Earls Court Cycle Show

[trickletreat]

That's a very different thing from the Swiss motor recommendation I commented on though, the Heinzmann I certainly wouldn't criticise as lacking power, climb or towing ability, it being one of the better motors in that respect.
.

I think I was trying to make the point that it might be as the reviewers recommend , based not on me riding it but on the comparison of torque etc with the Heinzmann, which didn't reveal its true ability until I put it in it's proper environment. However, difficult to know either way why they gave it the award, without seeing what it was up against and how it was tested.

 

[OTH]

....Bikes over £2000 need to be exceptional and offer something special ....
J hn

But it is, and it does.

I agree, it's very expensive. But it offers an almost unique - for an electric bike - combination of high quality and attractive appearance.

If it has performance to match, then it is exceptional.

I hope they take your advice, though - £1,999 eh?

 

[Cyclezee]

OTH,

Checkout the Kalkhoff Image B27, priced at €2,299 which I would expect to be under the £2000 in the UK provided the exchage rates don't get any worse.
Or from in France even cheaper particularly the ladies version Vente en ligne : vélo électrique, batterie BionX - Lovely vélo
OK, it has a Trekking frame, not MTB, but it looks great and has the tried and tested Bionx system.

​

J hn

 

[dmcgoldrick]

great to see some photos of premium bikes from the show.....long way from scotland to attend so did not go. these bikes at £2000 plus must really be something special...... i considered a grand and more for my wisper to be breaking the bank for a bike, but these new bikes must be in a whole new ballgame in terms of technical spec and performance.

anybody got any video of the show ?

regards

 

[flecc]

I think I was trying to make the point that it might be as the reviewers recommend , based not on me riding it but on the comparison of torque etc with the Heinzmann, which didn't reveal its true ability until I put it in it's proper environment. However, difficult to know either way why they gave it the award, without seeing what it was up against and how it was tested.

Understood. I'm afraid I've become a cynic on e-bike reviews though, all too often they give useless opinions. The ExtraEnergy tests for example are far too easy, with their opinions based on subjective impressions more than facts. A to B magazines test results are far too often a report of the abilities of the strong rider doing the testing rather than the abilities of the "e" part of the e-bike.

It's early days for the new Electric Bike magazine from VeloVision, but early indications are far from promising and their preceding testing of e-bikes in VeloVision fell far short of objectivity and professionalism. And I hardly need comment on the silly "reviews" done by the newspapers and other media.

Since Electrorad's conclusion on the Storck's power was clearly wrong in comparison with the widely experienced opinion of Aldby, for me they join the ranks of the failures in reviewing until such time as they improve.
.

 

[tappy]

great to see some photos of premium bikes from the show.....long way from scotland to attend so did not go. these bikes at £2000 plus must really be something special...... i considered a grand and more for my wisper to be breaking the bank for a bike, but these new bikes must be in a whole new ballgame in terms of technical spec and performance.

anybody got any video of the show ?

regards

No videos yet.....

The Storck Raddar Mutitask alloy frame with street kit

The Storck Multiroad Carbon frame

More tech specs available if required.

Cheers,
Ian

 

[AndyOfTheSouth]

Great looking bike.

The specs seem to claim 60Nm torque. If so, it would be the best legal hillclimber by far. More to the point, Aldby would have been doing wheelies all around the test track

Or have I made a mistake somewhere?!?

 

[trickletreat]

Understood. I'm afraid I've become a cynic on e-bike reviews though, all too often they give useless opinions. The ExtraEnergy tests for example are far too easy, with their opinions based on subjective impressions more than facts. A to B magazines test results are far too often a report of the abilities of the strong rider doing the testing rather than the abilities of the "e" part of the e-bike.

It's early days for the new Electric Bike magazine from VeloVision, but early indications are far from promising and their preceding testing of e-bikes in VeloVision fell far short of objectivity and professionalism. And I hardly need comment on the silly "reviews" done by the newspapers and other media.

Since Electrorad's conclusion on the Storck's power was clearly wrong in comparison with the widely experienced opinion of Aldby, for me they join the ranks of the failures in reviewing until such time as they improve.
.

Yes, I have to agree. I would like to see a range of tests that related to real world usage for the different categories of bike/battery.However as with many of these so called tests, the manufactures would be inclined to play top trumps, so invalidating the relevance to actual usage.

 

[flecc]

How true.

They are inclined to talk up the test standards as they are, since these weak reviews so obviously suit their purpose. I suppose e-bikes are far too small and immature a field to get the sort of objective testing with passive manufacturer acceptance that the motoring press have provided for years.
.

 

[tappy]

Understood. I'm afraid I've become a cynic on e-bike reviews though, all too often they give useless opinions. The ExtraEnergy tests for example are far too easy, with their opinions based on subjective impressions more than facts. A to B magazines test results are far too often a report of the abilities of the strong rider doing the testing rather than the abilities of the "e" part of the e-bike.

It's early days for the new Electric Bike magazine from VeloVision, but early indications are far from promising and their preceding testing of e-bikes in VeloVision fell far short of objectivity and professionalism. And I hardly need comment on the silly "reviews" done by the newspapers and other media.

Since Electrorad's conclusion on the Storck's power was clearly wrong in comparison with the widely experienced opinion of Aldby, for me they join the ranks of the failures in reviewing until such time as they improve..

I am very confident the product will do the talking.

Cheers,
Ian

 

[tappy]

Great looking bike.

The specs seem to claim 60Nm torque. If so, it would be the best legal hillclimber by far. More to the point, Aldby would have been doing wheelies all around the test track

Or have I made a mistake somewhere?!?

No, you have not made a mistake.......60Nm torque and low weight means it climbs hills like a mountain goat and handles suberbly.

Cheers,
Ian

 

[eddieo]

any detail/links as to what an "Image 27G" is plse?

EDIT: Had a look around...... its not an E bike is it?

 

[OTH]

OTH,

Checkout the Kalkhoff Image B27, priced at €2,299 which I would expect to be under the £2000 in the UK provided the exchage rates don't get any worse.
Or from in France even cheaper particularly the ladies version Vente en ligne : vélo électrique, batterie BionX - Lovely vélo
OK, it has a Trekking frame, not MTB, but it looks great and has the tried and tested Bionx system.


J hn

Thanks, John.

Coincidentally, I was looking at the Kalkhoff catalogue last night. I may well end up getting one as all the comments on this website seem to suggest that they are consitently well thought of. And you can't all be wrong.

The trouble with appearance/style is it's the little things that count: it must be ~40 years since I last rode a bike with a chainguard; no bike in Cycling +, Cycling Weekly, Singletrack etc, will have a headset/stem like the Kalkhoff's; a propstand may be very useful, but ... . Little things, but they all tend to make a very competent product something you wouldn't be proud to own, somehow. It's probably European styling, I suppose.

But Storck have got the look just about as good as you can - in my opinion.

P.S. Why do so many electric bikes have stretched frames , with the battery behind the seat tube?

 

[trickletreat]

But Storck have got the look just about as good as you can - in my opinion.

Have you seen this then...

ElectricMountainBikes.com: RIG RACER

 

[OTH]

Yes. Very nice. Though my preference would would be to not have the suspension.

I'd like to get some feedback on Heinzmann powered bikes. There doesn't seem to be much currently here. My impression is that their system gives a good, solid solution - but is a little dated. Is it worth twice the cost and weight of other hub systems, I wonder?

 

[trickletreat]

Yes. Very nice. Though my preference would would be to not have the suspension.

I'd like to get some feedback on Heinzmann powered bikes. There doesn't seem to be much currently here. My impression is that their system gives a good, solid solution - but is a little dated. Is it worth twice the cost and weight of other hub systems, I wonder?

I have heinzmann powered mtb and trike. I have been riding them daily, pulling a trailer trike or child trailer for several years now. Choose the right motor/ battery/ bike combination for the usage, and away you go and forget about them, just enjoy.

 

[eddieo]

But Storck have got the look just about as good as you can - in my opinion.

Have you seen this then...

ElectricMountainBikes.com: RIG RACER

Or this! (my absolute favourite) Or S type without rear suspension.....

YouTube - »ElektroRad« 01/2010: Im Test - das Flyer X-Serie

 

[trickletreat]

Or this! (my absolute favourite) Or S type without rear suspension.....

YouTube - »ElektroRad« 01/2010: Im Test - das Flyer X-Serie

Noooooo it can't be cool, it's got a chainguard

Looks like fun but shame they didn't film it going up and down the bank instead of across it.

 

[Tim]

Here's the Kalkhoff Image B27 we'll be delivering from March (with battery pack tucked inside front triangle).

Frame Trekking Aluminium, Zero Stack, innen verlegte Züge
Fork Suntour NCX-D, Lockout
Shifting system Shimano Deore XT 27G
Brakes Magura Julie Speed mit Rekuperationsschalter
Motor BionX, 250W High Torque
Battery Li-Ion Akku 9 Ah, 325 Wh
Display BionX LCD
Handlebar Satori, Metro Style, Aluminium
Stem Satori, UP2, A-Head
Headlight B&M Lumotec CYO Sport, IQ Led
Backlight B&M Toplight Flat Plus, Standlicht
Seatpost Patent MCU gefedert
Saddle Selle Royal Trekking
Colour cannongrey matt

 

[eddieo]

Thanks Tim...So there is an electric version!

Looks very nice and battery in the right place, probably should not be saying this to a dealer but price looks very good for the HT (high torque) version of BionX system......