Gadget show testing e-bikes again
- Thread starter NRG
- Start date
None of our e-bikes is legal on a strict interpretation of the law, which specifies maximum continuous power of 200 watts (UK) and 250 watts (EU). In practice their net continuous capability varies from about 340 to as much as over 700 watts, the manufacturers taking advantage of the flexibility in approval testing to varying degrees.
In the interests of longer bicycle transmission life, the crank drive units are quite a lot less powerful than the highest powered hub motor e-bikes.
Believe me, you're missing nothing. It's worthless 'form over function' soundbite trash.
The point is, a presenter on a technical programme that obviously doesn't know what a Watt-hour or a kiloWatt-hour is, is a bloody liability.
I think she was chosen for her looks, not brains. The other one's got the brains, but is ugly, so perhaps it overall balances out, to be fair.
Yep even though I obviously like the NEO I have yet to see a truly objective test on the Gadget show. You must also rememeber the target audience who are always going to go for the exciting over the practical and so review from that point of view. Not that I think the xtrme is impractical just that I can see for certain applications/users the kalkhoff is the better choice. Bit like reviewing a Ferrari and a Range Rover.
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D
Deleted member 4366
Guest
I think you're being a little bit unfair. Sure, she was brought in to add a bit of glamour to the show, but she doesn't do a bad job. The KwH was just a slip. Anybody can make a mistake like that. The main point she made was that the bike can go a long way on one charge, which is entirely correct.
That bungee jump looked scary with all the concrete around. She must have some guts.
For sure she has, but the motivation of a fat salary and knowledge of the size of the insurance policy on her helps!
That Kalkhoff shows all the weaknesses of crank bikes.
The gear change is poor, it lacks power - possibly for fear of damaging the transmission - and it won't deliver what power it does have when the rider wants it.
Turning over a lower gear faster to climb a hill - as the lass did in the report - is the accepted way among cyclists of climbing.
But the bike wouldn't help her, which tells you all you need to know about the design integrity of the Kalkhoff.
If ever a bike needed a throttle it's this one.
The gear change is poor, it lacks power - possibly for fear of damaging the transmission - and it won't deliver what power it does have when the rider wants it.
Turning over a lower gear faster to climb a hill - as the lass did in the report - is the accepted way among cyclists of climbing.
But the bike wouldn't help her, which tells you all you need to know about the design integrity of the Kalkhoff.
If ever a bike needed a throttle it's this one.
You cant blame the crank drive for the gear change. Thats the hub gear and is true for any bike with one not just a crank drive one.
Good to have a Anti-Eddie
May not know how to ride a Kalkhoff but the way she was riding spinning her legs is the modern recommended way of riding a normal bike up a hill.
Oh and the NEO does not have any 'special' off road button and I should know as I own two of them so it was a level playing field at least from that point of view.
The Agattu is one of the very best; tried and tested many times in various countries by specialist journalists who know something about decent electric bikes. I'm not sure that the credentials of the few knockers amount to very much anyway. The Agattu is just about perfect for the typical UK ebike demographic and if you're one for doing off-road stuff, there are much better competitors for the Neo.
The choices for the comparative test by the TV company were a bit "apples and pears" really and I wonder who their consultant is on ebike matters. I suspect they don't have one and simply rely on a staff researcher to come with the means to produce a show, whatever the subject might be.
Now, I really like the BS10 but it is slightly illegal and the MPG isn't very good if you exploit its power. Unfortunately, slightly illegal is like slightly pregnant!
Indalo
Have you tried downloading 'exPat shield ' ?
It hides your IP address and allows me to watch iPlayer, for example, outside of the UK.
Dont know about Oz but its worth a go, should be OK......its totally safe Ive been using it for a long time whilst abroad without problems
Lynda
D
Deleted member 4366
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I suspect most of the people saying how great the Kalkhoff is have never ridden the Neo, which is a lot lighter and has a much stronger motor.
JMHO..Not the ideal platform ( a 'Gadget Show') for demonstrating Electric Bikes as an alternative form of transport......
The above is a highly misleading and totally untrue post based on little or no fact. Anyone considering a crank drive bike should ignore it and try one for themselves.
I own a Kalkhoff and have done so for 4 1/2 years and close to 12000 miles. I'm not being, "protective" of my purchase decision but I have to say that these bikes have an enormousness amount of hill climbing ability, plenty of speed and faultless transmission in terms of gears, chain and sprockets. The Alfine hub gear developed an annoying slip for a few days which may have been due to poor adjustment on my part, but apart from that its been perfect for 12000 miles and still is. The original chain and sprockets lasted close to 10000 miles before needing replacement and the Panasonic motor has never missed a beat. Oh, and the original 10Ah 24v battery still gives me in excess of 40 miles range. A testimony to the efficiency of the Panasonic motor and the crank drive concept.
Again, I have no particular allegiance to Kalkhoff, but someone who is considering one shouldn't be put off by the false statements made in RobF's post.
I don't know what RobF has based his report on, but I suspect that it's hearsay rather than ownership experience.
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