Kalkhoff unreliability

[Scottish David]

Hello, just joining. Perhaps should have joined 2 years ago and asked for advice.

Dodgy ankle, bad back, asthmatic, so an e-bike should be the answer. Purchased a Kalkhoff two years ago and love it. Regularly do 40-60 miles including big hills. BUT - it is so unreliable! Currently getting its 4th major repair and unlikely to be back quickly.

Anyone else had any of these issues:
Battery failure after 6 months - replaced
Display unit failed because I cycled in the rain - replaced
Switch unit failed - replaced

And now, having been out and having the motor cut in and out, run when not pedalling and run at top power when freewheeling downhill at 25mph (scary and dangerous) the motor isn't running or driving at all. Dealer says it is battery again - can't see how that is possible as the display says all charged and ready to go and the lights work.

Anyone else had anything similar?

Kalkhoff Endeavour with Impulse motor

 

[soundwave]

the impulse motors are not fit for purpose they all fail 5o cycles went bust because of this and kept selling them knowing the fault was there and it was never fixed.

Ongoing reliability of Kalkhoff/Focus Impulse 2 motors

Hi, I am trying to ascertain who is having issues with Impulse II motors on Kalkhoff or Focus e-bikes (both made by Derby Cycles). Personally, I had a first motor replacement after 900 miles (4 months, loud clacking/clicking noise), and then another failure at around 900 miles (7 months, very...

www.pedelecs.co.uk

 

[Fat Rat]

Hi welcome
As above there unfit for purpose get your money back

 

[Wicky]

Search for the long thread on Kalkhoff Impulse failures.

Best dump it in loch and get another more reliable bike.

 

[Agbc]

Yes I had a kalkhoff with the notoriously unreliable impulse motors, they knew they were faulty, get away from Kalkhoff as soon as you can

 

[zoros]

Yes I had a kalkhoff with the notoriously unreliable impulse motors, they knew they were faulty, get away from Kalkhoff as soon as you can

Nothing wrong with the bike....it's the Impulse motor.
Simply make sure the KalKhoff you get ...has a Bosch motor.

 

[flecc]

Nothing wrong with the bike....it's the Impulse motor.
Simply make sure the KalKhoff you get ...has a Bosch motor.

And in fairness to Kalkhoff, the Impulse motor wasn't theirs either, they've never made anything electrical. They are made by the German Daum company and were originally marketed as Daum. And the batteries the Impulse motors use are made by German battery company BMZ.
.

 

[Brittas]

So the moto is buy Chinese not German?? wow now there's a turn of events.

 

[quilly21]

I agree, or probably buy a second hand one with the excellent Panasonic motor!
I’ve had mine for 10 years, regularly commuting in all weathers covering in excess of 20,000 miles, battery still at 80% capacity only regular servicing, chain, sprockets etc., and not a thing gone wrong .
What has happened to Panasonic in the e bike world, which they seemed to dominate?

 

[flecc]

What has happened to Panasonic in the e bike world, which they seemed to dominate?

In Europe, price and German pride.

The well made Panasonic mid drive motors were expensive, like many Japanese quality products, so the Germans could match or beat it. Also the Germans don't like to acknowledge any Oriental superiority.

So even with the Panasonic motor equipped bikes, Kalkhoff dropped the Panasonic batteries and started using German copies from BMZ. Then after spotting the Daum motor on the German market Kalkhoff adopted those too. At the same time Bosch and other German firms started making crank drives so that sealed the future.

I don't think this market is important enough to Panasonic to be bothered to fight for, especially since so many others, European, Japanese, Chinese and Taiwanese are fighting for scraps from the table.
.

 

[quilly21]

In Europe, price and German pride.

The well made Panasonic mid drive motors were expensive, like many Japanese quality products, so the Germans could match or beat it. Also the Germans don't like to acknowledge any Oriental superiority.

So even with the Panasonic motor equipped bikes, Kalkhoff dropped the Panasonic batteries and started using German copies from BMZ. Then after spotting the Daum motor on the German market Kalkhoff adopted those too. At the same time Bosch and other German firms started making crank drives so that sealed the future.

I don't think this market is important enough to Panasonic to be bothered to fight for, especially since so many others, European, Japanese, Chinese and Taiwanese are fighting for scraps from the table.
.
[/QUOTE
I remember trying a Daum technic at the tour de Presteigne with two speed motor gearbox and an impressive digital display in 2010, Tempting, but just glad I didn't buy one, how things have moved on!

 

[Samcycles]

In Europe, price and German pride.

The well made Panasonic mid drive motors were expensive, like many Japanese quality products, so the Germans could match or beat it. Also the Germans don't like to acknowledge any Oriental superiority.

So even with the Panasonic motor equipped bikes, Kalkhoff dropped the Panasonic batteries and started using German copies from BMZ. Then after spotting the Daum motor on the German market Kalkhoff adopted those too. At the same time Bosch and other German firms started making crank drives so that sealed the future.

I don't think this market is important enough to Panasonic to be bothered to fight for, especially since so many others, European, Japanese, Chinese and Taiwanese are fighting for scraps from the table.
.

I suppose it made business sense at the time to use the Daum motor given Derby cycles owned 50% of the company but I'm sure they never imagined the damage it would do to the Kalkhoff brand.

 

[E-Wheels]

So the moto is buy Chinese not German?? wow now there's a turn of events.

Possibly the same thing
Not much is “made” in Germany these days
The majority of parts are supplied ex Asia and possibly assembled in Germany