A Crank Call

[philthom]

I feel that I must congratulate flecc for turning this post around from a playground brawl back to a discussion of the future of pedelecs.
I have gained a lot of knowledge from this forum over the past few months and as a result have purchased a kalkhoff pro connect disc 18a/h and a kudos sport. Both bikes have their advantages (the smooth power delivery and build quality of the kalkhoff and the kudos which has excellent range for its 9a/h battery - even in our terrain, and remarkable torque for a hub motor which makes hill climbs a doddle)
I joined this forum initially for the friendly and informative posts between members and hate to see it descend to this level.
With the combined knowledge of its members I'm sure it will continue to inspire others to make informed decisions on the choice of pedelec to suit their needs.
I'm sorry that this my first post has been contradictory.

 

[Graeme]

42. Say no more.

Bingo! ;-)

 

[eddieo]

42. Say no more.

Sooooooo is that week 42 in 2011 or 2012

 

[flecc]

Sooooooo is that week 42 in 2011 or 2012

Well, I did say that those who are usually first don't make you wait, so you choose which.

 

[eddieo]

Well, I did say that those who are usually first don't make you wait, so you choose which.

well if you end up keeping her waiting, the wife is a fearsome creature and we are moving to Shirley next month!

 

[indalo]

well if you end up keeping her waiting, the wife is a fesrsome creature and we are moving to Shirly next month!

Oh "Shirly" not Ed? I'm guessing here but I suspect you mean that place in Derbyshire called "Shirley."

You'll be fairly handy if a Juicybike takes your fancy!

Indalo

 

[eddieo]

Shirley in Croydon..around the corner from Flecc

 

[Wisper Bikes]

In my uninformed and humble opinion, I would be completely shocked if the Wisper philosophy didn't change in the near future.
David, post your thoughts?

Hi Graeme, I have been off the forum for a few weeks due to pressure of work, I have not read the whole of this thread so please excuse me if I have missed the point!

We are currently working in our 2013 bikes and they certainly will not feature crank drive motors! Instead we are concentrating on reducing weight, increasing range, and bettering quality of ride whilst reducing the electric bike's impact on the environment.

To this end we are currently working with Oxis Energy on Li-S batteries and Moeller Motors/Dapu on a very light weight but powerful motor weighing in at just over 1kg. Moeller have managed to reduce ion loss which has been one of the biggest problems in making very small but powerful motors the and we now have an early prototype which is working extremely well. Oxis/Wisper will be announcing our collaboration next week at Eurobike in Germany on the new Lithium Sulphur battery and the forthcoming Wisper Oxis bike which we are working to launch at the Geneva Motor Show in March 2013.

Lithium Sulphur batteries will be available for our existing bikes next year, we will start testing the 36V 32A model in Q4 2011 and hope to have 48V 32A installed in our current battery box by next summer. However as performance AND weight reduction are our our goals for The Wisper Oxis, we are designing the bike to have a range of 100 to 125km or so which will allow us to reduce the battery volume by about at least 50% and hopefully 65%.

I will keep the forum up to date on progress but it all looks very exciting.

All the best

David

 

[Graeme]

Thanks for all the very interesting info David.
It just goes to show you that the expression of wild uniformed opinions can draw out some very interesting news.
...Still shocked though...

 

[flecc]

well if you end up keeping her waiting, the wife is a fearsome creature and we are moving to Shirley next month!

Well, I hope Shirley makes you welcome, she works on checkout at the local Co-op.

 

[flecc]

I will keep the forum up to date on progress but it all looks very exciting.

All the best

David

Certainly does David, metaphorically speaking should put the cat among the pigeons.

I think the high end e-bike world of 2012 is going to look radically different from that of 2010, the biggest ever two year change, and likely to upset those who've felt a bottom end e-bike is a good enough buy to date.

 

[tillson]

the high end e-bike world of 2012 is going to look radically different from that of 2010, the biggest ever two year change

I hope that it's a big enough change to tempt me away from my 2008 vintage Pro Connect. Nothing has come along so far, but David's interesting account certainly sounds promising.

 

[eddieo]

I hope that it's a big enough change to tempt me away from my 2008 vintage Pro Connect. Nothing has come along so far, but David's interesting account certainly sounds promising.

And I'll be first in line for one as I like both hub and crank technologies.Sulphur batteries look very impressive (may be a bit smelly though)

Dont know how you can say nothing interesting has come along recently lots of new bikes around, and the Bosch I'm sure you would like.....they will be everywhere within a few years, when production can keep up with demand.

here are a few new bikes:

New pedelecs and e-bikes for 2011/2012

Cube Epo 29
Merida S-Presso Centurion City and E-Co
Storck Voltist
Wheeler Evo 2012: Stylish and sturdy Pedelec
Riese and Müller pedelecs with Bosch drive
Smart comes Pedelec 2012
Schick slim: Panthers TE SR-10
Bulls Copperhead, Mountain 29, Jinga, Cross ...
Giant Hybrid Roam XR - Cross-Pedelec
Kettler three-pedelecs with Bosch drive for 2012
Bulls E45: S-Pedelec with Power
NuVinci Harmony: Continuous automatic gearbox - the first practical test
Corratec E-Bow: 1200 W 80 km / h
Left: Steiner design speed cruisers
First S-pedelecs with Bosch Engine: Kalkhoff Pro Connect
KTM eShopper - chic loads Pedelec
Kalkhoff Impulse Compact
Hercules Robert / Roberta 125 Special Edition
Kalkhoff Impulse Compact
Saxonette - cool pedelecs for 2012
12 kg: race-bike Pedelec Tronic Supreme
The Urban Factor: Singelspeed with motor
Kalkhoff Impulse Drive 2012 with brake light and free-wheeling
Haibike pedelecs for 2012 - including 29 "MTB
KTM eGnition: 1200-watt electric bike goes into production
Stromer: New sleek models
World's first mid-engined Pedelecs & Resignation of Kalkhoff
Noble Design: Jaal The e-Styler
Kreidler Vitality Elite
The rose-Pedelecs 2011
Panthers TE-777 Bosch Energy and TE-999 Polaris
Grace and Grace One Pro
EGO kit: 1200 watts in a backpack
M55 The Beast - Power e-bike in the monster-look
KTM: Four bikes with Bosch drive
Ghost e-Ndure and e-Hybrid
The most important Kalkhoff pedelecs for 2011
Vorradler: Pedelec with belt
10.2 kg: Electrolyte single-speed pedelecs
Winora 2011: comfort, urban and family pedelecs
more ...


here is what Urban biking in Germany said abouit one Bosch model
(excuse dodgy translation)

A total of 12 modes to choose from: Here, less would be more. Practice-oriented were also firmer buttons for selecting modes and speedometer functions. Easy to control are the major keys for selecting the power levels. In the driving test to drive the Bosch presents a very convincing: although the motor makes going to sound to be heard buzzing, however, is much more harmonious and more constant than the central engine of Panasonic. Especially on the mountain itself, the Japanese competitors eliminated in the test: about 50 Nm at the rear wheel drag when Bosch - three times as much as the Panasonic! As the beefy Bionx can possibly keep up-HT. The performance is, especially at high cadence, at lighter gears "experienced". It states shift down, which, thanks to the combination of mid-engine and derailleur itself succeeds on the mountain fast and easily, while the engine runs.

 

[tillson]

Dont know how you can say nothing interesting has come along recently lots of new bikes around, and the Bosch I'm sure you would like.....they will be everywhere within a few years, when production can keep up with demand.

There have been plenty of interesting things arriving on the ebike market, but none have tempted me.

I like the look of the Bosch, it's neat, it's compact and the battery placement results in a more normal looking bike frame, all of which I do like. I've never ridden one, but the power phase down characteristic, as reported, doesn't appeal to me. I like the gradual and hardly perceivable power reduction which the Panasonic system delivers.

Maybe when the generation 2 Bosch system comes to market and they implement what they have learnt from their first commendable attempt, I'll give it closer consideration.

 

[flecc]

That list doesn't include the important new crank drive from Pacific of Taiwan and the German AVE bikes using it Eddie.

Things are moving so fast that one Bosch using bike you've listed won't be available with that unit next year but another make instead.

 

[eddieo]

Have posted details on AVE bikes a few days ago..It was in no way a comprehensive list, just a cut and paste job to show what is happening in the e bikemarket