Pro Connect (2008)

I have a 2008 Pro Connect which I no longer use. It's in good condition as it was only used for commuting for one summer but the battery has died (I sent it back to 50cycles for testing and they told me it was dead). It's not worth me buying a new battery as I ride a non-electric bike these days. Since e-bike technology has moved on a lot in the past few years I guess this would probably only be of interest to someone who has a spare 26V battery or who wants it for spares so I'm willing to consider any offer as I just want to clear some garage space! It's a gents-style frame with crossbar and I think the frame size is large (it's the right size for me and I'm 5'10"). I can send you a photo if you are interested. I'm in Somerset near Frome if if you want to have a look at it.

Julian

Is the motor ok

What sort of price are you looking for

The motor worked OK last time it was used, but without a working battery I have no way of testing it now. I see no reason why it shouldn't work.

 

I was thinking of around £100.

 

Here is a picture:

 

Hi Julian,

You have a pm.

Hi

You have second message.

 

Regards

He had my pm first

Ok he has lots of PMs

Anyone told him new batteries available yet?

Thanks everyone, I have received your PMs and I will reply to them shortly. I know that new batteries are becoming available but they are not cheap and I don't really have a use for this bike which is why I am getting rid of it. It's been hanging around for a long time and I really need the space, that's why the price is low. If I bought a new battery and sold the bike with it I could possibly make a bit more money but I just don't want the extra work.

I have received an offer of £150 with collection. I'll wait until the end of today and select the best offer tomorrow morning.

 

You will need a 26V battery for this bike. 50cycles has them here: http://www.50cycles.com/accessories/electric-bike-spares/batteries-and-chargers1.html the Panasonic or E-Bike Vision ones should work. I think the original battery was 12 or 14Ah and I used it successfully for a 30 mile round trip commute in fairly hilly terrain but the battery was pretty low at the end of the trip.

Can the top speed on this be increased slightly? Would it be changing the rear sprocket? Easy job?

Yes, just changing the rear sprocket for a smaller one will increase it's assist speed. The Pro Connect at that time had a 22 tooth sprocket and that can be reduced to as low as a 16 tooth one. The latter will give a just over 20 mph assist limit, though the power phases down well before that.

 

This Pro Connect appears to be the earliest model with 24 spoke wheels which did give some trouble to some owners. Later models changed to 32 spoke. The wheels can be changed to 32 or 36 spoke ones, but that entails a new rear Shimano Nexus 8 speed gearhub.

You can change the speed at the expense of torque. You change the size of the drive sprocket on the motor. One circlip to change it, but you have to remove a couple things to get to it:

http://www.ebay.de/itm/Motorritzel-9-10-11-12-13-14-Z-fur-alle-Panasonic-Pedelec-Motor-/251558391073?pt=Sport_Radsport_Fahrradteile_Komponenten&var=&hash=item3a920c6d21

Either of the above ways works, but best to try the bike first and decide which then, since changing the motor sprocket changes the cadence (pedal rotation speed). If you like the cadence as it is, change the gear hub sprocket. If you prefer to pedal faster, change the motor sprocket.

Yes, this Pro Connect is probably an early one as I think the Pro Connect had only just been launched in the UK when I bought it.

 

I have now received an offer of £200 and collection.

Now up to £210.

 

Regarding the rear sprocket I think it would be better with a smaller one, I used to find myself pedalling quite fast on the flat.

What is this? Ebikebay;)

Looks like it.

I gather this has gone now then?

Not necessarily, I'm still waiting to hear back from the person who sent me the offer of £210. I'll give him a day or two to get back to me.

Lookiing for around £100,becomes an auction till tonight,which becomes a few more days,to try and get the best offer that somebody probably regretted making,why not just put it on ebay and stop messing people about.

In retrospect you might be right. I put it on here because I though a group of knowledgeable buyer might be more likely to buy an electric bike without a battery. I was a bit surprised at the amount of interest considering the age of the bike and lack of battery, but would you have turned down an offer of more than you were asking? Anyway I am now expecting the bike to be collected at the weekend.

I'm not too surprised Julian. Despite the one negative I noted earlier, there are three positives. Kalkhoff are a widely respected marque, the original Pro Connect was a popular model and a bit of a classic now, and the first of the second generation Panasonic units that it uses has power characteristics that many like but which have been lost in later revisions.

I think maybe I would have asked for offers when it was clear that there was a lot of interest. But not kept a running total on the thread. Maybe just told interested punters by PM that someone else was offering more.

 

Glad someone bought it anyway.

Pro Connect was a popular model and a bit of a classic now, and the first of the second generation Panasonic units that it uses has power characteristics that many like but which have been lost in later revisions.

 

I will go along with that. As you know, the motor failed on my 2008 Pro Connect and I replaced it with a 2011 motor, courtesy of Martin. Whilst the 2011 motor is much more powerful and pulls very well, I don't like the power delivery characteristics as much as I did on the older motor. The 2011 motor reminds me of the early 1990s turbo Diesel engines, a very strong surge of power that disappears as quickly as it arrived.

 

Personally, I prefer the 2008 model and I think whoever buys this one will be very pleased with it. Well done Julian for not trying to sell it for a stupid amount of money. Many if these second hand bikes are way overpriced.

Well done Julian for not trying to sell it for a stupid amount of money. Many if these second hand bikes are way overpriced.

 

I've been looking around for a while for a second hand bike and they are almost all over priced. I don't want to spend £500 on a second hand bike that might need a £500 battery to work as I want it.