Agattu 3 Months On

[Cyclezee]

I have now had an Agattu wave frame for 3 months and ridden over 500 miles trouble free miles.
The only problems I have experienced were on day one when a pedal fell off due to not being correctly fitted. The other was a screw securing the rear mudguard stay had been overtightened and stripped the plastic thread. Both these issues I put down to a less than thorough PDI.
I was not supplied with a pump when I collected the bike, but was sent one when I asked, however I could not check the tyre pressures as I didn't have a gauge that fitted the Woods Dunlop valves used on these models.
Apart from that, I am highly delighted with the bike. The build quality is excellent and components used are good quality.
Sure they are expensive, but will hopefully retain there value better than most and at the end of the day be cost effective.
I ordered and paid in full for a diamond frame Agattu in January, but looks like it could be April before I get that one.
In my opinion, Derby Cycles currently make the best electric bikes on the market bar none. I have owned several, Giant Lafree, Giant Revive, Ezee Torq, Ezee Quando, Wisper Works 905e, Wisper Works 905se etc., so I think I can say this with some authority
It would be nice to see the Kalkhoff and it's sister bikes, Raleigh, Rixe and Simplex available in the UK some time in the future through a wider dealer network.

John

 

[burncycle]

Thanks for that John.
It gives me lots of confidence with my new order for the Pro-Connect !

 

[musicbooks]

I ordered and paid in full for a diamond frame Agattu in January, but looks like it could be April before I get that one.

John

Thanks for the positive feedback on the wave Agattu, John. However, why do you suggest April delivery for the diamond frame? Are you talking about the larger frame or all frame sizes? Have you heard something I haven't?
BW
musicbooks

 

[flecc]

50cycles said April for the 53, 57 models.
.

 

[Cyclezee]

Thanks for the positive feedback on the wave Agattu, John. However, why do you suggest April delivery for the diamond frame? Are you talking about the larger frame or all frame sizes? Have you heard something I haven't?
BW
musicbooks

I'm refering to my order for a 53cm frame. 53 & 57cm diamond frame Agattu's are delayed until 30/03/2008 (a Sunday?) according to 50c, that means that I won't be getting one before April 4th at the earliest, as I asked for a Friday delivery.

John

 

[simonbarnett]

I can understand Musicbooks being on tenterhooks given the Agutta diamond frame delays. I'm also expecting a 49cm first week in March but there's no confirmation or denial yet- I've sent 2 e-mails to 50Cycles this week but no reply.

 

[fishingpaul]

Lets hope to see no problems on this bike,seems good quality at present,and should be expected at the price.

 

[Cyclezee]

These bikes are expensive, there is no denying that, and as the Euro increases in value relative to the pound, they are likely to get more expensive.

But in the UK, this bike has 2 years warranty on bike and the battery, 3 years in Germany. The Panasonic motor and battery is a tried and tested system, which because of it design does not put huge demands on the battery and should therefore last for many years if correctly maintained.
Compare this with a 'high performance' Tri Modal hub motor bike costing £1200 or more, with a Li Ion battery that has only 6 months warranty and, if not treated very carefully, will need replacing within a year.
For me it is a simple, realistic, logical decision, reliability and peace of mind for at least 2 years against high performance and almost moped like performance which may not last a year before needing a new battery costing several hundreds of pounds.
Another factor to consider is the end is nigh for de-restricted bikes anyway, so if you want to go over 15 mph on a Tri Modal bike, you better start pedalling.

The only light I can see on the horizon is a new more relaible generation of batteries which are currently being tested by Flecc and others. Flecc will of course in his gentlemanly diplomatic way, will neither deny or confirm his covert activities.

The bottom line is, although Kalkhoff bikes seem expensive, they will probably prove to be cost effective and less of a headache for the trade with fewer warranty issues.

John

 

[flecc]

The only light I can see on the horizon is a new more relaible generation of batteries which are currently being tested by Flecc and others. Flecc will of course in his gentlemanly diplomatic way, neither deny or confirm his covert activities.

Sorry John, in fact I will deny that.

The bike tests I'm carrying out are scheduled to continue to long after you will have new batteries, and those new batteries I have never seen and won't see for the first time until I buy one following my current test program, which is preventing me from using both my own bikes fully until then.
.

 

[Cyclezee]

Appologies Flecc,
I didn't really know what you were testing But now I know it is a bike and hopefully worth waiting for.
I assume this bike actually exists and could be worth waiting for? I very much doubt you would waste time on it if it wasn't something special.
Wonder if I should place an order now for a production model without knowing anything about it or seeing what it looks like, I might get one quicker than a diamond frame Agattu

John

 

[flecc]

Appologies Flecc,
I didn't really know what you were testing But now I know it is a bike and hopefully worth waiting for.
I assume this bike actually exists and could be worth waiting for? I very much doubt you would waste time on it if it wasn't something special.
Wonder if I should place an order now for a production model without knowing anything about it or seeing what it looks like, I might get one quicker than a diamond frame Agattu

John

No apologies due John.

In fact I didn't say it was a bike, my carrying out bike tests could mean testing tyres, battery, control systems or a motor. They'd all be bike tests with those features of course.

You can see I'm being deliberately obtuse, concealment being necessary.

So it could be any of those, but its definitely not the better battery that I expect in the near future.
.

 

[simonbarnett]

Agattu Diamond Delivery

I can understand Musicbooks being on tenterhooks given the Agutta diamond frame delays. I'm also expecting a 49cm first week in March but there's no confirmation or denial yet- I've sent 2 e-mails to 50Cycles this week but no reply.

Just for completeness, I should say Scott at 50Cycles read this but hadn't seen my 2 e-mails - I'd used named accounts not the general address. Anyway, he says they're still expecting the 49cm for the first week in March.