Stephen Gray

I passed their shop today at Gateshead Metrocentre. All 3 current 2019 Orbea Gain models reduced. The bright orange basic model with cable disc brakes and entry shimano groupset, Claris I think is around £1,450 now. The Tiagra equipped one with hydraulic disc brakes is now £1,999, saving £300. The flat bar version is similarly reduced. The Orange one is medium, the others I did not have time to check. Looks like the 2020 models will be arriving so old stock must go.

Hello all, Today I removed the crank and found the chainring is secured with a circlip. I now wonder if this Impulse 2.0 motor with Gates belt drive is SUPPOSED to have a floating chainring, much like the original Panasonic 26v Mid Drive Motors ? Does anybody have another Agattu with Impulse 2.0 Motor to check this please ? If the "Play" is normal, then the noise does point strongly to yet another Impulse motor fault. I do not know if the chainring can be tightened with a special tool for the lockring in photo. It has 28 teeth. All suggestions welcome. Thanks Steve Gray

Hi Andy, You are quite right about photo. I will post another one with the crank arm removed. It is the serrated lockring behind the crank arm which will need to be tightened. There have to be other Kalkhoffs with this belt drive system out there, what happens if the chainring needs to be removed ?. Thanks for your comment, I will do better next time. Regards Steve

I have the Agattu Belt drive model. Has worked very well until this weekend. Suddenly a "Clacking " noise appeared. Only under assist, not when motor turned off. yes sounds like a motor problem I know. But two opinions from Evans Bike mechanics. One thought a motor problem. Then another noticed the chainring is loose, side to side travel is obvious. He advised to remove the crank and chainring locknut, clean threads, grease with appropriate grease and tighten locknut. All very cheap and easy but Evans do not have the tool. I looked on internet, including a few Kalkhoff dealers and found nothing in the way of the tool I need. Yes I could take it back to dealer in Durham. This involves a bike and train booking. Evans is very close by. Does anybody know the tool I need and where to buy one ? The Shimano Pro Team XTR Chainring removal tool, looks about right, but is it ? See lockring in attached photo. Thanks all. Steve Gray

I found this shop yesterday during a visit to Morpeth. It is tucked away up a little alleyway. The first floor is the E bike shop, it ONLY sells e bikes. There is a very good range of bikes by Raleigh, Lapierre and Haibike. Only one hub motor one left at £699, A Raleigh. All the others are crank drive. I noticed a good range of "Trekking" and urban bikes. There are MTBs too of course. The owner Pete, is friendly and knowledgeable and commutes on his e bike to the shop when he can. I really like the lack of background "Music" in the shop, I like to consider buying things in peace. The ground floor is a bike repair shop, run by Pete's business partner Ian. In the North East, there are not too many independent E bike shops and I would say without hesitation this one is worth a visit. There are a few reduced bikes eg. Raleigh crossbar large with Shimano STEPS for £1,699 and Raleigh Motus large (step through I think) with 60 demonstration miles for £1,900 (was £2,225) and a Lappiere 53cm sloping tube urban bike, Bosch Performance Line and 500wh battery for £2,100. This is not a discount store, rather a shop with a good range of quality e bikes and I expect good customer support and back up. I have no axe to grind here. I am simply saying here is another shop worth looking at. Morpeth has a good national and local rail service now. direct trains from Carlisle, Hexham, Newcastle, York and Edinburgh. Also a few good hills around Morpeth for your test rides.

Now SOLD.

Any interest at £1,400 ?

Here is a good example, less than 550 miles from new. Purchased from Newcastle Cycle Centre on 7 February 2018. Cost £2,600 I have the original receipt. Well equipped bike, with mudguards, powerful lights powered from main battery, Magura hydraulic rim brakes, pannier rack and stand. Nu Vinci automatic gear hub with electronic control. Very quiet Bosch Active Line Plus motor. Rack mounted Bosch 500wh battery and 4Amp fast charger. Tyres upgraded to Panaracer TourGuard. Original suspension seatpost will be refitted before sale. Photos show non suspension version which I need to ride this bike. I suggest riders of about 5ft 9 to 6ft 4 should be able to ride this. Original owner is 6ft 4. Also toe clips not included. A few slight marks (NOT SCRATCHES) on frame from footwear, I can't for some reason, get them off fully with detergent and warm water. A friend of 88 bought this new, he passed it to me, really it is a bit too big for me, hence the sale. Test rides welcome in nearby Derwent Walk Country Park . Collection please. Trains from Metrocentre 3 miles away, would allow transport locally on Northern Railway and connections at Newcastle to main line rail services. Looking for £1,500. Located in Winlaton Mill, Blaydon on Tyne 6 miles from Newcastle.

More images.

Virtually unused example. Taken off a KTM new bike, less than 25 miles in use. My elderly friend just could not get used to the back pedal action, coaster brake, so popular elsewhere in Europe. There are 36 stainless steel spokes in an Ambrosio rim, size marked 28 inch and 622x19. There is no visible wear at all on both sides of the rim. All in all, immaculate condition. Looking for £100 collected from Winlaton Mill, NE21 6SD, 6 miles from Newcastle. Will post in UK for £15.

I agree with anotherkiwi totally here. Law and order does not come from writing laws down or putting signs up. There has to be an acceptance that the law is valid, a reasonable chance of being caught if you break it and a penalty which you would like to avoid. Little of the above now applies to many motor vehicle drivers and some cyclists too. As soon as any reasonable effort is suggested to enforce the road traffic laws, elements of the press and road lobby cry about "A War on the Motorist". Well I am still waiting for this war on the motorist to begin. As a daily e bike user, I often think, it really is a war on everyone who is not a motorist. Generally speaking you can speed, use a mobile phone, text, drive carelessly and dangerously, harass cyclists, forget insurance etc and etc. Most of the time you will not be caught. Even driving bans are virtually unenforceable. Only a prison cell can really stop a banned driver from driving. As Einstein said "Madness is doing the same thing over and over again but expecting a different result"

I passed KB Cycles yesterday. Sign says, "Closed No stock Left".

Thanks peter c and Fat Rat. I looked at the link but the Shimano technical information website failed to load. I will try again, when I have more time. There has to be adjustment, as electronic shifting does not prevent wear and tear in the hub.

Hello again Big G, I wonder if you have had the chance to give your Brompton a few more rides yet ? If so, any more comments ? I wish Cotswold had a better trial arrangement. Half an hour in central Newcastle ? I suppose a trip up Dean Street would test the hill climbing though. A day or weekend would be far better, to look at the range as well. Enjoy your rides .

Dear forum members, I have the excellent KTM Ventura e bike. A few years old now. It has the 8 speed Shimano Nexus hub gearing with electronic shifting. I am familiar with the manual version of the hub, having used it on other e bikes before. The manual version has an indicator which allows you to adjust the hub, to allow for cable stretch. There is some crunching when selecting gear 4 at times. I think (and hope) it may be simply a matter of adjustment of the hub. Does anybody know how this can be done ? Nothing on line, last time I looked, only the derrallier version was covered.

Thanks BigG. Sounds promising so far.County Durham is not flat, especially away from the coast. I have two standard Bromptons with reduced gearing, more so than Brompton provide. I have changed the crank on one to 34 tooth using only the inner cog of a Shimano Alivio crankset. This gives a low bottom gear and still enough range, as the 6th is very high anyway. The other has a 38 tooth Stronglight chainring which fits onto the later Brompton crank. Cost about £18 from Spa Cycles Harrogate. From memory Brompton lowered gearing option is still 44 tooth. I wonder if you are far from me ? Looking forward to your updates. Enjoy your riding.

Cotswold Outdoor shop in Northumberland Street now have a Brompton Electric demo bike. It is the 6 speed version with M bars. To have a trial for 30 minutes ! . You leave your debit card and a £1 payment will be taken. If the bike is not returned, you pay £2,600 the full cost. I assume you need this amount in your account. On ordering, delivery is stated at 3-4 months. If anybody has a go, please consider giving feedback here. Thanks.

I have the same bike, bought new from Evans in September 2017. Once a puncture happens on tyres supplied, found it near impossible to remove the tyre. On replacing the tube, also near impossible to put tyre back on without nipping and puncturing tube. These tyres really let me down. Eventually, Evans found me a pair of Maxiss Minion 29x2.4 tyres and fitted them tubeless. I do not know if they can be used with tubes. Very happy with them.

I have a pair of Swalbe Smart Sam 29x2.6 inch tyres. Originally Fitted to a Cube Reaction 500 Race, bought new in September 2017. Had puncture problems and to be honest found these very hard to remove and tubes were being nipped when I put them back on. Then went tubeless using Maxiss 29x 2.4 inch TR tyres. So very little used originals in shed. Free to anybody who can collect from Winlaton Mill, NE21 6SD, 6 miles from Newcastle.

Probably over a year ago now, I sold a Dahon Jetsream with electric conversion to a gentleman in the south of England. His Son and Daughter in law or perhaps Daughter and Son in law came from Leeds to collect the bike. I have just found the spare key for the rack battery lock. If the buyer would like me to post him the key, please get in touch. Steve Gray

I am hoping for a local buyer really. Let,s see what happens ..

As fitted to my Cube Reaction Race 500, bought new in September 2017. I found them difficult to remove for puncture repairs. Now gone tubeless. Very little tread wear. If anybody can use them, I will sell for £10 the lot, collected from Winlaton Mill, Blaydon on Tyne, NE21 6SD.

Thanks Neath. Not sure if you mean Impulse 2.0 ? which it is. I know Impulse has negative posts here. All I can say is, touch wood, we have had no problems at all with two of them. My friend has also owned a few from new, no problems. Are we just lucky or do we never hear about the examples which do not fail ?

PRICE REDUCED TO £950 NO OFFERS. New 17Ah battery cost £795 .......

Bought new in April 2017 (have receipt) cost £1,450. Original 11Ah 36 v battery replaced with 17Ah version, a £400 upgrade, see 50 cycles website to confirm this. Owner was 87 and never took bike off road. Always kept indoors and battery topped up after every ride. Only 360 miles on clock. Magura hydraulic rim brakes, hub dynamo bright lighting, pannier rack, walk assist mode. Selling due to upgrade to Gazelle with Nuvinci hub. Any interest at £1,000 ono ? In Winlaton Mill 6 miles from Newcastle. Nearest rail station Metrocentre 3 miles. Lots of hills to try it out round here.