Grace UK and Ireland

[Wisper Bikes]

Hi All,

I have over the weekend set up the Grace UK and Ireland Face Book pages with lits of great images.

If you have time it would be great if you could have a look and maybe "like" the pages for me!

Grace UK and Ireland | Facebook

We will be updating the pages on a daily basis as and when there is news.

The bikes are ordered and due to be here in the early spring.

All the best

David

 

[hech]

If it works the Grace MX should be the production bike of the year. Am wondering how much it weighs and costs?
The Grace Easy on the other hand is ugly, at the very least you should rip of that horrible headlight. Are these bikes really built in Germany?

 

[Wisper Bikes]

Hi Hech, thanks for your kind comments on the MX, mine arrives today then straight off to the press for reviews. The MX weighs in at 23kg.

The UK "specced" bikes will be just under £3,000 but will include all the extras like the Busch and Muller lighting etc.

The Easy is not to everyones taste but won the Red Dot Award for bike design in 2012. It's designed to be an urban cruiser, is almost silent and weighs only 19kg.

Both bikes are completely made in Germany from the frames to the wheels and spokes, there are some components like tyres that are made in Asia but very few.

Both bikes were deigned by Kalle Nicolai who is recognised as being an authority in bike building in Germany. Especially mountain bikes, see NICOLAI Maschinenbau GmbH

All the best

David

 

[RobF]

If it works the Grace MX should be the production bike of the year. Am wondering how much it weighs and costs?
The Grace Easy on the other hand is ugly, at the very least you should rip of that horrible headlight. Are these bikes really built in Germany?

According the the Grace website, it is the Grace One which has the horrible headlight:

Google Translate

It also has far more power than is legal.

I have no problems with that, and might buy an illegal for the road ebike.

But such a bike shouldn't draw attention to itself.

The One's twin headlight makes it look a bit like a moped.

Haring around UK roads on one of those is asking for trouble.

 

[Wisper Bikes]

Thanks Rob for clearing that up!

Yes the Grace One's headlight is certainly strange, but works well.

Since the changes in the European rules concerning more powerful e-bikes we are considering bringing them is as "off road" vehicles but will only do so once we can resolve some insurance issues. We will keep you posted.

All the best

David

 

[RobF]

Thanks Rob for clearing that up!

Yes the Grace One's headlight is certainly strange, but works well.

Since the changes in the European rules concerning more powerful e-bikes we are considering bringing them is as "off road" vehicles but will only do so once we can resolve some insurance issues. We will keep you posted.

All the best

David

I see the price is about 4,400 euro which I imagine will equate to about £4K over here - too sore for most of us.

But I think it's great Wisper is prepared to look at bringing in high-end bikes, rather than the safe option of another container of cheap stuff from China.

A Grace One as a flagship demo/publicity bike might have a halo effect on the rest of the range, and I'm sure you could get them quickly from Germany if you managed to sell a few.

 

[Wisper Bikes]

Hi Rob, we have left China all together now, our Classic Wisper bikes are now being made in the same factory as the Grace bikes, we thought it would be a good idea to team up with Grace for the UK.

We have already committed to bring in the Grace MX and Easy for the UK and Ireland our stock will be arriving in the spring. See Grace Bikes by Wisper In the UK 2013 for detail.

We have always specified, or designed and had made, the components used in building Wisper bikes and many of the components will still be coming in from Asia but, importantly we feel, the bikes will be now constructed and finished in a German factory with a lot of European parts rather than a Chinese factory and all Chinese parts.

All the best

David

 

[jackhandy]

Hi David,

Will the MX be coming to Eden in April?

I assume it's nominally 250w & thereby would provide a great benchmark for machines nearer to my budget.

Sadly, 'Er Indoors would not appreciate the finer points of a 3-grand bike

 

[Wisper Bikes]

Hi Jackhandy,

We will certainly be showing at the Eden Project and by coincidence have just finished writing to the management about the event.

I look forward to seeing you there.

All the best

David

 

[indalo]

It seems like a high-risk strategy to me David but I admire your spirit for attempting to break into the high-end niche bike market.

I just hope you have gauged the market correctly as I have serious doubts about moving bikes at that price point but hey!....that's why you're a businessman and I'm not.

Indalo

 

[103Alex1]

Got some questions having looked at the brochure in that link ... (very neat design btw ... ) ...

The battery appears mounted on the underside of the frame in a housing integral with or bolted on to the unit housing the mid-drive motor unit (please correct me if I'm wrong. Presumably this is possible on account of the frame geometry and front suspension clearances. Do you mind my asking about the material used to construct the battery housing cage, how this fixes to the frame towards the end closest to the forks and how the battery is removed for charging (if it isn't on-bike only) ?

 

[Wisper Bikes]

Hi Indalo, as you can imagine were a little concerned about the healthy price tag on the bikes when we first considered the idea. Having seen the bikes and after having the opportunity to ride them for a few weeks we believe though not cheap they actually offer good value for money. We too are not 100% certain the British market is ready for such high end models but are encouraged by the advance orders and high level of interest.

And of course they are ice cool!!



As the new Wisper Classics are now being made at the Grace factory, it seemed a sensible move. We are not expecting to sell 100's of Grace bikes in 2013, but as the UK market matures in the way the German and Dutch markets have already we are confident sales will become more exciting.

All the best

David

 

[eddieo]

Hmm.......new girlfriend? does the wife know.....

Will bikes have the larger 11ah batteries..really like the look of these bikes. I think it's a good decision to bring them in. look forward to a test ride.....while at first I wondered about the battery position I now realise (doh!) it allows for a more radical frame design which normally would need to accommodate the battery within triangle, love the look.....

 

[Wisper Bikes]

Hmmmmm the chance would be a fine thing Eddie! Welcome home!

The bikes will be probably be available with the 11Ah batteries, but we are waiting on test results before we confirm.

All the best

David

 

[Wisper Bikes]

Got some questions having looked at the brochure in that link ... (very neat design btw ... ) ...

The battery appears mounted on the underside of the frame in a housing integral with or bolted on to the unit housing the mid-drive motor unit (please correct me if I'm wrong. Presumably this is possible on account of the frame geometry and front suspension clearances. Do you mind my asking about the material used to construct the battery housing cage, how this fixes to the frame towards the end closest to the forks and how the battery is removed for charging (if it isn't on-bike only) ?

Hi Alex, thanks for your kind comments re the design, we are very excited about the bike.

The battery is mounted to the underside of the frame as you suggest. It is protected by an aluminium cage that hinges down from the front so the hinge is at the rear and the lock at the front. The front lack must be opened by putting pressure on two pads either side of the cage at the same time, this prevents accidental opening. The cage is simply there to protect the battery from rocks and stones being thrown up from the front tyre. The battery can be full accessed when the cage is hinged down and can be easily removed by unlocking it and sliding out of the holder.

I hope this helps.





All the best

David

 

[dmcgoldrick]

good luck with the new bikes david. bionx system already well proven and i do like the system.
will also be a good alternative from a reliable supplier with good support , to the flood of bosch crank drive bikes now on the market. look forward to trying one out when they arrive....
regards

 

[Wisper Bikes]

Thanks David, as soon as they are here I will let you know!

I do particularly like the Easy, 48V, 3 internal gears and regen under braking, very sophisticated!



All the best

David

 

[Fordulike]

Dare I say it...... ok, here goes....

David, will customers be able to special order the S-Pedelec version of the Grace MX, with the same kind of warranty as the standard bike?

There you go, I said it

 

[Wisper Bikes]

Hi Fordulike,

We are certainly looking into selling the more powerful bikes for off road use, mainly the mountain bike MX. If we do decide to sell them, we will give the same warranties as on all our bikes.

All the best

David

 

[jerrysimon]

David the Easy, 48V, 3 internal gears, looks sleek and a nice city commuter.

Dare I ask the price ?

Jerry