What size Kalkhoff step thru
- Thread starter mastanlem
- Start date
Interesting. How much assembly is required? The Kalkhoffs come "98%" assembled - pedals off, handlebars turned.
I would say about the same. Had to put the pedals on, turn and rotate the handlebars and lower the seat. I checked the breaks and these were absolutely spot on, as were the gears. The tyres were firm, but I have not measured the pressure. It took me longer to get all the bits of packaging off than it did to do the assembly.
Not having an English manual would be a real pain to anyone not familiar with Shimano internal hubs though. e.g. not knowing how to adjust the gears or to remove the wheel to repair a puncture.
Not having an English manual would be a real pain to anyone not familiar with Shimano internal hubs though. e.g. not knowing how to adjust the gears or to remove the wheel to repair a puncture.
I took the bike out for a spin of a few miles, unpowered while the battery charges. I must say that I am impressed. It definitely feels faster than my Giant Lafree, even though this has a proper 8 speed Shimano Nexus hub. I am not sure having only 7 gears matters a great deal. They certainly clicked around easily enough.
I tightened the front forks up as hard as they would go and did not notice a problem with them. They did make the bike more comfortable over speed humps. Especially at speed. I may get to like suspension forks after all.
I am not a fan of dynamos, but the Shimano one is the best I have ever experienced. I did not notice any drag, even down hill around 20mph. I still think dynamo hubs are a total waste of time though. I much prefer removeable LED lights with rechargeable batteries. Saving a few pennies on a slightly cheaper 7 speed hub and then wasting it on a dynamo hub must be pure marketing.
I did have to come home to swap out the saddle. The suspension post made it about 1" too high. I normally have the saddle high, but think even ballet dancers would not have liked it. So Marina - go for the 45cm frame if you want to use the suspension seat post.
Oh - I did measure the frame in case Wiggle cocked up there as well. It measures 49cm from the centre of the cranks to the top of the seat post, so I assume this is a 49cm frame.
I tightened the front forks up as hard as they would go and did not notice a problem with them. They did make the bike more comfortable over speed humps. Especially at speed. I may get to like suspension forks after all.
I am not a fan of dynamos, but the Shimano one is the best I have ever experienced. I did not notice any drag, even down hill around 20mph. I still think dynamo hubs are a total waste of time though. I much prefer removeable LED lights with rechargeable batteries. Saving a few pennies on a slightly cheaper 7 speed hub and then wasting it on a dynamo hub must be pure marketing.
I did have to come home to swap out the saddle. The suspension post made it about 1" too high. I normally have the saddle high, but think even ballet dancers would not have liked it. So Marina - go for the 45cm frame if you want to use the suspension seat post.
Oh - I did measure the frame in case Wiggle cocked up there as well. It measures 49cm from the centre of the cranks to the top of the seat post, so I assume this is a 49cm frame.
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I am not surprised it turns out to be the 7 speed at that price. As I said Derby didn't start producing the 8 speed Agattu (which is what it is) until 2010 model year and yours is last years model. As Flecc says you are within your rights to ask for a refund or ask for an 8 speed to be sent in exchange (I am sure the addition of the 8 speed is why there is a price rise). I would be doubtful they would do this though.
If you are happy with the 7 speed you have still got yourself a bargain bike - cheaper than the Agattu has been at any time. I found the 7 speed dreadful - slow to change without stopping pedalling for a couple of seconds and if you got it wrong the outer cable would jump out of the changer. Even if you upgraded it to the 8 speed yourself you still have a good bargain (but maybe not what you thought it was going to be).
If you are happy with the 7 speed you have still got yourself a bargain bike - cheaper than the Agattu has been at any time. I found the 7 speed dreadful - slow to change without stopping pedalling for a couple of seconds and if you got it wrong the outer cable would jump out of the changer. Even if you upgraded it to the 8 speed yourself you still have a good bargain (but maybe not what you thought it was going to be).
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I cycled 7 miles to work for the first time this morning, using powered mode and to be honest did not find gear changing a problem. I just eased the pressure for a fraction of a second before each change and up it went. The twist shift was slightly more stiff than my 5 year old Shimano 8 shifter, but that may be just because it is new. Getting into top gear was more difficult then the other gears at times - I may have to readjust the gears slightly.
I coped perfectly well with a 3 speed bike for many years, so having 7 instead of 8 is not a big problem for me, provided I do not get any problems shifting as you described. I may be tempted to upgrade to the Alfine 11 when it becomes available for the sheer luxury of it!
Overall, the bike did not seem as powerful as I was expecting. On a fresh battery, my old Giant Lafree seems nippier, even with the Technium set to high power mode. Low power mode is pointless.
I reserve judgement on whether I will return the bike - Wiggle allow people to test a bike for a few days and return it if not happy.
Harry - did the Agattu come with an English manual?
I coped perfectly well with a 3 speed bike for many years, so having 7 instead of 8 is not a big problem for me, provided I do not get any problems shifting as you described. I may be tempted to upgrade to the Alfine 11 when it becomes available for the sheer luxury of it!
Overall, the bike did not seem as powerful as I was expecting. On a fresh battery, my old Giant Lafree seems nippier, even with the Technium set to high power mode. Low power mode is pointless.
I reserve judgement on whether I will return the bike - Wiggle allow people to test a bike for a few days and return it if not happy.
Harry - did the Agattu come with an English manual?
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I've got a Kalkhoff Agattu English manual online on my website that you can download as a PDF on this link.
You can also get much more information on my Panasonic support website on this link
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I had an Agattu with 7 speed and now have a Tasman with the 8 speed Shimano.
To me, the 8 speed is way superior - when I had the 7 speed, I wished I'd bought something with derailleurs. With the 8 speed, I feel entirely happy, I can't explain why. But if you were told it was an 8 speed it should be an 8 speed. The difference (in my opinion) is not trivial.
I'd love to try the 11 speed but I'd not want to lose range through the higher gearing, so something that blocked the upper 3 gears from use when the motor was on song would be handy. Then, as the motor bowed out at 15mph, I'd have the next 3 gears to play with on downhills or long flats.
Any ideas, Flecc
Only thing I can think of immediately is that a twistgrip changer would lend itself to adding a latch to limit the rotation. Trouble is there's no 11 speed changer available at present and I don't know is Shimano would bother with designing one, given the total rotation needed for 11 gears.
Experience would probably be good enough though, once you'd used the 11 speed for a while you'd be able to judge near enough what gears you were using.
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Experience would probably be good enough though, once you'd used the 11 speed for a while you'd be able to judge near enough what gears you were using.
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I know it's a bit late for this thread, for which my apologies, but...
I had a test ride on a 53 M Agattu at the weekend, and it was WAY too big for me. I'm 5'10'', inside leg 29", and it was only too big because of my disability - one leg. To start off on a bike, I have to mount cowboy fashion (swing leg over saddle), sit astride the saddle, one foot just touching the ground, plastic foot just missing it, and push off with plastic foot.
This wasn't possible on the Kalkhoff, even with the saddle as low as it could go. I managed to ride it, but I'm still feeling it, in my extremities.
Moral: most DEFINITELY go and sit on one before you order. They are big bikes; the bottom bracket is inches further from the road than normal, and consequently the saddle it that much higher than normal.
Allen.
I had a test ride on a 53 M Agattu at the weekend, and it was WAY too big for me. I'm 5'10'', inside leg 29", and it was only too big because of my disability - one leg. To start off on a bike, I have to mount cowboy fashion (swing leg over saddle), sit astride the saddle, one foot just touching the ground, plastic foot just missing it, and push off with plastic foot.
This wasn't possible on the Kalkhoff, even with the saddle as low as it could go. I managed to ride it, but I'm still feeling it, in my extremities.
Moral: most DEFINITELY go and sit on one before you order. They are big bikes; the bottom bracket is inches further from the road than normal, and consequently the saddle it that much higher than normal.
Allen.
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