MGR1

I am also thinking that it would be better to test with another battery first before I conlude with anything. I will contact the dealer and ask if they could possibly send me one, although I doubt they will. I bought the bike privately and had had nothing to do with them previously. Shipping the whole bike to the dealer and back would cost approx 3000 NOK (roughly 300 GBP), and I would risk damage.

Hi all. I had a post recently about my battery (18Ah) discharging when the bike was standing for a week or so. The battery indicators both in the display (LCD) and on the battery (LED) would jump from say 5 to 2, in one week without use. This happened three times in a period of one month, and then the problem stopped. Recharging the battery after those incidents was a bit strange, as the charge went normal until 2-3 LED's where reached, and then it finished with full charge and all LEDs went black. About the same time I noticed another problem that took some time to reproduce accurately. When I use the backlight in the LCD display, and the charge indicators show 1 or 2 both on the battery and in the display, the assistance will suddenly cut out after some minutes riding with High assistance. The charge indicators in the display (LCD) then show no charge (no bars), however the battery LEDs (when button is pushed) show the same charge as they did before the incident. When I turn the display off/on, the charge indicators in the display again indicate correctly (1-2 bars), and power is restored. If I keep the backlight off, the error does not occur. When I turn on the backlight in the LCD display again, it cuts out with "no assistance" within minutes. With charge indicating 3 or above, the problem does not seem to occur, even when the LCD backlight is on. This error seems to occurs faster if battery is cold (outside temperature, 5-15 deg. C) than at room temperature (20-25 deg. C). Kalkhoff in Germany sent me a new LCD module complete with wiring, but the problem persists with the new one. Now they say that it may be the engine itself, and that the bike will have to go to a dealer or to the factory. Since both are a long way from here, that would cost me a fortune, so I am reluctant to send in the bike. I wonder could it be the battery? Any help on this would be greatly appreciated. Could someone with a similar bike test under the same circumstances perhaps? I must add that the bike now has a total of 1407 km, and looks like new. It has never been ridden in the wet. Battery has been charged on a weekly basis, when LEDs are down to one. I use only the original charger. Bike is stored indoors all the time. Regards, Michael

I will do some testing off-bike as suggested, to isolate the problem. I bought the Kalkhoff second hand, from a gentleman that bought it in Flensburg in Germany. I have the warranty card, but haven't checked the warranty details yet. Hopefully it will cover battery problems within two years from purchase even if I am not the original buyer.

I wish that would be case, unfortunately the kid is too small and wife shows no interest in biking. And it's locked and I have the key.

Hi all. My 18Ah Kalkhoff battery suddenly started to discharge itself during periods when the bike is not in use (battery is left on bike). Within one week it can go from 5 bars / leds to 1, or from 4 to 1 blinking. It has not done this before. I am dismayed . Can I assume the battery is faulty? Is this a common failure mode? Bike and battery is only one and a half years old, and has done only 1280 km's in total. Are there any checks I can do? Any help would be appreciated.

Thanks for the input James. You are of course right about your calculations. I have concluded that the bigger chainwheel does not really matter, but I will increase the chain length with one link. My old chain has some 1100 km's on it and is bound to have streched some.

Thanks for the link Alan, but I forgot to say that the Kalkhoff Sahel has a Shimano Alfine hub gear, so the chain sizing methods covered on the Park Tool site do not apply.

Hi all. I have installed a larger front chainwheel (42 instead of 35 teeth) on my Kalkoff Sahel. It has a spring loaded tensioner in the back, and this points straight down now, instead of slightly backwards. That is because the chain is 7 links too short now. Bike runs OK, but will there be some long-term ill effects? Any advice will be appreciated .

Hi all. Just wanted to share some nice pics from Trondheim taken today. I took the Kalkhoff up to the Graakallen mountain above the city, some 5 km from where I live. It's tarmac almost all the way up, and then some hundred meters of gravel road. The incline is very steep. Cyclists use this as a training area, and there where many of them out this evening. It's amusing to see the disbelief in their eyes as I zoom past . One of them even shouted "that's cheating" after me . [ATTACH]3813.vB[/ATTACH] [ATTACH]3814.vB[/ATTACH] [ATTACH]3815.vB[/ATTACH] [ATTACH]3816.vB[/ATTACH] [ATTACH]3817.vB[/ATTACH] [ATTACH]3818.vB[/ATTACH]

OK! Thanks all. Will take it out immediately, and charge it before further storage. Still full winter here in Norway, I'm afraid, -10c outside today. eddieo: I bought this bike second hand in september from 'Pedal Anton' on this forum. It has some 800 km on it, but looks absolutely like new. The previous owner was very pedantic about the care and maintenance, and it shows. I must also say that I am very satisfied with the build quality and finish of the Kalkhoff. It oozes of quality. I haven't had time to put many km's on it yet I'm afraid, but had a chance to test it on some of the very steep hills from Trondheim and up to where I live. The worst of those gradients I am unable to ride with an ordinary bike in first gear, but the Sahel had no problem with that in 3rd / 4th gear with me sitting in the saddle. That is with a 19 tooth rear sprocket. http://finncdn.no/mmo/2011/10/13/4/312/019/84_297003102.jpg http://finncdn.no/mmo/2011/10/13/4/312/019/84_1684266197.jpg http://finncdn.no/mmo/2011/10/13/4/312/019/84_603249539.jpg http://finncdn.no/mmo/2011/10/13/4/312/019/84_-954603380.jpg

Thanks Scott. It sits in the bike now. Should I take it out? Regards, Michael

Hi all. I have a question about winter (long term) storage of my Kalkhoff 18Ah battery. The bike has been standing unused since october. How often (if at all) should I charge the battery during the winter? I charged it once in november, and now it again has only 3 of the 5 lights lit when I push the battery check button, indicating the voltage has dropped due to self discharge. Bike and battery is stored indoors, in room temperature. Battery is not yet one year old. Regards, Michael

Well, just to end this thread; the dealer gave me a full refund. Guess I was really unlucky with that one. It's packed and ready to be collected by the carrier. I'm a bit unhappy to see it go I must admit, it is a nice looking bike. Now what to do next, do I dare to buy another one?

I got a replacement display in the mail today, taken from a working demo bike. Still the same error, "Lo" blinking in the display, no power. I have told the seller to take the bike back.

I agree. I'll let you all know how it works out. Michael