De-restricting a Sparta Ion?

Sapphire

Finding my (electric) wheels
Aug 9, 2009
13
0
Altrincham Cheshire WA14
Does anyone know how to de-restrict a Sparta Ion? Not sure I am going to do it but would be good to know if it can be done and how you would go about it. Is it possible? Would very much appreciate any thoughts on this.
 

flecc

Member
Oct 25, 2006
53,560
30,849
I very much doubt it's possible without a controller change, but the Sparta motor is almost certainly the weakest e-bike motor on the market so would not have the power to do much more anyway. It was designed originally for the hill free low countries as a single speed bike and not intended to be in any way a performance machine. The derailleur was added later to make it viable for export to others other countries with hills, but the complaints of lack of power weren't addressed, rather confirming the motor performance can't be altered.
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Sapphire

Finding my (electric) wheels
Aug 9, 2009
13
0
Altrincham Cheshire WA14
Sparta Ion not for hills & other questions

Thank you for your helpful answers. The Sparta Ion is a great bike in so many ways and superb around town and on flattish terrain generally. However it can be frustratingly underpowered going uphill. My dream bike would be the Optibike but it is very expensive.

Any suggestions for a electric bike available in the UK that is similar to the Sparta Ion but has enough power or whatever it needs to do decent hill-climbing?

The Sparta has such an attractive streamlined look with everything so well hidden that it is difficult to find something with visibly, clunky batteries as appealing. Any suggestions appreciated.
 

flecc

Member
Oct 25, 2006
53,560
30,849
The best bet for quality are a couple of makes. First the Gazelle Innergy and Easy Glider models. They are also made in the Netherlands and superb quality, though the styling isn't quite at the unique peak of the Sparta. The Innergy has a front hub motor and is a fairly good climber, much better than the Sparta, while the Easy Glider uses the Panasonic crank drive motor unit with which anything can be climbed, no matter how steep.

It's worth trying both models though, since their character is very different. The crank drive unit demands more from you all the time, though not excessively so, while the hub motor makes things easier on the flat. So really it's steepest hill ability versus least overall cycling work.

Another bike to investigate is the Kalkhoff Tasman, also using the Panasonic unit, it's a version of the highly thought of Kalkhoff Agattu but specified to the highest standards with hydraulic brakes etc.

The Gazelles are sold through selected dealers, use a search engine for those, the Tasman is sold by 50cycles.
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