Well, finally decided and plumped for the
Tornado, I thought the Typhoon may have been a bit large given my rather short (29) inside leg. I ordered my bike from Kudos on the Friday before the Bank Holiday and it was delivered at 9.30 on Tuesday, super service Kudos and Interlink!
First impression? what a big box! Once I got it out I was very pleased, the white colour is actually a pearlescent finish, very nice, all the attached kit seems well made, fitted and finished. All in all, a lovely looking bike!
My only gripe at this stage was a lack of any instructions other than for the power/speed/odometer controller. But all I had to do was put on the pedals (15mm oe spanner) and rotate and fix the handlebars here I wasn't sure how to tighten them up, I initially tightened the single Allen bolt (5mm)running down through the headstock but later found that I should have tightened the two Allen bolts either side of the headstock (4mm)
Other than theses tools the only other one you may need is a phillips/pozi screwdriver for adjusting the position of the bell etc. if needed.
he lead which comes with the charger is not fused and I doubt very much that it meets the BS1363 specification. I had another lead which I could use so no problem for me, but perhaps something Kudos Dave could look into?
Now for my first short ride, due to other commitments I could only take it on a very short test ride (this was where I found I had tightened the wrong handlebar bolt!) - wow, very impressed at how easy it was to pedal and how easily it coped with the hill leading to my property a very happy bunny! (no hops though Kudos Dave)
I have now completed several (to Me) longish runs totalling and the bike has performed very well, power on or off, what is surprising is the difference in the power levels, this is particularly noticeable if you with down from 2 to 1 it feels like the brakes are on!, shows how much help you are getting. What I love is that I can go up all the hills round here without having to get off and push! but I still feel I am having good exercise without it being a hard work out, great fun!
I particularly appreciate how well the bike goes with the power on 0 (so I can use the odometer, which is pretty accurate according to my GPS), I went out for a ride with my wife at the week-end, she has just bought a new Boardman hybrid, so in order to show solidarity I did not use the pedal assist and I had no problems keeping up and occasion leading her up hills, so i's no slouch as a "Standard" bike. She tried the Tornado, and I think, secretly, she wishes she'd got one of these rather than the Boardman!
Battery life, well I haven't run out yet, still trying to get to grips with what the gauge is telling me, for instance, I did about 14 ½ miles yesterday probably with the assist on 1 or 2 for half of it on the hills and long inclines, whist going up my "killer" hill using level 5 the power meter dropped to one bar then moved up to 3 as we levelled off, a couple of miles later, still uphill I got home, the battery gauge is now showing 1 bar down from full! I imagine that it is simply reading voltage, not the remaining amp hour capacity?
Advice on charging would be useful, should I charge after every ride (10-15 miles at present) or should I leave it until I have done say 20-30 miles over a few days, I wouldn't want to run dry before my "killer" hill!
So, all in all I am very pleased with my bike, the service from Kudos was fantastic! I'm looking forward to taking my bike to Scotland next week to pit it against my brother who is a serious road bike racer
BTW Jimod, got the carrier you suggested off Amazon and the seat post clamp off e-bay, all fitted no problem, was even able to keep the mudguard under it . Thanks.
