Pro Connect 2009 (fast pedelec > 25km/h)

Intex · Sep 1, 2008

E-Kagu, If you have tried the bike, can you tell me if the motor will run the bike, without pedalling, or will the motor only start if you begin to pedal?
Thanks

JohnInStockie · Sep 1, 2008

Hi E-Kagu

Fortunately I had the opportunity of trying one of these out

they are a very nice and fast bike. They look fantastic too.

I dont think that they would be any good at carrying anything though, very thin tyres and wheels, not a utility bike at all.

I am sure though that they will be very popular.

John

(btw your english is better than my german)

JohnInStockie · Sep 1, 2008

Intex said:
E-Kagu, If you have tried the bike, can you tell me if the motor will run the bike, without pedalling, or will the motor only start if you begin to pedal?
Thanks

Its a Panasonic the same as other Kalkhoffs, and so assist by providing power through the chain only when you pedal as well.

John

flecc · Sep 1, 2008

And it will be illegal in Britain. Germany enjoys a legal high speed class as well as the usual law, unique in the EU, though outside the EU Switzerland has a high speed e-bike class as well.
.

stokepa31_mk2 · Sep 1, 2008

I dont thnk this will be an offical factory bike but rather a custom based on the current bike with revised parts and hence the revised price tag. I saw something similar at 50 cycles when they were exploring the possibilities for moddded connects.

flecc · Sep 1, 2008

stokepa31_mk2 said:
I dont thnk this will be an official factory bike but rather a custom based on the current bike with revised parts and hence the revised price tag. I saw something similar at 50 cycles when they were exploring the possibilities for moddded connects.

I think you'll find it is a Derby Cycles production bike Paul, since there's a Raleigh version as well as the Kalkhoff. They'll sell ok in Germany and Switzerland, and Austria seem to be a bit tolerant about powered two wheeler speeds.

I know Derby Cycles were intending a high speed version as early as last year, not unusual since BikeTech have done the same with the Panasonic unit for some while in their Flyer S model with similar performance.

Interesting that Derby Cycles have also used the "S" designation.
.

Hand Tight · Sep 1, 2008

Hi e-kagu, I'm new to the forum myself and also doing a bit of research. When you mention the Kalkhoff 2009 catalogue does it mention euro pricing for the Pro Connect?

I recently saw a reference on the company's website to this model being available for €1500. Curiously this translates as £1500 sterling retail in Britain....

cheers
Reg

Danny-K · Sep 2, 2008

flecc said:
And it will be illegal in Britain. Germany enjoys a legal high speed class as well as the usual law, unique in the EU, though outside the EU Switzerland has a high speed e-bike class as well.
.

Copy that Flecc. I spoke to 50cycles on the phone the other week after discovering about the new faster 2009 Pro Connect Sport. I was told categorically I would not not be allowed to buy one from them next year and that they would mainly be supplying it to the American market as it is illegal to sell that new higher speed model here.

It's bog standard vanilla flavour in the Pro connect for the UK if you want one.
- Doh!

P.S. And they alluded to it being MUCH higher priced than the current Pro Connect too.

stokepa31_mk2 · Sep 2, 2008

flecc said:
I think you'll find it is a Derby Cycles production bike Paul, since there's a Raleigh version as well as the Kalkhoff. They'll sell ok in Germany and Switzerland, and Austria seem to be a bit tolerant about powered two wheeler speeds.

I know Derby Cycles were intending a high speed version as early as last year, not unusual since BikeTech have done the same with the Panasonic unit for some while in their Flyer S model with similar performance.

Interesting that Derby Cycles have also used the "S" designation.
.

Cheers Flecc, I stand corrected. the good folks at 50c would seem to be ahead of the game months ago!

Tim · Sep 2, 2008

Hand Tight said:
I recently saw a reference on the company's website to this model being available for €1500. Curiously this translates as £1500 sterling retail in Britain....
cheers
Reg

Not so. 'Ab €1500' means the Pro Connect pedelec is in their highest €1500+ category. Kalkhoff's RRP for the Pro Connect was €2199 last time I checked, which is around £1790, so UK customers are saving nearly £300 on that.

Intex · Sep 2, 2008

Thanks for the info, this sounds like exactly what I want, as I also live in the US, I can have this shipped there no problem.

What exactly is the major differences between this and the regular ProConnect ?
How do they achieve the faster speed, not with just the different gearing ??
Have these begun to sell somewhere? They must if they were on Ebay, or not. Unfortunately NO delares in Paris, so I can try it here.

Intex · Sep 2, 2008

OK, After looking at the Ebay pixs, I see the new bike has derailleurs at the rear, as opposed to the Nexus system on the Reg ProConnect.

Can this account for the speed diff?

Also I do not read German, but does it say available in Dec? I wonder if the price listed on Ebay will be the reg price, or is this a premium for first comers?

flecc · Sep 2, 2008

Thee are software differences Intex, which mean the power is available over a wider range. That's coupled to higher gearing and some gain in efficiency due to the derailleur, all adding up to the high speed. BikeTech in Switzerland were the first to do this with their Flyer S model some while ago, and I think some of the modifications were probably started by them rather than Panasonic. For example some of their models have a "walk alongside" low speed throttle for coping with very steep hills.
.

Intex · Sep 14, 2008

JohninStockie:
Since you have ridden the new ProConnect 2 (Hi-Speed version), can you tell me how it differs from the regular ProConnect?

You stated that it has thinner tires, is the rest of the frame the same, and also does it have front/rear fenders or did they do without those?

Since I live in a hilly area, is the new bike more suited to high speed, but not that good on hills?

Thanks

flecc · Sep 14, 2008

While you await an answer from John, below are links to information on the BikeTech Flyer S, a similar bike to the Pro Connect S.

This first link shows the three versions of the Flyer S

This second link is a rider's impressions on the performance of the Flyer S, probably similar to the Pro Connect S.

Pat's tryout of the Flyer S
.

Beanie101 · Sep 15, 2008

flecc said:
While you await an answer from John, below are links to information on the BikeTech Flyer S, a similar bike to the Pro Connect S.

This first link shows the three versions of the Flyer S

This second link is a rider's impressions on the performance of the Flyer S, probably similar to the Pro Connect S.

Pat's tryout of the Flyer S
.

I posted a review of the Flyer T14HS on the site last week which is awaiting moderator approval. This is more of a tourer than the S-Series, so it would probably be more akin to a high speed Kalkhoff Agattu, if such a thing exists. Even so, it has blown my socks off.

For anyone interested in the Flyer series, the first link that Flecc provides, although in German, gives a much better view of what's on offer than the Flyer company's own website. If you can negotiate your way through to the videos, the second video showing an extreme mountain-climbing test and the Flyers in production, is very interesting.

JohnInStockie · Sep 15, 2008

Intex said:
JohninStockie:
Since you have ridden the new ProConnect 2 (Hi-Speed version), can you tell me how it differs from the regular ProConnect?

You stated that it has thinner tires, is the rest of the frame the same, and also does it have front/rear fenders or did they do without those?

Since I live in a hilly area, is the new bike more suited to high speed, but not that good on hills?

Thanks

Hi Intex

There seems to be a bit of confusion creeping in over exactly which model is which. The version I rode was a very light road type of bike with a flat bar, 21/24 speed derailliers, and obviously no suspension. Looking at the Derby cycles link the 2009 models there are not the one that I rode. Since this I have had a chat with Lloyd at 50C and he has now told me that this was a 'one-off concept model'

and that their new models are the same as the Derby ones

.

So as it stands, it looks like the Flyer S is the fastest true pedelec around (unless Derby have a change of heart or we hear how that new model performs). Oh and anything with a Panasonic drive will climb any hill you can find.

John

wotwozere · Sep 15, 2008

sport

Scott

This new model sounds amazing when will it be available in the UK? Can we test ride it at the cycleshow.

What is the price difference between the swiss flyer and the proconect sport?

thx

Bob

Intex · Sep 16, 2008

What do you mean by "two very new products"
Thanks

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