Step Thru Agattu new for under £900

[rooel]

Could someone tell me if the battery is rechargeable on the bike? The Wiggle description gives the impression (to me at least) that the battery has to be removed and attached to the separate mains charger (which on this type of bike seems to be a rather bulky object which could not be conveniently carried on a tour).

 

[flecc]

It has to be removed for charging, a standard design feature on all Panasonic motor systems. The charger is a bit bulky but they also do a portable one which is illustrated in my Panasonic support site on this link.
.

 

[thunderblue]

Hi rooel

The battery has to be removed from the bike to recharge it. The charger isn't too bulky approx 6" x 6" and 2" high and would easily fit into a pannier or possibly a handlebar bag.

 

[rooel]

Thanks, flecc, for the information. The need to remove the battery for recharging is to me something of a drawback, as most of our daily journeys are under 6 miles return, and our practice (with Mistrals, and Alien kits) is to recharge on the bikes after every trip.

 

[Cyclezee]

Hi Rooel,

I may be stupid, but I don't understand why this should be a problem?

It is obviously more convenient to be able to charge the battery on the bike if you have power socket close enough rather than have to remove it for every charge, but for people who don't have this convenience it is not too arduous, with a relatively light battery, to remove and take indoors for charging.

J hn

 

[Cyclezee]

The need to remove the battery for recharging is to me something of a drawback.

Hi Rooel,

I may be stupid, but I don't understand why this should be a problem?

It is obviously more convenient to be able to charge the battery on the bike if you have power socket close enough rather than have to remove it for every charge, but for people who don't have this convenience it is not too arduous, with a relatively light battery, to remove and take indoors for charging.

J hn

 

[rooel]

In our case, bikes in daily use are wheeled into a ground level store room and parked beside multiple power points.

On the other hand, on a tour, staying at bed and breakfasts, or living in a flat, or anywhere which makes bike entry impossible, it is essential to be able to remove the battery for overnight charging.

I was quite attracted to the Technium at the Wiggle price, but this charging aspect, plus the fact that we are all used to throttle plus pedelec hub motors, make me wonder if a purchase would be sensible. I suspect getting used to the pedal pressure motor power control could be difficult, and I also see that power falls off between 10 and 15 mph. That is an area in which, having cruised along with the pedelec at say 10 to 12 mph, I like to have instant acceleration to 15 mph available from the throttle, for example, in a quickly developing difficult traffic situation, where I want to get or keep ahead of the motorised mob.

 

[carpetbagger]

ld be sensible. I suspect getting used to the pedal pressure motor power control could be difficult, and I also see that power falls off between 10 and 15 mph. That is an area in which, having cruised along with the pedelec at say 10 to 12 mph, I like to have instant acceleration to 15 mph available from the throttle, for example, in a quickly developing difficult traffic situation, where I want to get or keep ahead of the motorised mob.

you can get away quick on one of these and you can also change to 11 tooth sprocket which gives assistance to just over 18mph with little if any effect on battery life.

 

[lemmy]

I suspect getting used to the pedal pressure motor power control could be difficult.

Most of us can go from bike to e-bike, swap between motor-cycle and car, drive on the left or right. The different power delivery characteristics of e-bikes are no more than the difference between diesel and petrol power delivery.

What's difficult?

 

[thunderblue]

having used a bike with a pedelec and a throttle and then moving to one of these, I can definitely say that you would have no problems using one of these bikes. The pedelec on high power is just as good as turning the throttle to maximum .... and with the 11 tooth cog, the assistance up to 18mph is actually superior.