You're starting to get a feel for my penchant for fat bikes, I think :p Gogobest is a well-known manufacturer of electric bikes, whose good deals I regularly share with you. This time, I had the opportunity to test the Gogobest GF750, which is, of course, a fat bike. But a fat bike whose vintage look blew me away. And that's without even mentioning its 2000W of power! Yes, it's a monster, which I invite you to discover in more detail in this review…
Presentation of the Gogobest GF750
Well, first of all, for those who are still a little worried about shipping, let me reassure you right away: this Gogobest GF750 arrived perfectly packaged! To be honest, I even had a little trouble getting it out of the box, which was glued and stapled together. There was no risk of it bursting open like some others I've seen :/ And inside, all the parts of the bike are perfectly packaged in foam:
Delivery was made by UPS, from a European warehouse (Poland if I remember correctly). So no tax to pay upon delivery.
Well, I was so eager to try it out that I skipped the unboxing photos, sorry :p But that's relatively standard for an electric bike: we had the complete frame with the rear wheel already installed. We just had to mount the front wheel, the headlight, tighten the handlebars, and screw on the seat. Nothing too complicated, assembly took about half an hour.
The end result is this superb “bike”:
Well, as they say, tastes and colors are not discussed. Personally, I love its vintage look, with its leather saddle and grips, its big moped headlight…
The wide seat certainly doesn't go unnoticed. We'll be like a king! No more backside pain, here we're cruising in complete comfort. The seat is so wide that two people can even ride on it, the Gogobest GF750 being capable of supporting 200kg of load.
It's also equipped with folding footrests at the rear to accommodate the passenger.
Another very attractive feature: the leather handlebars. They add a certain cachet, and they're also quite pleasant to hold.
Up front, a large 630-lumen LED headlight also adds a touch of retro flair to this Gogobest GF750.
At night, no worries, it's bright!
At the rear, there's a sturdy luggage rack, which can still accommodate more cargo if necessary, since it can support 60 kg on its own. So, no problem bringing gear on a tour.
After the aesthetics, let's move on to the technical aspects of this Gogobest GF750. As we mentioned, this is a Fat Bike, so we find large 20×4″ tires from the ChaoYang brand, renowned for its quality. These tires grip the ground well, are durable, and last a long time.
This Gogobest GF750 has no fewer than two 1000W motors. One motor in each wheel:
Moreover, during assembly, you'll need to connect the front wheel motor cable to the bike's circuit. Nothing complicated, as the plugs can only be connected one way. You just have to be careful not to pinch the cable between the fork and the wheel:
The fork is equipped with suspension, which can be activated or deactivated. It's also possible to adjust its flexibility. This is always a good idea to improve comfort.
There's no rear suspension, however, and the seat is bolted directly to the frame. Here, Be careful, even if the saddle is very comfortable, your backside will feel the “drags” going through it.
Gear-wise, we find a relatively standard Shimano 7-speed derailleur:
With very easy gear adjustment from the handlebar, on the right side. This is also where you'll find the throttle to propel the bike by itself, if you don't want to pedal :p
On the other side, we find the controls for the lighting, as well as the electronic horn. Be careful, it screams loudly! Right next to it, the small box < M > allows you to turn the bike on or off, by holding down the M button. The up and down arrows allow you to modify the electrical assistant through 5 levels, the first having no assistance. In this mode it will be a very classic bike. Be careful though, the Gogobest GF750 packs its weight: despite an aluminum alloy frame, it still weighs 43kg! You will have to push through your legs to maneuver it without electrical assistance.
In the center of the handlebars we find the control screen, which displays the battery level (at the top), the current speed, the electric assistance mode, the kilometers traveled, etc. A very good quality black and white screen, perfectly readable even in direct sunlight.
Finally, an important part on an electric bike: the battery. It is a 48V and 17.5Ah Lithium battery, of course designed to be waterproof and dustproof. It will take around 8 hours for a full charge.
It is easily disassembled using the key, which here is only necessary for disassembly. No need for a key to start the bike. Once unlocked, it slides under the saddle, and you can retrieve the battery to charge it at home if you wish.
The battery is rather large, and still weighs 6.4kg! But you need at least that to power these 2000w of power :p
On the top, a button allows you to display the battery level by pressing it. Practical when the battery is removed, because in any case these indicators are not accessible when it is in place.
On the side of the battery, there's a USB port for charging your smartphone, for example. Always handy just in case. Since it's on the rear, it can power a device in a bag on the luggage rack, or even in the rider's pocket.
And at the other end, there's the charger connector, protected by a small rotating cover.
This battery is a bit special, as it houses the taillight:
It also has two buttons on the bottom: the large button turns on the battery. The smaller one, in the recess, turns on the headlight.
This is a downside, however, because the taillight isn't connected to the rest of the bike: when you turn on the headlights via the button on the handlebars, you only turn on the front headlight. You'll have to press the button under the battery for the taillight. Likewise, the taillight doesn't come on when you brake. This is a bit of a shame on a bike of this caliber. At the center of the frame is the control box, which regulates the power supply to the motors. It is also perfectly protected:
Finally, among the features, there is a kickstand to keep the bike upright:
But we also have another kickstand on the underside:
There is no bottle cage, but it is still possible to install one on the frame:
This Gogobest GF750 is a rather complete and robust bike, with a beautiful finish.
The Gogobest GF750 in use
This Gogobest GF750 works like most electric bikes seen so far. You turn on the battery directly; no key is required. This is convenient, but at the same time, using a key prevents it from being used by anyone else. Therefore, you will need to have a lock.
Hold down the “M” button on the handlebars to turn it on, and you're ready to go. Simply use the up and down arrows to increase or decrease the bike's electric assistance. At the same time, you can shift into the bike's “traditional” gears to pedal at cruising speed.
The front suspension, fat tires, wide handlebars, and seat make this a truly enjoyable bike to ride. Beware of bumps, though, because while the seat is very comfortable, it doesn't have any cushioning: no rear suspension or springs under the seat. So you can feel the big bumps in the rear.
Besides, you can tell it's got what it takes, and that it demands more: the European model is indeed limited to 25 km/h, to comply with the law.
In reality, many manufacturers limit their bikes to 25 km/h, counting on the authorities' tolerance. But in reality, as soon as a bike has a throttle to ride without pedaling, in France it is not allowed on public roads. Indeed, an “e-bike” in the strict sense of the term must have a 250W motor, with a speed limit of 25 km/h, and pedaling is mandatory. It's an electrically assisted bike; it's there to help us, not do the work for us.
With this Gogobest GF750, between the throttle and the 2000W of power, you won't be able to count on approval, even in the moped class, which it doesn't meet either. I've started looking into the possibility of registering it, etc., but it seems complicated to me because you have to provide a lot of documents, with no guarantee that it will work :/ So, it's best reserved for private roads. Everyone acts according to their own conscience… We just hope that the legislation evolves a little for this type of really cool device, which could fall into the same class as electric scooters.
Coming back to the power, we feel it's asking for more. And when you look closely at the spec sheet, you see that it can actually go up to 50km/h. We can better understand why it's so impatient when you pull the trigger :p Well, for those who want to try it, unlocking the throttle is very simple. All you have to do is hold down the right brake lever and press the “M” ignition button to turn on the bike, without releasing the brake lever. Count to 20, and that's it (see the explanatory video here). The bike then turns on, ready to go up to 50 km/h (31 mph). Having tested it, it quickly reaches 46 km/h (29 mph) in less than 5 seconds without any problems, even with 80 kg (176 lbs) on it :p Be sure to wear a helmet, though; at that speed, it can be fatal. If you want to return to the original throttle state, repeat the same procedure.
Also a little tip: when stopped, shift into 0 gear or turn it off. I was actually clumsy enough to hook the throttle lever up with my jacket, and the engine's power is uncompromising: the bike takes off on its own in less than a second! Now a word about the range, which is given as 80km. This is an approximate range, using the electric assistance, that is, while pedaling, we agree :) I didn't do them all in one go, but in two outings, and we're indeed approaching 80km of range. This range will vary depending on the weight carried and the type of road taken, of course.Also, while the saddle is extremely comfortable, it must be admitted that the inside of your legs rubs a little against the side of the saddle when pedaling. As a result, you tend to use the throttle quite a bit to use it like a moped, and no longer like a bicycle. Obviously, the range suffers and drops to around 40km, which is already not bad for a nice ride. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kiYuvafLf6c
Conclusion
I'm not going to be very objective, because I fell for the vintage look of this bike, which I find magnificent! It's robust, powerful, and yet quite classy with its leather accents. In terms of its power and looks, it's clearly closer to a Motobécane than an e-bike. This is, in fact, its strength but also its main drawback, as it's not officially legal on public roads in France. Like many things in our beautiful country, it's one of those things you can buy but not use. After all, everyone takes their own responsibility. Personally, I have no shortage of private roads around my recreational area, and I'm going to take full advantage of them during the holidays ;-)
Minor criticisms include the completely disconnected rear light, which doesn't turn on at the same time as the front light, and it also doesn't turn on when braking. And the center stand, which is very practical for stabilizing the bike when storing it, is a bit low when riding over bumpy terrain, so it can be reattached. It's a minor detail, since the stand can be easily removed, given that there's also a side stand.
For those interested, this Gogobest GF750 normally retails for €2,499. But it's regularly on sale, like
right now at just €1,799, which is a very competitive price compared to other electric bikes found in stores in France. Free shipping from a European warehouse, so no additional taxes are required upon arrival.
Please remain courteous: a hello and a thank you cost nothing! We're here to exchange ideas in a constructive way. Trolls will be deleted.