Pro Connect or Flyer T,S Which to choose?

[Intex]

OK, I went to my local (Paris0 Flyer dealer. They had NO flyers in stock, maybe would have a Flyer C (not the one I want) later this month. This means I will not be able to see either of the two bikes I will buy.
Therefore I will have to rely on the recommendations of others.
Are there any members with the following bikes that can help me decide on:
Pr Connect
Pro Connect S
Flyer S
Flyer HS ??

I would like as light a bike as possible. I would not normally ride more than 10 miles a session, so battery consumption is not a problem. I am 50 something, so I am not out to ride in any races, and not in the best of shape, so I need help uphill, and our town is hilly, not mountainous. I don't need very fast speed, but if the HiSpeed models give me other benefits, thats OK.
I have only ridden 2 Pedelacs, and will have to have this shipped to me in the uS from 50Cycles, or somewhere in Germany/France - this is not a problem for me, nor is any law forbidding faster bikes.

Thanks

 

[flecc]

There are no Pro Connect S yet in ownership, and I'm fairly sure we have no Flyer S owners. We do have a Flyer HS owner and he has posted his review here.

We have a number of Pro Connect owners and there are some owner reviews on this link.
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[Beanie101]

My advice would be that if money's no object (if you're getting rid of your car for environmental rather than credit crunch reasons, for example), go for the best and fastest Flyer that you can afford. If value for money is also important, then the Kalkhoffs are smart-looking and impressive at half the price. Saddle apart, I thought that the Agattu was very stable, comfortable and surprisingly fast. I'm not sure that I would be prepared to give up the front suspension forks for the bit of extra speed on the Pro Connect.

With the Flyer T14 HS you have exceptional comfort and speed at an eye-watering price. But the latter is only eye-watering until you compare it to the price of, say, a second-hand Mini.

 

[Intex]

Thanks for the info, I understand it is hard to compare when money is an object, but I would rather go with quality if possible.
Buying one at these high prices, sight unseen and unridden is even harder.

What are the major differences between the various Flyer models? There are so many with just small pixs?

 

[eddieo]

surely if spending this sort of money its worth visiting a dealer to see the actual bikes you are interested in. even if it means an away day to another country.

I have flown to Sweden and Germany from the UK to look at motorhomes I was interested in....

 

[flecc]

It's mainly the motor unit used, standard or high speed version, and the equipment types and levels.

All use very good components from the best known ranges from the likes of Shimano etc, but the higher the model price, the higher up the equipment level goes.

For example, take the rear mechanism on a derailleur gear from the best makers. The UK retail prices range from £14 to £169 for an item that does the same job, and the same is true across all cycle components. From that you can see how component levels can have a very large influence on a bike's final price.

Fundamentally all the Panasonic powered Flyers fall into two groups, those that are EU legal and power assist to 25 kph, and those that have the very high speed facility. Within each group each one will do the same job, but you choose the quality level you want, from good through to the very best that money can buy.
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[Intex]

Thank you for the info, but what I also wanted to know is if there is a significant difference in weight bewteen the differnt models, and also if I choose the high speed model, is there any tradeoffs, such as poorer climbing abilities, sine I am in a hill area? I am not that concerned about any battery life issues.
Thanks.

As to visiting other dealers, I am headed back to the US, and there ae NO dealers nearby to visit.

 

[flecc]

Because they drive through the gears, there are no realistic trade offs on hill climbing, since using a lower gear on a faster running unit amounts to the same thing.

But I don't know the model weights, though I understand that none of the Flyer series is very light, mostly around the 26 kilo Kalkhoff Agattu region, like most e-bikes. I don't think any Flyer model is around 21 kilos like the Kalkhoff Pro Connect, which is unusually light for an e-bike.
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[Beanie101]

Because they drive through the gears, there are no realistic trade offs on hill climbing, since using a lower gear on a faster running unit amounts to the same thing.

But I don't know the model weights, though I understand that none of the Flyer series is very light, mostly around the 26 kilo Kalkhoff Agattu region, like most e-bikes. I don't think any Flyer model is around 21 kilos like the Kalkhoff Pro Connect, which is unusually light for an e-bike.
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The Flyer T series is quoted at 23 to 25kg while the S Series is 1kg lighter. Most versions of the S come without front shocks as standard, so that probably accounts for some of the difference.

If you get one with a Rohloff hub (14 gears), you have all the gear ratios you could possibly want.