To run the forums, host the website, and travel, I charge a universal service fee for my reviews. This review was sponsored by Gepida. My goal is to be transparent and unbiased, this video and written review are not meant to be an endorsement of Gepida products.
I was lucky enough to get to see the Gepedia lineup this year, and today I am looking at their decked out Fastida. The Fastida is a feature rich and fast 28mph speed pedelec commuter ebike with a Bosch mid-drive motor which we will dive into more later, but for now, let’s check out the bike overall. The bike is a new offering, so I am not sure if it will come in frame types other than this high-step, but it does come available in 2 sizes. The seating position is a little more on the aggressive side, thanks to this stem with a little bit of a rise to it, but that is normal for most high-speed commuters. You still get some comfort here like this gel saddle and ergonomic grips. The big comfort win here though is this SR Suntour front suspension fork. It has a fairly large 80mm of travel as well as lockout and preload adjust. The fork surrounds these great Schwalbe ebike specific commuter tires, these are high speed rated and offer some great smooth efficiency. I love that they included reflective sidewalls here, it really helps the bike stand out. I really need to mention the other great safety standout, and that is the reflectors on both sides of the fender mounts. It’s so cool that this bike comes with these features right out of the gate as well as others, so let’s get into those too. Also for safety, you get an awesome integrated headlight as well as an integrated rear light that also has active brake lights when you squeeze on the brake levers. I should mention the headlight is fork mounted, so you could get some bounce if on rough terrain. For even more visibility, Gepedia added a light that shines on the license plate mount should you have some sort of identification attached in the back. The fenders I mentioned earlier are a durable plastic with rubberized mud flaps. Not only do these add an additional element to keep you clean, but it can help alleviate toe strikes to the fender if you are making a tight turn. In the rear, there is an included rack that is rated to hold 55lbs (25kg) and uses this smaller railing which is great since it will accommodate most pannier bags on the market. One nice little features here is the horn. You do get an integrated bell, but if you wanted to go a step further, you can use the electric horn to blare some sound for an emergency or stronger announcement. Much like the license plate and the headlight being on as you use the bike, I think the horn is part of EU regulations for ebikes. Other features include a spring loaded retractable kickstand, bottle cage bosses, and platform pedals with rubber grips.
Driving this bike is one of the sportiest, and smartest, electric bike motors around today. It’s the Bosch Performance Line Speed, which offers up to 63 Newton meters of torque and 120 RPM pedal support. This means that it can start and climb well (even if you’re not in the optimal gear), and it will allow you to spin quickly to reduce leg muscle power and focus on cardio if that’s your preference. It is my preference, in fact, because I have a knee injury. Some other mid-drive electric bike systems (even Bosch’s own Active Line motors) max out around 100 or 110 RPM, so you literally have to switch gears in order to ride faster. It’s less of an issue when your max speed is 20mph, but it becomes very noticeable with a speed pedelec like this. The Performance Line motors have taken a unique approach with their chainring spec that makes them quick and efficient for the motor, but louder and possibly less efficient for you as the rider (if the bike is turned off or you’re trying to pedal beyond the supported speeds). They have a reduction gear inside that spins the chainring at 2.5 revolutions for each crank arm revolution. Bosch representatives have told me that it improves chain retention, but it also makes swapping chainring sizes less straightforward… because they are proprietary. It means that the chain cover is smaller and the chain itself is lower, but might allow for increased chain contact with the right chain stay when riding over bumpy terrain. I trust Bosch, have enjoyed this and other motors that they produce on many other leading electric bikes over the years, I feel that the tradeoffs are worth it. One thing that is definitely a pro here, is the two-year comprehensive warranty and support from a wide network of Bosch-Certified dealers. I visit shops all over North America and many have told me that the Bosch drive systems are some of their most reliable, and that the company provides quick support with hardware that does need fixes or replacements. Mechanically, the bike has a Shimano XT derailleur with a Shadow Plus clutch system. This allows you to make the chain tight for rigid riding or lose for maintenance. The setup has 10 speeds as well as some nice trigger shifters. Stopping the bike is a massive set of 180mm Magra hydraulic disc brake rotors. This is quite a premium setup, and I usually only see brakes like this in high-end mountain bikes, so really a great set of brakes for stopping a fast bike like this.
Powering the bike is a high-capacity Bosch PowerPack 500 offering 36 volts and 13.4 amp hours for nearly 500 watt hours of capacity. It’s one of the most widespread electric bike batteries in the world right now and uses the same form factor and mounting interface as the older, lower capacity, Bosch PowerPack 400. This means that finding replacements, borrowing additional packs, or renting batteries when traveling becomes much easier. The plastic casing is durable but lightweight, especially compared to the new PowerTube 500 which weighs 6.3lbs vs 5.7lbs. PowerPack batteries do stand out a bit visually because they mount on top of the frame tubing, but the manufacturer has done their best to sink the battery down into the downtube. The pack clicks down and secures with a high quality ABUS Ampero locking core. You can order locks and other accessories to match this key, reducing clutter and making it simpler to unlock the bike and battery. I noticed that the core is spring loaded, so you don’t need to insert and twist the key when mounting the pack… just be sure to push down until you hear it click. Any Bosch certified ebike dealer can help you adjust the mounting interface over time if you notice rattling or loosening, it’s a durable convenient design. And, that goes for the charger as well. With half a kilowatt-hour of capacity in this battery, the faster 4-amp Bosch charger allows you to spend more time riding vs. waiting, and yet it’s about the same size and in some cases lighter than many generic 2-amp chargers included with cheaper e-bikes. I like the wide proprietary plug design as well, because it isn’t likely to be mixed up with other chargers or get broken as easily. You can charge this battery on or off the bike frame, making it great for commuters who need to charge inside at work, and you won’t be as likely to drop the battery during transport because it has a big plastic loop handle at the top. To maximize the life of this and most Lithium-ion batteries, try to keep it above 20% capacity and avoid extreme heat and cold. If you know you won’t be riding for some time, store at 50% to reduce stress on the Lithium-ion cell chemistry.
Operating this bike is very natural Bosch Intuvia display panel and control pad. Once the battery is charged and connected to the frame, you simply press the power button on the Bosch Intuvia display panel, and it quickly loads some menus. The main dashboard shows bike speed, battery level (a five bar indicator), chosen level of assist (four levels) and a power meter to the right. Along the bottom, a rotating menu shows trip stats including max speed, average speed, clock, trip distance, clock, and dynamic range estimate (that changes as you select different assist levels). You can cycle through these menus using the i button on the display and also on the button pad mounted near the left grip. You really only need that i button and the up/down arrows on the control pad to use the bike once it’s switched on, and they produce a satisfying tactile click that helps you understand what’s happening, even if you can’t look down while riding. You slide through gear ratios (since technically there are no gears) using a half-grip twist shifter on the right. Given the potential power of the Bosch Performance Line motor, I found shifting to be most efficient and comfortable when done as I eased off of the pedals a bit (which decreases motor output). I should mention the integrated Mini-USB port, great for maintaining smartphones for GPS or music on the go, and I want to call out the always-on white backlighting of the Intuvia LCD. It’s convenient in the dark, but can sometimes feel a bit bright and distracting. There’s also a walk mode, which is accessible if you are in one of the four assist levels and press the button on the top edge of the control pad and then hold +. This activates the motor very slowly, to help you push through grass or limp home if the tire goes flat. It’s very handy if the rear rack does have cargo or you have a flat tire. In closing, the Intuvia display panel delivers almost everything I have grown to know and appreciate in the world of ebikes. It’s removable, easy to read, full of useful features but not too complicated… I just wish it showed battery percentage in addition to or in place of the basic five bar infographic.
I love the speed and all the features that come with the Fastida right out of the box. It is quite a complete setup, however, there are some tradeoffs to consider. For example, the headlight is mounted on the fork, rather than the stem, so you can get some bouncing to your visibility if you are on bumpy terrain. The spring loaded kickstand is kind of cool, but I personally have had issues with these while attempting maintenance, it can really get in the way and make the bike difficult to prop up in certain conditions. Finally, the Bosch Performance Line motors are a bit heavy and do have some drag, especially when pedaling with a dead battery, something to be aware of. But to be honest, these could seem like small issues, the bike is defiantly one of the more complete offerings out there and will likely make some commuters extremely happy. I want to thank Gepedia for letting me try out the Fastida and look forward to when we meet again.
As always, I welcome questions and feedback in the comment section below. Whether you own a previous version of the bike, have taken a test ride, or are brand new to the space, my goal is to provide an objective and honest resource. You can also join the Gepida ebike forums and share your own photos, videos, and review updates to help others! Have fun out there, and ride safe :)
Pros:
- You get a nice set of 28” x 1.75” tires, these are 700c tires, so you have a lower attack angle and high air volume, reflective sidewalls which is a great safety feature for commuting
- I love the SR SunTour Ebike rated fork with lockout and preload adjust, the 80mm of travel is a great range for commuting, so really a nice setup
- Sturdy fenders hug the tires to keep you dry and clean, the front fender features a sort of rubberized end to keep your feet and shins dry, if this portion of the fender is kicked or collides with a curb it bends naturally, alleviating toe strikes
- The fenders and rack were very quiet, the custom cargo rack felt sturdy but didn’t add much width or length to the bike, I like how it’s minimalist
- Integrated lights help you see and be seen in dark riding conditions, the headlight is nice and bright while the rear light acts as an active brake light when you hold down the brake levers
- I love the little touches here like the included reflectors on the fender mount sides to keep you visible
- The Bosch Performance Line Speed mid-drive motor here is very capable and fast, really one of the most reliable and powerful motors out there
- Excellent weight distribution with both the motor and battery mounted low and center, the frame is totally custom so the electronics blend in and wires are internally routed, the battery doesn’t stand out thanks to a paint-matched shell
- The rack in the rear rated for 55lbs and even has pannier hangers and blockers
- Not only does it have an integrated bell, but you get an electronic horn too, this if great if you need to blare some sound for an emergency or stronger announcement
- The battery pack is removable so you can store its safely and charge conveniently, I’d suggest removing the battery when carrying the bike or using walk mode to help climb stairs, the locking core is made by Abus and they can match folding locks to the same key for convenience and reduced clutter if you want
- Bosch Intuvia is my favorite display from Bosch since it is backlit, easy to read, removable, tilt-able, and has pretty much any information you could want
- High-end drivetrain makes it easy to start and climb or maintain the 28 mph top speed, The Shimano XT Shadow+ derailleur keeps the chain tight on bumps to reduce bouncing and slipping with a one-way adjustable clutch (this drivetrain has traditionally been reserved for mountain bikes), the same clutch can make removing the rear wheel easier if locked so the derailleur doesn’t spring back
- The license plate mount is more of a EU touch, but I can see it having uses here in the US, especially nice since it has a light that adds for visibility
- This is really a great option for commuting, you get a rack, integrated lights in the front and rear, front fork, hydraulic brakes, suspension seat post, and of course 28mph speed!
- With great power and speed come great responsibility! And for that you get Magura hydraulic disc brakes with nice 180mm disc rotors in both the front and rear
Cons:
- The headlight is fork mounted, so that means you could get bumps in visibility if you are riding on rough or bumpy terrain, something to be mindful of
- The ride is a little more on the active side, so make sure that is something you want as there are other commuters that are built more around cruising
- The higher-end Bosch Performance Line motors tend to drain the battery quicker, produce more noise, and create some drag because of the reduction gearing, this only happens when pedaling unassisted or pedaling over the max speed (~28 mph in this case)
- The spring loaded kickstand is kind of cool, but I personally have had issues with these while attempting maintenance, it can really get in the way and make the bike difficult to prop up in certain conditions
- The 180mm hydraulic disc brake rotors in the front and rear are impressive, however, a bigger disc brake could mean you want to be more careful parking at a bike rack so you don’t bump them and get them bent or scuffed up
- The charging port on the bike frame is positioned very close to the left crank arm and that means the cable could get snagged or the connector could get bent if you bump the cranks while charging… just be extra careful or charge off-bike, and then make sure it clicks back on securely before riding
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