Kalkhoff Tasman - A Few Notes

[lemmy]

I've had my Tasman 6 months now and am thoroughly familiar with it as day to day transport, so I thought I'd share a few thoughts in no particular order. I use the bike mostly with an 8kg backpack of my camera gear and a 2kg tripod on the rear rack.

The range is generally speaking as much as I ever need. A run into central London and around, stopping and starting to take pictures is often about 36 miles. I can cover this on a full charge and on return, the battery will still have 1 or 2 of the charge LEDs on, not flashing.

The immediate 'thrust' of the motor from standstill, that's to say from the moment you push the pedal, is a great safety measure in traffic. It enables you to accelerate 3 or 4 metres ahead of the cars so that they cannot herd you into the side of the road 'sorry, didn't see you' style.

I use only gears 3, 5, 7 and 8 in normal riding. First gear would pull a tree stump, I think. I'd certainly expect to be able to climb the 1 in 3 section of Porlock Hill with it.

The 8 speed Shimano hub gear is brilliant and a definite bonus over the 7 speed, seemingly more positive and with a usefully greater spread of gears.

Upping the gearing from the standard 23 tooth cog is not worthwhile in my view. Apart from the detrimental effect on range, with the motor's help up to 15mph, I can maintain 18-20mph under my own steam and easily get 25mph on a downhill.

I have never had cause to use the highest power on the power switch, even climbing the north downs around Epsom. A large amount of the time I can switch off power altogether since once the inertia of the inevitably heavier e-bike is overcome, it feels no different from an unpowered bike.

The hydraulic brakes on the Tasman don't stop you better than the V-brakes on the Agattu but they feel much nicer to use, positive and firm. Plus, no adjustment, easy disengagement for wheel changing and with the rear wheel they can be used to judge the positioning of the axle when refitting.

I use a good bike computer and sometimes an eTrek GPS for route finding. The speed and distance of both devices match closely - except when going up or down hill or on long tight bends when the GPS once per second position sampling sends it adrift from the computer.

The full chain guard on the Tasman is a a piece of c**p. It is flimsy, makes oiling and working on the bike difficult - by the side of the road impossible - and is assembled in truly Heath Robinson style. I ditched it and fitted the simpler but still plastic item from the Agattu. It was £35!

Fitting Schwalbe Marathon Plus tyres has transformed my cycing experience. From a puncture a week before, I have not had one at all for 5 months!

Panasonic need to take another look at the frame mounting for their battery. It is not fit for purpose on English roads with their potholes and Neanderethal road mending skills. I fit a strap around mine to hold it still. I do not like having to make amateur mods on a near £2000 machine.

To sum up, the bike is smooth, practical and well developed. It feels of a piece and while the price is high it does justify it by the trouble free performance and generally high quality.

Oh, and a bonus for photographers - it comes with an excellent, if expensive tripod ballast weight for windy conditions

 

[flecc]

Great progress report Lemmy, I too don't like full chainguards, however well made or not.

Panasonic are to some extent at the mercy of the frame producer when it comes to precise battery location since the upper locking point is fixed by their accuracy of fabrication. The first series unit NiMh battery was located by it's lock in the frame above as you can see by the AXA lock in the photo below, operating the lock clamping it firmly down.

 

[JamesC]

I agree with all that you have said in your report. I think that the Tasman is an excellent spec for the Panasonic Kalkhoff range.

The chainguard is a pity, but, as you say, can easily be changed to the simpler Agattu version. The full chainguard of the Tasman is a little less of an issue when the tyres are changed to Marathon Plus, making punctures a rarity.

It sounds as though you are quite a strong cyclist, enjoying to ride at cadences of 70 or more which lifts you above the assisted speed of 15 MPH with the 23 tooth rear sprocket.

My legs are slightly weaker and slower, but I am able to cruise at a similar speed with a 19 tooth sprocket, using the highest assistance setting. In my case, I will still be receiving some assistance from the motor up to about 18 MPH. The penalty of course is that the battery range drops to a maximum of about 25 miles (exhausting the battery compeletely). I regard 20/21 miles as my regular limit for a battery.

The family has 3 Kalkhoffs in total; ProConnect, Agattu and Tasman. All 3 are now using the Tasman spec of hub and brakes.

The Agattu and Tasman are often carrying a 10 or 12 kg child on the handlebar stem (using the Bobike Mini seat), whereas the ProConnect is more likely to have 8 kg of 2x additional batteries at the front for longer rides.

James

 

[Tim]

​

Thanks for the detailed review Lemmy. Of all our bikes, it seems to be the Tasman that gets the more demanding jobs - marking out routes for endurance races in the Pennines, starting a new life on the back of a barge going around Europe, travelling all around the Highlands and Islands. And all without much complaint. Which is probably why 2010 Tasman will be the first model to sell out this year. We have one 49cm Small Step Thru and one 57cm Large Crossbar Tasman remaining.

​

We also have a small number of the 2009 Tasman, 49cm gents frame, left over from last year which are available for £1595, the same price as the 2010 Agattu for a bicycle with hydraulic brakes, premium 'Red Line' Shimano 8-speed hub and a built-in Axa ring lock. It's my current ride of choice on the bumpy roads around here.

Still listed as £1695 on the site, but we can offer an extra £100 off to Pedelec Forum members if you call to order one from us.

 

[lemmy]

I'd meant to mention the AXA lock which seemed a bit of a gimmick to me, with the key fixed in in place when it is unlocked.

But experience has changed my opinion. It means that you always have the means at hand to lock the bike - you can't forget the key! I've bought a plug in cable for it, at £13 so if I just stop to get a paper, say, it's literally 10 seconds to plug the cable in and remove the key, thus securing the bike and locking the back wheel so the bike would need to be carried away rather than ridden.

The AXA cable I bought is lightweight so if I'm stopping for any length of time with the bike out of my sight or in Kingston, west London, with the worst bike theft figures in the country, I use the AXA to lock the back wheel to the frame and lightly secure it to the street bike tether, plus an Abus Granit.

I agree about the comfort, Tim, superb. I dislike suspension forks and sprung seat posts on a bike in principle but I ride in the same area as you and I value my wrists, backside and spine too much to sacrifice them to a principle!

I agree that the Marathon Plus tyres make the full chainguard less of a problem but it makes lubricating the chain a nuisance too. On balance, I prefer the Agattu guard, especially having had to remove the full one. It's not getting it off, I found it's putting it back together again the problem!

Yes, James, I am a fairly strong cyclist but I can see the point of upping the gearing a bit. Your bikes certainly work for a living. As Tim says, the bullet proof work horse nature of the Agattu and Tasmans is very attractive for hauling weights, be it cameras or in your case kids.

I'd love to get a Proconnect but will have to wait until 50Cycles will allow me a 95% discount. Why should they do that? Because I'm worth it

 

[carpetbagger]

I'd meant to mention the AXA lock which seemed a bit of a gimmick to me, with the key fixed in in place when it is unlocked.

My Agattu is the same age as your Tasman,7 speed version. I have the Axa lock and the key comes out ok,seems strange that yours doesn't,maybe a bit of wd40 ? Everything you said about the Tasman applies to my Agattu,did have some gear problems where the dots wouldn't align and my shifter broke but now everything seems ok.I had two punctures in first week but touch wood none since,,,I also bought some cheap tubes from lidl just in case..Carry them round with spanners in a rack bag.I love riding it and know i will always get home !!

 

[flecc]

Some AXAs have fixed keys, that on the Lafree was like this.
.

 

[nab]

just wondering why there doesn't appear to be options for larger batteries on the kalkhoffs?

if you conbimed the hill climbing ability of it and the more standard cycling feel with a larger capacity battery, surely this would be an all round winner?

is the 26v10Ah battery considered the best all rounder for power vrs weight or is it just that the companies haven't caught up with the larger battery sizes yet?

 

[eddieo]

its a different kind of bike, and the large capacity batteries of hub motor bikes are though unnecessary.......saying that, there is a new Panasonic motor out which is 300 watt (probably illegal here) but that has a bigger/wider battery.

some Panasonic owners carry two batteries, but majority happy with the one I believe

 

[nab]

i get your point but.....surely over time, like with all technologies, the capacities and range will increase too? battery life statistics on mobiles and laptops increase every year. won't it be the same with electric bikes?

perhaps I am getting too hung up on battery size? after all, size isn't everything!

BTW very useful review for me. Thanks Lemmy.

 

[flecc]

is the 26v10Ah battery considered the best all rounder for power vrs weight or is it just that the companies haven't caught up with the larger battery sizes yet?

Panasonic who make that power unit are one of the world's most advanced battery manufacturers who lead lithium development. The 26 volt 10 Ah is adequate for a design that uses it's power more efficiently than hub motors. The 45 to 55 miles plus that some riders can achieve with 37 volts 14 Ah on a couple of hub motor bikes is also easily attainable on the Panasonic unit's 26 volt 10 Ah battery.

Average use will get about 40 miles for that hub motor bike and 30 miles for the Panasonic one. Put into Watt/hours terms, that's 13 W/h for the hub motor, 8.7 W/h for the Panasonic, which is therefore 33% more efficient.

However, due to it's design provisions, the Panasonic rider will have exerted roughly one third of that efficiency gain in more pedal effort for either of those circumstances, so the net efficiency gain of the Panasonic unit due to electro-mechanical efficiency is more like 22%.
.

 

[lemmy]

some Panasonic owners carry two batteries, but majority happy with the one I believe

I'd thought about a second one but with care I can get 40 miles range and I find that enough. What I would like is a small, light 2ah that I could carry as a spare for the last few miles if I did out-range myself.

But as Flecc pointed out, there is the problem of mounting it on the frame and that it wouldn't cost pro-rata less anyway.

My Axa key definitely won't come out when unlocked. It suits me fine but I'm interested that some do and some don't. Given the choice I'd prefer one that did - but I shall bear up and take it like a man

 

[nab]

so, as eddieo says, you don't need necessarily bigger capacity batteries, you would just have to carry a spare if you want extra range.

i don't fully understand the whole voltage / watts thing (I will read up on it, plenty of info on here for that). i'm afraid i am coming from a rather simplistic view point of 'bigger figures on the battery means more range'!! It sounds like the Kalkhoff would do just about what i want, but extra juice would equal extra freedom.

always been more of an arts person than science.

anyway, not to knock the thread off course. Lemmy, how do you find the suspension forks for rough roads? (i believe the tasman forks are switchable?)

 

[Old Timer]

I agree with all that you have said in your report. I think that the Tasman is an excellent spec for the Panasonic Kalkhoff range.

The chainguard is a pity, but, as you say, can easily be changed to the simpler Agattu version. The full chainguard of the Tasman is a little less of an issue when the tyres are changed to Marathon Plus, making punctures a rarity.

It sounds as though you are quite a strong cyclist, enjoying to ride at cadences of 70 or more which lifts you above the assisted speed of 15 MPH with the 23 tooth rear sprocket.

My legs are slightly weaker and slower, but I am able to cruise at a similar speed with a 19 tooth sprocket, using the highest assistance setting. In my case, I will still be receiving some assistance from the motor up to about 18 MPH. The penalty of course is that the battery range drops to a maximum of about 25 miles (exhausting the battery compeletely). I regard 20/21 miles as my regular limit for a battery.

The family has 3 Kalkhoffs in total; ProConnect, Agattu and Tasman. All 3 are now using the Tasman spec of hub and brakes.

The Agattu and Tasman are often carrying a 10 or 12 kg child on the handlebar stem (using the Bobike Mini seat), whereas the ProConnect is more likely to have 8 kg of 2x additional batteries at the front for longer rides.

James

James

Like the babies windshield

 

[tangent]

I'd meant to mention the AXA lock which seemed a bit of a gimmick to me, with the key fixed in in place when it is unlocked.

But experience has changed my opinion. It means that you always have the means at hand to lock the bike - you can't forget the key! I've bought a plug in cable for it, at £13 so if I just stop to get a paper, say, it's literally 10 seconds to plug the cable in and remove the key, thus securing the bike and locking the back wheel so the bike would need to be carried away rather than ridden.

What is this cable, is it specific to the AXA lock? Where did you get it?

 

[carpetbagger]

its probably like this pending Lemmeys reply
Axa Click in Cable for Defender RL frame Lock

 

[flecc]

its probably like this pending Lemmeys reply
Axa Click in Cable for Defender RL frame Lock

The longer cable like this one is much more useful for going round lamp posts etc. I had one with my AXA lock and it coped with most situations.
.

 

[tangent]

Looks really useful. At the moment I carry a separate cable, but it is on its last legs.

 

[tillson]

I'd thought about a second one but with care I can get 40 miles range and I find that enough. What I would like is a small, light 2ah that I could carry as a spare for the last few miles if I did out-range myself.

But as Flecc pointed out, there is the problem of mounting it on the frame and that it wouldn't cost pro-rata less anyway.

My Axa key definitely won't come out when unlocked. It suits me fine but I'm interested that some do and some don't. Given the choice I'd prefer one that did - but I shall bear up and take it like a man

The fact that the key won't come out of the lock when ulocked means that you will never leave home without the key. Accidentaly leaving the key at home would be a real problem if you arrived at you destination and then snapped the lock on! It is a good well thought out fail safe design feature.

 

[lemmy]

The fact that the key won't come out of the lock when ulocked means that you will never leave home without the key.

That's right and very important. I just have this little insecurity that if I don't lock it some time some smart-**** will lock it and take the key, leaving me with an immobile bike. The answer is, always lock it - and I do.

The Axa cables, yes, the one Flecc mentioned. They do 3 or 4 different strengths and lengths from about £12 depending on your needs. I use it for quick or back-up security.