I've seen mercs and BMWs very low down on reliability surveys. Audi/VW tend to be a lot better. I think German engineering quality is a mythology.I see more BMW's on the hard shoulder than any other of the newish cars.
The Kallkhoff Agattu and Pro Connect bicycles were and still are very good bikes, good design and build quality. And when they decided to make electric versions back in 2007, they used the excellent series 2 Panasonic 26 volt crank unit.What's more unreliable, a merc, a beamer or a kalkhoff?
No, it has just gone downhill like everywhere else as companies try to increase profit margins. German engineers are highly qualified but they lack imagination so they conceive products that are more and more bland IMO. With ZF getting into the electric bike business with various partners there might be a shakeup ahead.I've seen mercs and BMWs very low down on reliability surveys. Audi/VW tend to be a lot better. I think German engineering quality is a mythology.
Back in the 70s. the German car makers were probably the only ones to use proper quality controls. They were based on following rigid routines to adhere to standards. The result was what we call "solid German engineering", where the product would be very robust at the expense of other parameters.I've seen mercs and BMWs very low down on reliability surveys. Audi/VW tend to be a lot better. I think German engineering quality is a mythology.
Universal decline in standards? Hard to argue with that.No, it has just gone downhill like everywhere else as companies try to increase profit margins.
True indeed. Apparently, in the Victorian period, German engineering products were considered poorly made tat by British standards but the Germans made a concerted effort to up their game and soon matched or overtook us. (I think I heard this on a BBC4 documentary).Reputations always are based on results from a long time ago
SAAB never sold enough, regardless of who was in charge. Making 4000 or less per model per annum was never going to be viable long term.Saab suffered from over engineering their cars. They went on forever. Forgetting that people need to buy new ones on a regular basis to make a profit.
then GM bailed them out and the rest is history. Beware of Americans bearing gifts.
That's all Greek to me.then GM bailed them out and the rest is history. Beware of Americans bearing gifts.
Try and negotiate a swap to the Kalkhoff Bosch powered bikes. It would be worth you offering to put some money towards it, if a deal can be done.Hi,
Has anyone had any luck getting a refund?
I ask as we have two impulse 2 powered Kalkhoff bikes, both of which are now failing again.. This will be their second motor replacement in less than 18 months!! The bikes where bought from 50cycles.
We live in Devon so miles from 50cycles to keep taking the bikes back!! also the main issue is breaking down as it is rather hilly around here so would be completely stuck!
Rob
Thanks Peter, that is a great idea.. Did not even know they had a range of Bosch powered bikes now.Try and negotiate a swap to the Kalkhoff Bosch powered bikes. It would be worth you offering to put some money towards it, if a deal can be done.
apologies for bumping a long post - but I'm contemplating a kalkhoff beat - does anyone know if the impulse 2.2 is reliable? I gather the impulse 2.0 had problems. does anyone have longer term experience of a kalkhoff beat with impulse 2.2? I wonder what the top speed is, and whether the lack of a suspension fork is an issue given our third world pot holed roads?Is there really such thing as a 2.2 version?
Apart from the 50 Cycles site, I can't really find any reference to the Impulse 2.2 motor, even on the Kalkhoff site. On the 50 Cycles site, when you look at the full specification pictures for the various bikes (example: Pro Connect i10), the Kalkhoff documents say "Impulse 2.0".
Their own Beat range was supposed to be on 2.2, but some people have reported here receiving 2.0 motors.
Read this, then decide for yourself:apologies for bumping a long post - but I'm contemplating a kalkhoff beat - does anyone know if the impulse 2.2 is reliable?