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Coming to America: Kalkhoff Pushes E-Bike Design Through High-Level Integration

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Kalkhoff_ebike_integrale-s11

Already one of the most popular ebike brands in Europe, North Americans can look forward to several new e-bikes this fall out of Award-Winning German brand, Kalkhoff. The Integrale pushes e-bike design through high level integration of both the bike battery and mid-drive motor in a zippy cafe racer-style package. The Include, on the other hand, is designed to be more of a work horse, sporting a heavy-duty rear rack. Both models feature integrated LCD displays with USB charging hubs for your electronic devices, adjustable stems to allow riders to dial in fit, front suspension to absorb impacts at higher speeds, and are loaded with premium details…

Kalkhoff_Integrale_Close

The head tube, down tube, and motor mount of the Integrale are die cast from a single – what we can assume is pretty expensive – mold. This allowed Kalkhoff to completely integrate the battery and motor into the frame of the bike. The effect is exciting- the e-bike components of this bike are seamlessly absorbed into the design rather than being tacked-on elements to a familiar bike frame form.

The motor manages to be pretty beefy- an Impulse Evo RS Speed 36V 350W on the Integrale S11 tops out at 28mph and is claimed to be “barely audible” as to not detract from the riding experience. The battery that nests into the downtube is no slacker either, sporting a 17Ah capacity. The model features Gates Carbon Drive, but the dropout system is interchangeable in case the rider wants to switch to a derailleur-ed system.

Kalkhoff_ebike_impulse_s8

The Include 8 Premium is a more utilitarian model, featuring integrated cafe lock and a beefier rack compatible with their Snap-it system for bags and child seats. Its Impulse Evo 36V, 250W motor tops out at a slower 15mph, but the battery has the same 17Ah capacity for a range of over 120 miles (depending on load). This model is available in step-thru and step-over versions.

Kalkhoff-Bikes.com

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gringo
gringo
8 years ago

E.bikes are a great transportation option in Europe where there are uncountable miles of safe bike paths for liesure and commuting, but I am not sure how these will do in the States when cyclists have to fight for road space with some coal-rolling fatty driving an F-350.

Francois
Francois
8 years ago

@gringo True, many european cities have better bike infrastructures.
However, when there is no bike lane, it’s usually much worse than in the US, because the roads are much narrower, especially in old parts of the cities.
To me, the biggest advantage of Europe as a whole for bike transportation is the fact that cities are usually more dense, and the distances you have to travel are therefore much shorter.
E-bikes can help a lot if you have to travel larger distances, so I think it could actually be useful in the states.

RC
RC
8 years ago

28mph is a moped.

Ydnar
Ydnar
8 years ago

@RC
Yeah, I can’t go 28mph on a bike. Oh wait, yes I can. (deleted).

colorblind
colorblind
8 years ago

I believe these are called EmoPeds and yaaawwwnnn!

John
John
8 years ago

@RC: I was going to say scooter.

Dinger
Dinger
8 years ago

Being able to accelerate and ride with the flow of traffic is much more confidence inspiring than being overrun on a conventional bike. These fast electric bikes make mixing with traffic more feasible in lots of US cities. Specialized, Currie, and Stromer are also selling higher speed electric bikes. I’m sure we’ll see more.

43st
43st
8 years ago

28mph does not belong on a bike path.. ever. Even club rides avoid bike paths because they’re usually filled with slow moving families, kids, and recreational riders. They should require licensing like any motor vehicle, they’re a scourge in and around bicycle infrastructure.

Dinger
Dinger
8 years ago

Just as all cars are capable of breaking all posted speed limits on public roads, the rider’s discretion and sense of self preservation would prevent them from riding down a crowded bike path that fast.

Psi Squared
Psi Squared
8 years ago

Paranoia and fear do not a fact make.

Georg
Georg
8 years ago

@43st
In Germany the 45kmh ebikes are legally mopeds (with number plates etc) and are not allowed to use the bike lane. They have to use the road. Probably the same in the US?

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