Sparta Ion DT, is it any good?

[Geebee]

I am looking at a clone of the Sparta Ion DT, it is made by the same Company that makes the Sparta and is very close to the same bike, so.....?

 

[flecc]

The Sparta original is a superb quality bike of the highest standards. Once a very poor climber, the motor on these later versions like the DT has a greatly upgraded torque and is much more capable. Bear in mind these in-frame batteries may have limited long term availability and are likely to be much more expensive than many oriental sources.

However, you say this is a clone from the same manufacturer, and that could make a big difference. They also sell under their Koga brand which is identical in its high quality, but Sparta is now part of the huge Accell Group, Europe's largest combine of bike brands making bikes at every quality level. Therefore I can't say anything reliable about how good the near clone is. Do you have the name it's sold under?

 

[eddieo]

well a "real" one is about 2k with 29Nm motor and 24V, Justebikes sell them. Sparta are supposed to be very good but these dutch bikes not really my taste so dont know anything about them really.....Saw a good few on holidays and if cycling serenly at a low cadence on a large framed bike appeals try one, but while your there try a Bosch powered bike also

suprisingly its 23kg as these Dutch bike look large and heavy....

http://www.justebikes.co.uk/products/sparta-ion-dts-cross-bar-electric-bike/

 

[Geebee]

The model is Ultimate Cruiser SPDL011 and a link to an ebay auction on one is here http://www.ebay.com.au/itm/Y-Electric-Electric-Bike-Ultimate-Cruiser-SPDL011-200W-Motor-and-Lithium-/120908446518?pt=AU_Sport_Cycling_Bikes&hash=item1c26b47b36#ht_3336wt_1139
They are having a clearance on and off and I maybe able to pick one up for $1,000.

Eddio,
I have racing machines this is just to try and slow me down to let my body recover, the folder I just bought is great but I thought maybe some thing for longer more undulating rides.
Test riding anything electric in the bike line where I live is close to impossible let alone something decent.

Fixed link hopefully

 

[flecc]

That link is broken, here's a working one.

This is not a Sparta Ion clone, it's a front hub motor bike. The Sparta Ion uses their direct drive rear hub motor as shown on the link that Eddie gave.

Therefore all bets are off, it could be of any quality. It's front hub motor is one that's used on a number of continental e-bikes, both German and Dutch, but I have no idea how well it performs.

 

[eddieo]

Its in Australia and only 200 watts.....think you can possibily do better here

 

[Geebee]

There must be 2 versions of the Sparta as the ones I looked at were front wheel drive image search in google will show what I mean.

I live in Australia (Tasmania) and 200w up until very recently was the legal limit, I don't the states haven't ratified the new changes to allow UK ratings yet, on the plus side they are allowing both the 25 kmh with 250w or 200w with no speed limiting.

ps. thanks for fixing the link.

 

[eddieo]

Oop's I did not realise....

 

[flecc]

That's a problem when the same model name is used for very different bikes, Kalkhoff have done similar with the Agattu model, both hub and crank drive versions at times. However a Google search here in the UK shows the hub motor version under a different model name, Sparta RX, not Sparta Ion. Since it's clearly not the long standing rear motor Ion model, little is going to be known about this newer introduction.

As you say, the 200 watts is just to conform to Australian national law. Elsewhere that hub motor is listed as 250 watts and anyway will deliver well over either figure in practice. I know the State of Victoria wanted to introduce EU law but I don't know if they've approved the change yet, and have no information on what other states might be doing. Hopefully Australia won't end up like the USA where there are almost as many different e-bike laws as there are states.