905se City: From box to riding - my experience.

[Wisper Bikes]

New Batterys for both 905 and 705

Hi Eddieo

Although the battery you have on your 905 will be available for many years to come. We have changed the battery box and management system on all models arriving in the UK after March 2009. The battery cells are exactly the same.

We have upgraded the management system to one that will monitor the cells at all times rather than only when charging. One of the most important functions within the software of a lithium battery is to make certain that all the cells are charging and discharging at the same rate. This function ensures that the battery will always give optimum performance. On your bike this is done in conjunction with the charger every time you recharge the battery. The new BMS (battery management system) that we have adopted performs this function all the time the battery is being used. It will also enable us to plug the battery into a computer for diagnostics, it will tell us the state of the battery, how many times it has been charged/discharged, the length of time between charges etc.

The new battery cases (one for 8a and one for 14a) are different sizes and have the connections at the base in a new water proof connector so you will not have to plug the battery in from the side.

It is these new battery cases that will be interchangeable within all the Wisper ranges except for the folding bikes.

And yes the 705's present and future have a throttle!

Best regards David

 

[Shroppielass]

Price of new Wisper 705

Hi Guys

The current 705's have most of the same running gear that the 905's have but we originally chose to use the high quality yet lighter and less powerful Panasonic system.

On the new batch due to arrive in April we have upgraded from the Panasonic to the same battery choices as on the 905 range. You can even switch batteries between the bikes if you have a 905 and a 705!

All the running gear and electronics on the new 705's is exactly the same as the 905 as are the ranges.

They will be here in April.

We do however have a stock of the current 705's (which is still a great bike)and if you would like one now we will throw in £100,00 worth of Panniers and a handle bar bag!

Best regards David

David, really pleased to see you've responded to suggestions from last year with the bigger battery on the 705. Totally agree with Nin26 & Eddio, a step thru with the range of the 905 ticks the boxes.
The big question is how much will the new version cost?

 

[Wisper Bikes]

New prices

Hi Shroppielass

Good point

The 8a version will be about the same but the 14a will cost £200 more.

All the best David

 

[CeeGee]

Vikki has convinced me

Having decided it was time to retire my old heavyweight Powabyke, I spent a long time looking at the pros and cons of many bikes. The Wisper looked promising from the start and the support from Wisper on this forum seems second to none, but it was Vikki's review and her other posts that finally convinced me.
I will now be collecting a brand new 905se City from PowaRider in a few days (very helpful and friendly), and will then have fun seeing if 60 miles on one charge is actually possible (I am a mere 11 stone).
Thankyou Vikki - I think Wisper owe you some commission.

Colin

 

[the_killjoy]

60 miles ? I think you will be pedalling hard ~ I top out at about the 40 mile mark (when the weather's warm and the battery isn't too cold).

 

[Vikki]

CeeGee. You won't be disappointed. If you do have a problem you have seen on the forum that the guys at Wisper will be all over it like a rash to solve it.

Best regards.

Vikki.

 

[CeeGee]

PowaRider at Woking are assembling and testing the bike for me, so the only problem I can for-see at the moment is getting used to the frisky nature of the young pup compared to my "old lump" of a Powabyke, which weighs double the Wisper.
The 10 mile ride home from Woking could be very interesting. I wonder if the police will clear the roads for me.

Colin

 

[Vikki]

A word of caution, CeeGee. You'll find the steering on the Wisper very light after the weight of a Powabyke. I was all over the place (ok, I was a bit wobbly) until I got used to it. There is a tendency to subconsciously over-react (over-correct).

Vikki.

 

[Wisper Bikes]

New 905

Thanks CeeGee,

Please let me know how you get on with range, at 11 stone you should be fine at 60 miles, but there are many factors that govern the range of an electric bike. Wind direction, and the number of times you use the brakes for instance make a big difference. Anthony in New Zealand who is a little heavier than you but has a great understanding of how to get the best range from his Wisper is achieving more than 70 miles on assist.

Good luck on the bike!

Thanks Vikki!

Best regards David

 

[rog_london]

A word of caution, CeeGee. You'll find the steering on the Wisper very light after the weight of a Powabyke. I was all over the place (ok, I was a bit wobbly) until I got used to it. There is a tendency to subconsciously over-react (over-correct).

Vikki.

Aha! I thought it was me....

I don't have that problem on my standard mountain bike (which has ordinary forks) or the motorbike which obviously has heavier steering anyway - but at low speed the Wisper does seem to be very 'front light'. Makes me feel a bit like I've only just learned to ride. I think if I were a bit taller and had more weight on the handlebars it would be better, but at 5' 7" I'm probably sitting back a bit too far. Once above 5 mph or so, it's fine - but I have to concentrate to avoid some shaky starts. Makes the car drivers give me a bit more room though, so not entirely bad news.

Rog.

 

[CeeGee]

Thanks CeeGee,

Please let me know how you get on with range, at 11 stone you should be fine at 60 miles, but there are many factors that govern the range of an electric bike. Wind direction, and the number of times you use the brakes for instance make a big difference. Anthony in New Zealand who is a little heavier than you but has a great understanding of how to get the best range from his Wisper is achieving more than 70 miles on assist.

Good luck on the bike!

Thanks Vikki!

Best regards David

Thanks David,

I managed 35 miles on the Powabyke Commuter a couple of years ago on a warm day, new batteries with plenty of pedalling.
I am planning to go out one sunny day and follow the railway to Portsmouth, Eastleigh, or Grately, near Andover - all of which are 60 miles away and see how much (if anything) I have left in the "tank". Southampton or Salisbury would be a big bonus; Wisper HQ is 77 miles - possible with a strong tail-wind.

Vikki,
I noted the problems you had adjusting to the lighter steering on the Wisper and I am planning on a ride on one of those old fashioned bikes without a motor to get used to not having the motor on the front hub and battery pack on the crossbar, before collecting the Wisper. Then I will only have to get used to the way the power kicks in on the Wisper compared to the Powabyke. Fortunately PowaRider have a large car park at their premises for a quick bit of practice before riding home on the "tranquil lanes" of Surrey.

Colin

 

[Mussels]

Vikki,
I noted the problems you had adjusting to the lighter steering on the Wisper and I am planning on a ride on one of those old fashioned bikes without a motor to get used to not having the motor on the front hub and battery pack on the crossbar, before collecting the Wisper. Then I will only have to get used to the way the power kicks in on the Wisper compared to the Powabyke. Fortunately PowaRider have a large car park at their premises for a quick bit of practice before riding home on the "tranquil lanes" of Surrey.

Colin

I thought the 905 steering was very light, especially after riding motorbikes. When I moved the bars forward and down to a more athletic position then the steering became much more stable, not what I expected really.
This weekend I borrowed my mum's shopping bike and the steering was just as light so it seems to be fairly normal.

 

[flecc]

I thought the 905 steering was very light, especially after riding motorbikes. When I moved the bars forward and down to a more athletic position then the steering became much more stable, not what I expected really.
This weekend I borrowed my mum's shopping bike and the steering was just as light so it seems to be fairly normal.

Bicycle/rider weight distribution is heavily biased to the rear, so the more upright the riding position, the worse that is and the lighter the steering. Altering the body position to one with more weight on the arms helps to damp and stiffen the steering. Likewise front wheel-hub motor bikes have slightly heavier steering.
.

 

[Mussels]

Bicycle/rider weight distribution is heavily biased to the rear, so the more upright the riding position, the worse that is and the lighter the steering. Altering the body position to one with more weight on the arms helps to damp and stiffen the steering. Likewise front wheel-hub motor bikes have slightly heavier steering.
.

That will explain why I find it more stable at high speed, I naturally lean into the wind and take the weight off the saddle.

 

[Vikki]

It didn't take long to get used to the lighter steering. I can fling Siperbikey around like a good 'un now. Old Bikey was top heavy and heavy on steering.

The heavy steering meant I was putting a little more effort into turning the bike than would be normal. Fair enough, it's a very small amount but move that amount over to a lighter bike and you find that you are, automatically, turning the bike a little more than you should. That forces a correction which is also over the top so you end up with a bit of a wobble that requires a little concentration to counteract. You very quickly get used to it.

It reminds me of what our financial director said to me a while back. He said that I looked unsteady on my new electric bike (Old Bikey that would be) but as the days went by I got less unstable). It seems it also took time to get used to the heavier steering of the old bike. If muscles have memory, where's the erase button?

Best regards.

Vikki.