Geo13647

Have a Woosh Zephyr CD, been promising a proper review for weeks now. Still not finished it due to (insert latest excuse here). However, just to reiterate what others have said, Woosh are a nice company to deal with, and their products are, in my opinion, really good value for money. I'm really happy with my purchase, as it as made cycling a much more enjoyable activity. I can now with a very small bit of effort, climb hills, that I could not manage on a road bike 20 years ago. The quality of the bike is good, considering it's 'non-European' origins. If I had to find fault, the paint finish could do with a good hard lacquer coating, as is common with most aluminium finishes, it's a bit on the soft side, and can mark fairly easily. Mechanically, everything seems to be of good quality, and, so far quite reliable. You do, however, need to spend a little time on adjusting cables etc, just as any other bike. Regards, G...

I use this for powerpoles. http://http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/INSERTION-EXTRACTION-TOOL-30AMP-45AMP-ANDERSON-POWERPOLE-CONTACTS-/230956476196 Works well for me. Geo...

Yep - the lag is quite noticeable, you do need to think ahead to get in the lower gears. However, as long a you are using a lower assist setting 1 or 2 (not the throttle) you can get smooth changes without cutting the power. It's just getting the cadence right. Exactly the same as a clutchless gear change on a car. You do need to have the gearset nicely adjusted. Mine was ever so slightly out due to settling in. Once you have made the change, then you can use the throttle or goose the motor with a 4 or 5 assist if required, assuming you have the amps to do that. (The Zephyr CD is a bit wimpy on a 20% hill if you don't lend a hand (or foot ))

Originally Posted by DCUK6 Any luck gettin a model reviewed yet? Looking for a Zephyr and Zephyr review but cant find either. Like the look. At the minute its the only sub £750 folding bike without the battery behind the seat which doesnt look good and also has a 250w motor. Can you fit a rack on the back? Is it possible to change the gears, my trips are all flat so would really like to be able to have a higher high gear. Are there any upcomming improvements? Read something in another thread. -- Hi, Just got my Zephyr CD at the weekend, too busy having fun on it to finish the review I've started. However, here's a couple of first impressions. 1.. Woosh are a nice company to deal with. Hatti & Andrew were really helpful with all the inane questions I was asking. The bike arrived when I asked for it, well packed in a BIG box, as usual the box suffered a bit of bashing, but with a bin bag full of bubble wrap & polystyrene, the bike inside was undamaged. 2.. Unpacking & assembly was a doddle, the instructions are clear & concise. Although the bike only weighs 21kg, it's an awkward lift out of it's box due to the size & balance. Do take care & have an assistant. 3.. Once assembled, charge the battery fully, it will take several hours. This is a good time to go over the whole bike & check all the nuts 'n bolts, check the tyres, I had to add about 15 psi to mine. Fold up the box in case it's needed later, clear up all the rubbish you will have scattered about the bike. Get a coffee. 4.. Now it's time to enjoy. Ok. Some thoughts & comments. (These are just my own observations & thoughts. YMMV) The bike is well balanced and easy to use. I am 55, unfit, 5' 9", & 87kg. Last cycled 15 years ago. After a few wobbles, off I went, that was a week ago & I'm still smiling. Some niggles. -The seatpost is, for me, a little short, it's 300mm 30.4 od, there is a safety screw that stops the post wiping out the controller, apart from that, very standard & easy & cheap to change. -The saddle is abysmal, again, easy & cheap to change. Got a nice comfy gel one from haflords. -The bottom of the seatpost houses the 'leccy bits, the cover is a poor fit, needs a little bit of filing & some goop to waterproof it properly. All the wiring is well insulated, but I don't want to be scooping up water. -The plastic plug to cover the charge socket is a joke, it works, but does not stay captive to the socket like it should, need to find a better way. Fitting a rack is easy, you do need to get a universal adjustable one tho' as the LHS frame holds the brakes, you need a bar clamp. The RHS is ok as there is a threaded hole to use, replace the screws holding the mudguard with bolts, this allows you to attach the front of the rack. Assemble everything loosely, and adjust to level & balance. Looks good & you can just jam the mudguard in place. The gears are a standard 7 speed Shimano SIS cassette, different gearing should be doable, although I haven't tried that yet. That's all fer now. Any questions, just ask. Regards, George...

Hi, Just got my Zephyr CD at the weekend, too busy having fun on it to finish the review I've started. However, here's a couple of first impressions. 1.. Woosh are a nice company to deal with. Hatti & Andrew were really helpful with all the inane questions I was asking. The bike arrived when I asked for it, well packed in a BIG box, as usual the box suffered a bit of bashing, but with a bin bag full of bubble wrap & polystyrene, the bike inside was undamaged. 2.. Unpacking & assembly was a doddle, the instructions are clear & concise. Although the bike only weighs 21kg, it's an awkward lift out of it's box due to the size & balance. Do take care & have an assistant. 3.. Once assembled, charge the battery fully, it will take several hours. This is a good time to go over the whole bike & check all the nuts 'n bolts, check the tyres, I had to add about 15 psi to mine. Fold up the box in case it's needed later, clear up all the rubbish you will have scattered about the bike. Get a coffee. 4.. Now it's time to enjoy. Ok. Some thoughts & comments. (These are just my own observations & thoughts. YMMV) The bike is well balanced and easy to use. I am 55, unfit, 5' 9", & 87kg. Last cycled 15 years ago. After a few wobbles, off I went, that was a week ago & I'm still smiling. Some niggles. -The seatpost is, for me, a little short, it's 300mm 30.4 od, there is a safety screw that stops the post wiping out the controller, apart from that, very standard & easy & cheap to change. -The saddle is abysmal, again, easy & cheap to change. Got a nice comfy gel one from haflords. -The bottom of the seatpost houses the 'leccy bits, the cover is a poor fit, needs a little bit of filing & some goop to waterproof it properly. All the wiring is well insulated, but I don't want to be scooping up water. -The plastic plug to cover the charge socket is a joke, it works, but does not stay captive to the socket like it should, need to find a better way. Fitting a rack is easy, you do need to get a universal adjustable one tho' as the LHS frame holds the brakes, you need a bar clamp. The RHS is ok as there is a threaded hole to use, replace the screws holding the mudguard with bolts, this allows you to attach the front of the rack. Assemble everything loosely, and adjust to level & balance. Looks good & you can just jam the mudguard in place. The gears are a standard 7 speed Shimano SIS cassette, different gearing should be doable, although I haven't tried that yet. That's all fer now. Any questions, just ask. Regards, George...

Is that the same as an Ooh! matron?

Yup - one exploding Lithium battery was one too many - luckily nobody was injured and the damage was minimal - new pair of breeks needed tho. the noise & explosion is just like a bomb (well it is a bomb). Always treat batteries with care. Any sign of damage or bulges - do not charge - dispose of properly. Geo...

That seems to be the common thought nowadays, however, once you come back from a ride, get a cup of tea or your favourite tipple, before you put the battery on charge. Charging a hot battery (and they can get very hot) WILL shorten the battery life. NEVER leave anything on charge unattended. I do disagree with leaving battery chargers on continuously, it's not necessary, and can be a hazard. You may also find that your insurance wil not cover you in this case, worth checking. just my own opinion. Regards, Geo...

Thanks Steve, missed that one. George...

Did anyone get a chance to ride a Woosh Zephyr CD at the weekend? Really interested in this, but cannot find any reviews. Any impressions please? Thanks muchly. George...

Hi, conditioning of batteries dates back to the days of old NiCad batteries and is not so important for modern(ish) chemistry I.e. LiPo etc. However, ANY rechargeable battery (including your car battery) can benefit from a few discharge & recharge cycles. Just run the appliance until the low battery light comes on, then charge up again to full power. A few caveats... NEVER short out ANY battery to quickly discharge. The battery will quickly overheat, and may explode. NEVER charge a hot (or warm) battery. Let it cool to room temp. My personal preference is to (where possible) with a new gadget is to use the battery fully for 3 times. After that, then just charge as need it. Approximately every 2 months discharge battery fully until the charge me light comes on. Well that works for me. George...

Good route for a bit of enjoyable cycling. Did you go Faslane to Crosskeys or the other way round? Geo...

Hmm sounds a bit fishy to me... G...

Hi, has anyone reviewed the zephyr CD yet? Looks like it ticks all the boxes for me, but I'm too far away in Scotland to see one for real. Wanted to read a few reviews or the manual before parting With the readies. Regards, George...