eBay Bargain Panasonic Gitane?

[Cyclezee]

There is an ex demo Panasonic powered Gitane on ebay GITANE ELECTRIC BIKE LI-ION 8A/H SSRP£1299.00 on eBay, also, Bikes, Cycling, Sporting Goods (end time 17-Feb-09 14:12:12 GMT) It could be a bargain for someone, but please note it is a 3 speed automatic with a 8amp battery, not the 10amp one found on Kalkhoffs etc. Also the frame size is not mentioned. More info here Gitane cycles : E-bike 3

J hn

 

[lectureral]

They have a display of these in our local bike shop - priced at 1,000 and 1,200 euros (depending on battery size). I was thinking of one for my wife so that she could keep up with me and daughter on the Raleigh.

I was a bit put off by the automatic transmission though - sounds like something that could go wrong a lot (a bit like my clever French car which has a card-in-a-slot instead of a key which is fine until the car decides not to recognise the card in a fit of Gallic pique).

Anyone with any experience or understanding of these automatic gear shifters??

 

[flecc]

A to B magazine have reported very favourably on the Nexus Auto three speed which they've ridden on a Lafree. Shimano had intentions long ago to extend the auto system to hubs with more gears but seem to have abandoned that for some reason.

A word of warning about that 8Ah battery unit that John mentions, the range seems very much shorter on that unit than you might expect. A to B tested it on the original Gazelle with the 8 Ah battery Panasonic unit and reported around 19 miles, disproportionally short of the minimum 30 miles with the later unit and 10 Ah battery. There's no high power mode on the unit so it appears the software is not as efficient as the later one.
.

 

[keithhazel]

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A word of warning about that 8Ah battery unit that John mentions, the range seems very much shorter on that unit than you might expect. A to B tested it on the original Gazelle with the 8 Ah battery Panasonic unit and reported around 19 miles, disproportionally short of the minimum 30 miles with the later unit and 10 Ah battery. There's no high power mode on the unit so it appears the software is not as efficient as the later one.
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not the "bargain" it may have seemed to the naive

 

[flecc]

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not the "bargain" it may have seemed to the naive

It would be Keith for one of the many people who don't need long range and high performance, if they get it for not much more than that £600.

I was only warning of the range so that someone needing more didn't get caught out.
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[keithhazel]

It would be Keith for one of the many people who don't need long range and high performance, if they get it for not much more than that £600.

I was only warning of the range so that someone needing more didn't get caught out.
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yes i appreciate what you say Tony and a needed warning at that,its only too easy to buy a bargain without realiseing the reason its cheap is that it dont come up to todays ranges ect..after all £600 plus is still a lot of money

 

[Orraman]

Aldby,

Originally I posted this when I first bought my Gitane E-Bike 8 and my enthusiasm for this bike has not dimmed in the slightest. As far as I know there is only size 45.50 but at 5' 8" I am quite comfortable.
http://www.pedelecs.co.uk/forum/electric-bicycles/2444-gitane-e-bike-8-panasonic.html

Lectureal,

I posted this in a later thread but I doubt if gear changes could be made more quickly by hand and nothing could be simpler.

About Us - Freemanscycles

Before I bought the Gitane I felt that the there was a possibility that I might not have the stamina to maintain the proper cadence to remain in top gear for long periods and sought information from an acknowledged Hub Gear Expert.
Mr Richard Freeman spent considerable time assuring me that the Nexus Auto-D used a standard 3 speed hub which would readily accept a standard Nexus Revoshift rotary handlebar shifter. Should I wish to order one at some time in the future the shifter with clickbox and cable would cost £11.99, P&P £2.75 and yes they keep them in stock.
A patient man with great knowledge."

flecc,

I do not have a cyclometer fitted and since the first two discharges have recharged daily. My trips are short but in the better weather there were several trips per day and the battery shows no different from new.
There are three levels of assistance, 0.5, 1 to 1 and 1.3 to 1 and I believe this is the current standard.

It had been my intention to post a thread sometime in the near future to assure older or anyone partially disabled that the Panasonic motor could change their life for the better as it has done mine and the lightness of the Gitane at 22kg is an advantage. Apart from a recent illness my fitness has improved greatly with the ability to regulate the effort that I expend by choosing gear and assistance level.

I have no need to rush and the power of the Panasonic at low cadence is everything I need. In the car one can't casually stop and talk to friends, there is no electric buggy (invalid carriage) that allows one to exercise and you can't beat two wheels for accessibility.

keithhazel,

My failing is
Change that
One of my failings is that I can't resist a bargain and I am tempted to consider it myself if only for spares.

Dave

 

[flecc]

flecc,

I do not have a cyclometer fitted and since the first two discharges have recharged daily. My trips are short but in the better weather there were several trips per day and the battery shows no different from new.
There are three levels of assistance, 0.5, 1 to 1 and 1.3 to 1 and I believe this is the current standard.

Dave

That is the current standard Dave, but the unit with the 8 Ah battery was usually supplied without the high power mode. I think yours may have the 10 Ah battery unit fitted, perhaps you could confirm that?
.

 

[Orraman]

flecc,

My battery weighs 2.25 kg, it is ladled

Cycleurope Industries NKY234B02 8Ah, there is another smaller label with a barcode and other numbers.
It measures 10 and 3/4 inches to the top of the handle and appears identical to other Panasonic batteries, perhaps they have a common case?

Gitane have added 10 Ah models to their (Lady) range with 7 speed Nexus, they have the same frame size with sprung forks but they are 4.3 kg heavier than mine which is still available.

A point that I feel should be borne in mind is that the Nexus 3 has the widest spread of any 3 speed hub that I know of and not a lot less than the 7 speed Nexus.
Wider steps between gears are not so noticeable with electric assist and for those not inclined to "Ride Furiously" (nearly got done for that) pedal as you wish and the Auto D gearchange and the Panasonic will sort themselves out quite nicely. The range of the 8 Ah is given as 75 km in eco mode.

I would also note that I never ride the Gitane without my wide trailer being attached for safety and although it is lightweight its presence was felt on hills on an unassisted bike but with the Gitane it goes unnoticed.

Dave

Cycles Gitane : range electrique

 

[flecc]

Thanks for that Dave, it makes it clear to me what they are probably doing.

I understand the Panasonic 8 Ah battery is unique to that 2 mode unit and not compatible with the later 10 Ah three mode unit.

It seems that Gitane are using the Panasonic 10 Ah unit with a battery they source themselves in Europe, probably by arrangement with Panasonic.

Which shape is your case from these two, or is it a more plain shape with top handle:

 

[Orraman]

flecc,

My battery is like both the D2 leisure in your link and the lower of your two photos.
From what I can make out of the lower picture is that is an agattu with a hacked battery?

I will try to attach a photo of my battery.
Third try, not much good at this web photo thing!

Dave

 

[flecc]

That's the Panasonic 10Ah casing Dave, though seemingly with 8Ah European innards.

The Panasonic 8Ah battery is the top one in my post, with a peculiar flared top.

The lower battery is the normal Agattu's Panasonic battery, though it had some top damage.

Since your's seems to be the later unit normally supplied with the 10Ah battery, its range is probably much better than that 19 miles found on the previous unit.
.

 

[Orraman]

flecc,
Thank you for the interesting information.

A word of caution, the basket on the handlebars of the Gitane is sturdy enough and can be easily unclipped for shopping, good, but it is not suitable for other than light articles.
I loaded mine with flour to keep the breadmaker going for a while, bad move. When starting off the pendulum effect of the load meant that the normal movements for balance turned into large swings and overcorrections.

There was a slight judder when braking due to an imperfect weld on the rim but this is wearing off now.
The tires need too frequent pumping up and I intend changing the tubes, sometime?
No other quibbles.

Dave

 

[flecc]

There was a slight judder when braking due to an imperfect weld on the rim but this is wearing off now.
The tires need too frequent pumping up and I intend changing the tubes, sometime?
No other quibbles.

Dave

That rim imperfection is very common on today's bikes, but as you say, it will wear off.

I fit the Schwalbe butyl lightweight tubes, no dearer than others but very effective:

Schrader valve

Presta valve
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[Orraman]

flecc,
Again my thanks for the links.

I have some ancient bearing scrapers and I am assisting the wearing in with judicious touches on the highlights once in a while, keeps the hand in.

Dave

 

[flecc]

flecc,
Again my thanks for the links.

I have some ancient bearing scrapers and I am assisting the wearing in with judicious touches on the highlights once in a while, keeps the hand in.

Dave

I did exactly the same on my eZee Quando which had a quite severe front rim lip from new. Nicely polished in for a long time now, as it should be after around 5000 miles.
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