Hello Lessped
After much research and test runs in 2009/10 I choose a Sprint GTS XR (dual battery) and bought one last year in February. Almost 3500 miles later and I remain of the opinion it is a well specc`d, strong, durable and high quality machine capable of many more miles.
See Photos Here
The hub gears work well, shift quickly, can be changed at traffic lights and offer enough gears as the motor assist makes more gears unecessary - they are also virtually maintenance free and easy to clean.
The handlebars are almost straight - I added ergon bar ends to mine (see photos) which gives a variety of riding positions. The seat and handlebars can also be adjusted to a height combination which suits your riding style - I had mine reasonably level giving a good fast commute posture - a more relaxed approach is possible.
The motor is very powerful and with a cheeky derestrict switch it will assist up to and beyond 20mph if you are into that sort of thing. I have not found a hill in the Coteswolds it wont handle, but I`m sure North Wales could beat it!
I also find the bike useable with the power turned off and when I was using it alot would regularly cover the first 10 miles of my morning commute with the power off.
My personal opinion is that the Sprint GTS is a handsome beast, impressive "in the flesh" and I have always felt it gave a commanding position on the road which helped me feel safe. I would have no hesitation in recommending it to anyone lookimng for a high quality machine - I`m sure the guys at OnBike will be very pleased to let you test one out and compare it with others in their shop.
Good luck with your selection, and if you do buy a Sprint I`m sure you will not regret it.
All the best
Bob_about