It's probably related to the motor fitted. Some have been terrible and some decent. Bosch for example had some earlier motors with both internal plastic cogs and a belt plus poor seals meaning water ingress. Later models improved the internal gearing at the expense of a bit of noise. I think if I remember rightly earlier models, much older had a hub motor option but it wasn't very good and quite an unreliable unit.
Looking on a thread on the pedelec forum people with impulse motors were getting frequent and early failures. Some after only 100 miles. Appalling quality bikes.
Username/Model/Age/Mileage
reggie_electric - Agattu - 6 months - 800km
nemesis - Focus Jarifa - 4 months - ???
Jean-christophe Saville - S11 Alfine - 14 months - 2800 miles
Lothlean - ??? - 10 months - ??
Will Tinker - Pro Connect 9 - 5 months - 500 miles
Oriteroom - Focus Aventura Impulse S10 - 10 months - 3000 miles (3rd motor)
Roger R - ??? - 6 months - 1000 miles
nightrider - Endeavour S10 - ?? - ??
bernharvey - Agattu - ?? - 400 miles
Reseg - Focus Aventura - 10 months - ?? (3rd Motor)
lowranger - Impulse 10 - ?? - 2300 miles
Biscitt - Agattu - ?? - 350 miles
Biscitt - Tasman - ?? - 100 miles
Tomtomato - Pro Connect 10 - 7 months 900 miles (2nd fault)
https://www.pedelecs.co.uk/forum/th...ity-of-kalkhoff-focus-impulse-2-motors.24290/
Yes this was my experience, I bought on the strength of the many Panasonic motored Agattus on the market, I didn't think the Impulse branded motors would because for concern, how wrong I was!
This was coupled with the sole importer into the UK, who didn't honour the warranties or repairs on the Kharlkoff own brand motor, such were the amount of failures,the business went bankrupt, and a lot of owners missed out, with little hope of resolution, I was one of the unlucky ones.
It was a comfortable bike, , and if the bike had the Panasonic motor ,would have been an excellent choice.
After my experience, I decided not to have another e-bike, and returned to the 'clockwork' analogue bike, I didn't really need it , as I was capable of riding above cut off speed, when it worked.
I intend to build up a bike with the components from my e- bike, the wheels ,hub gear & hydraulic brakes are good ,if obsolete equipment now, the suspension forks, the jury is out on them for me, I have a good quality 531 frame to build them into, just need bosses to mount the brakes to
