Condition, condition,condition.

[tenderbehind]

It's been quite a long time since I've posted, couldn't really think of much new to say was one of the reasons, but here goes with a topic. Yesterday I saw a sorry site, a Wisper 905se chained to a railing, all alone and looking very sorry for itself.
Just about every screw, bolt, and nut was rusty, the chain equally so, the frame scratched, and marked, rust on the chromework on the handlebars, the saddle torn, a generally sorry state. Oh, and even the rear tyre was as flat as a pancake. There was no cover on the bike, and it was raining, (isn't it always these days?) Not good for an e bike surely, though I realise ther'e well insulated against damp. Admittedely, the bike may have had a lot of use, either that or sheer neglect.
I just wondered how anyone could buy a bike worth roughly a thousand pounds and get it into this condition - even if it was in the hands of the second or third owner, someone left it to get into this sorry state. Keeping things really clean and in pristine condition isn't exactly my strong point, I believe in using things rather than continually cleaning them, but I don't think I'd ever let my own 905 get into such a bad state.
Is cleaning bikes and keeping them in a good clean state a very important point among pedelec members, or is using them and cleaning occasionally more the case?

 

[themutiny]

I'll go for the latter.

For me, bikes are about the riding experience... Every time.

 

[fishingpaul]

Every time i go to work on mine if it starts out clean ,i notice it gets covered in dust in the bike shed,after a while i have given up trying to keep it looking clean.

 

[Alex728]

a 905 has rust proof bolts (or at least a 2009 model does) of a kind I have never seen before on my other push bikes.

Sounds like this is either a very old model (which has had high mileage) or one of the clones what have appeared in the SE England area thanks to some unscrupulous dealer. That said with the description of a "flat tyre" doesn't sound like its clear if its rideable or not, I would wonder if it might even have been stolen and abandoned when the battery ran out?

 

[Wisper Bikes]

Sad

How sad!

It does sound like it's an old one before all the stainless steel and alloy fixings were added or a clone.

If it is a Wisper we would like to get it back and make it happy again!

Regards

David

 

[Mussels]

Is cleaning bikes and keeping them in a good clean state a very important point among pedelec members, or is using them and cleaning occasionally more the case?

My bike gets used most days and in all weathers, keeping it spotless just isn't going to happen. Usually it gets cleaned around whichever bit I'm working on but generally doesn't show up the dirt.

 

[Straylight]

As I clean the muck off my rims after a rainstorm anyway, I then give it a once over with a jay cloth at the same time. In dry riding it doesn't seem to attract the dirt at all, so I don't get obsessive about it.

 

[flecc]

I rarely clean apart from keeping the rim walls clean, but rain does keep them presentable.

That Wisoer owner might have been using the very effective Dutch anti-theft method. Over there they've found the best precaution against theft is the filthy unkempt bike, and some even deliberately mess up a new bike straight away when they buy it.
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