to go faster. Of course if you could program the bike for more than 20 mph you could always stop peddling if you wished and just use the throttle button to take you beyond 20.

You already know that I don't support derestriction and reprogramming.

 

[Peter Kinnaird]

Hi Peter,

You know that comment was for d8veh with whom I have had many technical discussions with over the years. It should not be taken in the context of me suggesting there are better value for money products in direct competition with your Gocycle. The 16" e-bike market is a niche market, my 16" Woosh Gallego sells for £769 and folds down small enough to go in its carrying bag.
If I were to bring in something to sell for that sort of money (£2k), I would commission a carbon fibre folding frame with semi-hidden battery, magnesium wheels, CD motor and an air suspension fork.



You already know that I don't support derestriction and reprogramming.

Hi again.
So as of this moment no-one has risen to your bet challenge and can offer a better bike at that money? From what I can gather you are not a nuetral observer as you have your own business interest? So if you see a gap in the market to outspec the gocycle for less the challenge for you is to get it built and offer it! Meantime expect gocycle to pick up sales in spite of your reservations. I would not fancy a 16 inch wheel folder. The gocycle 20 inch is an acceptable compromise for me to obtain portability without too much small wheel effect.

 

[Woosh]

of course I am not a neutral observer, I am an interested observer. You make me regret already taking part in this thread.
I have nothing against Gocycle, only against d8veh's comment about going over the legal speed limit in post #2.
As for the bet of building a better bike for the money, it was for d8veh who is 10 times more experienced than me at building e-bikes.