Solarstorm

Having tried both I would say the Oxygen is a bit more sporty and the Wisper is a bit more comfortable. The Wisper torque uses a torque sensor which gives a more natural feeling to the assistance, however it isn't as natural feeling as a lot of the crank drive driven bikes which tend to cost a lot more. Both have a fair number of fans, so I think you should be fine with either. I ended up with the Wisper in the end myself as despite initially wanting a sporty ride, found out I actually quite liked the comfort!

Interesting to see all the pictures of the build, looks great

Do you have any preference for a torque (the more pressure you put on the peddles the more the motor gives) for a more natural feeling or just a cadace system where the motor cuts in more based on the assist level you have set (and how fast you peddle)? Test rode quite a few of both types recently all a bit under your budget and found the experience quite different. While everyone has different preferences, I liked the Wisper Torque models (comfortable with a good level of assistance), Juicy's Roller (very natural feeling, but not enough assistance for me in my current fatigued state), and the Oxygen Cross (fun to ride).

Seemed to be the case when I was looking, so I have given up on the idea until I get a larger place

I thought a lot about getting a portable air conditioning unit with the recent heat. I didn't seem to be able to find one with even semi decent reviews though. Is yours quiet enough to use while sleeping?

After a few test rides I now have a Wisper 905 Torque on order. The Oxygen S-Cross was also pretty nice, however I preferred the more progressive feel of the assistance on Wisper which made it a bit more predictable to ride. It was the first torque sensor bike I actually felt I got on with in my current state. The torque sensor crank drive bikes I tried while providing a nice progressive feel needed more rider input to achieve the same result. Thanks for everyone's advice and input.

Thanks for all the suggestions. While it isn't exactly local, I have managed to find somewhere with both the Wisper 905 and Oxygen bikes available to try, so I'll be off a bit later for a trip into the Kent countryside to get a couple of test rides. I'll let you all know how I get on!

Thanks for the suggestion, the Bosch system seems to require more effort than I'm able to put in at the moment though. Trying to derail the topic too much, but gave you stayed pretty stable over your time with CFS, or has the bike helped you increase your fitness over that time? I think something along the lines of what you have my be more suitable when/if I hopefully manage to get a bit more back on track. Looks like the Woosh Krieger or Wisper 905 may be the best bet for now if I can sort out some test rides.

Thanks - My main concern is losing the ability to peddle lightly and still get maximum assistance with the torque model. After doing a few quick searches I believe the 'F' mode on the torque model would do what I want though?

Thanks for the suggestion, I think I actually prefer the dutch style handlebars from the comfort point of view.

Hi David, Thanks for the reply. How would you say the torque model compares with the SE in effort required to get a good level of electrical assistance to kick in? I'm a bit wary of torque sensors based on my test rides, however I hear the motor is more powerful on the torque vs the SE.

Hi, After doing a bit of research on the forums and trying out a couple of bikes locally I’m wondering if I have missed any options as I haven’t quite found the perfect bike yet. The main reason I’m looking for an electric bike is my current lack of energy being caused by chronic fatigue syndrome. My partner has finally managed to get around learning to cycle, and now she is getting out and about it would be nice to join her on rides, however my 15 year old specialised mountain bike isn’t really suitable for my current state, leaving me tired out and uncomfortable very quickly. Still being fairly young (mid 30’s) I’m trying to find the sweet spot between something which is still fairly sporty looking, yet with a comfortable and relaxing ride, preferably with a more upright seating position but preferably a cross bar frame (something like a Wisper 905, but with the handlebars/seating position of the 705 if such a thing exists). I found after trying a couple of Bosch and Shimano mid motor bikes that the energy I had to put in was higher than wanted, so I think most bikes built around those systems are out. I also managed to try out a Juicy Roller, but I didn’t find the assistance level to be as high as I wanted either. Maybe I need to stick to a cadence sensor, or at least something with a throttle override? I also tried a Wisper 705SE (only Wisper model I could find to test ride locally) which seemed to provide a sufficient level of assistance, however I prefer the styling of the 905 – any comments as to how its seating position compares? I presume it is a less relaxing more forward leaning ride? Also would anyone be able to comment on the level of assistance the Wisper torque bikes offer? Based on my testing of other torque sensor bikes I’m a bit sceptical however the Wisper website does mention it can be used in cadence mode as well. Woosh’s range of bikes seems interesting, however none of the models really stand out to me as the obvious pick. Any suggestions for makes and models I may have overlooked would be most appreciated. PS. As it may be relevant to the suggestions, I’m not particularly heavy or tall – about 72kg and 5 foot 10.