Got a New Gepidia

[Andrew harvey]

I have just taken delivery of a new Gepidia. I want to road test it before I commit to stocking them in my LBS.

I have always liked the idea of drive through the gears, but would confess that I've only found one manufactured control system I was happy with.

So how does the Gepidia with it's Yamaha system compare to the Panasonics?
The jury is still out, a few miles of nice dry road are needed.
It does seem to have higher pedal cadence, which to me is a good thing.
Usual high quality, but band brakes I'm not yet convinced by.

I will post a review when it has had a few miles.

 

[iaing]

I have just taken delivery of a new Gepidia. I want to road test it before I commit to stocking them in my LBS.

I have always liked the idea of drive through the gears, but would confess that I've only found one manufactured control system I was happy with.

So how does the Gepidia with it's Yamaha system compare to the Panasonics?
The jury is still out, a few miles of nice dry road are needed.
It does seem to have higher pedal cadence, which to me is a good thing.
Usual high quality, but band brakes I'm not yet convinced by.

I will post a review when it has had a few miles.

I had never heard of band brakes before. Find they have been around for over a hundred years. Look rather dodgy, though.

Iain

 

[flecc]

I had never heard of band brakes before. Find they have been around for over a hundred years. Look rather dodgy, though.

Iain

I think that's a mistake in naming the brake. The Gepida has a conventional rim front brake and the Shimano 8 speed hub gear on the back will have a Shimano roller brake, which could either be lever operated or be a back pedal type since these are common on the Continent.

Band brakes these days are only ever seen on the very cheapest Chinese production and no European bike would use them.
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[Mussels]

So how does the Gepidia with it's Yamaha system compare to the Panasonics?
The jury is still out, a few miles of nice dry road are needed.
It does seem to have higher pedal cadence, which to me is a good thing.
Usual high quality, but band brakes I'm not yet convinced by.

I will post a review when it has had a few miles.

The higher cadence would be a very good thing but does that mean it is geared even lower than the Panasonic?

 

[flecc]

The higher cadence would be a very good thing but does that mean it is geared even lower than the Panasonic?

It's the way the system is designed, a slightly higher cadence allowed for the power reduction steps than that of the Panasonic. It now gives a cadence choice to suit those with either preference. However it inevitably means that for a higher cadence at any given speed, the gearing has to be lower or the speed would be increased. The gearing must be lower at the 15 mph cut-off if the cadence is higher, but of course, like the Panasonic bikes, the rear sprocket can be changed to increase the cut-off speed.
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[Andrew harvey]

Your right about the brakes being rollers, I hadn't had a good look at them.
There are rollers brakes back and front. The rear built onto a Nexus 8 speed and the front on the dynamo hub.
The 8 speed is not as slick as my 7, you need to make a positive note to stop pedaling on the downshifhts, as with an old Stumey. Up shifts are smoother needing only a relaxing of pedal effort.
The brakes will as usual need a little bedding in, they are not as sharp as I like as yet but should improve with miles.
The standard seat is a fat arsed style and takes a little fettling with the angle. Once it's set right and you get used to the upright riding position it's not to bad, but coming from a thin Books racer style seat you need to adjust to sitting up and begging.
The overal feel of the bike is very relaxing, it seems a little slow compared with my bike (a hub motor with a34mph no load speed), but watching others ride it they race away. Deceptively fast would be an appropriate description.
It whistles upto a comfortable 15 mph with assistance all the way up to the cut off. The cut off itself is not as noticable as most, I would say it must tapper away rather than cut. The cut of is also higher than on most crank drive systems I have used.
The steepest hill around here is about 1 in 8/7, Sion Hill in Kidderminster, it climbs about 100' in 2/300yrds, ( these are only estimate figures taken from an OS map ). It climbs easily once you have remembered to engage a higher gear than you expect. Changing up on the hill is easyier than changing down and rewards you with as surge of power that adds speed to your climb before you have chance to slow your pedalling to maintain the high power output from the motor. The solution is of course to engage a higher gearing before the slope and just climb gently rather than trying to race the hill.
Get the hang of the motor and it rewards you in bundles.
I'm going to fit a speedo to give an accurate assessment of what it can do.
The general build is the usual high standard for Europeanan bikes, with mudgaurds, rack, skirt gaurds and wheel locks as standard. The weight is very much par for the course giving a nice robust feel. The quick adjust headset is nice, but once the bars are set it will become pointless.
Range from what has to be one of the most compact battery packs about is qouted at upto 80km on low power, but I cannot give accurate figures as yet.
Faults; The handle bar controller uses the membrane type switches, waterproof, but not the best with gloves on,
The saddle could be a little slimmer, (personal preferance),
and The gears could be slicker, but they should smooth with use.

 

[flecc]

I looked at a model with front V brake, but it seems they they must do some with twin roller brakes Andrew, like the Lafree series of old. Like you, I'm not convinced by roller brakes, rather slow initial action and then sometimes deceptively getting fierce as the pressure increases. Not really an ideal brake for emergency stops.

Thanks for all the information, it sounds very similar to the Panasonic in the way that the power is best at low cadences and then tails off, but that's mainly through the Japanese law that affects both companies. If you haven't seen it, I've made a full description of how that affects these systems here on this link.
.

 

[Andrew harvey]

Took the Gepida ( Reptila 1000 ) home for a test ride last night.
A round trip back to the shop of 15.5 miles, two of the four battery indicator lights went out, the first went out at about 8 miles the second just before I got back to the shop this morning. The trip computer shows an average speed of 15.5 mph, which is good for the route I took, combining rolling country side and a several steeper hills. I made the jouneys with low power and autoeco (?, must read the manual ) selected.
There seems little difference between low power and high, both providing ample power to tackle fairly steep inclines once the right gear and speed are established.
There is no rolling resistance from the motor, the fastest speed at which I could pedal was 28 mph beyond that my legs just will not go any more.
The bike handles well on the corners, feeling solid on the down hill twisty bits, encouraging you to let the speed build when it can.
I cann't compare it to the new Panasonic bikes as I have limited expierence of them, however I would say it's far better than the Lafree in all respects,
there's more go in it, the power is available to much higher speeds and the higher allowable pedal cadence means you can make better use of the gears, I would still like to see a higher cadence range though as my knees aren't what they used to be.
When I can find my phone lead I wil post a Couple of photos.
If any one would like to try the bike out it's at Smiths Cyles in Kidderminster.

 

[flecc]

That's an excellent average for this sort of system Andy. The new Panasonic unit is also a great improvement on the old unit in the Lafree, more power and greater efficiency, so only a direct comparison will sort out if any one is better.

A to B weren't as keen on the Yamaha as the Panasonic, but I'll prefer to judge for myself in due course.
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[Andrew harvey]

I forgot to post the pictures I had promised. I remembered earlier today as I was clearing room on my phone, so I've only got one left.

 

[winterdog]

nice looking bike very discreet electrics

 

[Andy_82]

uuufff

nice looking bike very discreet electrics

I would certainly disagree. I think Gepida looks awful. The frame is so huge, the smallest size for gents is probably 21'', and they also make them in 23'' ( size for KING KONG). It's probably good quality bike considering Yamaha drive behind it but I'm out. Like the Kalkhoff bikes look with the style and elegance, I think Gepida is the worst looking electric bike I've ever seen. Anyway people - don't worry about my opinion it's just me, I either like something very much or totally dislike as it's a case with Gepida

 

[UrbanPuma]

Just to add my opinion. I think the Gepida looks very nice and unassuming. The only thing im not keen on is the plastic thing on the back wheel. By contrast, the Agattu looks rather dated and old fashioned.

 

[flecc]

Just to add my opinion. I think the Gepida looks very nice and unassuming. The only thing im not keen on is the plastic thing on the back wheel. By contrast, the Agattu looks rather dated and old fashioned.

I agree on the rigid plastic skirt guards on both those bikes, they look cheap and nasty and they've caused problems with rattling.

On the looks, I like the Gepida style, a traditional diamond frame shape that's unusual on these days of so many sloping crossbar bikes. However, I also like the Agattu style since it's an e-bike for a different purpose, very much a general purpose utility bike, a job which it does superbly well.
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