October 5, 2024 - “Our First Lady and President models feature the Bafang H700 automatic shifting system,” says Rudi Leusink, CEO of Dutch eBike brand iMove. “For those seeking an e-bike, we highly recommend a test ride to experience a different shifting feeling.”
Keep Your Rhythm, Enjoy GVT Shifting
The H700 is an automatic two-speed rear-drive system, part of the Bafang GVT (Gear, Variable, Transmission) technology platform. During riding, the bike will automatically and efficiently shifts gears based on the bicycle’s speed, keeping the pedal cadence in the zone that suits the rider best.
“Compared to manual shifting, automatic shifting provides a simpler choice for riders, especially in crowded urban areas where they can focus more on the road rather than the gear lever,” said Bafang’s head of R&D, Yingzhe Wang.
“Automatic internal shifting does not need the series of components required by external shifting systems,” said Rudi Leusink “This aligns perfectly with our design language—clean and classic—while effectively avoiding performance impacts caused by weather, dirt, or external wear and tear, making it hassle-free for users.”
Constant Innovation: GVT, From Urban Commutes to Beach and Snow
The design philosophy of GVT aims to simplify commuting, offering riders a new riding and shifting experience. This same experience can also be found from mid-drive systems paired with automatic shifting hubs, like the M210 mid-drive system combined with the G300A 3-speed automatic gear hub.
In the industry, the shifting performance of high-power e-bikes has always been a hot topic. Due to the high output power, traditional external shifting systems face challenges with increased risk of damage. To address this, Bafang has introduced the GVT automatic shifting hub motor series including the H700, H710 and H720, covering power ranges from 250W to 1000W. Additionally, the G500A 5-speed auto gear hub, released this year, offers a load capacity of up to 200Nm, effectively addressing the shifting difficulties in high-power mid-drive systems, especially for high-load e-cargo bikes, providing riders with more reliable performance.
“GVT launched three years ago and since then, over 40 e-bike brands globally have integrated our GVT products across urban, touring, cargo, and fat e-bike categories,” said Yingzhe Wang. “Without the need for shifting cables or external cassettes, you’ll find more folding bikes and urban shared bikes equipped with GVT series products. Looking ahead, we will continue to explore more possibilities within this platform.”
Focusing on e-bike drive systems for over 20 years, Bafang always develops products that meet the needs of e-bike users. The GVT series is one of Bafang’s milestones in the industry. Moving forward, Bafang will continue to craft each product with the priority of users’ needs and with the aim of achieving ‘rider-e-bike-in-one’ experience.
