Wisper 905Se.

[Vikki]

I've noticed that the Wisper isn't quite as hard a ride as I first thought (unless hitting those harsh lumps). As I've got used to the lil' fella I've noticed that there is a natural spring to the rear of the frame and a lesser spring in the forks.

Funny how you get to notice these things over time. I suspect the springiness in the rear is due to the elongated frame due to where the battery sits. It's actually a rather nice feeling. It's not massively springy but it's there and just slightly softens the journey.

Best regards.

Vikki.

 

[flecc]

Some don't like the curved tube frame on the Wisper and some other Chinese made bikes, but there's no doubt it does help with comfort in the way you descibe Vikki. The curvature of it's down tube allows for give by minute straightening under load, in effect a centrally sprung frame

Alloy frames are far more rigid than the lightweight steels ones we used to have years ago and less comfortable in consequence. Often the worst of the alloy frames for comfort are those on e-bikes where the crossbar and rear upper tubes form a straight line from headstock to rear spindle, transmitting every shock in both directions and absorbing nothing.

Of course that's the reason for the "cruiser" styling on some leisure bikes, curved frame members everywhere to maximise comfort.
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[Rod Tibbs]

A sprung seat pillar is very easily fitted and works wonders.

Rod

 

[flecc]

A sprung seat pillar is very easily fitted and works wonders.

Rod

They don't work for all people though Rod. My weight doesn't seem to make them spring at all, no difference from a standard post. In part that's often due to the seat tube being too inclined on some e-bike frames, the friction even when well greased preventing a spring action with a moderate weight.

They really need to come with a choice of spring strengths to suit different rider weights, the one strength that copes with heavy riders being far too stiff for lightweights.
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[Vikki]

Hi, guys.

Thanks, Flecc. I found that about the frame interesting and had thought about that before. You learn something every day

I've had a sprung seat stem in the past and wondered why it didn't do anything for me. I put it down to the seat tube angle as well. Too much friction when combined with my weight. That's why I moved Old Bikey's electrics over to a fully suspended frame. Oh, the comfort!

Vikki.

 

[Mussels]

They really need to come with a choice of spring strengths to suit different rider weights, the one strength that copes with heavy riders being far too stiff for lightweights.
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I had the opposite problem when I got my Wisper, the seat was almost always at the bottom of it's travel. In the end I found a preload adjuster inside the tube, when wound right up it was just enough for my 15 stone.
But yes they do stick and grease doesn't help much.

 

[torrent99]

I had the opposite problem when I got my Wisper, the seat was almost always at the bottom of it's travel. In the end I found a preload adjuster inside the tube, when wound right up it was just enough for my 15 stone.
But yes they do stick and grease doesn't help much.

Yes I found this too... didn't help much, and anyway it was far too short for me (plus I found the way it dropped down when I got on very disconcerting!). In the end I replaced it with a 400mm solid post...on its maximum setting!

Surprising though I have found the suspension forks (which I initially thought were unnecessary) are very good, ironing out some of Haringey's nasty road offences.

 

[gwing]

They don't work for all people though Rod. My weight doesn't seem to make them spring at all, no difference from a standard post. In part that's often due to the seat tube being too inclined on some e-bike frames, the friction even when well greased preventing a spring action with a moderate weight.

They really need to come with a choice of spring strengths to suit different rider weights, the one strength that copes with heavy riders being far too stiff for lightweights.
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They are an insane price but the 'Thudbusters' come with a set of 'springs' for different weights and also overcome the difficulty with friction you mention. I have their smaller version on a MTB and its very nice indeed.
Perhaps I also ought to mention that I got it cheap

 

[Mussels]

They are an insane price but the 'Thudbusters' come with a set of 'springs' for different weights and also overcome the difficulty with friction you mention. I have their smaller version on a MTB and its very nice indeed.
Perhaps I also ought to mention that I got it cheap

I want one, but I'm not paying £100 for it! Yet anyway.

 

[flecc]

They are an insane price but the 'Thudbusters' come with a set of 'springs' for different weights and also overcome the difficulty with friction you mention. I have their smaller version on a MTB and its very nice indeed.
Perhaps I also ought to mention that I got it cheap

Sounds good gwing, but I don't really want them anyway. The three e-bikes I've bought plus one unpowered one previously all came with them and that's why I knew they didn't work for me. On my present two bikes I've replaced one with a rigid post and only keep the other one fitted for it's tilt feature for battery changing.
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