Shortly after I joined this forum in 2007, Kalkhoff launched their Pro Connect and Agattu models which quickly became very popular with forum members.
When the S version came out in 2008 I took the plunge and ordered one at £1900.
It was a lot of money for me but the day I ordered it I decided to stop smoking to pay for it. I didn’t really think I would succeed but I never touched a cigarette again, so buying a pedelec has probably saved my health never mind the £££’s.
I’ve done about 6000 trouble free leisure miles on it, including camping and towing the excellent Burley Piccolo tag a long. There’s some great, quiet, cycling routes where I live but most are fairly hilly so the electric bike has been a real necessity for me.
I did think about upgrading to the Impulse model and I’m so glad I didn’t as the Panasonic motor has proved much more reliable.
I have since purchased a second hand step through Panasonic Agattu for my daughter which I now use myself when out collecting for my local Hospice Charity.
I’ve also acquired a 36v 350w Pro Connect S which is superb.
It has XTR components instead of the already good, XT on the earlier model.
The power is amazing and I can take my steepest hills at 10mph as opposed to 6mph on my original bike.
Although when used liberally I can drain the 504ah battery in 20 miles.
The batteries (I have six) are all doing well, even my oldest at 8 years doesn’t seem to be down much in range. I do store them all at 50% charged and swap them about so they’ve not had hundreds of charges.
The 36v batteries charge twice as fast as the 26v ones which is very handy.
Sadly my original Pro Connect doesn’t get out much now as my 36v newer model has so much more power and speed, which although I don’t use much, is good to have for certain situations.
I’ve done a few mods over the years including changing the 36v bike from a 10 speed to a 8 speed as I think 8 gears are plenty on an ebike, plus the chain is stronger.
Although Bosch has taken over as the main propulsion I’ll be sticking with my Panasonic bikes as I don’t think the latest bikes offer any significant advance and even after ten years, are no lighter.
I’m turning 60 this year and wouldn’t be surprised if they outlast me.
When the S version came out in 2008 I took the plunge and ordered one at £1900.
It was a lot of money for me but the day I ordered it I decided to stop smoking to pay for it. I didn’t really think I would succeed but I never touched a cigarette again, so buying a pedelec has probably saved my health never mind the £££’s.
I’ve done about 6000 trouble free leisure miles on it, including camping and towing the excellent Burley Piccolo tag a long. There’s some great, quiet, cycling routes where I live but most are fairly hilly so the electric bike has been a real necessity for me.
I did think about upgrading to the Impulse model and I’m so glad I didn’t as the Panasonic motor has proved much more reliable.
I have since purchased a second hand step through Panasonic Agattu for my daughter which I now use myself when out collecting for my local Hospice Charity.
I’ve also acquired a 36v 350w Pro Connect S which is superb.
It has XTR components instead of the already good, XT on the earlier model.
The power is amazing and I can take my steepest hills at 10mph as opposed to 6mph on my original bike.
Although when used liberally I can drain the 504ah battery in 20 miles.
The batteries (I have six) are all doing well, even my oldest at 8 years doesn’t seem to be down much in range. I do store them all at 50% charged and swap them about so they’ve not had hundreds of charges.
The 36v batteries charge twice as fast as the 26v ones which is very handy.
Sadly my original Pro Connect doesn’t get out much now as my 36v newer model has so much more power and speed, which although I don’t use much, is good to have for certain situations.
I’ve done a few mods over the years including changing the 36v bike from a 10 speed to a 8 speed as I think 8 gears are plenty on an ebike, plus the chain is stronger.
Although Bosch has taken over as the main propulsion I’ll be sticking with my Panasonic bikes as I don’t think the latest bikes offer any significant advance and even after ten years, are no lighter.
I’m turning 60 this year and wouldn’t be surprised if they outlast me.
