The Vivax Assist Electric Bike drive system has now taken the place of the Gruber assist around 2 years ago. The change of name came after a breakthrough with their technology. They managed to get the noise level down to near silent. The Gruber was always known as noisy but light weight (sub 2 Kg) drive kit. Now the Vivax is known for it's silence and being even lighter.
Above: A video to show the Vivax in action with a commentary explaining the basics.
Above: Video of the Vivax Forza CF Road Bike
This is a LINK to the new Vivax Assist product brochure
Above: Check out this video to see how quiet the Vivax assist drive system is!!!
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| All bikes can be fitted with the NEW Invisible Performance water bottle battery pack for an additional £499 |
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| Vivax Veloce with Water bottle Battery for Invisible Performance £4949 |
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| Vivax Alpha £3840 |
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| Vivax Veloce Complete road bike £4450 - Frameset fitted with Vivax £2600 (inc crank) |
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| Vivax Forza Carbon Road frame With Vivax 4.0 fitted £4100 (inc crank, forks, hanger, clamp) |
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| Vivax Beta Carbon MTB Frameset Vivax assist 4.0 fitted £3940 (inc crank, hanger, clamp) |
Here is a link to an independent review by Bike Radar of the Gruber Assist, remember the Vivax Assist is much quieter. Gruber Assist review
Information
I hear you asking, "How useful is this kit?"
The Newer Vivax Assist Has now taken over from the Gruber assist as mentioned above.
So, I hear you asking, "How useful is this kit when it comes to getting me up that hill?..."
I answer, very useful considering the complete kit only weighs 1.8 Kg's, in fact, not short of miraculous!
I have a customer that has the technology on his bike (a SRM crank system) that can measure the power that is applied at the pedals when cycling.
He told me that he is a semi-pro rider and could output 360 watts on average over 10 miles. Now, this to me says that if a rider could output 200 watts for this amount of time ,they would be reasonably fit, and remember that his 360 watts for 10 Min's only from a semi pro rider!
The power that he has recorded at the pedals of his bike from the Vivax assist is 150 watts continuously, so added to his 360 watts he is now at Olympic winning standards with help from the Vivax.
For those of us that output about 150 watts continuously on a jaunt out, the Vivax will be like having the power of a twin brother or sister on board that only weigh 1.8 Kg's.
One of the great things about the kit also, is that the speed at which the motor is revolving can be changed instantly at the push of a button. So if you are racing on the road you will probably have the motor spinning as fast as pos constantly, but if you are enjoying a cruise, then you can set the cadence (speed at which the pedals/cranks are turning) to match the same as your pedalling speed, and if you are climbing a steep hill and are in a low gear, it is good to know that the assistance from the motor is the same as if you were flying along on the flat, because although the motor may be small compared to a big hub motor, the small but amazingly powerful motor is working through as many gears as you have on your bike. With a hub motor it only has one gear and it has to work though out the range of gears and speed capable of.
I am not putting down hub motors at all, as for grunt up that bank 1000 watts is very useful but maybe a little bulky, but when taking into consideration bike weight of the vivax and available power, It really is a corker, but I must say that with this system you need to know how to change into the next gear as you are cycling as you don't need to stop the motor to change gear.
At the end of the day clever use of technology can bring a light weight electric bike to the market weighing less than 10 Kg's. I don't think this to be sniffed at at all!! For more info please feel free to give us a call 01458 550304.
About fitting the kit
Here at electricmountainbikes.com we have had 4 years experience of fitting the Vivax Assist/Gruber assist conversion kit to customers bikes, and to our own branded Goat bikes for over 4 years now. This kit will not fit to every bike.
If seat post tube is straight and lands on op of the bottom bracket on your bike and the diameter of the seat post is 31.6mm or 30.9mm then there is a chance. Please send me a picture or a link to your bike and I can look into it.
However often because of the law of nature, often customers do not have the correct diameter seat post tube, So I can sell them one of my frames with the system installed and then all is needed is to swap parts over from your original frame.
Often though customers want a new bike altogether, and often have a good idea of the components that they want fitting too. So I have a sourced suppliers that will supply me with high quality frames (even carbon reinforced with Kevlar on the seat post tube ones) An I can also source many parts to build them up in a custom fashion for my customers at a very reasonable price.
Specialist Electric Bike Building
We specialise in building electric bikes and will discuss which motor option and which style of bike will be best suited to each individual customer, so please let us know what you have been dreaming of...
Where is the Motor??
The Vivax assist motor is situated inside the frame and drives the bottom bracket via a bevel gear.
How does it workWith the touch of the button on the handlebars the motor kicks in and gives a surprising amount of assistance.
Weight
This bike is fitted with the Vivax Assist. Which only adds 1.8 Kg's. We can fit the kit to your bike if the seat post tube connects centrally to the bottom bracket housing.The motor fits bikes with a seat post diameter of 31.6mm or 30.9mm, check the dimensions that should be stamped on the seat post itself.
This bike is fitted with the Vivax Assist. Which only adds 1.8 Kg's. We can fit the kit to your bike if the seat post tube connects centrally to the bottom bracket housing.The motor fits bikes with a seat post diameter of 31.6mm or 30.9mm, check the dimensions that should be stamped on the seat post itself.
Frame only
If your frame does not have the right size seat post tube then you may want to buy a frame with the motor pre-installed, then build it up with the components from your current bike. There really is a massive choice of complete bikes and frame only set ups. Every bike is custom built to order and every frame is custom fitted with the drive system from. Frames from £289 (lots of choice of frame style, not just MTB)
Your style
With the Gruber Assist cycling and electric biking meet. Riding your bike has completely new meaning, whether it is a mountain bike a road racing bike.Range
The range of this kit is very good 20 miles or 1.5 hours constant full power use, no problem as the peak power is 150 watts which is a very useful boost. I would say your average cyclist will put out less than this, a fit cyclist will output around this and an Olympic winner will put out around 350+ watts When the heat is on!Top speed
The motor is small and light, as is the battery pack (at 1.8kg's for the complete kit), this does not mean the assistance is not strong. When travelling on the flat and undulating, average speeds can be easily is excess of 20 mph with the de-restricted off road motor version. (road legal versions are also available at no extra cost)On the hills
Up hill, because the power is transferred through the gears the motor runs at its happy efficient speed giving plenty of assistance , just as it does at 20mph on the flatter gradients, although progress is not as fast on the hills, if you sit back and pedal at a comfortable pace and let the motor work harder you will find yourself at the top of that hill without gasping for air. It is truly is amazing what the small powerful motor on a steep hill is capable of. If you want to see for yourself the I invite you to get in touch by phone 01458 550304
Motor:
200 watt service-free sensor less motor
Length 220 mm
Weight approx. 730 g.
Required seat tube inner Ø 31,6 or 30,9 mm
Gear:
High Tech Gear with freewheel
Power transfer to the crank: Helical, maintenance-free bevel gear-pair
Electronic control unit:
installed invisibly into the provided seat post, sensor less
Weight approx. 140 g.
Seat post:Truvativ Hussefelt length 350 mm, 300 g.
Carbon fibre seat post - length 350 mm, 213 g.
Optional: Seat post rear suspension Cane Creek Thudbuster ST, length 350 mm, 445 grams.
Batteries:
30 Volt Lithium Ion technology
5.5 Amp hours - 850 grams
8.25 Amp hours - 1250 grams
Charger:
33.6 V, 3 A
Operation:
Mini button to start/stop and set cadence (RPM)
Saddle bag:
Vivax assist 90 g. Dimensions 180 x 90 x 110 mm
Suitable cranks:Shimano Hollowtech II - with axle length of 120 mm
Crank set not included in kit price
Frame requirementsAluminium, Steel, Titanium, Magnesium and Scandium or Vivax carbon.
Seat post tube must be straight and continuous without obtrusion or bends or kinks etc to allow motor insertion and must be 31.6 mm or 30,9 mm inside diameter.
Seat tube must also be central on top the bottom bracket
Videos
Click on the video links below for plenty more info from the Gruber Assist manufacturers, and electricmountainbikes.com at the bottom of the page.
Remember:- These info videos were made for the Gruber assist and so the noise levels are somewhat more than on the newer Vivax assist.
Vivax Assist FAQ'S
1. How do I know the bike will fit me?
Every care is taken to talk through the process of building every bike with every customer , so not only will the bike be the right size but all the components on it will be selected to meet your needs as a cyclist
2. Will the drive be restricted or an off road de-restricted version?
Vivax Assist comes in either a unrestricted (off road) version or a road legal version limited to 15mph top speed.
3. Is there a choice of batteries with the Vivax Assst?
Yes there are 2, either 30 Volts 5.5 Ah or 30 volts 8.25 Ah
4. What is the smallest size frame that the Vivax Assist can be fitted to?
A 15 inch frame is as small as it will fit into.
5. Which type of crank/ Bottom bracket is the Vivax assist compatible with?
It is compatible with Hollowtech 2 cranks only and threaded rather than press fit is preferable.
6. What size seat post tube is compatible with the Vivax Assist?
The vivax Assist comes in 2 sizes, 30.9mm and 31.6mm and it must be straight and central over the bottom bracket and with no obstructions apart from water bottle bosses that is.
7. What is the Weight of the Vivax Assist drive System?
The Vivax Assist weighs 1.8 Kgs in total.
8. Does the battery need any maintenance?
No Maintenance is needed on the battery.
9. Which Chemistry is the Vivax assist battery and how does it like to be cared for?
Battery Is Lithium Ion so there is no memory effect, you can charge it up after every ride or whilst you have lunch or whatever short break you make. This chemistry of battery prefers to be kept topped up and not than left deeply discharged. If you plug in after every ride you are doing he best for the battery.
10. Does the motor need any maintenance?
There is no maintenance need ed on the Vivax motor, However The manufacturer recommends that the oil in the Gearbox is changed after each 300 hours of use. So if you ride 6 days a week for a year then it will be time fore a oil change. If you do half this its twice a year and so-on. There is a lot of cycling to be done between services!
11. What happens if you push on the pedals or resist the motor?
The motor will cut out after a second or two when it senses that the cranks have stopped turning, It is designed to cu out if you have to stop quickly.
12. Can you just let your legs follow the pedals or you can add to the motors power by pedalling a bit harder.
It is a joint effort, you are pedalling and the motor is contributing too if you pedal less hard then you will be in an easier gear and if you are pedalling harder you will be in a higher gear so moving quicker moving through the gears more quickly too, if you are following the pedals you will still be pedalling softly. You will find that you will pedal at a comfortable level for you and as you ride more you will find your legs get stronger.
14. Is it difficult to stop the motor if say I had to stop the motor quickly but did not have time to push the button on the handlebars?
To give you an idea of how much resistance you would have to give to stop the motor, you would have a job to stop the crank from turning by hand, but with your legs it is no problem, The vivax is designed to be stopped by your legs if you want to. When the motor/crank has been stopped from turning for around 1 to 2 seconds the power will cut off automatically and then to restart it you would press the button and off you would go again.
16. Does the Vivax Assist work with Hub gears?
Vivax and they do not recommend use with hub gears - either the Rohloff or Alfine because of the nature of the way you have to change gear i.e. stop pedalling to change. This would mean turning the motor off every time you want to change gear. I personally would prefer not to have to do that but it would be possible but for the ease of use I think the way to go with the Vivax is with Derailleur gears. Derailleur gears save you weight over the hub gear systems as well. Of coarse you can easily change from Derailleur gears to a hub gear system if you really felt that was the way to go later. Good quality Derailleur gears work very well too, one click one gear instantly and smoothly. However i have recently had a customer who refused to give up his Rohloff gears and he tells me he is getting on just fine with the vivax in his frame.
17. When the Vivax is on the cranks are turning, if they are turning too quickly, how do you slow the cadence?
You can alter the cadence easily. You set the cadence when the motor is off and to do it, all you have to do is pedal at the cadence you wish it to be at and hold the on/off button in on the handlebars for a few seconds. generally on the road I have it on a fast cadence and off-road when the going is technical I slow it right down. You will find your sweet spot with it as I have.
18. What is the experience of climbing a hill with the Vivax Assist?
When you are climbing a hill you will stay in the cadence you have set it at previously and change down the gears as you climb, when you reach the top of the hill and it flattens out you climb back up through the gears, if you keep the assistance on, you will pick up speed quicker as you move back up through the gears. Leave it on or switch it off as you wish.
19. How does Hill climbing effect the cadence with the Vivax Assist?
The cadence stays the same if the re is no resistance to the motor, but when you hit a hill then the rpm/cadence will slow down as you start to climb because now the motor has some work to do. As you climb, you can put in the power from your legs as desired, but the vivax will keep seam rolling until you switch it off.
Vivax Assist Kit Prices
Vivax Assist Standard kit including 5.5 Ah battery and charger - £2190
Vivax Assist Water bottle battery kit including 5.5 Ah battery and charger - £2690
Vivax Assist Water bottle battery kit including 5.5 Ah battery and charger - £2690
Installation of kit into desired bike £150
Upgrade from 5.5Ah battery to 8.25 Ah battery + £180
Extras
Upgrade from 5.5Ah battery to 8.25 Ah battery + £180
Extras
Li-ion manganese Battery (30 volt 5.5 Ah) - £440
Li-ion manganese Battery (30 volt 8.25 Ah) - £599
Li-ion manganese Battery (30 volt 8.25 Ah) - £599
Extra Li-ion charger £169
Li-ion car charger £159
Cane creek Thud buster suspension seat post - £249
Carbon seat post upgrade - £149
Invisible performance water bottle battery upgrade package - £499
Cane creek Thud buster suspension seat post - £249
Carbon seat post upgrade - £149
Invisible performance water bottle battery upgrade package - £499
More Vivax Assist Info
For more on the Vivax Assist info click here:
Forest Glider
Here is a link to Gruber Antrieb, the manufacturers of Vivax assist:
Gruber Antieb Austria
We also distribute bikes and frames from a company In Austria called Steinbach that supply Vivax compatible frames and bikes, they have also worked together with Gruber for many years now:
Steinbach Bikes
To see the Vivax assist in action again click on video below.
Forest Glider
Here is a link to Gruber Antrieb, the manufacturers of Vivax assist:
Gruber Antieb Austria
We also distribute bikes and frames from a company In Austria called Steinbach that supply Vivax compatible frames and bikes, they have also worked together with Gruber for many years now:
Steinbach Bikes
To see the Vivax assist in action again click on video below.
Thanks for read Gruber Assist / Vivax assist
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