Got the service unit today. Unfortunately wasn't able to get to it till this evening. But after a quick flick through the instructions and manual it was dead easy. I'd spotted that bag under the motor cover when it was upside down a few times so knew where it was. I think there's a large bolt in there that the wires just need pulling round and they come out easy enough. Then you just unplug the LCD and plug in the device instead with the battery fitted.
Remove bag, unplug LCD, plug in device, perform update per instructions provided, plug LCD back in new zip-tie on bag and push wires back where they came from. Job done.
On the last page it describes updating by removing back of the LED display and using a SDHC card for the update - it would seem a better way than posting the device to individual customers - see what you think to this method.
I read that - not sure how far it goes as far as being able to select 'mode' for the bike as per Jonah's point if software is updated this way
... I figured I'd just do it using the device and instructions rather than have the back off the LCD. Wanted to take for a test in what was left of the daylight as I'm pretty busy tomorrow.
I have upgraded many Impulse motor bikes. If you upgrade the software and set the 'Biking Profile' to 'Sport' you should notice the difference. If you leave the Biking Profile at the default 'Tour' the difference is harder to spot. This will of course impact on your range.
Thanks for pointing that out, Jonah - I wouldn't have realized these were parameters for the bike "mode" that are effectively dealer-set rather than something which can be flicked between via the LCD after an update. So it's Impulse ... but in three different forms now. Got confused between these 'modes' and the Eco / Sport / Power modes that you choose from on the LCD having first configured the bike to one of the 3 available via the service unit. Can't help thinking it might be better for them to have SD cards customers could use via the LCD and keep so they could change their bike 'modes' whenever they wanted to but hey ho.
I set mine to 'Sport' - and judging from the results, that'll do nicely for me
I didn't notice it being much different on a very steep hill. I think the motor was delivering the maximum torque it's capable of already before the update.
However, on the flat and moderate uphills the difference is really noticeable to me. WAY more responsive on first setting off - the slightly sluggish ramp-up to initial power delivery, which was the weak spot of the old system, is gone. Kicks in and stays delivering much more consistently than before - but without being so 'keen' that you can't cycle normally. I've also been able to make use of higher gears on shortish but significant uphill test run than previously - so something's changed there. It's good because my uphill speed's increased a bit.
It still feels more natural than the Sahel I tested as I have such control of the gears, but now just as perky even on a big bike. So I'm very happy with that. Was the Sahel Nuvinci Harmony at Eden also configured to 'Sport' ?
Granted, might lose a bit of range but not so worried about that with 540Ah. It's enough for me and having been constrained and conditioned to working with 8-10 miles round trip for so long on account of non-battery issues perhaps I'm likely to be more accepting of a compromise than others ! I can always set a lower assist mode or turn the assist off if I'm really worried.
Anyway, I missed the post today due to being unavoidably waylaid this afternoon but will get the unit straight off back to Matt tomorrow so the next person can get their bike updated ASAP.
A great step forward all in all.
EDIT : - oh, forgot to mention you get some interesting info thrown up by the unit about your battery and motor run. Mine read 8 charge cycles and 130 hours of run time. So that's battery use of about 0.8% in 6 months. Also averages about 68 miles per charge.
