KTM Macina Cross 400W

[wookie7070]

I had a very mixed experience with my first Pedelec (Trek Valencia+) which spent more time having the spokes repaired than rolling along the road. Trek were excellent in dealing with my issues but enough was enough and they gave a full refund to my dealer who agreed to get me a new bike to the same value.

Edinburgh Cycle Company have been brilliant throughout this and frequently gave me loan bikes and picked up my bike from my place of work. It took a wee bit of time deciding on my new ride but eventually I went for a KTM Macina Cross with 400W battery.

I got the bike yesterday and have only had the chance for a quick ride.

First impressions matter and I was very pleased with the way the bike looked. It looks like it was designed as a pedelec rather than the Trek which looked more of an arranged marraige. I am already liking the hub gears and the brakes(Hydraulic Rim) work really well. The control unit is perfectly placed and very clear and gives all the details you want including range and the time. The bike feels so much better to ride unpowered than the Trek did. It feels lighter than the Trek and the weight is distributed far better.

The motor makes some noise but once up to speed it can't really be heard over the wind noise. It is quite low pitched and noisier than what I recall on the Trek. I am used to riding bikes with no suspension so it may take some getting used to having front suspension. I imagine it will be locked down when I am commuting.

All in all I am delighted. The bike is a good deal faster. You really notice when going down a hill. In the 2000 miles I did on the Trek I don't think I ever got past 30mph going down a hill. It was a breeze to get past that on the Macina. There appears to be far less resistance than the Trek and this will help as I usually pedel above 15mph on the flat so don't have any assistance. I reckon this will be easier on the Macina.

I will fit mudguards in the next few days and hopefully I will get out on my first commute tomorrow.

 

[Artstu]

Glad you like it. I'm rather fond of mine too.

 

[wookie7070]

Artsu, I see you fitted mudguards. Could you let me know which ones. Thought the pair in the garage would work but they are for much narrower tyres.

 

[Artstu]

The mudguards were these in hybrid 38-45 size Wiggle | SKS Chromoplastic Road Mudguard Set | Mudguards
The rack which fits really well too is this one Wiggle | TorTec Ultralite Rear Rack | Pannier Racks

I mounted the rear mudguard stays to the top hole on the inside face of the drop-outs and the rack on the outer bottom hole. I always replace the supplied fixings with stainless, all the rest of the bits are stainless. You'll need an M6 (I think) screw for fixing the front mudguard to the fork bridge.

 

[wookie7070]

Cheers, Mudguards ordered and I will see if the rack on my unpowered hybrid works as it is the very model you listed.

 

[amigafan2003]

The hub on the Trek is direct drive, which is why it was quieter but why you also noticed some drag stopping you getting above 30mph.

The hub on the KTM is geared, so a bit noisier as the motor runs at a higher rpm and you can hear the gears. It also incorporates a freewheel which makes it easier to pedal unassisted and lets you freewheel to a higher speed down hill. It's also lighter than the Treks motor.

 

[Artstu]

The hub on the KTM is geared.

It is indeed being a Nexus 8 and crank drive Bosch motor.

 

[amigafan2003]

Sorry - I meant the motor on the Machina is a geared motor which includes a free wheel.

It's been a long day!

 

[wookie7070]

First commute this morning. Ave speed 15.3mph over the 9 mile journey. That is around the speed I was doing it on the Trek when I had been cycling every day for months. I have only been out once in the last year or so on a bike so really pleased with that particularly as I am recovering from losing half a stone over the last few days due to a stomach bug.

I am still getting used to the hub gears. Great at the lights not so sure going up and down the gears in motion. Cycling unassisted is great and I am only using the top assist pulling away from lights or at roundabouts for safety. Mostly cycling in Tour with a quick burst of Sport up the hills. This is far better than the Trek which was almost always at full power. The range looks like it will be around 50 miles with my 15 1/2 stone on board. This is about twice the Trek. Some hills on my journey but nothing too drastic about 300 foot total descent on way to work and the reverse on way home.

So far so good. It looks better, handles better and goes further on a charge. Really impressed with the Macina.

 

[RobF]

The Alfine hub on my Rose/Bosch bike changes better on the move unassisted.

But in real world use, the only way I've found is a fairly deliberate pause on the pedals.

I reckon you need to pause a fraction longer than on an unpowered bike because there's a slight delay in the motor stopping.

The hub is good in other respects, less maintenance and cleaner, partly because the chain doesn't hang so low to catch road dirt.

 

[Artstu]

Exactly as Rob says with regard to the gear change, you soon get used to it. Also check the adjustment of the gears after a few miles, line the yellow lines up in the little window in fourth using the adjuster on the changer.

 

[wookie7070]

Home now so first whole commute out of the way. The gear changes are coming together no and just as you say a short pause seems to do the trick. The bike has now covered 32 miles and just went down to 2 bars. I would have charged the battery of the Trek at least once already! Old habits die hard so had to check the spokes on my return but all is well.

 

[wookie7070]

Another couple of commutes up the way and I am still very impressed. I have unlocked the fork and can't believe how comfortable the bike is to ride. I am riding mostly at the second top setting(Sport) and am getting around 50 miles to a charge. This will allow me 2 return trips easily and a goal to get to 3 out of a charge in the future.
The gearchange once you get used to it is excellent and the brakes very good too. At the moment it is all positive and the weather is even making cycling an absolute pleasure.
A word of praise to the controller too. The thumb controls are great and the big backlit display is so easy to read. My only complaint would be that a second trip meter would be useful. I only noticed the other day that there is a USB port for your phone on the controller which could prove useful. I'll have to order a cable for that.

All in all an excellent start and hopefully the miles keep rolling by with the need to visit the dealer.

 

[RobF]

This will allow me 2 return trips easily and a goal to get to 3 out of a charge in the future.

Better for the battery if you don't run it flat regularly, so best to recharge after two return trips unless there's another very good reason not to.

 

[wookie7070]

The first fortnight with the Macina has gone very well. Over 150 miles covered and the only hitches have been a problem getting the battery out which was more me than the bike and a loose chain which was easily adjusted. Due to the hot weather I have been riding in Turbo mode and that gets me two full trips to work (34 miles total) with two bars left on the display. This would equate to roughly 50 miles range in full power mode. This extra range is really useful because I am now prone to going the longer way home every second journey or so.

I have also adjusted the brake levers and bar grips and the bike is very comfortable for me to ride. I am still really impressed with most things. The brakes are excellent in the dry but I'll be interested to see how they perform in the wet. I am used to the hub gears now and find them easy to use.

Silly things that annoyed me about the Trek are also well engineered on the KTM. The stand is sturdy and works really well. Putting the bike on a bike stand and moving it about is also so much easier due to the more central and lower centre of gravity.

All in all I am a very happy camper. I am losing a bit of weight already and my health and general wellbeing have both improved since I got back on the saddle.

 

[wookie7070]

After a bad ankle injury and also doing my back in gardening the Macina hasn't seen as much action as I would have liked. I am back cycling regularly to work and now over the 500 mile mark. Mudguards fitted have made commuting in the rain so much nicer. The bike has been perfect so far. I am getting 2 return commutes( 32 miles total ) in Turbo mode and there are always 2 bars left on the display. I have remained very impressed with the bike. So far so good.

 

[Keith Jones]

Hi, I've just ordered for mid Nov delivery the KTM Mancini Sport plus and am interested to hear your news. As I live in the hilly Lake District it will be interesting to find out the range here.

 

[103Alex1]

Hi, I've just ordered for mid Nov delivery the KTM Mancini Sport plus and am interested to hear your news. As I live in the hilly Lake District it will be interesting to find out the range here.

Macina ? This elusive "KTM Mancini" keeps cropping up ....

 

[Yamdude]

Are these bikes actually made by KTM the Austrian motorcycle company ?

Must admit, I think they look damn cool.

 

[barrycoll]

I have noticed that the 2014 KTM line up now includes a KTM Macina Cross 10, which substitutes a 10 speed derailleur for the Nexus 8 hub, and saves 1.3 kgs in weight.....easier to fettle or fix a rear wheel puncture

............................. probably thinking of Henry Mancini and Moon River