rcgldr Posted December 29, 2023 Share Posted December 29, 2023 (edited) I'd like to buy a Kingsong 18L V2 (spiked pedals and updated upper pads), but I'm in the USA and none of the NA vendors have them. One vendor had an old 18L that they received in Feb 2022, which means it was probably built sometime in 2021 and the batteries are probably not in good shape. Some of the NA dealers are out of stock on both 18L and 18XL. The few that have them are also probably old models, as I've asked for build date codes, and they claim they don't know. Even if I was willing to pay, EU dealers can't ship to USA, and it seems I can't special order one from a NA dealer even if I'm willing to wait 1 or 2 months for it to be shipped. Edited December 29, 2023 by rcgldr 1 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Funky Posted December 29, 2023 Share Posted December 29, 2023 (edited) Sadly it's one of the sad truths. When people want a lighter wheel, (which nowadays are only older wheels..) we don't really have an option to choose from. You get what you get.. Still it surprises me that not a single store in NA has one? Even my local small shop has the updated models of Kingsong 18XL, 16X, 16S in stock. Then again in my area the big wheels don't sell at all. Also why batteries would not be in good shape? If wheel was regularly checked and kept around 50% charge state - it should be fine.. Some shops may even give you updated pads/pedals, if you ask. You don't know when the "cells" themselves where made.. From that viewpoint any wheel battery pack could be in not so good shape. Edited December 29, 2023 by Funky 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rcgldr Posted December 30, 2023 Author Share Posted December 30, 2023 4 hours ago, Funky said: Also why batteries would not be in good shape? If wheel was regularly checked I don't know if they ever checked the 18L or even if they ever opened the box. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Popular Post Hellkitten Posted December 30, 2023 Popular Post Share Posted December 30, 2023 For what it’s worth. I have a KS18L that I stored for a year. I put the batteries at 60% last December. I pulled it out the other day and it hadn’t dropped at all. I plugged it in and it fully charged back to full and I’ve been riding it. 4 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DavidB Posted December 30, 2023 Share Posted December 30, 2023 The cell manufacturers put this data in their data sheets. The degradation is quite high. Just because the box hasn't been opened and the wheel hasn't been riden doesn't imply the batteries are still good. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DavidB Posted December 30, 2023 Share Posted December 30, 2023 16 hours ago, Funky said: You don't know when the "cells" themselves where made.. Remember there was a shortage of 18650 and 2170s back then. They wouldn't be sitting in warehouses. I can't imagine they would be much older than the manufacture date of the wheel. 1 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
DavidB Posted December 30, 2023 Share Posted December 30, 2023 17 hours ago, rcgldr said: Even if I was willing to pay, EU dealers can't ship to USA, and it seems I can't special order one from a NA dealer even if I'm willing to wait 1 or 2 months for it to be shipped. I think the Australian store E-riderz has the new 18xl. I don't know if they would ship to the USA. The Aussie dollar was only worth about 63 cents US last month but has appreciated to 68, so not quite the bargain. I noticed not long ago they were selling 18xls for A$2299 (but that may have been old stock). The spike pedal 18xl is now on their website for $2999 (US$2039). Shipping may be prohibitive, but Aussie shipping prices usually are much less than US. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
OldFartRides Posted December 30, 2023 Share Posted December 30, 2023 All the NOS wheels are on Fleabay, but not cheap enough to make it worth the risk. I’d probably drop $300. on a z10 just to ride that famed wheel till it died. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rcgldr Posted December 30, 2023 Author Share Posted December 30, 2023 22 hours ago, Funky said: Also why batteries would not be in good shape? If wheel was regularly checked and kept around 50% charge state - it should be fine. It's a bike shop. I sent them an email and the replied that they've never opened the box. From other vendors I found that 18L battery pack is $960 ($480 per side). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rcgldr Posted January 4 Author Share Posted January 4 AUS (Australia) dealers also carry the 18L V2. So it seems only NA dealers don't carry it. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rcgldr Posted January 12 Author Share Posted January 12 On 12/29/2023 at 1:34 PM, Funky said: lighter wheel How much does your 18XL weigh? KingSong shows 18XL at 25.4 kg = 56 lbs, and 18L at 21.6 kg = 47.6 lbs. I wondering if their listed weight for the 18XL is high. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Funky Posted January 12 Share Posted January 12 (edited) 10 minutes ago, rcgldr said: How much does your 18XL weigh? KingSong shows 18XL at 25.4 kg = 56 lbs, and 18L at 21.6 kg = 47.6 lbs. I wondering if their listed weight for the 18XL is high. Mine is 26.5kg now - i got aftermarket heavier pedals and M/C tire. It was ~25.5kg. 18L is ~22kg round it up. 1 battery pack for 18xl weights around ~3.65kg. 18xl has 1554Wh. 18l has 1000Wh? So it should be around ~2.4kg lighter. Edited January 12 by Funky Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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