Pro-Connect - My First Ride

[flecc]

That's 20.68 kilos for the Pro Connect Mick, so near enough for the specified 20.8 kilos.

Thanks for measuring it, the tiny variation well within domestic scales normal errors.
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[Larkspur]

I've noticed that 8th gear on my bike seems to slip sometimes, i.e. I'm riding along in 8th and then suddenly I start hearing crunching noises accompanied by lack of solid pedalling. I can usually correct this by changing down to 7th and back to 8th again but it happens frequantly enough to be annoying. Is this part of the bedding in process or is some adjustment necessary? Advice gratefully received.

Chris

 

[flecc]

It's common for the cable to initially stretch slightly Chris. Twist off the change to relax the cable, then at the adjuster on the cable outer just as it leaves the brake lever on the bars, screw it out just a touch to see if that corrects it. It sounds as though the stretching isn't allowing it to quite fully engage eighth.

Once past this initial stretching they stay ok for a very long time.
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[prState]

Aside from the battery, what on the Pro-Connect makes it lighter than the Twist?

 

[flecc]

The new Panasonic unit is lighter than the old one due to some redesign of casings and internals. The carrier is a slightly lighter construction, the tyres are a lightweight design and of course the battery is a couple of kilos lighter.

The original UK Twist was just over 22 kilos, but that also included a very heavy AXA wheel lock and a bottle dynamo for lighting, those two alone accounting for much of the difference, illustrating that when the battery difference is taken into account, the Pro Connect construction is actually much heavier than the Twist.

It needed to be, the Twist having some marginal points that intermittently gave some trouble. Rear dropout slots could expand under pressure, some headstock bearing mounts were troublesome, and the step through has considerable frame flexure, lateral and fore and aft.
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[Larkspur]

It's common for the cable to initially stretch slightly Chris. Twist off the change to relax the cable, then at the adjuster on the cable outer just as it leaves the brake lever on the bars, screw it out just a touch to see if that corrects it. It sounds as though the stretching isn't allowing it to quite fully engage eighth.

Once past this initial stretching they stay ok for a very long time.
.

Hi Flecc, thanks for the advice. Sorry if I'm being thick but when you say "twist off the change to relax the cable" do you mean change down to 1st (remember that the Pro Connect doesn't have a twist gear changer like the Agattu).

Chris

 

[flecc]

Yes, down to first, I'd forgotten it had lever change. Just a tiny first adjustment to tighten it a bit might do the trick, or try a touch more if it's not quite there.
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[Larkspur]

Yes, down to first, I'd forgotten it had lever change. Just a tiny first adjustment to tighten it a bit might do the trick, or try a touch more if it's not quite there.
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Thanks Flecc - a little adjustment as you suggested has indeed done the trick. Symptoms previously described did not occur once on my 15 mile homeward journey.

Chris

 

[flecc]

That's good Chris, with any luck there'll be no more stretching now.
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[HarryB]

Thanks Flecc - a little adjustment as you suggested has indeed done the trick. Symptoms previously described did not occur once on my 15 mile homeward journey.

Chris

Out of interest do you have a front dynamo on your pro-connect?

 

[burncycle]

Hi all,
I went on my 1st wet weather commute to work tonight, and boy was it wet.
I had the full wet weather gear on, including a helmet cover to save my head.
Noticed when I got to work alot of black oily coverage aroung the engine area and around the bottom area of the frame.
Is this normal?

Bob

 

[flecc]

Ditto to HarryB's query above Bob, does your Pro Connect have a front hub dynamo?

I've not seen a black oily coating before. Are you sure it couldn't have come from a road surface somewhere?

You could clean off under the motor and see if any more emerges from the crankcase seam. Very unlikely though.
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[burncycle]

Ditto to HarryB's query above Bob, does your Pro Connect have a front hub dynamo?

I've not seen a black oily coating before. Are you sure it couldn't have come from a road surface somewhere?

You could clean off under the motor and see if any more emerges from the crankcase seam. Very unlikely though.
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Sorry for the slow return Tony.
No my bike doesn't have a front hub dynamo. The lights run straight off the main battery.
I'll check out the motor after I get home today and have a sleep.
The bike will need a good wash anyway.

Bob.

 

[flecc]

No my bike doesn't have a front hub dynamo. The lights run straight off the main battery.


Bob.

Thanks Bob, strange that the A to B test bike has a hub dynamo when the Pro Connect full spec shows the lighting is from the main battery, like your bike.
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[baboon]

Perhaps A to B made a mistake when referring to the dynamo on the Pro Connect, because mine doesn't have one. Maybe they were thinking of the Agattu?

Peter

 

[HarryB]

Perhaps A to B made a mistake when referring to the dynamo on the Pro Connect, because mine doesn't have one. Maybe they were thinking of the Agattu?

Peter

The picture seems to show a dynamo on the front wheel so I think the specification may have changed.

 

[flecc]

Yes, it's certainly a hubdyno in the Pro Connect that they tested and photographed.
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[flecc]

Hi

Hope you are all enjoying your bike on this sunny day.
Just been out on my Agattu with the family what a tremendous machine.


Regards

Scott

It certainly is Scott, and it's a pleasure to read the delighted accounts from each new owner as they receive their bikes.

Of late it's put a really positive spin on the forum's content, a sunnier view in keeping with the current weather.
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[Larkspur]

Hi

We seem to go through phases on this forum of treating it like a consumerist forum, rather than technical and industry Electric bike news. Too many people see it as a way of undermining a suppliers position no matter what they do (not only us), leavering a certain response in favour of there own personal cause. Directing blame at somebody rather than trying to deal with it in the real world.

Back to the Pro connect, the batteries are proving to be ultra strong with the average user charging only twice a week.

We are so excited about these bikes it is hard to read such negative comments, questioning our integrity in other threads. I can assure you Robert we have not received an email from you regarding an order. What is your full name please?

We aim to respond to everyone within hours Monday to Friday, Please send direct to scott@50cycles.com and I will reply in minutes.

Regards

Scott

Hi Scott,

I am really enjoying my Pro Connect - it's a great product. In fact I'm enjoying it so much that I am getting through a complete battery charge every day, doing my rather hilly 13.5 mile (each way) commute to work! Obviously I recharge at work, rather than let the battery run right down, but when I was initially "conditioning the battery" it was flashing by time I got within a mile of home. Its important to point out though, that I am climbing 10% or worse hills for at least 2-3 miles of the total journey, as well as many other lesser gradients - in fact the ground never seems flat, only up or down.

I can imagine that the barrage of criticism 50 Cycles has received lately must have been a bit tiresome, but I would try not to take it too personally - I think a lot of it was just people letting off steam about the delays (which they really knew were outside your control). Many people always look to blame someone when things aren't going their way - you've only got to read one of the lesser newspapapers to witness the way they shamelessly exploit this tendency and fan the flames of public prejudice.

I did find the waiting a bit hard at times but am truly grateful to you for making the Kalkhoff range available to the British public. Quality is definitely the way to go in business and I'm sure that having that focus will bring you deserved success in the long term.

All the best

Chris

 

[AdrianHi]

doing my rather hilly 13.5 mile (each way) commute to work!

Hi Chris / Larkspur
How long is it taking you to do that 13.5 miles?
I've got a 14.2 mile commute with a few hills, be interesting to know how much time it might take me on a Pro Connect.
Cheers
Adrian