Hello from North-East Fife

[jdallan]

Hello, I'm newly registered and just introducing myself. I bought my first ebike - an Alien Bikes Typhoon - in June last year to replace a rarely used mountain bike. A short time later my wife bought a Giant Twist and we have really enjoyed using them since. We prefer cycling on quiet back roads or cycle tracks; our favourite being the Loch Leven Heritage Trail near Kinross. I use a Thule towbar-mounted carrier to transport the bikes. Battery management has taken a bit of getting used to and I've found myself without power on a couple of occasions. Unfortunately we live at the top of a short but steep hill so I've had to creep or get off and push up the last bit! The answer appears to be to charge the battery after every trip regardless how short.

As the big 70 is looming I'm considering treating myself to an upgrade (if I don't do it now I never will). The bikes I'm considering are the Storck Raddar Multitask Equipped and the Kalkhoff Agattu Premium C11 Impulse and any views or advice on their relative merits would be appreciated. (Maybe I should ask this elsewhere in the forum - if so my apologies).

Jim

 

[Old_Dave]

Hi Jim

Welcome to the forum.. It's customary for new peeps to get a round in


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[Cyclezee]

Hi Jim,

Welcome to the forum.

I know your part of the world quite well from the time when I lived in Kinnesswood and worked in Kirkcaldy.

I would suggest that you post your question in the Electric Bicycles section to get the biggest response.

Regards,

 

[Cyclezee]

Hi Jim

Welcome to the forum.. It's customary for new peeps to get a round in


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In that case you are long overdue Old Dave

 

[Old_Dave]

In that case you are long overdue Old Dave

Any time ... You know where I am


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[indalo]

The bikes I'm considering are the Storck Raddar Multitask Equipped and the Kalkhoff Agattu Premium C11 Impulse and any views or advice on their relative merits would be appreciated. (Maybe I should ask this elsewhere in the forum - if so my apologies).

Jim

Hi Jim and welcome.

I'm not sure if you managed to have a read at the recent thread centred on the Storck bike but it generated a fair bit of debate, culminating in a moderator locking the thread. The partly censored thread is still readable on the attached link, should you think it may hold some interest for you:

http://www.pedelecs.co.uk/forum/electric-bicycles/13598-storck-raddar-multitask-some-observations.html

I quite like both those machines but my cycling habits demand the sheer breadth of talent and versatility encapsulated in the Kalkhoff. The Storck, I'm afraid, while a decent enough bike is grossly overhyped, overpriced and rather limited in its abilities compared to the competitors at its price level.

Whatever you do, don't be put off the Storck by my view but make sure you test-ride each of the models you have named so you can have an objective and personal opinion based on proper comparison. A couple of other contenders which might stimulate your interest would provide you with a greater degree of objectivity still.

Slange var! (particularly on this very special occasion for Scots)

Indalo

 

[Old_Dave]

Even though they only have 3 legs, it took ages to catch my tea tonight


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[JuicyBike]

Hi Jim
There's a good range of bikes to try in Dundee at Electric Bikes Scotland

 

[indalo]

Even though they only have 3 legs, it took ages to catch my tea tonight

Judging from your location, there's a fair chance that you might be familiar with the following and I shall very shortly raise a toast both to the great man and to all our ebiking members from north and south of the border.

Fair fa' your honest, sonsie face,
Great chieftain o' the pudding-race!
Aboon them a' ye tak your place,
Painch, tripe, or thairm :
Weel are ye wordy o'a grace
As lang's my arm.

The groaning trencher there ye fill,
Your hurdies like a distant hill,
Your pin wad help to mend a mill
In time o'need,
While thro' your pores the dews distil
Like amber bead.

His knife see rustic Labour dight,
An' cut you up wi' ready sleight,
Trenching your gushing entrails bright,
Like ony ditch;
And then, O what a glorious sight,
Warm-reekin', rich!

Then, horn for horn, they stretch an' strive:
Deil tak the hindmost! on they drive,
Till a' their weel-swall'd kytes belyve
Are bent like drums;
Then auld Guidman, maist like to rive,
Bethankit! hums.

Is there that owre his French ragout
Or olio that wad staw a sow,
Or fricassee wad make her spew
Wi' perfect sconner,
Looks down wi' sneering, scornfu' view
On sic a dinner?

Poor devil! see him owre his trash,
As feckless as wither'd rash,
His spindle shank, a guid whip-lash;
His nieve a nit;
Thro' bloody flood or field to dash,
O how unfit!

But mark the Rustic, haggis-fed,
The trembling earth resounds his tread.
Clap in his walie nieve a blade,
He'll mak it whissle;
An' legs an' arms, an' heads will sned,
Like taps o' thrissle.

Ye Pow'rs, wha mak mankind your care,
And dish them out their bill o' fare,
Auld Scotland wants nae skinking ware
That jaups in luggies;
But, if ye wish her gratefu' prayer
Gie her a haggis!

Slange var!

Indalo

 

[Storcker]

As the big 70 is looming I'm considering treating myself to an upgrade (if I don't do it now I never will). The bikes I'm considering are the Storck Raddar Multitask Equipped and the Kalkhoff Agattu Premium C11 Impulse and any views or advice on their relative merits would be appreciated. (Maybe I should ask this elsewhere in the forum - if so my apologies).

Jim

Hi, from Storker. As my forum name implies I am the owner of a Stork, the exact model you are considering.
I bought mine in early October 2012 and the Kalkhoff C11 was one the bikes also in contention for my money. I am only a young man of 63 but bought a new bike for the same reason as you.
I've been very pleased with my choice so far but would not say the Kalkhoff would have been a poorer choice just different plus's and minus's.
Electric Bike magazine, available to read online, has reviews on both bikes and I think shows the differences well.
Like me you live in a fairly remote part of Britain and being able to actually see, sit upon and ride the alternate bikes you are considering means travelling. Hence I think you will benefit from reading as many reviews as possible online and utube video reviews. Bike Radar website reviews everything to do with bicycles and is a good site.

 

[jdallan]

Hi all,

Many thanks for the replies, comments, advice and "toast" (I have to admit that I'm not a great Burns fan although I'm a keen fan of the associated food and drink).

With regard to trying the bikes, I have every intention of doing that however my home location makes it difficult. A trip to Gateshead to try the Storck might be on the cards once the weather improves; so far I haven't come across anywhere closer than Loughborough to try the Kalkhoff. I am not in a hurry (other than the advancing years) as I want to get it right. I'll carry on reading reviews, forum posts, etc.

Thanks again.

Jim

PS Old_Dave - I'll be glad to get a round in if the occasion presents itself!