First Impressions: Wisper Eco, City, Alpino, A2B etc

[flecc]

The connect s models have a small lever that is a throttle designed to provide some assistance when you may face a scenario where you can not pedal for a moment (?) - but it's not really there to be used as the main assistance mechanism as it only provides a small amount of power and you can't keep it comfortably held. Personally couldn't see the need for this, but I was hoping it would have been an alternative method of assistance when I read about the connect s models. 27 gears excellent range.

This is in fact an option on all Panasonic motored bikes and is a "walk alongside" throttle only, to cope with any steep hill not ridden up. It's use is under the pedestrian controlled vehicle legislation and limited by law to 4 mph.

On the S versions, it operates to about 12 mph as a by product of the increased speed of those models, but as you say, not much use then.
.

 

[Old Timer]

My experience first of the kalkhoff bikes:

These bikes are well built, and do not look chunky. They are built for comfort in mind, so you sit back a bit with the handle bars bent so your hands hold the bars in a more natural position.

They work on a computerised pedelec system which assists you after judging the pressure applied when you pedal. You do notice the slight delay in this process, especially when you are going up a steeper hill and really need that assistance, and of course no pressure no assistance i.e. the moment when your one leg is at the straightest and the other about come down, there is a cut off or reduction in assistance and this is felt on inclines, making the ride not quite as smooth. I found this a thing that you would need to get used to or ignore if you decided on a kalkhoff.

The connect s models have a small lever that is a throttle designed to provide some assistance when you may face a scenario where you can not pedal for a moment (?) - but it's not really there to be used as the main assistance mechanism as it only provides a small amount of power and you can't keep it comfortably held. Personally couldn't see the need for this, but I was hoping it would have been an alternative method of assistance when I read about the connect s models. 27 gears excellent range.

The bikes with the hub gears, I found you have to ease of the pedalling for it to get in the changed gear.

The braking on these bikes was excellent, top class.

I then tried the Oxygen Emate City:

Decent power assistance at the twist of the throttle.

Very similar to the Wisper 905 city 2009, including the plasticy handles, more or less rode like it aswell, with the main exceptions of:-

the fixed wide handle bar,

the pedelec only or throttle only options. Although you had to keep the throttle twisted for the pedelec assistance to work when in that mode,

And there are no levels of assistance, just full and none.

It's battery felt very light for it's size.

I found the handle bar width a little uncomfortable, having to reach out further, but may be I noticed this more after having tested the kalkhoffs and their riding position.

Overall it did feel like a well built bike.

Donnied

Yeh! I`ve read a couple of reviews on the delay when the cranks are in a certain position.

 

[simonbarnett]

My experience first of the kalkhoff bikes:

These bikes are well built, and do not look chunky. They are built for comfort in mind, so you sit back a bit with the handle bars bent so your hands hold the bars in a more natural position.

They work on a computerised pedelec system which assists you after judging the pressure applied when you pedal. You do notice the slight delay in this process, especially when you are going up a steeper hill and really need that assistance, and of course no pressure no assistance i.e. the moment when your one leg is at the straightest and the other about come down, there is a cut off or reduction in assistance and this is felt on inclines, making the ride not quite as smooth. I found this a thing that you would need to get used to or ignore if you decided on a kalkhoff.

The connect s models have a small lever that is a throttle designed to provide some assistance when you may face a scenario where you can not pedal for a moment (?) - but it's not really there to be used as the main assistance mechanism as it only provides a small amount of power and you can't keep it comfortably held. Personally couldn't see the need for this, but I was hoping it would have been an alternative method of assistance when I read about the connect s models. 27 gears excellent range.]



I've never experienced this power delay on my 2 Kalkhoffs. But never buy a Proconnect thinking the throttle is anything other than walk along feature. They really are pure pedelecs.