Ongoing reliability of Kalkhoff/Focus Impulse 2 motors

[Alan Quay]

All chains stretch significantly after a couple of hundred miles. it's nothing to worry about. Grit cannot get to anywhere where the chain wears, so it's not because you're over-lubricating it, neither is it anything to do with sprockets.

A new chain will appear to stretch significantly as the grease moves out of the rollers. After that, it starts to wear normally. Constant lubrication will slow it down a bit, but the lubrication won't stay between the rollers where the wear takes place. It'll keep the chain quiet and efficient, and it'll slow down the wear on your sprockets.

My advice: Forget about it. My chain (cheapest on Ebay) has done 4000 miles and is still going strong. I never checked it for wear.

Chain stretch is an oft missunderstood concept.

I bought a nice Carrera Kraken (my 3rd one, I'm a big fan) a couple of months back from a bloke who said it was knackered as the 'chain was stretched'. In fact, it had something like 6 links too many in it!

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[4bound]

It makes no difference who you buy the Kalkhoff from because it is the Daum designed impulse 2 motor that is the problem.I have had three replaced on two different models,never again as i have left the brand.

It does make a difference where you buy it from if you have to take it back and the other dealer is 150 miles nearer!
My reason for posting this was wondering if I could take a bike purchased from 50 cycles back to another dealer and expect attention under warranty.

 

[Brownster74]

I was thinking of buying one of the Focas Jarifa bikes as there are some very good deals (not surprising in light of this thread). Has anyone had any positive experiences?

 

[nemesis]

I was thinking of buying one of the Focas Jarifa bikes as there are some very good deals (not surprising in light of this thread). Has anyone had any positive experiences?

For 2017 i have seen a Focus jarifa fitted with the Bosch CX motor,J.E. James have them listed as the pro plus 10 G,may not be available yet but it may be one to look at.

 

[Brownster74]

Ah. That probably explains why the old model is basically half price!

 

[nemesis]

Ah. That probably explains why the old model is basically half price!

Yes it does however if you want to take a risk on the older model i had one and it was fantastic handling and very powerful until the kalkhoff impulse motor broke and even after that the second one was also replaced.
My Focus Jarifa was the 2015 model so maybe the 2016 models have the evo motor that is supposed to be more reliable.

 

[Brownster74]

It is definitely the problematic impulse 2 motor. Shame because the bike seems well specced for the price. Toss up between this or paying another £150 for reliable (but not as well specced) Cube or the rather garish giant dirt e bike.

Tempted to take a punt if I knew that not every motor has problems! Especially as I am about 100 miles away from the dealer!

 

[4bound]

I guess part of your consideration should be how many miles you are likely to clock up on your new bike Brownster74. My wife and I both have bikes with the Impulse 2 motor and have not had any problems with the motors - but neither of us has yet done more than 1000 miles on the bike for various reasons. If it were not for this forum I would know nothing about the motor failure problems.

 

[Templogin]

As to whether it is worth it, and ignoring the fact that it has been so deeply discounted, ask yourself how much your time is worth getting it back to the retailer if it fails, once, twice, three times. Ask yourself also the potential costs of failure, late to meetings, work, engagements etc.

It is rare to see someone ask if there have been any positive experiences. That probably tells you all you need to know!

Andy

 

[Brownster74]

Tbh the bike is purely for leisure. It would not be for commuting, just 'playing out' when I have a bit of free time. The cube seems the safe option but I can't imagine that all focus bikes have problems. If it is a 20% failure rate it is worth a punt. How widespread is this issue?

 

[nemesis]

It is definitely the problematic impulse 2 motor. Shame because the bike seems well specced for the price. Toss up between this or paying another £150 for reliable (but not as well specced) Cube or the rather garish giant dirt e bike.

Tempted to take a punt if I knew that not every motor has problems! Especially as I am about 100 miles away from the dealer!

After i sold my Focus jarifa i bought a Cube bike with the Bosch CX motor, i have hammered it derestricted for ten months and have never had a problem with anything,Cube are top value for money.

 

[flecc]

I can't imagine that all focus bikes have problems. If it is a 20% failure rate it is worth a punt. How widespread is this issue?

It's widespread enough to have ben widely complained of on the German forum, but obviously it's impossible to know what percentage are affected.

There are two key factors though:

First is that it's a mechanical fault, meaning that the potential to fail is designed into every one.

Second is that the percentage failure isn't relevant since circumstances vary so widely. There's a world of difference between one used by a light and strong rider in a flat area using mostly Eco assist mode, and one often used in High power assist mode by a heavy weaker rider in a very hilly area.
.

 

[Perseus]

It is definitely the problematic impulse 2 motor. Shame because the bike seems well specced for the price. Toss up between this or paying another £150 for reliable (but not as well specced) Cube or the rather garish giant dirt e bike.

Tempted to take a punt if I knew that not every motor has problems! Especially as I am about 100 miles away from the dealer!

Exactly the problem I have, compounded by the shop being local and my dislike of derailleur gears. The specs for money are so far ahead of other makes, the Beta Bike Toba Crossbar is something like £600 cheaper and is better to boot. Just the reputation of the Impulse II motors.

Two users I have spoken experienced only minor problems in 9 month to a year cycling on the flat. Even these problems would not be expected though.

I am waiting to see if a decent Bosch model comes out at a price I can afford.

 

[redalexx]

First is that it's a mechanical fault, meaning that the potential to fail is designed into every one.

Second is that the percentage failure isn't relevant since circumstances vary so widely.

To FIRST - I have the same point of view. I suspect 2 initial issues. I think one is the bearing that is responsible for the noise during the ride in power modus up the hill. It's getting louder until the support completely stops.
---
EDIT: I found a post in the german pedelecforum, where is described that the big white plastic gear wheel with the grease can be responsible for the noise. Due to the centrifugal force the grease is skidded to the housing. The noise is getting louder the less grease is at the gear wheel.
---
The other is the clacking noise, that I think is a result of a defective free wheel in the motor. Some parts broke and there are cracked small pieces in the gears. Finally the free wheel blocks.

To SECOND - some customers including me are commuting with 200 to 500 altitude difference every day. After 9 month we all had the 3rd motor. So YES it depends how you use your bike or better you see, if you use your bike.

 

[Brownster74]

Well, I plucked up the courage to take a punt on the bike this afternoon as it comes with a 2 year warranty. Only to find it had been sold! Was offered a more expensive one which was over my budget. Dodged a bullet? Maybe. Do feel a little gutted though!
Anyway, if anyone knows of any decent clearance bikes around 18" frame for around £1200 (the Jarifa price) please point me in that direction!
Thanks for all the advice to date.

 

[Wicky]

a bit more expensive but a very good deal

http://www.flidistribution.co.uk/ktm-bikes/ebikes/panasonic-drive---city-hybrid-bikes/2016-ktm-estreetp

 

[flecc]

Stuttgart pedelecer Redalexx who has posted above has written an illustrated article theorising on the causes of the Impulse 2 problem. At his request I've revised the English grammar in his English version article without any alteration of meaning and he has published it on the German forum. You can read this English version on the link below:

http://pedelecmonitor.de/extras/damages-test/
.

 

[Templogin]

Lucky escape Brownster judging by the post by flecc. Keep looking and get something decent.

Andy

 

[jdallan]

a bit more expensive but a very good deal

http://www.flidistribution.co.uk/ktm-bikes/ebikes/panasonic-drive---city-hybrid-bikes/2016-ktm-estreetp

+1 for the estreetp which seems to be on offer from FLI at the moment. A good deal on a very good bike.

Jim

 

[Templogin]

I contacted 50 Cycles through their web chat over Xmas. I posed as someone else and asked for advice on which ebike I needed for a set of circumstances I described - weak rider, hilly terrain, absolute reliability needed as I lived in a remote part of Scotland. The salesman's first recommendation was a Kalkhoff Agattu with 20% off. I asked about the motor and battery to be told that it was an Impulse 2, so I mentioned reading about how bad they were on this forum. According to the sales guy the motor has been upgraded ironing out the problem, anyway they have sold loads and very few have failed. Both them and Kalkhoff were apparently confident in the product so I asked if I could have it at full price but with the warranty changed so that if there was a problem all I had to do was box it, then they would uplift it back to their workshop, repair it and deliver it back at no cost to me. The salesman pointed out he was a small cog in the organisation, but he would ask the management when they were back. I gave him an email address to write to and so far the mailbox remains empty.