Got a chance to run out this morning for a short ride with Geoffrey Wagner from Kalkhoff USA, the importers of a well-regarded line of electric bikes. Kalkhoff has been making bikes since 1914 in Germany, and launched their first electric-assist bikes in 2005, making them an early entrant into the field.
The top end model, the Pro Connect S, is simply a blast to ride. With electric-assist bikes, the motor adds its power to what your legs are generating, giving you a boost when you need it, but letting you still feel like you're on a bike. The Kalkhoff's use a motor attached near the crankset, rather than on that's integrated into a wheel. That leads to smooth power transfer, and a noticeably natural feel.
On the flats, I could get the bike up to 24 MPH without feeling like I was totally exerting myself. Climbing steep pitches in San Francisco's Potrero Hill was a joy, with the motor kicking in to propel me over the top. Overall, I'm impressed. We've got one to test longer-term, and we'll update you with our impressions.
