Kalkoff batteries again !

[oriteroom]

Reference to some of the foregoing comments I do think that some e-bikers who are 'old hands' at this pedelec lark are a little out of touch with how much improvement in performance is available from the current developed e-bikes.

Far from being out of touch...... Rather than being old hands, i believe that some of us have the experience over a number of years of the essential features that are needed in a good ebike and take a measured view on those 'improved' features, which sometimes are made for improvement sake, , and often merely a disguise to ramp the price up still further in this year's model.

I agree with John, Tillson and Tom's comments, which accurately reflect my own. I am also in the position to be able to directly compare and contrast the bikes as you will see in my sign off below. We still have them all. I can directly compare the new Impulse 2 Tasman, with the older ProConnects of 2008 and a ProConnect S (2010). This is also a comparison that i can make at leisure, not some quick ride on a test circuit at some sales promotion or road show. My wife's 2008 is still better on simplicity, reliablilty and ride (especially gearing). The new Tasman is ridiculously low geared even for her! compared with the older bike. The Tasman needs an 18t and 41T chainwheel if the lowest gears are ever to be used. For me, the ProConnect S with shimano Deore 9 speed cassette and magura Hydraulic brakes does everything i want and i cannot see a need for, or indeed a suitable replacement.

 

[oriteroom]

That was the advantage of the Redbridge event,it gave a long enough ride with hills to give a real feel of these bikes,the short test track at shows such as the NEC,without a proper hill,give a false impression of the bike.
Must do some more road shows next year.
KudosDave

But it is still a VERY short time to try a bike, and the warts don't necessarily show up. Things like for example.......Chains becoming slackened because of axle movement in forward facing instead of vertical dropouts (made worse by the 'improved' power input of the new motor compared with older model), battery issues, annoying software which needs the bike to be returned to distributor because the motor control is by wheel speed and the original Quality Control at factory cannot allow for a 26" wheel model as oppposed to their 28" model, having to change sprockets to get a sensible gearing.......

 

[tillson]

But it is still a VERY short time to try a bike, and the warts don't necessarily show up. Things like for example.......Chains becoming slackened because of axle movement in forward facing instead of vertical dropouts (made worse by the 'improved' power input of the new motor compared with older model), battery issues, annoying software which needs the bike to be returned to distributor because the motor control is by wheel speed and the original Quality Control at factory cannot allow for a 26" wheel model as oppposed to their 28" model, having to change sprockets to get a sensible gearing.......

Very true. You need to use the bike regularly for at least a year before a meaningful assessment can be made. A quick taz around a showground isn't going to tell you very much at all. You might determine that bike A goes up a hill at 14 mph whereas bike B will only climb it at 12 mph. Not really the sort of information you need in order to make a purchase decision.

 

[One_Box]

I can understand them thinking that, since cracked battery casings through dropping them are not uncommon, I've suffered two.

One was down to the delivery service as shown here, but the other was down to me.

That was when I was riding very fast down a long steep bumpy hill and I only realised the battery had come adrift when it overtook me on the tarmac.

I repaired both casings and they both gave me their full life, in fact the one I broke was still ok when I sold the e-bike four years later.
.

That was a BIG crack, how did you repair it ?

 

[flecc]

That was a BIG crack, how did you repair it ?

On this link it's explained on my website, two photos and text illustrate the ways, the second cosmetically preferable.

Also on my site is this article on extending a case, a method which can also be used for repairs.
.

 

[One_Box]

Thank you !