I picked mine up from WW this past weekend. I was able to ride around today for a bit and initial impressions are excellent. I'm 6 ft and got a large frame. It is a big bike but the frame fits well. I ride with the dropper post almost fully extended (maybe a couple of inches left to extend) so for someone 6 ft. 3 I could see height being an issue on a medium frame.
The Kindernay is great so far. I live in Brooklyn and being able to shift at a stop is infinitely better than dealing with a derailleur where, if you have to stop suddenly and didn't have time to downshift, you're stuck rolling the bike forward slowly in the wrong gear. You have to let off the power a little bit with any e-bike while shifting so I don't view the requirements of pedaling with a Kindernay as any different. I like having the extra gear range. Reviews of the new 7-speed Kindernay suggest 14 is overkill for an e-bike, but given you can switch 3 gears at a time, using the full range is no issue and I like having more gear options. The Kindery does make noise at all times whether coasting or pedaling. It doesn't bother me, but isn't silent like a derailleur when you pedaling under power.
The handlebars are a bit wide, but I haven't owned a modern mountain bike so the size takes getting used to. I also have a Yamaha cross-connect. On city streets, the bigger wheels and full suspension are great - you can ride up and down curbs and barely notice. I'm very happy with Schwable supermotos for city riding. Good grip and riding is smooth. I suspect if I took it on any trails I'd be a little nervous about losing grip under heavier power so will try real treads if I take it in the mountains.
The throttle is probably unnecessary and I'd rather omit it and avoid having the extra cable at the front. I sent Pushkar the smaller 500c Bafang display to install and am very happy with it. The plastic screen cover seems somewhat cheap and has gotten scratched already. The seat is hard - I have a bony butt and it's sore from my limited riding - so I may try to find something softer.
I will probably ride no higher than 2 in most settings. 3 is fun and 4-5 you're just burning extra power to little benefit riding around the city. You can get to 30-35 mph very easily on level 3. I look forward to trying the Onesie Kindernay shifter, but the dual shifters are fine - it would just be nice to clean up the handlebars. If you fully press the shifters to shift 3 gears at once, they slightly rub the brake levers but it isn't an issue.
When the motor kicks in, you feel an ever so slight sideways pull on the rear frame. I've felt this with motorcycles before and believe it's just the power being run through the chain (not a bad thing just noting the power). Without the battery, the bike is a very reasonable weight. With the battery, it's heavy but not overly so. While riding, it is very maneuvrable. The clicking in and removing the battery isn't a satisfying as the Yamaha locking system and doesn't feel quite as secure but it works fine.
My left brake line bottoms out more easily than the right. It sounds like someone had a similar issue and it probably needs to be bled.
All in all, I'm extremely happy with the bike and can't wait to try it on some trails. I've tried to give my stream of consciousness impressions so far.
I believe the color is elite midnight. It looks almost black but in sunlight looks more blue.
View attachment 102517
Very nice. Even the Fox stuff.
Are you regulated or did you buy before/ after the warning that: 'deregulating the throttle voids the KXIV's warranty' after 30 days?
What's your take on that? Completely blew me off on that hub, cuz: I keep hearing these 'covert implications' K XIV's are blowing out from failure to the drop throttle when shifting.
Except all the 'verified' problems I read about are it leaking - which also takes months to ship to Norway, by Caribou or some %$#(*&.
If the 'implication' is true, you address how to not use the throttle, but please tell me how the Torque Sensor knows to back off when you come to a near stop (as I will describe) ?
Yeah, with a derailleur one has to be quick and coordinated coming to a stop, ending in the correct gear.
'Almost stops' that turn into 'stops' and coping with sudden reactions to changing obstacles distracts my brain from the automated task of shifting (I can hear the crew that cut it's teeth on pedals laughing at me).
K XIV lacks any indicator. So, you're cruising (say at 30mph) in 14th gear and have to suddenly decelerate to what may well be a stop in your perception (car running stop sign), but at 10mph that changes (car sees you and stops).
Q: What gear are you in?
K'nay's A: Just start clicking (three gears at a time) and testing the water with little pumps of the pedals (w/o a throttle).
Oops, that's not it - jerk. Oops that's not it either - jerk, jerk. Are we there yet?
That's dandy for a low geared off-road superbike where you're always (you better be) on top of the shifting (and rarely at 30mph) - unless a Moose steps out on the trail or something - but (as you well know - and a big Hello to Brooklyn, NY USA!!!) Big City driving is like a police shooting course with those pop-up targets, except
we are the targets.
So, cassette or that IGH, it's six to one or 1/2 dozen, etc. which brings up something I discovered right away when drooling over the possibility we could have 7, instead of 14 gears: The 7 speed's ratio is a good bit lower than the XIV's. Also, the 'two-sie' is about $500.
Really glad to see a gladiator bringing a capable contender to the City Street-fights
Congratulate you on your taste
Amazing, that machine will achieve 35mph w/ a 39T ring!
How do you pedal that fast, considering you don't have any use for the throttle? lol
My lesser beast runs a 46T (roughly 18% larger than yours) and my low is also 11T.
Full throttle, pedaling like a demented sewing machine I can hit 30-31mph.
That motor has insane 'legs'. Adding a 46T would mean 41mph - which is what I hear quoted for the UC w/ Gates.
And you can feel the centrifugal torque twisting the frame huh? That's some serious power.
Thank you for taking the time to share.
Just about all these DIY Chinese products need/benefit from simple mods, like drilling a larger axle hole or trimming the shaft length.
My experience is different: Items rated for lightweight bicycles do not work on big-dog e-bikes - no matter where they come from.
The companies that make proper kick-stands for a 30kilo machine are not in China. Mainly they're Italians.
You can take a 3" washer, file to the shape you want, drill &/or tap threads and mount nearly any stand, but you'll be stuck with that silly position, trailing off the rear axle, so now you need an adapter to make it removable.
Even normal rear kickstands fall over - a lot. But it might work, for 4 brews (lol) - except Hydra's have no provision for panniers - or a reasonable rear rack.
Like a roof mounted luggage carrier on a Lamborghini Mura, or a snowplow on a Rolls Corniche, it's completely out of character or taste on this near full-race beast.
The real solution is obvious - as related to me after inheriting Brock Glover's insanely tuned personal 1986 Mako 250, when I asked 'what do you do when you stop?' - Your not supposed to stop.
If I was determined, I'd simply carry a plastic block stowed in my handlebar bag when I went shopping on Rodeo Drive.
Fn'F
!!). All I asked is for you (and others!) to use the search tool for your questions; it is simple and works well in this crazy organized forum. If you can’t find it; as I gave a clear example here, then ask….
