Anyone got a Tasman Impulse 8 ?

[Mike63]

Hi....Yesterday I paid a visit to 50 Cycles at Loughborough,
I tried the PC 10 which I liked but I also tried a Tasman impulse 8, which except for the very swept back handlebars I liked even more.
Anyone got one of these ? what are your views on it ?
Are these twist hub gears 100% reliable ?
....comments appreciated....many thanks....Mike

 

[oldtom]

Are these twist hub gears 100% reliable ?
....comments appreciated....many thanks....Mike

Mike, as you know, very little in this world is 100% reliable but Shimano hub gears are pretty good. I have an 8-speed Nexus-geared machine which continues to perform beautifully after several years. Chains last very well, I find; indeed, the whole transmission is almost maintenance-free.

If the on-road performance is satisfactory for your kind of terrain and you don't intend to tackle the TDF any time soon, I think you'll get along fine with a Tasman.

As for the swept-back bars, it took me a little while to get used to them but I really did get to like them after the initial strangeness wore off. They actually provide a very comfortable hand position whereas most straight or semi-straight bars have me always changing my grip position fairly often.

In case you wonder, the Mirrycle bar-end mirror does work with swept-back bars though it's not as good a view as on straights.

For general leisure or utility cycling, I'd say the Tasman ticks all the boxes. If you want sporty, there are other choices.

Tom

 

[KirstinS]

Hi Mike,

I've got an alfine 8 Shimano hub. It is the most bullet. Proof bit of gear I own. 6 years of all year round commuting by the sea ( shoreham) never serviced
, never cleaned, never skipped a beat.

If you like semi swept back bars you may like On One Mary bars. I love them and use them on both my hardtial and road/hybrid bikes

 

[Mike63]

Cheers Kirstin....thanks Tom...I've spent a couple of sleepless night seriously considering the Tasman Impulse.
I'd about made up my mind to buy it, even though they've only got 5 and when they're gone that's it there are no more, why's that ? is it going the way of my current bike, is it not up to standard ?

I bought my current Kalkhoff , the Sahel premium i360 harmony on the strength of 50 cycles information, "enormous power"
"simple automatic gears, making it ideal for hills" , none of this is true in my case, trouble is I don't know whether it's me or the bike, I'm 75 and overweight but I've done 3,500 miles in the year since I bought it, I rarely miss a day when I'm not riding it, It's such a struggle, and the only time I've found it really easy is going down hill
Just lately after a dozen miles I'm wishing I'd stayed home.

I just wish someone else could try it, but I don't know anyone else who rides an ebike. I'm considering another Woosh crank drive which overall is the best bike I've owned, a lot easier than my Kalkhoff.

Anyway thanks for showing an interest...when in doubt...do nowt.
...regards....Mike

 

[RobF]

I just wish someone else could try it, but I don't know anyone else who rides an ebike.

Obvious question - where are you?

I'm sure if one us were near or by, we could tell you if your current bike is performing as it should.

 

[JohnCade]

Cheers Kirstin....thanks Tom...I've spent a couple of sleepless night seriously considering the Tasman Impulse.
I'd about made up my mind to buy it, even though they've only got 5 and when they're gone that's it there are no more, why's that ? is it going the way of my current bike, is it not up to standard ?

I bought my current Kalkhoff , the Sahel premium i360 harmony on the strength of 50 cycles information, "enormous power"
"simple automatic gears, making it ideal for hills" , none of this is true in my case, trouble is I don't know whether it's me or the bike, I'm 75 and overweight but I've done 3,500 miles in the year since I bought it, I rarely miss a day when I'm not riding it, It's such a struggle, and the only time I've found it really easy is going down hill
Just lately after a dozen miles I'm wishing I'd stayed home.

I just wish someone else could try it, but I don't know anyone else who rides an ebike. I'm considering another Woosh crank drive which overall is the best bike I've owned, a lot easier than my Kalkhoff.

Anyway thanks for showing an interest...when in doubt...do nowt.
...regards....Mike

I think your’s is the Impulse ! isn’t it? The Impulse 11 is quite a bit more powerful but whether it’s as powerful as you need I don’t know.

I would imagine the reason the Tasman model won’t be replaced in its current form is because they appear to be changing to a new design from 2016 on and I expect that whole range will go that way. There will probably be bargains to be had with the old model bikes in a few months too…. I think your Sahel was a last years model that was reduced like that wasn’t it? My Agattu was an Impulse 1 last years model that was heavily discounted too.

If you are finding it hard work now maybe other bikes with speed sensors and BPMs might be better for you. The newish Woosh big CD one for instance.

Are you getting any interest in the Sahel? If you want to sell it here you have to bump it actively in my experience. But then this is not a great place to sell it anyway because it’s not a really heavily used forum.

 

[Mike63]

Cheers Rob...I'm at Wakefield but I don't think there is anyone near here.
I've been riding ebikes for 7 years and rarely seen another.
.....Mike

 

[RobF]

Cheers Rob...I'm at Wakefield but I don't think there is anyone near here.
I've been riding ebikes for 7 years and rarely seen another.
.....Mike

I'm not so far away in my static caravan in North Yorkshire so I could give your bike the once over.

 

[Mike63]

Thanks Rob...Whereabouts in North Yorkshire are you ?
....or, how far from Wakefield ?

cheers....Mike

 

[RobF]

Thanks Rob...Whereabouts in North Yorkshire are you ?
....or, how far from Wakefield ?

cheers....Mike

About an hour in the car, so doable.

I could combine you with a visit I want to make in Harrogate.

 

[One_Box]

Hi....Yesterday I paid a visit to 50 Cycles at Loughborough,
I tried the PC 10 which I liked but I also tried a Tasman impulse 8, which except for the very swept back handlebars I liked even more.
Anyone got one of these ? what are your views on it ?
Are these twist hub gears 100% reliable ?
....comments appreciated....many thanks....Mike

See my detailed review in the bike review section.

I find the swept back bars very comfortable. The Nexus 8 hub gear is excellent.

The only serious problems I've had relate to the battery but you may be lucky and get a good one.

Are you thinking of the 11Ah or 17Ah battery version ?

 

[Mike63]

Thanks Rob....were you thinking today ? I'm afraid I cannot get a car today.
....cheers...Mike

 

[RobF]

Thanks Rob....were you thinking today ? I'm afraid I cannot get a car today.
....cheers...Mike

Today is a possibility.

I'm not sure what you mean about a car.

 

[RobF]

Ah, confusion on an internet forum, who'd have thought it?

I will give you a ring.

I've noted the number, so probably best if you delete it from the post.

 

[RobF]

I've had a look at Mike's bike.

Part of the problem was a binding rear brake.

Once we sorted that, the bike performed as I reckon it should.

With the NuVinci hub, it's certainly no ball of fire offering marginally less assistance than my Bosch bikes.

But that may be irrelevant, because I think Mike could do with easier access to power than he will get on any torque sensor bike.

Seems to me he's a good candidate for a speed sensor hub motor bike.

I've suggested he has a word with John at CycleEzee.

Their bikes ought to have a bit more grunt than a Bosch or Impulse, and they also come with bigger batteries, which Mike needs for his longer rides.

 

[JohnCade]

Yep judging from what he was saying that’s what I told him this morning. A BPM with a SS giving him maximum power all the time without effort.

 

[RobF]

Yep judging from what he was saying that’s what I told him this morning. A BPM with a SS giving him maximum power all the time without effort.

Mike still quite likes the Tasman.

I wonder if the NuVinci hub soaks up some power.

If so, the combination of Impulse 2 with a bit more grunt and traditional hub gears on the Tasman might also suit.

All Bosch bikes are out because of the 11ah battery.

 

[Mike63]

HI....never being a good one for making decisions makes it difficult for me

Many thanks to Rob for calling to help me sort out my problems,
It was greatly appreciated.
I knew the rear brake was binding slightly but I never realized the effect this was having.

I now understand better how a torque sensor bike works and if I can adjust the brake I'm gonna' try a 20 mile run and see if that's doable before I decide whether to buy a front hub drive from cycleezzy or reconsider the Tasman.

...again many thanks Rob....you're a star....Mike

 

[Mike63]

Hello again...I sorted the brake out and did a 27 mile run which was relatively easy, If I'd been with anyone else I could easily have done another 10 miles but after a couple of hours I get bored on my own.

However after talking to Rob I'm quite interested in trying a hub drive,
I emailed John at Cycleezze but found it difficult to explain what I wanted and confused him.
What I'm looking for is a 48/50 cm bike with a crossbar or that model with 2 down tubes (something ....zoid) as in the Ansmann FT-11. I'd like to keep it to 7/8 gears and avoid a thinnish chain.

I'm 75 years old, not really a cyclist, I just ride a bike in an attempt to prolong my life by a few years, I don't average much more than 10mph. so I'm not interested in speed.
I don't work, not interested in gardening or fishing or golf, what else is there ?

I'd be willing to consider an 11ah battery if it would give me a range of 40 miles on "average" roads.

Where I live, other than Halfords we don't have any bike shops, I'm 'gonna have a ride to the "Bike shed" at Huddersfield, check out what they've got.

If anyone has any suggestion as to what I might consider It'd be appreciated.
.....many thanks....Mike

 

[One_Box]

In order to help further, how tall are you and how much do you weigh ?