Kalkhoff Pro Connect gents. Any real photos would be welcome.

[flecc]

I think it's the bike Hal, I've said as much elsewhere. These Panasonic units seem to continuously loosen up and improve as the miles go on. I was sure that my Lafree was in it's best free running cycling condition in it's later years.
.

 

[TomB]

Pro Connect Lights no Dynamo

I can confirm that my connect does not have a dynamo.

Turned the lights on yesterday in the pouring rain for about 5 miles on the flat , was mainly using human power, and the battery went from four lit leds to two lit leds in the space of six miles/20 minutes! alos the leds on the handle bar visibly dim when you switch on the lights. Battery is on its first discharge cycle.

Have not taken the bulbs out yet but both front and rear look like halogens...

 

[TomB]

Picture - Bike Locker Tight Squeeze!

http://picasaweb.google.com/tom.braund.photos/BikeLocker

 

[flecc]

I can confirm that my connect does not have a dynamo.

Turned the lights on yesterday in the pouring rain for about 5 miles on the flat , was mainly using human power, and the battery went from four lit leds to two lit leds in the space of six miles/20 minutes! alos the leds on the handle bar visibly dim when you switch on the lights. Battery is on its first discharge cycle.

Have not taken the bulbs out yet but both front and rear look like halogens...

Thanks Tom, that's two owners now confirming no dynamo, A to B's at present the odd one out.

It wouldn't be a surprising change with current drain like that you've experienced, rather too high for any length of journey.
.

 

[stokepa31_mk2]

Are we suggesting that the bike sent to A to B had a hub fitted to stop battery drain from the halogens and thereby increase the range?

 

[Cyclezee]

It wouldn't be a surprising change with current drain like that you've experienced, rather too high for any length of journey.
.

Yet another reason for buying an Agattu instead of a Pro-Connect.
And another reason, 50c have dropped the price of 53cm medium diamond frame Agattu by £75 and have "loads in stock now".
Personally, I wouldn't do a straight swop of my Agattu for a Pro-Connect.

J hn

 

[flecc]

Are we suggesting that the bike sent to A to B had a hub fitted to stop battery drain from the halogens and thereby increase the range?

Certainly not, my comment being on why Derby Cycles might want to make the design change. Presumably A to B had an up to date bike, but it would be nice to have this cleared up.
.

 

[TomB]

on the up side i may have found a good way of draining the battery to condition it!

seriously though - will look at the bulbs this weekend and report back

need to do one more full discharge this weekend before starting my forty mile daily commute next week.

so will charge fully an ride with the lights on and see how far i get compared to the first charge this weekend - if i get a chance...

not to worried about power drain as it should be easy to convert to led bulbs or light as these are just really be-seen rather than see-by lights any way (if there really is an issue of course - no science being my findings yet...)

 

[poppy]

on the up side i may have found a good way of draining the battery to condition it!

seriously though - will look at the bulbs this weekend and report back

need to do one more full discharge this weekend before starting my forty mile daily commute next week.

so will charge fully an ride with the lights on and see how far i get compared to the first charge this weekend - if i get a chance...

not to worried about power drain as it should be easy to convert to led bulbs or light as these are just really be-seen rather than see-by lights any way (if there really is an issue of course - no science being my findings yet...)

Hi! great pictures!
Out of curiosity, Did you ordered from 50 C.? Was the bike in stock when you placed the order? actual delivery time?.
Thanks, Poppy.

 

[HarryB]

on the up side i may have found a good way of draining the battery to condition it!

seriously though - will look at the bulbs this weekend and report back

need to do one more full discharge this weekend before starting my forty mile daily commute next week.

so will charge fully an ride with the lights on and see how far i get compared to the first charge this weekend - if i get a chance...

not to worried about power drain as it should be easy to convert to led bulbs or light as these are just really be-seen rather than see-by lights any way (if there really is an issue of course - no science being my findings yet...)

Tom, is yours a 53 or 57cm framed bike - looks like a 57cm. Looks very nice.

 

[stokepa31_mk2]

Certainly not, my comment being on why Derby Cycles might want to make the design change. Presumably A to B had an up to date bike, but it would be nice to have this cleared up.
.

Sorry its the cynic in me

while on the subject of batteries. I have noticed on my bike that there is a lot of clearance between the top of the battery and the frame. Does anyone think there is likely to be a bigger battery option in the future. This would give some serious range advantages and make the bike even more appealing.

 

[flecc]

while on the subject of batteries. I have noticed on my bike that there is a lot of clearance between the top of the battery and the frame. Does anyone think there is likely to be a bigger battery option in the future. This would give some serious range advantages and make the bike even more appealing.

It's possible Paul, since they've gone through several size increases, though sadly often with incompatible mountings and chargers for later bikes.

Also, that gap isn't there on all of them, some Agattu frames generally having little or no gap.

Mind you, given the very easy changeover and very light weight, a second 10 Ah can double up the range, to over 100 miles in suitable circumstances, though not many would want to cycle for that 8 hours!
.

 

[poppy]

It's possible Paul, since they've gone through several size increases, though sadly often with incompatible mountings and chargers for later bikes.

Also, that gap isn't there on all of them, some Agattu frames generally having little or no gap.

Mind you, given the very easy changeover and very light weight, a second 10 Ah can double up the range, to over 100 miles in suitable circumstances, though not many would want to cycle for that 8 hours!
.

Well...old geezers like me that ´ll ride on top mode and the 3 lowest gears would profit from your idea of carrying a back up battery. For the moment all of this is wishful thinking....!

 

[TomB]

57cm frame, ordered march, received last week.

so far have removed the handle bar spacers and sawn off the excess steerer tube, and fitted a sixteen tooth sprocket.

 

[TomB]

pro connect bulbs

front is a philips HS3/HPR60 rated 6v 2.5w.

rear is (cant quite make it out but looks like...) K16644002 RATED 6V 0.6W.

 

[flecc]

and sawn off the excess steerer tube,

So is the Pro Connect handlebar stem a vertical adjust type on the centre bolt as well as having the pivoting forward extension Tom?
.

 

[TomB]

yes you could adjust it vertically between the spacers, i cant now because i removed all of the spacers and the excess steerer - the cone on top of the headset gives it all the height i need (about 2 inches below seat height is very comfotable for me), plus the pivot adust means it can still be adjusted vercically if needed.

hold on will upload a picture...

 

[TomB]

pr connect - dropped bars and chopped steerer

 

[TomB]

link to big picture above

 

[flecc]

Thanks for that Tom, I'd assumed the Pro Connect had the same arrangement as the Agattu, but obviously not so, a very different setup to the simple fixed stem and pivot extension on that bike.
.