Reviewer: tillson
Retailer: 50 Cycles
Purchase Price: £1495 + £100 Cycle Scheme administration charge.
Time Owned: 2 years - 3 Months
Terrain: Very Hilly
Modifications / Accessories
18 tooth rear sprocket, Magura HS33 brakes, Schwalbe Marathon Plus Tyres, 32 spoke front and rear wheels, Shimano Alfine Gear Hub, 900 Lumen front light, Axa Defender wheel lock, Cateye 300 bar end mirror, Hapo-G waterproof panniers and Blackburn 1 Watt rear light, Sigma 500 wired speedo / milometer.
Strengths:
General
The Kalkhoff Pro-Connect is a very solidly built bike and it has a very good paint finish. Nothing about the bike feels flimsy or fragile, and you immediately get the impression that it will soak up abuse. I clean it every now and again and it has retained a, “good as new” look even after 2 years and 6500 miles.
The Panasonic drive system, as far as I am concerned, is faultless. It can always be relied upon to work, even in the most foul weather conditions. The sealed nature of the power unit and the fact that the battery fits directly into it negates the necessity for wiring and the associated potential for faults which that brings with it. I have used the bike when roads have been turned into shallow rivers and when temperatures have fallen below -8 deg C. It has never faltered and it wouldn’t surprise me if the power unit continued to operate whilst submerged. Personally, I like the way in which the Panasonic system integrates with the rider. The way in which the system tops up the rider’s muscle power by driving directly onto the chain feels very natural. I have heard it described as being, bionic.
Gears
The Alfine 8 speed hub gear, when matched to an appropriate rear sprocket, provides a useful range of gear ratios. Coupled with the Panasonic power unit, the lower gears will climb virtually anything and the higher gears allow the rider to cruise comfortably at 25 mph on a slight downhill with a pleasant pedal cadence. The gear hub also requires very little in the way of maintenance. I have done nothing with it other than to wipe the casing clean.
Drive
I am still using all of the original drive train after 6500 miles and see no reason to replace any of the parts. I lubricate the chain, when I remember, with a very small amount of Bike Hut chain wax. The chain is effectively running dry for most of its life. On rare occasions, I have cleaned the chain in kerosene and blown it dry with compressed air.
Overall, I find this bike excellent for the purpose that I bought it for, commuting to and from work. Put simply, it is completely reliable and requires very little in the way of maintenance. It never crosses my mind that it might develop a fault en-route.
Weaknesses:
Wheels
The model I purchase had a 24 spoke wheel design. Initially, I had problems with spokes coming loose, unexplained ticking and clicking and then the rear wheel rim wore out after about 9 months, 2200 miles. It took a lot of effort to sort this problem out. I didn’t think that a 24 spoke wheel was appropriate for the bike and equally, I didn’t want to scrap my 9 month old gear hub and have to buy a new one. After writing directly to Derby Cycles, they replaced both the front and rear wheels with 32 spoke variants. These wheels transformed the feel of the bike for the better, and I have had no trouble at all for the 4300 subsequent miles that I have travelled on them. I think these wheels are now fitted as standard on the newer Pro Connects.
Brakes
I found that the standard Shimano brakes were a bit, “flimsy” for an ebike. It seemed like I was replacing the brake pads every other week. I have now changed them for Magura HS33 brakes. These were very easy to fit, they give a very nice brake action and the pads last for many miles. I have only changes the front pads once in over 4000 miles and the rear pads are still the originals.
Ride
The Pro Connect gives a very harsh ride that might not suit everyone. It definitely is not a bike to take on uneven ground unless you want your skeleton smashing and internal organs liquidising. If you ride over a decent pot hole, you are rewarded with overwhelming violence from the bike.
However, I bought this bike to use only on the road. I wanted a quick, efficient bike and the riding position coupled with the lack of suspension makes it just that, quick and efficient. Once it has punished you few times, you get used to its vices and it becomes part of its charm!
Lighting
The standard lighting relies on filament type bulbs. Or put another way, it is fitted with rubbish lighting. Again, this has been addressed on the newer bike by fitting LED type lights. I have retained the original lighting because I like the on off switch being situated on the handlebars. The rear light isn’t bad in fairness. To supplement the original lights, I have fitted a very bright 900 Lumen front LED and a home made variable power rear LED.
Stand
The stand has broken three times over the two years that I have owned the bike. Once because I am an idiot, and twice without any help from me. 50 Cycles have replaced the stands free of charge on each occasion. Because it is bolted directly onto the bike frame, something has to break if the stand is over stressed. Stands are cheaper than frames, so it is the stand which is sacrificed by having a, “fuse” of weakness built into it. I suppose it is just doing its job, so it might be unfair to put this under the heading of a fault.
Battery
It is very difficult to know what to say about the battery. There is a built in self test on the Panasonic battery which supposedly gives an indication of the battery’s capacity, or health. By pressing and holding the charge level indicator button for about five seconds, after which the five charge level lights go out and then re-illuminate, you get an indication of the capacity of the battery. The battery is rated at 10 Ah from new and there are five lights, so each light represents 2 Ah. After five months of ownership, my battery was indicating a drop in capacity to 8 Ah. 50 Cycles replaced the battery with a new one on the day that I reported the problem. The same thing happened to the replacement two month later. 50 Cycles again replaced this battery in January 2009. This third battery showed a drop in capacity within 2 months of using it.
Subsequently, we have found out, via this forum, that the capacity meter is not entirely accurate. The meter has a tendency to drift and give a false impression that the battery is failing. To remedy this, if the battery is completely discharged and then re-charged, the capacity meter is re-set and the battery behaves as it should and will indicate good health.
I am still using the battery from January 2009. It just about has the capacity to complete my 20 mile, very hilly, commute to and from work, but the battery is nearing fully discharged by the time I arrive home (when ridden on standard power, 18 tooth rear sprocket). The capacity meter is now reading an irretrievable 4 LEDs (not due to meter drift), or less than 8 Ah capacity and I have recently taken to charging it at each end of the commute.
I think that by January 2011, when the battery is 2 years old, it will have covered about 6500 miles. It is highly likely that it won’t be able to cover the 20 mile round trip to and from work on one charge. However, for me, charging at work is no inconvenience and I hope to get at least another year out of the battery.
I think that it is fair to say that just about 2 years or 7000 – 8000 miles is what you could expect from the battery based on a 20 mile round trip commute in a very hilly area using an 18 tooth sprocket. If you want to continue using the battery after that time, expect to have to recharge it at each end of the journey. The battery is easily removable and the charger light enough to carry, so this isn’t a major drama.
I don’t think that the issues I mention are unique to the Panasonic battery. Any battery, from other manufacturers, using a similar chemistry will most likely suffer in the same way. In fact, Panasonic are probably the best of the bunch, so the above is a, “best case” scenario. Unfortunately, this is just one of the shortcomings of the current battery technology.
CONTINUED......................
Retailer: 50 Cycles
Purchase Price: £1495 + £100 Cycle Scheme administration charge.
Time Owned: 2 years - 3 Months
Terrain: Very Hilly
Modifications / Accessories
18 tooth rear sprocket, Magura HS33 brakes, Schwalbe Marathon Plus Tyres, 32 spoke front and rear wheels, Shimano Alfine Gear Hub, 900 Lumen front light, Axa Defender wheel lock, Cateye 300 bar end mirror, Hapo-G waterproof panniers and Blackburn 1 Watt rear light, Sigma 500 wired speedo / milometer.
Strengths:
General
The Kalkhoff Pro-Connect is a very solidly built bike and it has a very good paint finish. Nothing about the bike feels flimsy or fragile, and you immediately get the impression that it will soak up abuse. I clean it every now and again and it has retained a, “good as new” look even after 2 years and 6500 miles.
The Panasonic drive system, as far as I am concerned, is faultless. It can always be relied upon to work, even in the most foul weather conditions. The sealed nature of the power unit and the fact that the battery fits directly into it negates the necessity for wiring and the associated potential for faults which that brings with it. I have used the bike when roads have been turned into shallow rivers and when temperatures have fallen below -8 deg C. It has never faltered and it wouldn’t surprise me if the power unit continued to operate whilst submerged. Personally, I like the way in which the Panasonic system integrates with the rider. The way in which the system tops up the rider’s muscle power by driving directly onto the chain feels very natural. I have heard it described as being, bionic.
Gears
The Alfine 8 speed hub gear, when matched to an appropriate rear sprocket, provides a useful range of gear ratios. Coupled with the Panasonic power unit, the lower gears will climb virtually anything and the higher gears allow the rider to cruise comfortably at 25 mph on a slight downhill with a pleasant pedal cadence. The gear hub also requires very little in the way of maintenance. I have done nothing with it other than to wipe the casing clean.
Drive
I am still using all of the original drive train after 6500 miles and see no reason to replace any of the parts. I lubricate the chain, when I remember, with a very small amount of Bike Hut chain wax. The chain is effectively running dry for most of its life. On rare occasions, I have cleaned the chain in kerosene and blown it dry with compressed air.
Overall, I find this bike excellent for the purpose that I bought it for, commuting to and from work. Put simply, it is completely reliable and requires very little in the way of maintenance. It never crosses my mind that it might develop a fault en-route.
Weaknesses:
Wheels
The model I purchase had a 24 spoke wheel design. Initially, I had problems with spokes coming loose, unexplained ticking and clicking and then the rear wheel rim wore out after about 9 months, 2200 miles. It took a lot of effort to sort this problem out. I didn’t think that a 24 spoke wheel was appropriate for the bike and equally, I didn’t want to scrap my 9 month old gear hub and have to buy a new one. After writing directly to Derby Cycles, they replaced both the front and rear wheels with 32 spoke variants. These wheels transformed the feel of the bike for the better, and I have had no trouble at all for the 4300 subsequent miles that I have travelled on them. I think these wheels are now fitted as standard on the newer Pro Connects.
Brakes
I found that the standard Shimano brakes were a bit, “flimsy” for an ebike. It seemed like I was replacing the brake pads every other week. I have now changed them for Magura HS33 brakes. These were very easy to fit, they give a very nice brake action and the pads last for many miles. I have only changes the front pads once in over 4000 miles and the rear pads are still the originals.
Ride
The Pro Connect gives a very harsh ride that might not suit everyone. It definitely is not a bike to take on uneven ground unless you want your skeleton smashing and internal organs liquidising. If you ride over a decent pot hole, you are rewarded with overwhelming violence from the bike.
However, I bought this bike to use only on the road. I wanted a quick, efficient bike and the riding position coupled with the lack of suspension makes it just that, quick and efficient. Once it has punished you few times, you get used to its vices and it becomes part of its charm!
Lighting
The standard lighting relies on filament type bulbs. Or put another way, it is fitted with rubbish lighting. Again, this has been addressed on the newer bike by fitting LED type lights. I have retained the original lighting because I like the on off switch being situated on the handlebars. The rear light isn’t bad in fairness. To supplement the original lights, I have fitted a very bright 900 Lumen front LED and a home made variable power rear LED.
Stand
The stand has broken three times over the two years that I have owned the bike. Once because I am an idiot, and twice without any help from me. 50 Cycles have replaced the stands free of charge on each occasion. Because it is bolted directly onto the bike frame, something has to break if the stand is over stressed. Stands are cheaper than frames, so it is the stand which is sacrificed by having a, “fuse” of weakness built into it. I suppose it is just doing its job, so it might be unfair to put this under the heading of a fault.
Battery
It is very difficult to know what to say about the battery. There is a built in self test on the Panasonic battery which supposedly gives an indication of the battery’s capacity, or health. By pressing and holding the charge level indicator button for about five seconds, after which the five charge level lights go out and then re-illuminate, you get an indication of the capacity of the battery. The battery is rated at 10 Ah from new and there are five lights, so each light represents 2 Ah. After five months of ownership, my battery was indicating a drop in capacity to 8 Ah. 50 Cycles replaced the battery with a new one on the day that I reported the problem. The same thing happened to the replacement two month later. 50 Cycles again replaced this battery in January 2009. This third battery showed a drop in capacity within 2 months of using it.
Subsequently, we have found out, via this forum, that the capacity meter is not entirely accurate. The meter has a tendency to drift and give a false impression that the battery is failing. To remedy this, if the battery is completely discharged and then re-charged, the capacity meter is re-set and the battery behaves as it should and will indicate good health.
I am still using the battery from January 2009. It just about has the capacity to complete my 20 mile, very hilly, commute to and from work, but the battery is nearing fully discharged by the time I arrive home (when ridden on standard power, 18 tooth rear sprocket). The capacity meter is now reading an irretrievable 4 LEDs (not due to meter drift), or less than 8 Ah capacity and I have recently taken to charging it at each end of the commute.
I think that by January 2011, when the battery is 2 years old, it will have covered about 6500 miles. It is highly likely that it won’t be able to cover the 20 mile round trip to and from work on one charge. However, for me, charging at work is no inconvenience and I hope to get at least another year out of the battery.
I think that it is fair to say that just about 2 years or 7000 – 8000 miles is what you could expect from the battery based on a 20 mile round trip commute in a very hilly area using an 18 tooth sprocket. If you want to continue using the battery after that time, expect to have to recharge it at each end of the journey. The battery is easily removable and the charger light enough to carry, so this isn’t a major drama.
I don’t think that the issues I mention are unique to the Panasonic battery. Any battery, from other manufacturers, using a similar chemistry will most likely suffer in the same way. In fact, Panasonic are probably the best of the bunch, so the above is a, “best case” scenario. Unfortunately, this is just one of the shortcomings of the current battery technology.
CONTINUED......................
