Gepida has get up and go

This story first appeared in the July issue of EVtalk – CLICK HERE to download the magazine FREE

The chance to test a European-made Gepida electric bike came at just the right time.

I had to lug a heavy pack (laptop, clothes and other items) to and from work, plus wasn’t well, so my conventional road bike would have been a struggle.

But this Bosch central hub powered e-bike made all the difference, the centrally placed battery and motor providing a low centre of gravity for better balance.

A 23km one-way journey became a breeze, the hills flowing under wheel with ease, thanks to four power assist levels ranging from “Turbo” (fast) to “Eco” (greater pedal push).

Using a variety of pedal assist levels from “Tour” (the step up from “Eco”) and mainly “Tour” and “Sport”, with the final step “Turbo” hardly used at all, the bike travelled roads and cycleways anywhere from 20-30km/h, sometimes reaching 40km/h.

That’s despite European Union regulations restricting speed there to 25-27km/h.

A day of wet and wind was no problem for the Gepida either.
Full mudguards stopped any splash-back.

It meant I could travel to work in my better apparel, rather than lycra and associated riding gear, without getting wet (under a three-quarter length rain jacket) and without raising a sweat.

The 400Wh Bosch powerpack battery lasted well, too.
Of the five battery bars showing on the screen mounted centrally on the handlebars, only one bar dropped off by the end of 46km – showing the e-bike is capable of doing around 100km on a single charge.

If you run out of juice on the step-through Gepida 1000 City I was testing, it can still be pedalled without power assist (“Off”) with relative ease.
It’s a heavy bike at nearly 26kg (most e-bikes are around 25kg or less), so you don’t want to travel too far without pedal assist – especially uphill.

You don’t have to be that fit to ride an e-bike like this, and riders will soon gain a degree of fitness anyway through using pedal assist.

There’s no throttle on this bike either – and you don’t need it.

The Gepida has seven gears, operated from a throttle-like control on the right handlebar.
Just don’t try to jump too many gears at once.

Magura hydraulic brakes provide plenty of stopping power, even in the wet.

A range of wheel sizes is offered.
The 28-inch wheels on the Gepida Reptila 1000 roll efficiently on pavement, while the Reptila 900 has smaller 26-inch tyres and would be more suitable for a slighter built person.

It fits in the lift and office at work, although charging tends to be done at home overnight – allow up to four hours.

The hydroformed frame comes with a lifetime warranty, while top quality components make this an outstanding bike for urban and rail trail riding.

A carrier and frame lock are included in the price – the Gepida available through Electrify NZ for $3500 on special at the moment.

New season Gepida stock has just landed too, with a recommended retail price of $4499.
The arrivals feature the new Bosch Active Plus motor and a 32km/h speed limit.

As a commuter bike, the Gepida would be hard to beat.

Gepida was founded in 1996, taking its name from an ancient Germanic tribe, and has since become one of the leaders in European electric bike design and production.