slacksci

Just ordered one with an Alfine 8 hub. My commute is 36 miles, 2k' elevation, each way.

Anyone else have one?

Anyone do a drop bar conversion? Jtek or Versa VRS8?

Battery mods?

This thing: https://store.kalkhoffusa.com/pro-con...p/ka09proc.htm

Allen

I don't have a Kalkhoff but I do have a Panasonic chain drive Giant (same motor) and I think the Panasonic drives are far and away the best on the market.

Does it have the pedaletic drive (the throttle is run through a pressure sensor in the bottom bracket)?
If so you have what I think is the nicest electric bike set there is, congrats!

Also if it does, that is a perfect setup for a future Xtracycle conversion (which is what I did with my Giant).

slacksci

Yep, it's got the bb torque sensors. No throttle.

Xtracycle is a great idea to convert the kalkhoff from high range commute to cargo. Thanks.

Not sure if people have seen the specs on 2011 Kalkhoffs but there's some pretty nice upgrades like 11speed alfine hub, disc brakes, 18ah/460wh battery, and some downside like those suntour squishy forks.

Was thinking about waiting until April for the newer units but for the extra $1500 they'll cost I can put together some fine upgrades on my own.

Sangesf

If you're gonna spend that kind of cash on an electric bike.
I would go with the schwinn tailwind.
Same price, same style, BUT can be recharged to 90% in FIVE minutes!

Allen

Oh no, the Panasonic drive is much more versatile than a front hub. Batteries can be replaced. Mid drive bikes are hard to find.
With the mid drive you can run the motor through an internal gear hub and reap all the benefits of its gearing.
You can carry some massive loads with it.

I also think the pedal sensor is a wonderful thing.


OP, if you out torque your internal gear hub I would highly recommend a NuVinci hub.
They weigh a ton, but they can handle more torque than anything else. I have one on my Giant and I find it to be a wonderful pairing with the Pansonic drive. I went through several hubs before I settled on the NuVinci. For that set-up I even prefer it over my Rohloffs.

Mabman

Allen, I agree that the bb drive system is much more effective than hub motors. Being able to run through the gearing is key. I am glad you have had good luck with the Nuvinci as that is what I have been considering as an upgrade to an older Giant that I have. But first I need to upgrade the battery from SLA to LiPo. Is there is post somewhere on your bike that shows it with the extracycle setup. Sounds like a good idea. Thanks in advance, Bob

Allen

Bob,

My house was burgled a few weeks ago and they took my hard drive with my images.
I have a few online but I have to hunt down the urls.
I'll post some up when I get the chance.

I've put 10k miles through the NuVinci and it has not given me the first sign of trouble.

Mabman

Wow. That is a bummer!

Any tips that you can provide on the mods you have done on your Giant would be appreciated. I also have a Trek with a Yamaha bb drive. Both are projects that I want to complete here in the next few months.

slacksci

Allen, I'm surprised the NiVinci justifies its weight and narrow (~350%?) ratio spread on a mid drive. Great to know, would never had considered one over a Rohloff.

Re: The Schwinn Tailwind, it's not well matched to my commute. It would take a second hub motor and extra batteries to get the job done one-way. Thanks for the tip Sangesf, I hadn't looked at Schwinn ebikes before.

Allen

As far as internal gear hubs go the NuVinci has a wide range.
Only the Alfine 11, Rohloff, and one SRAM have greater ranges, and only the Rohloff has a significantly larger range.
None of these can handle the torque that the NuVinci can.

It does weigh a lot, but for an electric bike weight is not the issue that it is on a non assisted bike.
The more important issue is the robustness of the hub. A light hub does you no good when you are away from home and it's cracked from over torquing.
Another point of weight, the NuVinci weighs less than my mini U-lock and NY rated chain that I carry on all of my bikes.

The Rohloff I had on my bike (now on my bamboo touring frame) is the best hub I've ever owned. I liked it so much I bought a second for my commuter.
However (and I'm sure they would hold up) they are too nice to break and at 1/4 the price I'd rather crack a NuVinci than one of my Rohloffs.
I also use my bike as a heavy hauler so I put a lot of wear on the hub.
I cracked several hubs (SRAM 5, SRAM 7 drum brake, S-A 5) before I settled on the NuVinci.

Sangesf

What kind of (unassisted) ranges do these bikes have? Do any of them have a throttle?

Allen

Unassisted range I would suspect would be up to the person pedaling it.
On my Giant (same motor) I get 12-20 miles depending on the load (sometimes north of 400 lbs.) and with NiMH batteries. Better batteries = better range.

The Giant came with either the BB torque sensor (the Japanese standard) or both the BB sensor and a twist throttle.
Between the two I prefer the BB sensor.

slacksci

Thanks Allen great perspective on the NuVinci.

Sangesf, I hope to be able to do my commute and recharge at work. So 38 miles with 2k' elevation. There is no unassisted operation as I understand it. Will find out soon as the bike arrives tomorrow.

I'm an avid cyclist and would hate to miss out on much exertion I just can't afford 5 hours/day in the saddle while working and being a single dad too. I hope to get my commute time under 4 hours at first and closer to 3.5 soon while logging 140-210 miles/week + recreational XC & road

Allen

The website sounds like it is the same setup that is on my bike.
You will have an on/high/econ/off dial or some sort on the handle bar.

With the BB sensor you do get a workout.
You have to pedal to make it go and the harder you pedal the more you get from the motor--which is fun, so you tend to pedal kinda hard.