Kalkhoff Pro-Connect or Wiper 905SE

[bamo]

Hi,
could anybody tell me the pros andf cons between the Kalkhoff Pro-Connect or Wiper 905SE, especially as regards to hill climbing, braking, reliability, etc.
Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance

Iain

 

[john]

Hi,
could anybody tell me the pros andf cons between the Kalkhoff Pro-Connect or Wiper 905SE, especially as regards to hill climbing, braking, reliability, etc.
Any advice would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks in advance

Iain

A couple of the obvious differences are that the Kalkhoff is pedelec only (although with various power levels) whereas the Wisper has throttle control. With drive through the gears, the Kalkhoff can produce more torque at the wheel for steep hill climbing but with perhaps a slight reduction in efficiency.

The Wispers seem to be reliable (not noticed many problems on the forum) as is the drive on the Kalkhoff, but the rest of the bike is too new to tell.

 

[ElephantsGerald]

I haven't actually tried either bike, but Aldby, who has somehow managed to buy 22 eBikes, sell 19, and eventually kept the 3 he liked had this to say:

Seroiusly, I didn't have 22 at the same time and now only have 3 electric, my wife's wave frame Agattu, my new diamond frame Agattu and a Wisper 905se which is used by anyone in a hurry. My son borrows one everyday to commute to work, he hasn't got anywhere to store one, so has to walk from his flat to collect one. He actually prefers riding the wave frame Agattu.

Bearing in mind that I haven't ridden either, the consensus I've gleaned from this forum is that the Wisper is likely to be faster (particularly if you don't want to join in and pedal very much yourself), but that the Kalkhoff experience is much closer to that of riding a conventional bike (although faster/easier because of the power assist).

As far as I can tell the Kalkhoff will go up virtually any hill because of the way the gearing works, whilst the Wisper won't manage really really extreme hills. However, the Wisper should go up most hills faster than the Kalkhoff.

It also seems that the Kalkhoff is more pleasant to ride without power (either by choice or by flat battery) since the hub gears on the Wisper are always turning with the wheel, and add a drag factor (or cogging effect).

To summarize: the Kalkhoff offers a better "cycling" experience, but unless you're very fit, the Wisper is likely to get you from A to B faster.

Personally I've got a Wisper on order because I've got a 32 mile round trip commute and therefore consider myself to be in a hurry! I guess it depends on what you want to do with the bike.

Regards,

Elephants

 

[ibby]

Continuing with the thread, I also can't decide between the two bikes however I have the added prob of only being 5' 2" so will I be able to touch the ground with my feet?

Also which size of Kalkhoff 45cm or 49cm, didn't like the fact if I remember correctly that 45cm has smaller wheels, had visions of a Raleigh shopper look .

This will be my third electric bike and I commute daily don't really need help with the cycling as relatively fit just like to be able to get away from those car maniacs on a particularly bad roundabout

 

[baboon]

I had a very similar dilemma. I was tempted by the Wisper's 19.5mph top speed and ability to go without pedalling, but what swung it for me was the higher quality of components used on the Pro Connect, so I've gone for one of them.

Peter

 

[flecc]

I have the added prob of only being 5' 2" so will I be able to touch the ground with my feet?

which size of Kalkhoff 45cm or 49cm, didn't like the fact if I remember correctly that 45cm has smaller wheels, had visions of a Raleigh shopper look .

You'd need the 45 cm, but it's wheels are for us the normal 26" size, the rest of the range having the large 28" wheels, popular in parts of Europe but not so here.

Initial take-off with the Kalkhoff Panasonic motored bikes is fast initially, but the Wisper 905se will be ahead quite quickly due to it's higher speed potential. Stick to the Kalkhoff if the hills are extremely steep, but if yours are more gentle hills which the Wisper can cope with, it will be a bit better at getting away from the cars in the way you want.
.

 

[frank9755]

I have the added prob of only being 5' 2" so will I be able to touch the ground with my feet?

I'm afraid probably not on the Wisper!
It is a large framed bike with a standover height of 31.5" (height from the top of the middle of the crossbar to the ground). Obviously it depends on your inside leg measurement rather than height, but it may well be too big for you. I'm 5'8" and the frame is strictly speaking a little bit too big for me.

Frank

 

[flecc]

Is it larger than the former 905e Frank?

I'm thinking of that photo of Sarah on the Wisper website, who I think they say is 5' 2".
.

 

[stokepa31_mk2]

Continuing with the thread, I also can't decide between the two bikes however I have the added prob of only being 5' 2" so will I be able to touch the ground with my feet?

Also which size of Kalkhoff 45cm or 49cm, didn't like the fact if I remember correctly that 45cm has smaller wheels, had visions of a Raleigh shopper look .

This will be my third electric bike and I commute daily don't really need help with the cycling as relatively fit just like to be able to get away from those car maniacs on a particularly bad roundabout

My wifes 45cm step through arrived today. shes is 5ft and half an inch. she can nowhere near touch the floor when sitting on the seat but her riding position is about perfect with almost fully extended leg when the pedals reach the bottom. 50cycles will supply a non susprnsion seat post which decreases the saddle height by 2 inches which would probably give you what you are looking for at the expense of a little comfort.

Regards
Paul.

 

[frank9755]

I don't know how the frame compares to the original E but I think the forks are bigger, which jacks the front up higher. The bottom bracket is high and the crossbar curves up quite steeply in front of the saddle so where you stand it is pretty much flat. I measured the standover height at the mid-point of the crossbar and it is 31.5 inches. My inside leg is about 30" + half an inch or so for my shoes, so when I ride it I do have to make sure that I tilt the bike slightly when I stop, to avoid injury!

The crossbar curves down steeply towards the seat and it is actually possible to get the seat lower than the standover height. Some shorter people may be happy with this arrangement, but I don't think a good bike shop would recommend it.

Looking at that picture again, it is hard to be sure but I suspect that if Mary put her brakes on, stopped the bike, moved forward off the saddle, she might struggle to clear the crossbar where it gets higher.

 

[flecc]

That photo did give me that impression too, ok for riding position but quite a reach for the ground.
.

 

[frank9755]

I guess there's a reason why most bikes don't have curved crossbars!

 

[rock_hopper]

I am also 5'2", been lurking/hunting around for a suitable bike for a while but now I have one thought I would offer a post....

Tried the 905e at the New Forest show and later at ETS - that was okay and I was close to buying one, the 905se was too big for me. News on the Kalkhoff came out around then and with the hill climbing aspect plus pedelec only mode ended up ordering a 45cm Pro-Connect, delivered last Thursday. Early days but from my couple of runs thus far perhaps doesn't give the 'zoom' effect a throttle bike could at junctions but there is sufficient support to get you going easily at junctions, great going up hills though. I have cycled the 7 miles to work on a cheap MTB on odd days over the past 18 months and basically struggled on the hill, I was aiming for a bike upgrade that would assist me in cycling 5 days a week to work rather than just jumping in the car when it rained/blew a gale - I think I have found it !

This forum has been very useful for me whilst considering what to go for, the hard decision was buying something I hadn't actually seen/tried. If anyone is thinking of a Pro Connect and is near South Hampshire drop me a PM and you can come and have a look my short one !

 

[frank9755]

Well done - sounds like you've got a bike that meets your needs. I hope you continue to enjoy it!
Interesting to confirm that the 905 SE is indeed bigger than the old E

 

[ibby]

Thanks for all the suggestions it has been really helpful, think it will be the Pro-Connect as I'm just too small for the Wisper, but would have liked that initial power at lights and the dreaded roundabout.

 

[c_elder]

Gearing Question

... I have cycled the 7 miles to work on a cheap MTB on odd days over the past 18 months and basically struggled on the hill, I was aiming for a bike upgrade that would assist me in cycling 5 days a week to work rather than just jumping in the car when it rained/blew a gale - I think I have found it !

Hi rock_hopper

As you one of the few people to have actually ridden a Pro-Connect on the road - would you give your opinion on the gearing? Is it under-geared as many have asserted? Would you change the back cog from 22 teeth or keep as is?

Thank you in advance