Agattu Offer Extended

[Cyclezee]

I see that 50cycles have extended their introductory price until the end of December, so there was no need to buy before 30/11/07 to beat the price increase deadline
I wonder if we will see a January sale and the prices reduced

John

 

[flecc]

a) Good news!

b) Not a cat in hells chance, I bet!
.

 

[Leonardo]

I’d be curious to know how much does it cost the replacement battery for the Kalkhoff. The Swiss Flyer uses the same very good Panasonic one and it is (was?) outrageously expensive. My feeling is that Kalkhoff should sell it at a cheaper price. Does anybody know it?

 

[Leonardo]

I’d be curious to know how much does it cost the replacement battery for the Kalkhoff. The Swiss Flyer uses the same very good Panasonic one and it is (was?) outrageously expensive. My feeling is that Kalkhoff should sell it at a cheaper price. Does anybody know it?

Funny thing. I don't manage to get this info from the Italian supplier either. Didn't the Germans fix the price yet?

 

[Tim]

A to B Review

I've published some excerpts from the A to B (issue 63) review of the Agattu on the website. We're also offering a free 12-month subscription to the magazine with every Kalkhoff bike from now until further notice.

 

[flecc]

Thanks for that Tim. I'd just finished writing up my review on the Kalkhoff and have mentioned how much I wanted to see their opinions on many of my impressions.

It seems we are exactly in tune on the items mentioned, maybe not surprising as I've been riding the same bike they tested before me, and I'm looking forward to publishing mine after the A to B one is received by readers.

However, my review is very different in nature and will be of additional interest due to the inclusion of very much more test detail than a magazine is able to publish, due to space and readership requirements.

I've also tortured it more, and have performed what is probably the first ever underwater test of an e-bike!

It was never going to get an easy life with me.

P.S. For those who wonder about my impartiality in testing this, I've always steadfastly refused to review bikes in the past. On this occasion though, I had a special interest in the possibility that it might be a replacement for the defunct Lafree bikes that I've long supported with a dedicated website, so this might have formed a recommended replacement on my site, supported by my review. That had proved to be the case, and the review will appear there in due course, and will be announced in the forum then.
.

 

[keithhazel]

yes i figured you might be the first to cycle under the thames...

 

[flecc]

Flecc

This sounds great I cannot wait to hear the results.

Did you use a snorkel when it was a submarine?

Best Regards

Scott

No, it was only the lower bike and my feet Scott, but the water was right over the motor unit and up to the front wheel hub dyno!

I've always wanted to dunk one of these units, knowing how well sealed they are, and this time I had the chance. It didn't even notice, just kept right on, but at 7 degrees C, I couldn't get home soon enough to get the soaking wet shoes and socks off.
.

 

[Tim]

No, it was only the lower bike and my feet Scott, but the water was right over the motor unit and up to the front wheel hub dyno!

I've always wanted to dunk one of these units, knowing how well sealed they are, and this time I had the chance. It didn't even notice, just kept right on, but at 7 degrees C, I couldn't get home soon enough to get the soaking wet shoes and socks off.
.

Could this be the start of a new British Standard: the bicycle dunk test?

 

[Leonardo]

Does anybody have an online subscription to A to B? I wonder why the new issue isn't online yet.

 

[flecc]

Monday the 3rd was the target date, but David Henshaw has been facing a high workload for various reasons, including wife Jane having the birth of their baby imminent this month, producing two titles, and doing road testing.

I haven't contacted him of late as he's enough to do without incidental mail, but I'd guess the delay is due to the above factors.

David did warn of a possible delay in the editorial of the previous issue.
.

 

[Tim]

It's online at Exact Editions now

 

[Chris]

It's online at Exact Editions now

Too slow Tim-read that an hour ago !
Chris

 

[flecc]

I don't have the online subscription, so I'll just be patient.
.

 

[Leonardo]

You are the only one who doesn't need it!

 

[flecc]

You are the only one who doesn't need it!

Of course Leonardo, but I'm intrigued to learn of A to B's findings on one point in particular, and am of course interested in their comparative findings in all areas.

We are in concurrence on the snippets posted by 50cycles.
.

 

[Leonardo]

Have an academic question about the tuning of the crank motors by replacing the rear hub sprocket. Would it be possible/sensible to use two sprockets like the Brompton six speed version (3 speed hub + 2 sprockets – in this case maybe even without the need of having the derailleur, since it would more a chance of having two assistance modes than twice the original speeds).

 

[ITSPETEINIT]

Multispeed (Freewheels) on geared hubs.

Have an academic question about the tuning of the crank motors by replacing the rear hub sprocket. Would it be possible/sensible to use two sprockets like the Brompton six speed version (3 speed hub + 2 sprockets – in this case maybe even without the need of having the derailleur, since it would more a chance of having two assistance modes than twice the original speeds).

I have not seen the 'rear end' of a Kalkhoff Agattu but might it be possible to fit a double sprocket and a derailleur changer to raise the top speed to something more 'lively' , without sacrificing the climbing ability - strictly for use on flat terrain?

I think this (or the Gazelle 'whatsit') might be the ideal bike for Touring in the Alps, Derbyshire, Mid-Wales, Devon (South Hams), Cornwall, etc, etc. One would need a couple of spare batteries (the lighter the better).
Peter

 

[flecc]

Have an academic question about the tuning of the crank motors by replacing the rear hub sprocket. Would it be possible/sensible to use two sprockets like the Brompton six speed version (3 speed hub + 2 sprockets – in this case maybe even without the need of having the derailleur, since it would more a chance of having two assistance modes than twice the original speeds).

The Nexus 7 isn't amenable to having two sprockets due to the close fitting external changing mechanism. However, an SRAM dualdrive could be fitted with a slight frame expansion, and with it's 3 speed hub and derailleur that would give either 24 or 27 gears. You might not be able to use all of them though due to the chainline warp and the shorter distance from the motor's chain idler.

At least two users have added the dualdrive to Lafrees using the Xtrabike extension which extends the chainline, one in the UK, and one in San Francisco.

However, with the fitted Nexus 7 the Kalkhoff can easily climb anything in the hands of this 71 year old, and I've done a short sprint up a 14% (1 in 7) in high power mode at 13 mph in 6th gear, so I can't see the need for more gears.

Best try before converting I think.

You'll see that my review when published, already has full technical information on gearing, sprockets, ratios and cadences, plus much, much more tech advice and information on the Kalkhoff, all in an "Extra" supplement.

I told you it would be different.
.

 

[Leonardo]

I've seen on A to B that the replacement battery is quoted 305 £.
If confirmed it is a very good price for a Panasonic Li-Mg 10Ah.
I guess that two of them would be enough for almost every tour.