Last Saturday the research and testing finally ended, and the payments began...
I am the proud owner of a Villiger Levantina E (one of the first I think)
This bike is certainly not for everybody, but I think it is the best available for my needs and riding style.
Tech: Bionx 250W 40.7 volt 6.4Ah Lithium battery. Aluminum frame 25.9Kg.
Style: I am a fairly energetic rider, and just want to make a 5 mile urban commute a little more pleasurable by flattening the (10-20%) hills.
Ebike History: I rode a Yamaha Easy Super (great pedelec!) for 7 years until it was stolen last fall/
Things I like:
Upright riding position - much like a Dutch bike - it makes me feel safe in traffic.
Simple efficient gearing - 8 speed derailleur - no need for more
True pedelec - very smooth controller that feels like a natural 'push'
Quiet - rear motor is basically inaudible - to the rider anyway...
Regen braking - not for the battery charging - it just feels smooth and reassuring - and saves brake pads
Hill climbing - OK the max I have is 20% but it eats these up - on level 4 - high gear and 25kph!
General finish - Villiger are excellent quality bikes - with excellent service
Confidence in the Bionx system - which seems to have proven itself to be reliable
Minuses:
25 kph limit - still waiting for a software crack - the EU regulations have closed all the other Bionx workarounds. But I found that I can work around it. A) on level 2, the 'wall' is much more subtle B) setting the gearing right, I can reach a natural cadence of about 70 rpm and stay just below the 25 kph max on the flat.
Swiss - high price - 3200 CHF - and only available in Switzerland - Villiger is owned by Trek though, but Trek doesn't offer this model (only similar ones with 24 gears) and can only be found in Holland so far.
Other bikes I tested:
All Kalkhoff and Raleigh models
Flyer high end models
Giant twist express
Gazelle Orange innergy
Koga Tesla
Wattworld - E-Move Evolution
For more pictures see:
http://www.photoshop.com/user/craigduncan/?wf=share&trackingid=BTAGC&galleryid=cbbd47d65c024f30abba6ce0cec55a28
I will do another report after a few hundred kilometers.
I am the proud owner of a Villiger Levantina E (one of the first I think)
This bike is certainly not for everybody, but I think it is the best available for my needs and riding style.
Tech: Bionx 250W 40.7 volt 6.4Ah Lithium battery. Aluminum frame 25.9Kg.
Style: I am a fairly energetic rider, and just want to make a 5 mile urban commute a little more pleasurable by flattening the (10-20%) hills.
Ebike History: I rode a Yamaha Easy Super (great pedelec!) for 7 years until it was stolen last fall/
Things I like:
Upright riding position - much like a Dutch bike - it makes me feel safe in traffic.
Simple efficient gearing - 8 speed derailleur - no need for more
True pedelec - very smooth controller that feels like a natural 'push'
Quiet - rear motor is basically inaudible - to the rider anyway...
Regen braking - not for the battery charging - it just feels smooth and reassuring - and saves brake pads
Hill climbing - OK the max I have is 20% but it eats these up - on level 4 - high gear and 25kph!
General finish - Villiger are excellent quality bikes - with excellent service
Confidence in the Bionx system - which seems to have proven itself to be reliable
Minuses:
25 kph limit - still waiting for a software crack - the EU regulations have closed all the other Bionx workarounds. But I found that I can work around it. A) on level 2, the 'wall' is much more subtle B) setting the gearing right, I can reach a natural cadence of about 70 rpm and stay just below the 25 kph max on the flat.
Swiss - high price - 3200 CHF - and only available in Switzerland - Villiger is owned by Trek though, but Trek doesn't offer this model (only similar ones with 24 gears) and can only be found in Holland so far.
Other bikes I tested:
All Kalkhoff and Raleigh models
Flyer high end models
Giant twist express
Gazelle Orange innergy
Koga Tesla
Wattworld - E-Move Evolution
For more pictures see:
http://www.photoshop.com/user/craigduncan/?wf=share&trackingid=BTAGC&galleryid=cbbd47d65c024f30abba6ce0cec55a28
I will do another report after a few hundred kilometers.
