Boosting the top speed of a Wisper 905se Sport

[GordonMasson]

Hi folks

I recently bought a Wisper 905se Sport, I have covered a couple of hundred miles on it so far and apart from a few minor issues its been pretty good so far.
I will do a full report on it in a couple of weeks.

Most of my journey to work each day is along a pretty disused road with a great tar surface … I cover about 4 miles on this but I find that the bike isn’t hitting the 18/19mph speed without a fair bit of input from me.

I would like to boost the maximum speed of the bike in powered mode above the offroad setting (yes I am aware of the legal issues) … can you tell me if this is possible?

Thanks

 

[the_killjoy]

I adjusted the 'off-road' adjustable resistor on mine but have never managed to get assistance above 16mph.

However my trouble is that I tend to use full throttle even when cycling which pulls the range down, so I am now trying to be more disciplined and only use the throtle when I really need it.

 

[Wisper Bikes]

Speed.

Hi Gordon, have you checked tyre pressures recently? This will certainly help. I assume you are de restricted? (your bike I mean!!)

All the best David

 

[GordonMasson]

Tyre pressures are good.

I don’t have any concerns about range because I am only looking for about 20 miles before I can recharge again.
Rather than range I would like extra speed. Is there anything on the bike I can adjust to increase the level where power assistance drops out?

I think it drops out before it should and in any case I would like it to give me assistance up to about 22 mph…how can I do this David?

Thanks Gordon.

Oh by the way, the computer on the bike works about 70% of the time but it seems to loose the signal… the sensor is as close as possible to the magnet on the spokes and the computer has a clear line of sight to the transmitter… any ideas?
Also, what is the circumference that should be entered into the computer for a 2099 model 905se Sport with standard tyres.
(just in case you wondered, the speeds im talking about above are all taken from a GPS unit not the bike computer)

 

[Wisper Bikes]

Speed

Hi Gordon

Sorry to say that is about it. The gears in the motor are set up for maximum torque and a road limit of 15mph, so even when we derestric you can only get the maximum according to the gearing.

The only thing you can do is replace the motor with the new Bafang 500w hub which we will be selling in USA and Canada later this year. We can easily put a kit on the next container for you but you would need to change the controller and re build the back wheel. Needless to say the bike would then be illegal on public roads.

Re the computer, please would you drop Norman a line he is our service manager service@wisperbikes.com and he will sort you out.

All the best David

 

[torrent99]

Tyre pressures are good.

I don’t have any concerns about range because I am only looking for about 20 miles before I can recharge again.
Rather than range I would like extra speed. Is there anything on the bike I can adjust to increase the level where power assistance drops out?

I think it drops out before it should and in any case I would like it to give me assistance up to about 22 mph…how can I do this David?

Thanks Gordon.

Oh by the way, the computer on the bike works about 70% of the time but it seems to loose the signal… the sensor is as close as possible to the magnet on the spokes and the computer has a clear line of sight to the transmitter… any ideas?
Also, what is the circumference that should be entered into the computer for a 2099 model 905se Sport with standard tyres.
(just in case you wondered, the speeds im talking about above are all taken from a GPS unit not the bike computer)

Once you've "streamlined" the bike by losing the weight, pumping up tires, using the thinest tires possible etc etc.

The speed of the motor is largely defined by the voltage of the battery so the next "upgrade" is to increase the voltage of the battery. This is a non-trivial upgrade!!

To get any meaningful increase in speed you'll need to go to 48V, which will require a new controller as well as extra(+combining electronics)/new battery.
Not to be entered into lightly...

 

[eddieo]

"The only think you can do is replace the motor with the new Bafang 500w hub which we will be selling in USA and Canada later this year. We can easily put a kit on the next container for you but you would need to change the controller and re build the back wheel. Needless to say the bike would then be illegal on public roads."

Mmmm......David could you inadvertently put a few of these USA spec bikes on the wrong container.......Strictly for oft road use of course!

 

[Wisper Bikes]

My mistake!

I think that is exactly the kind of error we may make

All the best Eddieo

David

 

[GordonMasson]

OK... so just to confirm, the things i have read about adjusting a screw on a cable somewhere on the bike are not going to help me here is that correct?

Can someone explain what this screw does and where it is please?

I would also like to decommission my off-road button so that it was fixed in the off-road position.... i have pressed it inadvertently a few times and not realised for a few miles that i am in low speed mode.
Can it just be disconnected at the junction box at the front of the bike?

I am pretty disappointed about the top speed you can get out of the bike.
The suggested unassisted off-road speed is up about 17 / 18 mph as i recall but im not getting anything like that on flat ground (im just over 12 stone by the way). in fact if it wasn’t for the off-road button the bike certainly wouldn’t achieve 14.5 mph unassisted with the throttle fully open.

 

[Wisper Bikes]

Top speed

Hi Gordon, you should be getting more than 15mph when de-restricted in perfect conditions of course and certainly your weight is not a problem.

If your tyres are at 60psi, the road is flat (it is worth taking readings in both directions on the same piece of road) and metaled, there is nothing on your bike (like panniers) that would offer more than usual wind resistance and there is nothing outside influencing the bike like the wind or a wet road, I cannot explain it.

Where are you based? It may be worth us taking a look for you.

The small screw is inside the controller box and is located at the end of one of the cable sets coming out of the controller.

I am not sure which model bike you have but if it is a late one you simply unplug the green button from the front connection box and connect the two cables (black and blue) left in the box together.



All the best David

 

[GordonMasson]

No the bike is exactly as it came … no additional bits only me.
I don’t wear skin tight lycra but I have fairly low drag clothes on.
I will try doing a run in each direction to confirm what the speeds are as you suggest.

As for the model of the bike, its one of the early 2009 models that came into the country in Jan / Feb.
It has the connection box just below the handle bars and the hi / low switch on the left of the handle bars.

So this small screw inside the controller box that is located at the end of one of the cable sets coming out of the controller.
Can you explain exactly what it does and how you adjust it ….clockwise / anti clockwise?

Oh… im in Aberdeen by the way

Thanks

 

[Mussels]

Once you've "streamlined" the bike by losing the weight, pumping up tires, using the thinest tires possible etc etc.

Putting aside the usual fat/think tyre arguments a thin tyre will also have a smaller circumference and effectively reduce the hub motor gearing, stick on a fatter tyre so each rotation covers more ground and the net result will be a faster motor.
I noticed a definate speed increase after fitting balloon tyres, I think I worked it out at about a 10% gain.

 

[Wisper Bikes]

Speed

Hi Gordon

OK all seems to be fine, so if you could do the up and down the road test that would help me.

We have just opened a new dealer in Ellon, not far from you so we will be able to sort it out quite easily if there is a problem. Did your bike come from E Bikes direct? I remember them saying they were sending a bike to Scotland.

Best regards David

 

[wibble]

I doubt it's this, but thought I'd suggest anyway:

Make sure your bike really does go into 7th gear. For the first couple of months of having a Wisper I had been cyling in 5th gear while thinking I was in 7th. The indicator on the handlebars was showing 7th gear but the chain was really on the 5th gear. doh.

What had happened was that the derailluer guard was bent inwards and this was restricting the derailluer movement.


Oh, and on a side note - cycling in 6th and 7th gears on the flat will cause the assist to cut out because the cranks aren't turning fast enough. So when on the flat (or slight incline) I use 5th gear. Obviously, this isn't an issue if you use the throttle as the throttle overrides the pedelec mode.

 

[Bigbee]

Oh, and on a side note - cycling in 6th and 7th gears on the flat will cause the assist to cut out because the cranks aren't turning fast enough. So when on the flat (or slight incline) I use 5th gear. Obviously, this isn't an issue if you use the throttle as the throttle overrides the pedelec mode.

Isnt this what " intelligent torque sensors " are supposed to detect?

I thought there are two type of PAS

Intelligent ,which measure how much assistance you need and speed sensors which are dumb and cheap??Its sounds like the Wisper has speed sensors then?

 

[Mussels]

Isnt this what " intelligent torque sensors " are supposed to detect?

I thought there are two type of PAS

Intelligent ,which measure how much assistance you need and speed sensors which are dumb and cheap??Its sounds like the Wisper has speed sensors then?

I don't know who was describing torque sensors as intelligent, that's marketing rubbish if ever I heard it. They are just different types of sensors and the reason the Panasonic unit has them is because of the very restrictive Japanese laws,the 'intelligent' software in the Panasonic unit is quite restrictive for western riders.

 

[wibble]

Torque sensors do sound better to me. But I'm not convinced that a pedelec mode is great idea, regardless of the technology behind it.

The only reason why I was relying on pedelec mode on my last trip was that I was concerned about battery life. The last time I went on the same trip my battery died on me.

This time around I managed the journey easily. Although I'm still not convinced that it was because I didn't use the throttle as much. It may have been the lack of wind. pfft

Tests shall continue..



Cytronex seems to have the best approach - they just have a button to enable assist. I find throttles are okay, but they can be awkward when standing on the pedals to climb a steep hill. It's a little awkward throttling back while pulling on the handlebars. and I always feel that if I'm not careful I could break the throttle.

Oh, and my hand can sometimes ache after riding with the throttle. This is odd considering I used to ride BMX and motorcross bikes without any problems at all. Maybe it's caused by the combination of twisting and pulling at the same time.


Disclaimer - But I still think that the Wisper is the best ebike out there.

 

[Wisper Bikes]

Dum cadence sensors

Wisper bikes do not have any intelligence at all!

There is simply a switch that is turned on when the pedals are being turned, this at the moment can be over ridden by using the throttle.

After making a 905 that used the system are three main reasons why we decided not to adopt the Panasonic "intelligent" torque sensor or any torque sensor at all for that matter.

1. We like simple there is less to go wrong.
2. We don't think they are intelligent at all. Indeed we think that most e bike riders have a higher IQ than the Panasonic system so we give them a throttle control and a Hi Lo power switch so they can decide on how much extra power they need at any given time.
3. We found the extra movement in the pedals needed to monitor the pressure exerted on them by the torque sensor was not so good to ride without power.

All the best David