A kit for your carrera bike,maybe the oxydrive cst kit,on offer at £600 at the moment,14ah battery and i believe the bafang cst motor is one of the best climbers.

. How easy to fit this [ for a novice?] Di I need anything else?

thanks.

Untill I saw this it was down to a secret or kuo+ £765.00 or £995.00.

so 3 options, as Hatti said big bear may be too powerful for my 75k and 5ft5" height.

3 options...which is best? if fitting kit is easy would go for that otherwise 1 of the others.

Pete.

Hi poptop, I'm also in the market for a new bike (folder). We are both the same height / weight. The biggest problem is getting to try all these bikes out which is nigh on impossible and at 65 not enough time!

So, we have to rely on what others have to say though I must say it doesn't help much when rival manufacturers get into a squabble about the merits of their particular offspring. Personally, I would imagine both are value for their respective prices.

Having looked for so long I feel I know every folder manufacturer personally! But somewhere along the line I'm going to have to trust to fate.

I want a folder to fit in the back of the car so I can nip over to the Peak District (which is on my doorstep ) and do a bit of trailing, hills etc.

Kits do look interesting but I don't have a donor bike.

Enough for no

I wish I could open my Mxus to grease a little but the screw on side plate is stuck

A mole grip wrench worked for me, there was just enough of a lip to lock it on.

The side plate was very tight and I had to keep the pressure up for a several seconds until it moved, I used a straight jaw one but a concave face one may be even better.

The jaws did mark the hub slightly but not very noticeable and no damage.

 

Dave.

good to hear I am not alone[Fildoc]. It is a nightmare and I`m 2 years into it now. I am 64 so very similar. I want best looking [ in my opinion]. a2b or secret [style] , biggest battery I can get in one. [gale] I believe. Folding as its best option for me. A bag like the secret would be good as I can then store it/them for transit on back of camper van. And of course not over 1k, but cheaper the better as no income for another 12 months until I get my wonderful state pension [£550.00 pm].

A tall order. it seems, and as you say like you I live in the sticks as far as electric bike dealers go.

So its down to thoughts from these guys who will eventually, hopefully steer me in a sort of right direction.

The new secret with bigger battery, mudguards, lights and bag keeps coming to the front.

Dave, whats your best price for 1 maybe 2 of these? I was given a price by your company for ex demo units today. But no guarantee and smaller battery.

Frustrated man with "some" limited cash ready to spend....Pete.

Interesting read, as many of you already know im in the market for a bike so am following these threads with interest from a consumer point of you however I'm intensely interested in the technical aspect too.

 

Woosh has identified that there is a price point that the average consumer is prepared to pay and they are right, to my knowledge they also adopt direct sales cutting out commissions to dealers putting it back in the pocket of the consumer.

 

Wisper are well respected but there is nearly a 50% difference between their se and torque range, I recognize advances in technology but I could buy 3 se's for the price of 2 torques.

 

Depending on the purpose of the bike doing a 3 mile run to Tesco am I really going to be able to justify the additional spend? In short no but that's just me.

 

Oxygen brand is smart, they limit their models and look quality and would have been my choice but I have been told from December their prices are jumping by 15%

 

Hub vs Crank, for me hub front drive, if the motor fries whip the wheel out and buy another one for under 100 quid.

 

Disc brakes are better than V brakes but I would use quality V brakes simply because replacing a wheel or repairing a puncture is easier. Correct me if I am wrong.

 

Tip for prospective purchasers

Look the brands up on FB

check to see if they have an active facebook page, then see how current it is, finally have they disabled the review section? Some have some haven't, woosh fb is current, active with real reviews.

 

All of the brands that I have mentioned here have good feedback some others havent.

 

Im still digging and enjoying every minute, when I finally make my purchase and it will be between 900 - 1200 gbp I will post my review here.

 

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I find disk brakes easier for wheel change. It just drops out and slots back in again. No need to free the v brakes up to let the tires through.

Just never touch the brake lever when the wheel is out.

I find disk brakes easier for wheel change. It just drops out and slots back in again. No need to free the v brakes up to let the tires through.

Just never touch the brake lever when the wheel is out.

Thanks, point taken, happy about that.

Do you confer front vs rear hub ?

 

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Thanks, point taken, happy about that.

Do you confer front vs rear hub ?

 

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I have crank drive and 8 spd rear hub so the third option. For simplicity front hub rear gear. Is good as long as you never want to hot rod the motor.

I have crank drive and 8 spd rear hub so the third option. For simplicity front hub rear gear. Is good as long as you never want to hot rod the motor.

Thanks again. Wisper and others use rear, woosh front. Im leaning towards woosh and upgrade tyres, pedals, brakes.

 

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Thanks again. Wisper and others use rear, woosh front. Im leaning towards woosh and upgrade tyres, pedals, brakes.

 

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No hot rodding lol :-) just small trips 3 to 5 miles on tarmac roads to the supermarket and coffee shops.

 

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good to hear I am not alone[Fildoc]. It is a nightmare and I`m 2 years into it now. I am 64 so very similar. I want best looking [ in my opinion]. a2b or secret [style] , biggest battery I can get in one. [gale] I believe. Folding as its best option for me. A bag like the secret would be good as I can then store it/them for transit on back of camper van. And of course not over 1k, but cheaper the better as no income for another 12 months until I get my wonderful state pension [£550.00 pm].

A tall order. it seems, and as you say like you I live in the sticks as far as electric bike dealers go.

So its down to thoughts from these guys who will eventually, hopefully steer me in a sort of right direction.

The new secret with bigger battery, mudguards, lights and bag keeps coming to the front.

Dave, whats your best price for 1 maybe 2 of these? I was given a price by your company for ex demo units today. But no guarantee and smaller battery.

Frustrated man with "some" limited cash ready to spend....Pete.

One also has to consider aftercare when purchasing...someone offering an all singing/dancing bike for little money isn't going to provide much of it. That's what the better known manufacturers Woosh, Wisper, Kudos etc are known for...then again a supplier has to start somewhere I suppose.

. How easy to fit this [ for a novice?] Di I need anything else?

thanks.

Untill I saw this it was down to a secret or kuo+ £765.00 or £995.00.

so 3 options, as Hatti said big bear may be too powerful for my 75k and 5ft5" height.

3 options...which is best? if fitting kit is easy would go for that otherwise 1 of the others.

Pete.

You will probably need anti rotation washers,less than £15 from ebay or from cyclezee,you may need to file out the wheel dropouts,otherwise pretty straightforward connectors and maybe a few cable ties,its best to google search a fitting review to see whats involved,im sure you will find somebody fitting one on youtube,it probably has similar power to the big bear,but as with the big bear i would have thought if you find it too powerfull, you could reduce the assist level to suit,there are several levels of assist available to be selected,better to have power in reserve than a feeling of it being underpowered,although that extra power comes with a heavier motor,i would have thought the big bear would be too big for you rather than too powerfull,and if it came with a smaller frame probably a good buy for you,although some people seem happy with lesser powered motors,they do require a fair bit of effort on steep hills.finally i would like to see what d8veh reccomends for you,as a kit and as a folding bike as he probably has more real world experience than anybody,personally i would pm him and ask his unbiased advice.

Don't put them in your Woosh bikes then. The rest of us will enjoy them for what they are.

d8veh i would love to see what you think would best suit the original poster,you seem to have been dragged away from the original post,leave the fighting to the people trying to sell their wares.

interesting comments, thanks guys, d8veh, what are your suggestions?

to recap save reading it all again. I am looking for electric bike.

Presently have a careera [halford job] 1/ fit motor, but not a techie, basic skills.

2/. a2b kuo+ 3/. woosh gale with 13ah battery. 4/. kudos secret.

initially considering 1 bike, with option of 2 for partner. Folding would be of benefit for going on back of vw camper.

cheers.

Pete

Hi Pete, if you are looking for a more affordable option with a Bafang rear motor, the FreeGo Folder may well be worth putting on your list. It's a good reliable bike for under £1,000 with the benefit of local servicing and first class support. This month FreeGo are offering a £100.00 cash back deal bringing the price down to £899.00

 

All the best, David

Hi Pete, if you are looking for a more affordable option with a Bafang rear motor, the FreeGo Folder may well be worth putting on your list. It's a good reliable bike for under £1,000 with the benefit of local servicing and first class support. This month FreeGo are offering a £100.00 cash back deal bringing the price down to £899.00

 

All the best, David

David, why did you decide to move batteries from behind the seat to the pannier?

 

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thanks Dave, more food for the pot, My personal preference is for the kudos secret. it lightweight, has a storage bag for back of camper, looks good with built in battery.[had my shed broken into and 4k of gear nicked] so cautious of theft. On the downside is battery, only 8ah. the freego looks good with 17ah battery, gale 13ah battery, both not as nice to look at.

so its down to the battery? and I don't have experience of 8ah over 13/17ah?

from my understanding its bigger ah[ same 36v] gives longer journey time, better for hills [where I live] Guarantees seem to be 12 months on battery. Freego could have been 2 yrs.

I think I am getting there then again I think maybe not just yet......lol...what a life .....but its a good one. I`m not 6ft under.

looked at freego and images I looked at showed it behind seat? did I miss something?

I would always ago for the bigger battery if you can afford it, especially in the hills. It will give you far more range but more importantly for you the peak hill climbing power will be available for longer. The other important point to remember when choosing battery size is that most batteries come with a 2 year warranty, they will be guaranteed only to lose up to 20% or 30% of their capacity over the two year period. A 36V 16Ah battery has a capacity of 576Wh less 20% is 460Wh, a 36V 13Ah battery has a capacity of 468Wh so after 2 years if your 16Ah battery has lost 20% of it's capacity it will be practically the same as a brand new 13Ah battery and will therefore keep it's performance for far longer and will last longer too. Buying smaller batteries is often a false economy.

 

If a battery only has a one year warranty I wouldn't touch it. The cells will almost certainly be very low end (hence the low overall price of the bike) and the manufacturer/importer does not have the confidence in the battery.

 

I hope this helps.

 

Regards

 

David

Edited November 16, 20169 yr by Wisper Bikes

had another look at your wisper classic folding bike, looks nice, how does 806e differ? is battery size bigger?

cheers

I would always ago for the bigger battery if you can afford it, especially in the hills. It will give you far more range but more importantly for you the peak hill climbing power will be available for longer. The other important point to remember when choosing battery size is that most batteries come with a 2 year warranty, they will be guaranteed only to loose up to 20% or 30% of their capacity over the two year period. A 36V 16Ah battery has a capacity of 576Wh less 20% is 460Wh, a 36V 13Ah battery has a capacity of 468Wh so after 2 years if your 16Ah battery has lost 20% of it's capacity it will be practically the same as a brand new 13Ah battery and will therefore keep it's performance for far longer and will last longer too. Buying smaller batteries is often a false economy.

 

If a battery only has a one year warranty I wouldn't touch it. The cells will almost certainly be very low end (hence the low overall price of the bike) and the manufacturer/importer does not have the confidence in the battery.

 

I hope this helps.

 

Regards

 

David

Good point on the battery %

 

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375 0r 575w, can you explain these please Dave.

David, why did you decide to move batteries from behind the seat to the pannier?

 

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As the energy density of battery cells has become better and better the need for the huge volume of a behind the seat post battery has diminished.

 

Battery weight has also come down quite dramatically too so having a battery under the riders back side is not as important as it used to be. A behind the seat post battery (BSP) also extends the wheel base of the bike making it less nimble to ride and more difficult to stow away.

 

There are some good ultra thin BSP coming onto the market that are with looking at for next year, IMO they are better placed than the down tube battery as far as nimbleness of ride is concerned.

 

It's a big subject!

 

All the best, David

As the energy density of battery cells has become better and better the need for the huge volume of a behind the seat post battery has diminished.

 

Battery weight has also come down quite dramatically too so having a battery under the riders back side is not as important as it used to be. A behind the seat post battery (BSP) also extends the wheel base of the bike making it less nimble to ride and more difficult to stow away.

 

There are some good ultra thin BSP coming onto the market that are with looking at for next year, IMO they are better placed than the down tube battery as far as nimbleness of ride is concerned.

 

It's a big subject!

 

All the best, David

Well explained and useful, thanks.

 

One more question. Are you considering introducing any new wisper models in 2017 with sram or shimano hub gears ?

 

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Dave the wisper 806e has 2 battery options, 1 is375 the other is 575, can you explain these as rated as w, and I'm only used to say13v.8ah or 13ah?

Why would it be better to go for bugger one. Also the wisper is a german frame? correct? could I say better engineered? thanks.