Ok uphill. What about down hill?

[ColB]

Hello everybody
There seems to be so many pedelec machines available now but which one to choose with my partner.
She has been using a Karlkhoff Agattu ( 2011 ) gets up our steepest hills in Bath , just about, but going downhill can be hairaising. The brakes are simply not up to controlling this heavy machine on a long descent.
So , any suggestions? A step through model , neat styling , efficient and reliable with an optimum braking system and a nice colour would be good.
Without genderising this I've haven't seen many bikes out there that are not grey/black/silver and 'serious' looking.
Perhaps I'm not looking in the right place.
Col

 

[D8ve]

Disk brakes. Can be retrofitted if you don't have them.

 

[dinger19]

Here you go.........

 

[Wander]

Moustache Lundi has hydraulic disc brakes & 'designer' styling:-

 

[RobF]

Braking technique may also come into it.

On a heavy ebike, I use the back brake more than I do on my push bike, although braking is still heavily biased towards the front.

Cadence braking downhill works best on any bike.

In other words, drag the bike down to slower than you want, let go, and repeat.

 

[trex]

slow rolling wide tyres (as opposite to fast rolling skinny tyres), lower inflation pressure, hydraulic brakes, short, sharp and evenly spaced pulls on brakes will help. Try to keep the speed of the bike as low as possible, to less than 15mph, to avoid brake fading.

 

[Angelnorth]

If she likes the Kalkhoff and it's otherwise sound, why not just get the brakes upgraded? A decent bike shop should be able to fit hydraulic disk brakes for you if you don't want to tackle it yourself.

 

[LeighPing]

Maybe research some better brake blocks. Click, click.

 

[JuicyBike]

Hello everybody
There seems to be so many pedelec machines available now but which one to choose with my partner.
She has been using a Karlkhoff Agattu ( 2011 ) gets up our steepest hills in Bath , just about, but going downhill can be hairaising. The brakes are simply not up to controlling this heavy machine on a long descent.
So , any suggestions? A step through model , neat styling , efficient and reliable with an optimum braking system and a nice colour would be good.
Without genderising this I've haven't seen many bikes out there that are not grey/black/silver and 'serious' looking.
Perhaps I'm not looking in the right place.
Col

Um... you're not looking in the right place, yet.
As others above have posted there are plenty of stylish bikes with colour from the smaller indie brands.

 

[anotherkiwi]

What brakes does it have?

You don't need disk brakes, a Magura hydraulic front v-brake will stop a train. I thought the Agattu already had those? If so you need to change the pads and set them up correctly.

I have no problems stopping my bike from 60 km/h and it weighs a lot more than I hoped it would. Just one hydraulic front v-brake is enough to stop the bike and trailer full of shopping that is 25 kg + 30 kg + 78 kg = 133 kg. And... you can mount a second one on the back!

 

[Trevormonty]

If you do decide to fit discs, do your homework. 180mm on front and buy mid range brakes. The wife's ebikes entry level brakes and 160mm disc are hard work compared to my MTB with better quality brakes and 180mm disc.

 

[DavidSWP]

Pink paint can be retrofitted