It was with undisguised curiosity that we boarded this new generation of Gaya e-bikes. It must be said that since its creation in 2021, this French company specializing in cargo bikes has already sold 7,000 units of its two midtail and longtail models (Le Compact and Le Cargo). Parisians regularly come across them on the streets of the capital, and their success has also spread to other French cities, such as Bordeaux. Friendly looks, well-designed ergonomics, and safety are the key words for these bikes, which have thus attracted many first-time buyers. We give you our opinion on The Incredible of Gaya after several days of testing.
This new version, dubbed L’Incroyable, is the culmination of the brand's efforts to incorporate a variety of improvements that were not included in the first version (which remains in the catalog at a more affordable price than its successor), starting with front and rear suspensions that improve the comfort of the driver and passengers. For our test, Gaya lent us the midtail model (nicknamed Le Court) for a week, allowing us to take a child seat or an adult. Sold at 3200 euros in the basic version, our copy benefited from a larger capacity battery (700 Wh instead of 460, Samsung cells, 200 euros) and an adult kit consisting of a cushion that attaches to the luggage rack (compatible with MIK HD) and a grab bar to hold your hands during journeys (180 euros).
Thought for everyday life
Design-wise, the Incroyable is very similar to its predecessor. At least in spirit and overall silhouette, which features a swan-neck design that makes it easier to step over (43 centimeters). Still made of aluminum with well-finished welds, the frame swaps its oval and round tubes for more square bars with rounded corners. This gives it a slightly more assertive character and increases its rigidity. The whole thing remains compact (175 cm long) and weighs a tidy 34 kg. Despite this, the machine is easy to maneuver, thanks in part to a tilting center stand that doesn't require much effort to deploy.
Other practical details are located throughout the bike. On the fork, an AXA lock allows you to disable the front wheel during short stops. You can also attach a chain provided it has a compatible end cap (available from Trelock or AXA). The unique key also unlocks the battery lock. Very secure, the VAE is equipped with a GPS chip with its own battery (which recharges when the main battery is connected).
You can geolocate the bicycle within the Gaya application, but also lock it. In this case, the motor assistance is blocked and the bike emits a 105 dB sound signal when there is suspicious movement. Here too, the brand has thought this through well, since an NFC badge allows you to lock the bike without having to launch the application, but simply by placing it on the control located on the left of the handlebars.
Reassuring on all levels
When it comes to safety, Gaya doesn't do things by halves. The scooter-style LED headlight at the front, which has been present since the first version of their bike, is very effective. At the rear, the light includes a brake function that intensifies the lighting as soon as you brake. Above all, both are supported by indicators, now perfectly authorized (and optional) since the promulgation of decree n°2024-1074 in November 2024. A boon for beginners and anyone who is not comfortable with the idea of letting go of the handlebars to extend their arm indicating their direction. They are controlled using buttons located under the display and a visual reminder is displayed on the screen to confirm their operation. A short press triggers them for 5 seconds, while a long press locks their flashing until a new press to cancel the action.
The sound signaling is not left out, with obviously the classic and obligatory bell, but also an electric horn emitting a signal of 93 dB. It is always surprising to find such a system on an e-bike (this was also the case on the Lemmo One), the noise emitted not always being identified by pedestrians as coming from a bicycle. However, the combination of the two systems seemed useful to us. The classic bell simply signals one's presence, while the electric horn is activated in case of immediate danger or to make itself heard by motorists driving with all the windows closed; we then juggle between the two depending on the situation.
Braking is not left out, thanks to the two 180 mm Tektro hydraulic discs. Despite the weight of the beast, you can stop quickly and safely. Especially since the Kenda tires grip well on asphalt (but are much less suited to paths, as demonstrated by our perilous test in the heart of the Bois de Vincennes).
20-inch wheels for agility
With its telescopic seat tube and its tool-free height-adjustable stem, L’Incroyable is intended for a public measuring between 1.55 m and 1.90 m; therefore practical for being shared within a couple, for example. At 1.80m, we felt completely at ease on this e-bike, especially since the suspension fork (70mm travel) and the rear suspension arm (50mm travel polyurethane stop) do their job perfectly, well supported by a thick, comfortable saddle and 20-inch wheels equipped with wide 6cm tires.
In addition to providing a nice ride, these small wheels are perfect for this type of relatively heavy bike. They improve maneuverability, especially at low speeds. Despite its weight, we found ourselves easily weaving through city traffic. Especially since this Gaya has a killer weapon: its trigger that allows you to reach 6 km/h without having to pedal. Ultra practical for launching the e-bike without rocking when you're loaded, the system quickly becomes a must-have even when riding alone. We quickly got into the habit of no longer worrying about the gear engaged and starting with this trigger before pedaling takes over.
In terms of gears, the Incroyable offers 7 via an entry-level Shimano Tourney derailleur, controlled by a classic trigger shifter. Nothing exceptional here in terms of responsiveness, but the whole thing does the job reliably. And since the starting booster quickly becomes a reflex, the derailleur is ultimately little used.
Our opinion on the motor: honorable with two adults onboard
We made several trips with an adult on the back of this new Gaya. Obviously, during the first few minutes, you have to get used to the significant change in the bike's behavior. Much less agile, it also sees its front wheel relieved and therefore much lighter. It is in this situation that we appreciate the starting trigger even more, because it would otherwise be far too dangerous to launch the bike with the force of the pedal alone. After a few kilometers, we get used to the change of steering (the bike is designed to carry 170 kg of payload). Our passenger also finally found her feet, her shoes firmly on the toe clips.
We were surprised by the Ananda motor placed in the rear wheel hub, which is willing, despite its reasonable torque of 50 Nm. Even though the torque sensor lacks progressiveness, it is quite pleasant to use and never left us stranded. On steep slopes, you can also use the starter trigger to activate a booster, bringing the motor to its maximum assistance. With two adults on a nice hill at around 7%, we had trouble exceeding 10 km/h. The rest of the time, the motor fulfills its role well. If you are not too loaded and not in a hurry, you can even allow yourself the luxury of riding in the least powerful assistance mode of the three and use the trigger at start-up and on hills, enough to save a lot of battery at the end of the day.
For our range test, however, we chose to ride exclusively in maximum assistance; about a third of the journey was done with two adults. We thus managed to cover a good forty kilometers thanks to the 700 Wh battery. A great performance given the load carried over around fifteen kilometers.
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