Heinzmann 2002 kit?

[delmumbles]

Could anybody breif me on the heinzmann 200w kit from 2002. What are its strengths and weaknesses and what value would a kit in good condition currently have.

Still mucking about on the south wight alps.

 

[MaryinScotland]

I had one of these for a couple of years (bought 2003). Review here:
http://www.pedelecs.co.uk/articles/43/1/Heinzmann-Owner-Reviews/Page1.html

The main reason I gave up on it was weight - I fitted it to a steel-framed bike which I already used, but I need to carry my bike upstairs, and at nearly 30kg in total, I eventually decided it was too much for me.

Good motor, poor battery mount. The Heinzmann rack (assuming it's one with a flat slot you slip the battery into, not the pannier-type on some other models) is desiged for 26" wheels. Maybe it works with them. The "extenders" that are supposed to adapt it for 700c wheels are unsatisfactory. I went back to my bike's original rack, and made a webbing harness so I could attach the battery pannier-style. That worked, but I still feel that the back rack is the wrong place to be mounting 5kg of battery.

Oh - I did have a battery problem once. I returned the battery to Kinetics, who fixed it under warranty. Cost to me was postage and slight inconvenience.

With minor assistance from me, the motor was strong enough to take me up my one serious hill (about half a mile, maybe around 8%-10% slope). I really liked the twist-grip control. I could ride the bike unassisted on the flat, feed in a little power for a headwind or slight slope, give it everything on a steep hill, or walk up a ramp with the motor pulling the bike.

I bought the motor ready spoked into a wheel, and got a local bike shop to fit it - the front forks had to be spread a little to accommodate the motor, and I didn't want to try that. Don't attempt it with suspension forks.

Mine had a NiCad battery which is supposed to take "up to" 1000 cycles. Mine had had maybe 250 when I sold it. I don't know about value, but try to find out what kind of battery your kit has, how many times it has been charged, and whether you'll be able to get a new one if needed. Maybe some of the battery experts here can give you a better idea of how much more life to expect from it.

Mary

 

[jimmyengland1000]

My brand new Heinzmann kit was a pain, to be honest....... too heavy, overengineered, noisy and expensive

 

[aaannndddyyy]

I had a Heinzmann 200 watt 36 volt NiCad kit, that worked fine lots of toque (pulling power) and very reliable, but had average top end speed was heavy and noisy, the new kits which a friend of mine purchased was not up to the same standard, the rack broke within a month the holes for the spokes were out of line and the free wheel thread was off center. My kit cost 150 pounds off a member of this forum , my friend kit 1100 pounds new .

 

[emotivepete]

New (current) luggage carrier much more solid than predecessor. Please refer any quality problems on new kits to shop where it was bought. There may be those for whom Heinzmann is not to their taste, but quality should not be an issue.

Li-Ion 5.2Ah and 9.6Ah, 36V batteries and new digital control should be hitting the shops at beginning of May (2008 for the cynics). Details will be published shortly.

Those with 36V NiCd can upgrade without change to controller. Those running 36V NiMH currently can upgrade to Li-Ion with a modification to the controller. Unfortunately 24V NiCd kits cannot be upgraded but spare cells and repairs are still available.

For standard kits, speed is designed for UK regs. Faster, non-legal versions are available (24mph as fitted to the estelle Sport Speed)