Ebike to keep up with fast group

John5001

Pedelecer
Oct 6, 2014
127
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It's the dealers in Germany who would sell you one and cannot be prevented from doing that under EU law. The manufacturer won't sell to you direct at all, and their warranty is through the selling dealer, it's not an internationally transferrable one.

I doubt 50cycles would support a German bought bike in the UK, you'd need to return the bike to the German dealer.
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Any saving would surely be negated by transportation costs?
 

trex

Esteemed Pedelecer
May 15, 2011
7,703
2,671
Range is very limited due to 4 amp battery. But lightweight. Just wish a larger battery was supplied then a very serious consideration.
I have 15AH on my Giant D5, how much more do you need? As for build quality, the Giant frame is very good, all the other rolling parts are easily upgradable.
 

nemesis

Esteemed Pedelecer
Mar 14, 2011
521
343
A few years ago i turned up at the warrington RC tuesday night chaingang with a kalkhoff pro connect S with the 350w panasonic motor,the club is one of the top ones in the uk rankings so i knew it would be hard but once on the move i stayed well back and cruised round the 28 miles,i wasn`t felt welcome but i wasn`t bothered because i was only going once and i didn`t want to tempt fate and be involved in any kind of an accident riding on a S class bike,the panasonic motor is a sterling performer and they should still use it,i should never have sold mine.
 
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John5001

Pedelecer
Oct 6, 2014
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I have 15AH on my Giant D5, how much more do you need? As for build quality, the Giant frame is very good, all the other rolling parts are easily upgradable.
4amp is very limiting. 20 mile range at best.
 

John5001

Pedelecer
Oct 6, 2014
127
26
70
A few years ago i turned up at the warrington RC tuesday night chaingang with a kalkhoff pro connect S with the 350w panasonic motor,the club is one of the top ones in the uk rankings so i knew it would be hard but once on the move i stayed well back and cruised round the 28 miles,i wasn`t felt welcome but i wasn`t bothered because i was only going once and i didn`t want to tempt fate and be involved in any kind of an accident riding on a S class bike,the panasonic motor is a sterling performer and they should still use it,i should never have sold mine.

If I wasn't welcome and this was made obvious by the majority of members, It would defeat the object of going with them.
They are OK but yet to see any reaction to an Ebike user.

Your bike is one I was considering. Does it cuise comfortably and cope with steep hills?
 
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You do realise sPedelecs are totally illegal for use on the public roads, there is no way any legitimate cycling club will allow you to ride with them on one.

So the only way you'll do it, is if you lie about what you're riding.

The chances of being involved in an incident are always low, but please check the implications before you spend the money.
 
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John5001

Pedelecer
Oct 6, 2014
127
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You do realise sPedelecs are totally illegal for use on the public roads, there is no way any legitimate cycling club will allow you to ride with them on one.

So the only way you'll do it, is if you lie about what you're riding.

The chances of being involved in an incident are always low, but please check the implications before you spend the money.


Yes but I am sure you can get a 250w motor which is efficient and of a good quality that could possibly match the Pro connect.
 

flecc

Member
Oct 25, 2006
53,161
30,578
Yes but I am sure you can get a 250w motor which is efficient and of a good quality that could possibly match the Pro connect.
But the power assist still has to be limited to a maximum of 15.5 mph to be legal. It would certainly make matching the club riders on uphills much easier, but on the flat you'd have to do all the work to keep up.
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the 350w and 250w motors are identical...

its only the fact that the speed restriction is removed from the 250w that changes it into the 350w.

So in answer to the question you've not asked really, yes you will find all 250w motors are as efficient and good quality as the 350w motors. The crucial difference is that 250w motors can legally be used in the UK, 350w can't be.
 

Kenny

Esteemed Pedelecer
Jun 13, 2007
383
111
West of Scotland
I have one of the first ProConnect S's, a 2008 model with a 250w motor. The 350w version was introduced in 2010 I think.

My bike multiplies your input by up to 1.5 times and I can always keep pace with any Racing bike cyclists I've come across.

I'm 56, 11stone and of average fitness.

The cut-off speed (which can be easily raised) is about 22mph.
 
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trex

Esteemed Pedelecer
May 15, 2011
7,703
2,671
4amp is very limiting. 20 mile range at best.
John, my battery is 15AH, not 4 or 5Ah on some of the ultra light bikes like the cytronex. My 16kg Giant D5 can give me 60-70 mile range. I think your options are limited to legal bikes because you don't want to attract the wrath of other riders. But you won't find a lightweight Kalhoff, nor a long range cytronex. I also know you are not interested in my solution, but would you like to tell me why?
 
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nemesis

Esteemed Pedelecer
Mar 14, 2011
521
343
In reply to my previous post about riding with the chaingang yes the pro connect that was a 2012 model could keep up averaging 26 to 29mph but because of the gearing the cadence is very high,it was only a one off for me though because i didn`t want a spotlight on me riding a S class bike and i also had a dongle fitted to stop it cutting out at 45km/h but even so with the gearing there is an absolute limit of approx 54km/h,if you can find a 2012 pro connect S buy it.
I now have the impulse 2 motor and while it is not quite as fast there is very little in it,i think the panasonic motor was so good because of the seperate motor sprocket that is always pulling the chain around the big ring and is a very efficient design.
 

nemesis

Esteemed Pedelecer
Mar 14, 2011
521
343
The only bike manufacturer that still uses the panasonic 350w motor is the SWISS FLYER and they are very expensive and not available in the uk (i think).
 

soundwave

Esteemed Pedelecer
May 23, 2015
16,875
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there is a r pedelec mind r for race not cheap tho ;)
 

John5001

Pedelecer
Oct 6, 2014
127
26
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John, my battery is 15AH, not 4 or 5Ah on some of the ultra light bikes like the cytronex. My 16kg Giant D5 can give me 60-70 mile range. I think your options are limited to legal bikes because you don't want to attract the wrath of other riders. But you won't find a lightweight Kalhoff, nor a long range cytronex. I also know you are not interested in my solution, but would you like to tell me why?
Simply because I do not know too much about Giant. They are a Taiwanese company, that have regenerated in recent years after a somewhat lean spell.

My preference, would to buy a ready off the shelf bike rather than upgrading a bike that may, or may not see a significant improvement.
Tried and tested is always best.
 

John5001

Pedelecer
Oct 6, 2014
127
26
70
In reply to my previous post about riding with the chaingang yes the pro connect that was a 2012 model could keep up averaging 26 to 29mph but because of the gearing the cadence is very high,it was only a one off for me though because i didn`t want a spotlight on me riding a S class bike and i also had a dongle fitted to stop it cutting out at 45km/h but even so with the gearing there is an absolute limit of approx 54km/h,if you can find a 2012 pro connect S buy it.
I now have the impulse 2 motor and while it is not quite as fast there is very little in it,i think the panasonic motor was so good because of the seperate motor sprocket that is always pulling the chain around the big ring and is a very efficient design.
I will look for one of these.
 

soundwave

Esteemed Pedelecer
May 23, 2015
16,875
6,492


r pedelec 850w 50mph ;)
 
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willywombat

Pedelecer
Jul 7, 2015
69
13
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Giant are the bggest bike manufacturer in the world producing their own brand and for many others . It's been like this for a long time.
 
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John5001

Pedelecer
Oct 6, 2014
127
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70
Giant are the bggest bike manufacturer in the world producing their own brand and for many others . It's been like this for a long time.
Yes, Giant is a big company but sell most of their bikes on home turf. Range and hill climbing competition from other manufacturers has stifled growth particularly in Europe.