No Agattu reviews in forum review section?

[HarryB]

Your restricted Torq was slower than I thought then Hal, I always had mine derestricted so couldn't really judge.

The gear change will loosen, but I strongly recommend stopping pedalling for all gear changes on hub gears. This business of changing on the fly was introduced in later years by Shimano to try and show an advantage over competitors, but it always leads to higher failure rates. Their marketing tactic worked for their derailleurs because they had patented physical differences that really do make their change faster.

Of course they don't mind people graunching their hubs as it just means plenty of insert sales at around £100 each.

Years ago when there were only hub gears and everyone knew how to use them and always stopped pedalling to change, they lasted for decades. I saw them still running well in the 1950s after being in daily commuting use from the early 1930s, but these days thanks to Shimano's ill advised ideas, it's not uncommon to find people going through inserts at one or two a year even, and all makes.

Only a couple of weeks ago someone mailed me to say they'd had four SRAM P5 hubs go in as many years, and that's acknowledged to be the strongest hub gear on the market. With my brutally heavy towing in one of our hilliest areas, one P5 lasted me four years before failing, simply due to pausing for changes.
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I will try but it is difficult as I have grown up with derailleurs having gone straight from a single speed. It will take a degree of re-training but I do accept that as a limitation (and also for not having to change the chain every 2000 miles).

 

[frank9755]

Hi Hal,

I was looking forward to hearing your comparison between Agattu and Torq. I can't say I'm too surprised the Agattu is a fast as the Torq, for the reasons which you give - the motor cogging resistance stopping you from pedaling to what would be a normal full speed. I suspect you might struggle to match the Torq's time on the homeward (uphill) leg, with the Agattu behaving more like an unpowered bike, and less opportunity to get above motor cut-out speed - but good luck.

I agree with you about derailleur vs hub gear. My first geared bike was a sturmey archer 3-speed hub and the main thing I remember is that I could never get all three gears to work at the same time! I'm sure they've come on a lot since then (as have derailleurs) but I'm surprised that Kalkhoff didn't put a derailleur on the Pro-Connect.

I shall now look out for an Agattu at Trafalgar Square - which unfortunately will be harder to spot than a Torq!

Frank

 

[flecc]

I will try but it is difficult as I have grown up with derailleurs having gone straight from a single speed. It will take a degree of re-training but I do accept that as a limitation (and also for not having to change the chain every 2000 miles).

This is why there's so many hub gear failures Hal, the majority have grown up with derailleurs and can't easily get used to pausing when changing.

The big gain though is the ability to change gear when at a standstill, no need to run down through the gears at every traffic lights stop.
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[Erik]

Starting in 4th or 5th gear will get you quick off the mark and then you change to 7th.

Using the low power setting once at speed will reduce the feeling of going uphill when moving faster than the assisted speed. In normal and high you get a sudden rapid increase in required rider effort.

 

[HarryB]

Starting in 4th or 5th gear will get you quick off the mark and then you change to 7th.

Using the low power setting once at speed will reduce the feeling of going uphill when moving faster than the assisted speed. In normal and high you get a sudden rapid increase in required rider effort.

I agree about the starting in 4th and changing up to 7th. Glad I didn't fork out extra for the 8 speeds! I just think I need to adjust to a different way of riding as it is so different to the torq. I still find it a little jerky with the power coming on and off quite abruptly but it is early days yet.

One thing is true....it is sooooo comfortable.

 

[flecc]

Starting in 4th or 5th gear will get you quick off the mark and then you change to 7th.

Using the low power setting once at speed will reduce the feeling of going uphill when moving faster than the assisted speed. In normal and high you get a sudden rapid increase in required rider effort.

I often say e-bikes tend to have too many gears these days, only those in very steepest areas ever needing the lowest ones.
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[HarryB]

Hi Hal,

I was looking forward to hearing your comparison between Agattu and Torq. I can't say I'm too surprised the Agattu is a fast as the Torq, for the reasons which you give - the motor cogging resistance stopping you from pedaling to what would be a normal full speed. I suspect you might struggle to match the Torq's time on the homeward (uphill) leg, with the Agattu behaving more like an unpowered bike, and less opportunity to get above motor cut-out speed - but good luck.

I agree with you about derailleur vs hub gear. My first geared bike was a sturmey archer 3-speed hub and the main thing I remember is that I could never get all three gears to work at the same time! I'm sure they've come on a lot since then (as have derailleurs) but I'm surprised that Kalkhoff didn't put a derailleur on the Pro-Connect.

I shall now look out for an Agattu at Trafalgar Square - which unfortunately will be harder to spot than a Torq!

Frank

The time was broadly similar on the way back home at 47 minutes. The hills on my route, for an ebike at any rate, are quite insignificant and the Agattu dismisses them in 7th gear (dropping down to about 13 mph). There was quite a headwind as well and I did get rather hot as I was dressed for last week but I think I did put in a fair amount of effort as well. Overall it is certainly a lot more relaxed and comfortable but the riding position doesn't suit, far too upright.

On the Torq 1, while I am a big fan I do think it is flawed when it is restricted. It is certainly not a speed machine and of course weak on hills so I am not surprised that the Agattu pretty much keeps pace with it. Of course de-restricted it is wildly fast (for me at any rate), and watch that battery life disappear.


Anyway back on the Torq tomorrow until I can fit the safety equipment - a loud horn and mirror.

 

[HarryB]

Route to work to show hills. Hills are not that bad but there isn't much 'flat' either
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[flecc]

Nicely gradual after that first bit, but still 200' elevation over the return trip so quite a lot of work done.

Why is that all the commutes shown in here are downhill going and uphill coming back? Sodds law i suppose.

Completely the reverse of what's best for e-biking where it would be best to climb in the morning on a fully charged battery.
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[simonbarnett]

45 minutes 35 seconds to be exact. Quite an odd experience compared to the Torq. There were were a few times when I felt more exposed because I couldn't get away as fast as on the Torq. With the Torq you can rattle through the gears as you accelerate, it is a more leasurely affair with the Agattu but not unexpected. Mind you for the first two miles I kept turning the handgrip the wrong way but I think I have got the hang of that now.

Still hate the handlebars, I have got until the weekend to be turned!

Eh? what is there to turn on the handgrip?

 

[HarryB]

What is odd is that I don't even notice the 120 ft drop down into work, if you had asked me I would have said it was flat as a pancake. The only hills I ever notice are in the first 4 miles. I suppose it is accurate but still odd.

 

[HarryB]

Eh? what is there to turn on the handgrip?

Gear change? I kept changing from 4th to 2nd but got the hang of it now.

 

[simonbarnett]

Gear change? I kept changing from 4th to 2nd but got the hang of it now.

gotcha- I thought you were looking for a throttle!

 

[flecc]

What is odd is that I don't even notice the 120 ft drop down into work, if you had asked me I would have said it was flat as a pancake. The only hills I ever notice are in the first 4 miles. I suppose it is accurate but still odd.

One of my gentler routes is like that, seems flat for three miles going but that impression is soon reversed coming back where it's very apparent that it's climbing.
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[HarryB]

gotcha- I thought you were looking for a throttle!

No but I did do that a few times today, usually in panic with a bendy bus behind me.

 

[flecc]

Not but I did do that a few times today, usually in panic with a bendy bus behind me.

I wonder if bendy-bus drivers hate cyclists?
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[HarryB]

I wonder if bendy-bus drivers hate cyclists?
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Listen it has been a bad day. One of my girls face-painted me as a clown, I forgot and later went to shops on my new bike. No wonder the drivers were treating me caution

 

[flecc]

Listen it has been a bad day. One of my girls face-painted me as a clown, I forgot and later went to shops on my new bike. No wonder the drivers were treating me caution

Fantastic!
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