"Not the cheapest electric bike but DEFINITELY the best"

Here's a review of the 2010 Kalkhoff Pro Connect LX - the first we've had from a customer. Thanks Mike!


This was a replacement for my Ezee Torq bike which I'd purchased from 50 Cycles in 2008 and had great fun with. It converted me to electric biking!

The Kalkhoff Pro Connect LX electric bike is in a different class all together. For a start it is much lighter and I am able to cycle quite happily without any 'power' on if I so desire. I live in Norfolk which is fairly flat which makes cycling easy. It's also great looking and superbly built, getting many an admiring look as I whiz round.

At first I wondered if I would miss the throttle that the Ezee Torq had but I quickly got used to the Pro Connect kicking in when needed and now much prefer this system. The motor is whisper quiet and, apart from the ease of cycling with the 'power' on, you really wouldn't know you were riding an electric bike at all.

The most I managed on a battery charge with the Ezee Torq was about 25 miles but I've already done over 50 on my Pro Connect by using the lowest power setting apart from the odd hill or two! I'm 64 and sold my car a couple of years ago so my bike is used daily. It helps keep me fit and the motor assistance just means I go further. It certainly doesn't make you lazy!

Not the cheapest electric bike but DEFINITELY the best!
Mike Button in Norwich

Oxygen Emate City electric bike independent review

Here's an independent review of the new Oxygen Emate City electric bike by Dave Chilvers. This bike is now available to test ride and buy at our London electric bike store and our Loughborough headquarters.

Ok! First impressions straight out of the box. Quality is the word that springs to mind which, to be quite honest, is what I would have expected from a range of bikes that start at around £1200 and go up to £1450, and I wasn`t disappointed on that score. What was very apparent lifting the bike from the box was the weight (or lack of it).

On my electronic scales the bike weighs in at 20.5kg without the battery and 24kg with the battery in place, but for some reason it feels a lot lighter once assembled. The battery is the latest Lithium Polymer of 37V 13Amp and is very light as you can see by the weight figures.
I always run a bike when new or after service suspended from my bike workshop roof to test the running gear and found the free running of the wheels to be very good indeed considering the rear wheel has a Bafang hub built in. Gear changing was positive, quiet and smooth and the motor fired up first time with a quiet hum.

Just now and then something a little bit special pops up into your life and this bike is it. Hard to determine just what separates this bike from my others (that I love btw), but I think it`s the sheer positive steering and build quality that sets it apart from the run of the mill. Push bikes are like motorcycles and cars in as much as when the manufacturers get it right then it all falls in line, and so it is with the Oxygen E bike.

The power delivery from the pedal assist is just about right in my opinion, (not too powerful that it forces you along faster than you want to go, but powerful enough that your legs don`t ache). Need a bit more power to climb a hill or pull away from a junction? Then just switch over to twist throttle and that bit of extra power fills the gap.

For sure none of my other bikes free wheel as nice as this bike does, there just seems to be zero drag from the rear hub and pushing the bike along by hand without looking down you would be hard pressed to tell it from a good quality non electric bike.

The nearest bike I own to the Oxygen is my Evans MTB that I converted to an E bike six months ago and I just love it but for sure it does not have the finesse of the Oxygen.
As far as range goes, well I hesitate to run any E bike down to nothing for fear of being stranded out in the sticks where I live but, judging by the mileage I was getting without recharging, I would say that 50 to 60 miles should well be within the bike’s capability when used on pedelec, and remember the battery has not had the suggested three low discharges yet…
What amazed me about this bike in particular was the ability to be able to ride it as an out-and-out sports type bike and really push it along at a decent pace or pootle around the country lanes taking in the scenery during this fine spell of late June weather.

A note on the brakes: Rear V brake and Front Disk. I`m a bit touchy on brakes, they either throw you over the handle bars or you need to put a foot out to stop yourself but what I like about the choice on the E mate is just how progressive they are with plenty of stopping power should you need it but silky smooth gradual normal braking. I like them.

I have no connection whatsoever to Oxygen bikes and gain nothing financially from this article, just wanting to spread the word to fellow users of a decent product.
Dave Chilvers – this article is also available on Dave’s own website

Buying an Electric Bike Top Reasons

Buying an Electric Bike Top Reasons

Motorized electric bikes are sometimes also referred to as e-bikes. It is just like a bicycle but has an attached electric motor which is recharged by plugging it into an electrical outlet. They are very popular in China while relatively new in Europe and the United States. For cyclists who want a little help with climbing hills it is an ideal choice.

There are various reasons to buy an e-bike. They are an environmentally friendly modes of transportation and they do not require spending money on gasoline. Even a current bicycle can also be converted into an electric bike with the help of an electric conversion kit. It is the safest, cheapest and quickest option. You will no longer have to worry about the increasing price of fuel, where to park, or deal with traffic jams. They are suitable for people of all ages, including kids and older adults. The lack of gas prevent pollution ot the environment, but the bike is mobile enough to cruise around town in and can even prevent you from having to buy a car in big cities.

You may be asking yourself, how do I go about purchasing an electric bicycle? Well here are a few key points to consider before making your purchase.

1. Look for a light weight bike. If its weight is heavier then it is more difficult to pedal when the motor is not being used.

2. Before going to purchase an e-bike the purchaser must consider what type of motor to use. The speed of the bike depends on the power of motor.

3. An e-bike battery usually lasts between 12-30 miles. The battery power is drained considerably more when used for climbing hills, so keep that in mind. Pay attention to battery life when purchasing your bike.

4. The cost of an electric bike ranges from $200 to $3,500. So by considering the features of the bike you can purchase an electric bike which suits you the best.

5. The best and most important thing before buying an electric bike is to take one for a test ride. There are various models and manufacturers of e-bikes, with some of them being: Currie bicycles, Rayos, Ultra motor, Urban Mover Bikes, Prima Power bikes etc. with different features. Before buying an electric bike compare the features of different bikes and then purchase the one that suits you best.

Most of all, have fun riding your new bike!

Oil Bonkers

http://www.electricbikee.com/pr-stop-using-bps-oil-to-get-to-work-advises-r-martin-limited/

A press release from R. Martin Limited:

AUSTIN, Texas, June 16 /PRNewswire/ — Promoting bikes as a clean and green solution for commuting has long been a goal of the eco-friendly commuter. But who wants to go into work after breaking a sweat on a bike? Well, how about equipping it with the electric motor that will allow you to glide your way to work — without using a drop of gas and never getting close to that sweat you fear?

R Martin delivers an electric bike that does just this at a fraction of the cost of your gas-guzzling automobile.

“As an environmentally conscious citizen, I’ve been riding my electric bike for years to work now; the ease with which I can move to work and around town plus the fact that I’m saving money on gas really does it for me,” says engineer Graham Jones.

“Graham has been a customer for many years and uses his electric bike as his primary transportation,” says Randall Schleier, Sales Manager with R Martin. People like Graham don’t like wasting gas. “Now that we see the devastation that spilled oil can cause, it’s a good time to think about alternative transportation,” continues Randall.

The reasons why people choose electric bikes as their primary means of transportation are clear. Electric bikes effectively double or triple the useful travel range of the average bicycle rider; people that want to bike to work or school are often discouraged by the distance they would have to ride. Many others do not want to get overheated before going into the office; a daunting ride on a traditional bicycle becomes almost effortless on a pedal-assist electric bike. Electric bikes help promote cycling as a viable mode of alternative transportation and encourage people to bike to places they would normally drive.

Electric bicycles are also a perfect complement to public transportation. Commuters can take their electric bikes on the train or bus, providing an easy method of getting to their office or for shopping without the long walk.

Electric bicycles are not classified as motor vehicles and therefore require no license or insurance to operate. By combining high-quality lithium batteries and a high-efficiency motor, R Martin bikes can travel 30 or more miles per charge with little or no pedaling. (The specially designed R Series motor is particularly powerful in its drive.) This makes them a popular choice for short urban commuting trips without the expense and hassle of traditional gas-powered transportation … and, no gas or oil!

Kalkhoff electric bikes video

A bicycle can perk you up on the way to work, burn calories, alleviate congestion on roads, and help reduce Co2 emissions, but not everyone wants to arrive to work strapped head to toe in sweat-soaked spandex. On a visit to Kalkhoff eBikes in Portland, OR, we found out more about the niche for electric bicycles, which help commuters get around town on two wheels without breaking a sweat.

Retail manager Todd Peres explains the advantages of an electric bike over an ordinary bicycle or gas-powered scooter, how the electric assist mechanism works, and even the laws that separate these bikes from their larger road-going cousins.

Also, get a closer look at the Kalkhoff Tasman – an urban cruiser that gets up to 50 miles of assisted pedaling and comes stacked from the factory with features including a cargo rack, fenders, front suspension and even hydraulic brakes from the same company the outfits Ducati motorcycles.

Kalkhoff Nostalgie Future Classic Bicycle

The new Kalkhoff Nostalgie is now available at our new Richmond bicycle store. It's not electric but with its gorgeous styling and excellent equipment it's turning out to be quite a head-turner. Available in Mint Green, Black or Brown complete with built-in lock, lights, kickstand and Brooks leather saddle and handgrips, all for £499.

Early feedback indicates that it's as nice to ride as it is to look at.

Oxygen Emate City electric bike in London now

The Oxygen Emate City electric bike is now available to test ride at our new London store in Richmond.

The big news with this bike is the enormous capacity of its 37V 13Ah Lithium polymer battery pack, which can power the bike for between 32 and 60 miles (depending on terrain, riding style, etc). It's also light, at around 20kg including battery, and comes equipped with lights, rack, mudguards, sprung forks and seatpost.

For such a fast, comfortable, long-range bike to be available at less than £1400 is unprecedented, so our introductory £1249 is as thrilling as the ride. This is nothing less than the best value for money hub motor electric bike on the market.