New Tasman bike announced

[flecc]

Burncycle has kindly drawn my attention to a new Kalkhoff model on the 50cycles website, the Tasman, a top flight version of the Agattu with Magura hydraulic brakes and 8 speed hub amongst the goodies:

50cycles Electric Bikes UK - New Kalkhoff Tasman Pedelec Electric Bicycle Home Page

One for those who insist on the best.
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[tgame]

Burncycle has kindly drawn my attention to a new Kalkhoff model on the 50cycles website, the Tasman, a top flight version of the Agattu with Magura hydraulic brakes and 8 speed hub amongst the goodies:

50cycles Electric Bikes UK - New Kalkhoff Tasman Pedelec Electric Bicycle Home Page

One for those who insist on the best.
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It's lovely to see that Kalkhoff are intent on a whole range of these bikes. It has to be a good thing in popularising ebikes. Are the hydraulic brakes worth the extra? I know nothing whatever about them but find it hard to think anything could be much better than the Agattu brakes. There doesn't seem to be much else as we've already thought the 8 speed gears make little difference. I see from the pic that the pannier rack is different and would suit the binbags better!

 

[flecc]

This was what I said about it in the other thread Tony:

Tasman
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[tgame]

This was what I said about it in the other thread Tony:

Tasman
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Thanks Flecc. Careless of me to miss that. Anything complicated throws me nowadays! The more I think of it the more do I feel that having a range of Panasonic ebikes is a wonderful thing. It might just bring ebiking into public attention seeing a variety on display as it were. And if distributors can be appointed nationwide as seems to be the importer's intention there could almost be something of a revolution in store.

 

[simonbarnett]

I can see no harm in having another Kalkhoff in the range, but it's hard to see what more this brings to the party. An un-necessary extra gear and a better (?) lock look marginal for the extra cost, unless these brakes are so much better- can someone explain the difference in those?

I fear another delivery time debate coming on and maybe we should get the Agutta diamond here first! The real choice in my view is still between the Agutta and the ProConnect.

 

[flecc]

Maguras hydraulic brakes are really nice in use, very smooth operating, powerful and no need for any cable maintenance or worry about breakage. Compared with the general run of bike brakes they are well worth the extra.

The problem here is that the standard Agattu brakes are so well specified that they are near perfect anyway.

However, in any consumer field there are always those who just like to own the best, even when there is no practical advantage. Think of all those car commuters in traffic queues, getting there in the same time whether in a Mercedes S500 or a Ford Focus 1.6. The price difference there would buy maybe 40 Agattus or 3 spare Ford Focus.
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[kraeuterbutter]

hey, looks nice

is this the same motor/drive like on the Flyers ?
and if so, does it also measure torque or does it measure rpm for assistance level ?

and: there are (at least) two kinds of flyer-motors..
the older ones from the Flyer F-SEries (quiet)
and the newer ones in the new flyer-models which are a little noisier

 

[simonbarnett]

So it's just hydraulics replacing cable to operate blocks onto the rim, Flecc?

I see your point on cars but the Agutta vs. ProConnect seems a real choice, even if either will do the job- the Tasman looks a bit superfluous?

 

[flecc]

So it's just hydraulics replacing cable to operate blocks onto the rim, Flecc?

I see your point on cars but the Agutta vs. ProConnect seems a real choice, even if either will do the job- the Tasman looks a bit superfluous?

That's it exactly. Someone who has had bad experience of ordinary brakes, and that's large numbers of cyclists, would be inclined to choose the Tasman on those ground alone of course, so there's a market for it. I'm all for choice though, since people's preferences are so diverse.

Perhaps a better comparison would be the 48 basic versions of that Ford Focus, each of which has further options. Necessary? Hardly, but I bet there'll be someone who cant get suited from those, and the Kalhoff range is restrained in comparison.
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[jimmyengland1000]

Is this bike available now then? And does anyone know if it comes with a diamond frame, if required?

 

[flecc]

hey, looks nice

is this the same motor/drive like on the Flyers ?
and if so, does it also measure torque or does it measure rpm for assistance level ?

and: there are (at least) two kinds of flyer-motors..
the older ones from the Flyer F-SEries (quiet)
and the newer ones in the new flyer-models which are a little noisier

Yes, it's the same motor unit from Panasonic and it is the newer type. I don't recognise the newer model as being noisier. I've owned the old type for well over four years and recently extensively tested the new one which was just as quiet.

However, I think you might be referring to something different, the power levels. The BikeTechs you mention come in two versions for high power mode, 1.3 times the rider input and 1.5 times the rider input which is intended to be a be more sporting. The Kalkhoff bikes use the 1.3 times high power mode version.
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[flecc]

Is this bike available now then? And does anyone know if it comes with a diamond frame, if required?

They don't say, and they haven't announced this here so I've no concern about the delivery date. They haven't mentioned a diamond frame version either.

Anyone interested can inquire, but given the huge range of variants that Kalkhoff produce, I doubt if there will ever be a time when every one is readily available ex stock, just as all variants of car models aren't despite being advertised. Production of models tends to be in batches of a type at any one time, and it seems Kalkhoff tend to make the step-through first. Seems reasonable, given that frame jigging is right at the start of the production process and the main continental market prefers those.
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[frank9755]

Is this bike available now then? And does anyone know if it comes with a diamond frame, if required?

No, but I'm sure you can put a deposit down now for delivery in the future...!

Only joking,
Frank

 

[Tim]

No, but I'm sure you can put a deposit down now for delivery in the future...!

Only joking,
Frank

Step thru frame only on this model. First delivery expected mid-March, though the elusive 45cm/26-inch wheel model won't be here until April.

 

[Sector]

A while ago I got hold of an old Sparta Dutch style bike with Magura brakes. They are indeed smooth and powerful, but on my bike they are also a little noisy. The bike has steel rims with radial lines marked across the braking surfaces all round the rims. This is to improve the grip of the brake blocks. There is a whistling noise from these lines every time I brake.

I have heard that there has been debate about Magura brakes distorting weak rims, and certainly the hydraulics seem to have enough force to do some damage. You certainly wouldn't want to use cheap alloy rims with Magura brakes. No doubt the Tasman rims have been selected to withstand the forces however.

 

[flecc]

A while ago I got hold of an old Sparta Dutch style bike with Magura brakes. They are indeed smooth and powerful, but on my bike they are also a little noisy. The bike has steel rims with radial lines marked across the braking surfaces all round the rims. This is to improve the grip of the brake blocks. There is a whistling noise from these lines every time I brake.

I have heard that there has been debate about Magura brakes distorting weak rims, and certainly the hydraulics seem to have enough force to do some damage. You certainly wouldn't want to use cheap alloy rims with Magura brakes. No doubt the Tasman rims have been selected to withstand the forces however.

Steel rims do tend to be more noisy anyway, the brakes type not involved in that though. However, steel is almost non existent in rim use now due to near zero wet weather braking, in that Sparta obviously depending on the hydraulic pressure to alleviate that. It's a Dutch bike though, so no steep downhill descents needing especially good braking, apart from a ferry ramp.

The Tasman has got special rims, Exal XP19 instead of the Freeway Holkhammer ones on the Agattu.
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