Ongoing reliability of Kalkhoff/Focus Impulse 2 motors

[Steb]

Read this, then decide for yourself:

http://www.pedelecs.co.uk/forum/threads/beat-bike-toba-crossbar-bike-log.27632/

many thanks, I'm new to pedelecs, I gather from reading this forum that reliability/longevity isn't up there with cars or ordinary bikes (I guess it is a relatively new technology). But I'd have thought a bike that chews its gearbox in 200 miles and on which lights have a manufacturing defect is pretty crap. Is that the norm though?

 

[Deleted member 4366]

I wouldn't say that unreliability is typical. Some forum members get thousands of trouble free miles. Surprisingly, cost doesn't come into it. Some of the biggest mileages have come from not expensive bikes.

 

[tillson]

If only they'd stuck with Panasonic they'd have got their 36 volt later unit and avoided all the troubles.
.

If only. I've still got my original 2008 Pro Connect although I don't ride it much these days. That's done well over 20000 miles, but it has had one new motor and a new battery. The original Panasonic battery, now 9 years old will do 4 or 5 miles. OK for nipping to the shops.

 

[Steb]

I wouldn't say that unreliability is typical. Some forum members get thousands of trouble free miles. Surprisingly, cost doesn't come into it. Some of the biggest mileages have come from not expensive bikes.

this is a very long shot, but is there a reliability index for pedelecs? as there is for cars (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-32332210 - which incidentally says German cars are least reliable)?

 

[flecc]

this is a very long shot, but is there a reliability index for pedelecs? as there is for cars (http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/business-32332210 - which incidentally says German cars are least reliable)?

Afraid not. One person started collecting data on some bikes in connection with the Kalklhoff Impulse saga, but that was vestigial last it was shown.

E-bikes are so recent that they have been in a constant state of evolution, so any collected data is quickly invalidated and would only be useful to those buying older models.

They've all been unreliable at times during their evolution, even the most respected names like Bosch, Panasonic and Bafang, but in general they are mostly vastly improved now. The Impulse 2 failures are probably the only incidence of anything serious recently.
.

 

[redalexx]

Due to a lot of failed Impulse2.0 motors in Europe in 2015, Daum Inc. & Derby Cycle (Kalkhoff, Focus, ...) improved the design of the motor and modified the software. We got some information about this from 50cycles some pages ago. The new 2017 motors are hopefully more reliable.

An abstract about the changes you can get here:

https://pedelecmonitor.wordpress.com/differences-between-derby-cycles-impulse2-0-and-impulse2-2/

I think this motor is very rare in the US or Australia.

 

[soundwave]

Due to a lot of failed Impulse2.0 motors in Europe in 2015, Daum Inc. & Derby Cycle (Kalkhoff, Focus, ...) improved the design of the motor and modified the software. We got some information about this from 50cycles some pages ago. The new 2017 motors are hopefully more reliable.

An abstract about the changes you can get here:

https://pedelecmonitor.wordpress.com/differences-between-derby-cycles-impulse2-0-and-impulse2-2/

I think this motor is very rare in the US or Australia.

well ten out of ten for the worst motor mounting point ever looks like you now have the option for the bike to snap in half as well

 

[Wayne Ward]

Just joined forum, to add to this threat I have a Kalkoff integrale S10XT with the with the Impulse Evo RS drive 4 months old 740miles. Its randomly cutting out and for clacking mostly under strain. Its going into the shop this weekend, I will let you know the diagnois.

 

[John5001]

I was seriously looking at Kalkoff until these reports came out a while ago. Seems the earlier models with Bosch were OK but there own Impulse, was just not made to a good spec with seemingly a single point of failure consistent with the feedback on this thread.

 

[Wayne Ward]

Other than this issue, I have been very impressed with the bike. I do 20 Miles commute per day on the days I do not have to go to external meetings. It goes up hills unbelievably well and came ready to carry my typical work kit. I looked at a lot of bikes before buying this and went for longest range/speed available. Done 735 miles, average about 20mph

 

[Danidl]

Other than this issue, I have been very impressed with the bike. I do 20 Miles commute per day on the days I do not have to go to external meetings. It goes up hills unbelievably well and came ready to carry my typical work kit. I looked at a lot of bikes before buying this and went for longest range/speed available. Done 735 miles, average about 20mph

Average 20 mph.. does that mean you have dongled it to defeat the 15.5mph legal ceiling?, Or are you just a very strong cyclist?

 

[Nealh]

A dongle isn't needed as it's an S ped model 28mph a newer model of the older Endeavour.

 

[Wayne Ward]

Average 20 mph.. does that mean you have dongled it to defeat the 15.5mph legal ceiling?, Or are you just a very strong cyclist?

No, not at all. Its already set up to do 45kmph, thats how it came as standard.it has the impulse ev
o rs motor.

 

[Wayne Ward]

As an update, it does need a new motor whick is awaited from Kalkhoff. No indication of how long!!

 

[Osho]

What went wrong?

 

[Wayne Ward]

What went wrong?

They didn't say, just that they had made a warranty request to Kalkhoff for a new motor to Kalkhoff. The symptoms were a badly clacking motor (the drive would cut out periodically as well).

 

[Will Tinker]

In contrast to the two motor failures in 2,400 miles with the Impulse 2.0 (both exhibiting problems after a mere few hundred miles or less), my Bosch Active Line motor has reached the same 2,400 miles without any signs of a problem.

So, as hard as it is to draw any conclusions from a small sample base, I've certainly made my mind up that the Impulse 2.0 suffered from poor reliability.

Hopefully the 2.2 fares better.

 

[Wayne Ward]

In contrast to the two motor failures in 2,400 miles with the Impulse 2.0 (both exhibiting problems after a mere few hundred miles or less), my Bosch Active Line motor has reached the same 2,400 miles without any signs of a problem.

So, as hard as it is to draw any conclusions from a small sample base, I've certainly made my mind up that the Impulse 2.0 suffered from poor reliability.

Hopefully the 2.2 fares better.

Mine is the EVO RS speed version, supposedly the stronger motor.

 

[Crockers]

No, not at all. Its already set up to do 45kmph, thats how it came as standard.it has the impulse ev
o rs motor.

How much is your insurance? Do you wear a motorcycle helmet? Have you registered it and have a licence plate on it? I'm assuming your road tax is £0 as its an EV.

 

[Wayne Ward]

£108, (I also have a scooter) no, have ebike speed helmet, yes and yes (although it feel just wrong!! No road tax