Panasonic Powered Calvin, Nein or Ja?

[Cyclezee]

This appears to be yet another bike powered by the now familiar Panasonic crank motor and battery setup.
This one is a wave/stepthru style, but the frame differs from the Derby stable and Raleigh versions.
No further information on it other than I found on a German website, which would lead me to believe it is of German manufacture, but not connected to Derby or Raleigh.

Calvin Traveller E-Bike - | Die besten Fahrrad-Modelle präsentiert von Bikeshops.de

John

 

[flecc]

They'll be giving them away with every third box of cornflakes next.

Seriously, this sudden influx of Panasonic motored bikes at lower prices prompts me to think that it may be Panasonic that's behind it.

Having only achieved fairly miserable sales with the unit high priced and supplying Giant and the horribly expensive BikeTechs, maybe they've slashed the prices on the units and gone for mass sales instead, this then appealing to the many bike companies who'd like a share in the e-bike market.

Good for us if so.
.

 

[Cyclezee]

Exactly Flecc, I wonder if Giant might be next, then we could have a decent Lafree again Ah nostalgia, ain't what it used to be And after Giant, Tesco will be selling them for £29.99 or 10,000,000 clubcard points

John

 

[frank9755]

John,

I'm impressed - well spotted, you don't miss anything!

But watch out for those German imports, they're a load of rubbish, completely different - honest, the wheels will fall off, you're bound to have wired them up wrong...
- no sorry, I've got the wrong thread!

 

[derrick7]

Hope again

Because of the bikes now using the Panasonic motor Giant can't maintain the fiction that bikes using this motor were to expensive to make, perhaps they might revert to it again?
People like me could hope that Giant will offer motor/controller units as spares, for the LaFree ,at a reasonable price & save all of us having a useless bike if ever the motor/controller ceases to function.
One can only dream!!

Derrick - Llanberis

 

[flecc]

Unfortunately Giant have stuck with the Lafree and old Panasonic unit only in their home market of Taiwan. presumably using up old stocks, selling them as the Lafree 612. Elsewhere they seem wedded to the cheap to produce hub motor in an expensive bike.

I think we are probably better off with all these new manufacturers involved, since competition can only drive down prices and stimulate improvement.
.

 

[Joe]

with panasonic units appearing across a range of bikes maybe the image of electric bicycles as a more reliable investment could take hold in a way that the more variable chinese derived bikes has not. of course there have been exceptions.

i find the powerbyke research that owners use their bicycles more encouraging. if an electric bike can be reliable and good looking they may catch on especially as petrol will soon be going through the £5 gallon barrier.

 

[Cyclezee]

John,

I'm impressed - well spotted, you don't miss anything!

But watch out for those German imports, they're a load of rubbish, completely different - honest, the wheels will fall off, you're bound to have wired them up wrong...
- no sorry, I've got the wrong thread!

That made me laugh Frank must remember never to buy anything from foreigners Ah, might be a problem with that, I probably would have to go back to living in a cave Now where did I put that club, more than a match for a crappy German Heckler & Koch Heckler & Koch - Group Website

John

 

[coops]

Thanks for the laughs, guys!

You know, its so true what flecc said in the 'introduce yourself' (sticky) thread,

...there's something about cycling that makes it a great mood lifter, giving a feeling of wellbeing that other transport types just don't have.

and it really seems to show in the humour in here too! Someone ought to test whether cycling seriously improves your wit!

Ahem...! Back on topic, I agree that a variety of panasonic bikes can only be good news: I'd like to try one myself someday, perhaps .

Stuart.

 

[flecc]

Someone ought to test whether cycling seriously improves your wit!

Stuart.

Dangerous.

It might be found not to seriously improve it, just partly.

Then it we'd be half wit.

I agree that a variety of panasonic bikes can only be good news: I'd like to try one myself someday, perhaps .

Stuart.

Santa is at Loughborough these days.
.

 

[Sagittarius]

The german central purchasing, ZEG, seems to:
- own the Simplex brand bought back to Gazelle
- distribute Rixe

Both has panasonic pedelec models:

- Simplex e 4500 (similar to Raleigh/kalkhof/Agattu but with front roller brakes and Suntour CR8 fork)

- Rixe Bordeaux (documentation)

The simplex model should be soon available in France too as told by the french division ZEG director, Mr Hans-Joachim Retzlaff.