I'm new to the electric bike scene and haven't bought one yet. I'm looking for something to do a 22 mile round trip commute in Leicestershire that includes a 100' hill + some smaller ones. I'd like one that can be derestricted and preferably under £1000. I'll be cycling under 100% my own steam for much of the way so I don't want to experience any significant drag from the motor, I basically just want to flatten the hills. What am I looking at? Thanks.
Best options for under £1000
- Thread starter AndyB
- Start date
Hi Andy, and welcome
Its difficult to say precisely what any one person will prefer, but when you say, 'under 100% my own steam', then I'm afraid you've lost me a bit. Do you mean you want a ridable bike to help you pedal, and that you intend to pedal as well, or do you mean that you only want help for the hills, and that for the rest of the time you want to 'switch off the assistance'?
Note that in most cases, good hill climbers are not fast bikes do to the zone that the motor applies torque through, for example the fastest bike, the Ezee Torq, is regarded as one of the worst on hill whereas the Kalkhoff is a relaively slow bike but probably the best on the hills.
I have a Twist (very similar to the Kalkhoff) and although it will climb any hill I have ever faced with its 'drive-through-gears' method, it will do it slowly.
For your info, I too commute on a 22mile-ish round trip, with some hills, and am currently investigating my next purchase which will either be a Trek-Nano conversion or a Wisper 905.
The Trek is basically a normal bike with a small motor (the Nano) and a small battery (will need recharging each way). With this one you can easily use it as a normal bike, and it will provide a small amount of assistance on hills. Top end on the flat of maybe 14 mph without assistance from you, and you can expect the motor to stall on the hills I would say unless you pedal with it. I tried it up a small hill at prestigne without assistance and it dropped to 8mph and you could feel the motor struggling. Having said that it did come 3rd in the Hill climb event, ahead of all the Kalkhoffs and Wispers (but I think that was the rider after all the bike had 21 gears).
The Wipser 905 can push you along at 19.5 mph on the flat (with its off-road mode). Has a powerful motor and large battery (no recharge needed). It will get you to and from work faster than the Trek, Leaving you to add assistance as much as you wish. The downside is that it is not as good unpowered, only has a few gears, and so cant really be used as a normal bike (you certainly wouldnt consider doing a 10 hour country day out on one).
My dilema is that I want both a fast commute to work, and the ability to 'go out for the day' with my family and not either leave them behind or struggle to keep up. I think though in the end, my commute takes priority (I prob need/want both).
Hope this helps.
John
Its difficult to say precisely what any one person will prefer, but when you say, 'under 100% my own steam', then I'm afraid you've lost me a bit. Do you mean you want a ridable bike to help you pedal, and that you intend to pedal as well, or do you mean that you only want help for the hills, and that for the rest of the time you want to 'switch off the assistance'?
Note that in most cases, good hill climbers are not fast bikes do to the zone that the motor applies torque through, for example the fastest bike, the Ezee Torq, is regarded as one of the worst on hill whereas the Kalkhoff is a relaively slow bike but probably the best on the hills.
I have a Twist (very similar to the Kalkhoff) and although it will climb any hill I have ever faced with its 'drive-through-gears' method, it will do it slowly.
For your info, I too commute on a 22mile-ish round trip, with some hills, and am currently investigating my next purchase which will either be a Trek-Nano conversion or a Wisper 905.
The Trek is basically a normal bike with a small motor (the Nano) and a small battery (will need recharging each way). With this one you can easily use it as a normal bike, and it will provide a small amount of assistance on hills. Top end on the flat of maybe 14 mph without assistance from you, and you can expect the motor to stall on the hills I would say unless you pedal with it. I tried it up a small hill at prestigne without assistance and it dropped to 8mph and you could feel the motor struggling. Having said that it did come 3rd in the Hill climb event, ahead of all the Kalkhoffs and Wispers (but I think that was the rider after all the bike had 21 gears).
The Wipser 905 can push you along at 19.5 mph on the flat (with its off-road mode). Has a powerful motor and large battery (no recharge needed). It will get you to and from work faster than the Trek, Leaving you to add assistance as much as you wish. The downside is that it is not as good unpowered, only has a few gears, and so cant really be used as a normal bike (you certainly wouldnt consider doing a 10 hour country day out on one).
My dilema is that I want both a fast commute to work, and the ability to 'go out for the day' with my family and not either leave them behind or struggle to keep up. I think though in the end, my commute takes priority (I prob need/want both).
Hope this helps.
John
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Sounds like a good trip. Sorry if I misled, what I mean is if you plan to go out on a 10 hour summers day ride with a group of people on normal bikes, then the Wisper wouldnt be the best. You would either be going too fast (with power) or be riding hard (without power).
John
2 Batteries
I am delighted that your wife is enjoying the bike.
May I ask which batteries you have?
Best regards David
Hi Frank
I am delighted that your wife is enjoying the bike.
May I ask which batteries you have?
Best regards David
I am on the 2nd priming charge and full discharge on my 14A Wisper battery and finally managed to get the red light on fully on the way home tonight after 3 * 18 mile round trip commutes.
Fairly modest terrain but still used the throttle injudiciously and it has to move a right lump (me ). Is this the same battery you are using Frank?
Fairly modest terrain but still used the throttle injudiciously and it has to move a right lump (me ). Is this the same battery you are using Frank?
John, thanks for the notes, it was useful I'd not realised that there was a trade-off between unassisted speed and hill climbing, it's probably the former I'm after as I'm happy to put in some of the effort up the hills, just would appreciate some assistence, on the flat I'll probably be switching the power off (at least that's what I think, but is difficult to say until I've tried a couple). You say the speed is dependent on where the motor applies the torque, am I right in saying that a hub motor has the gears engaged even when not powered so is effectively a drag? Do the faster bikes drive through the pedal crank?
I had seen the Wisper mentioned in various threads in a very positive light, it just is probably beyond my price range.
Scott, thanks for the offer, I'm close to Loughborough so will give your showroom a call and see if the Agattu fits the bill.
Andy
I had seen the Wisper mentioned in various threads in a very positive light, it just is probably beyond my price range.
Scott, thanks for the offer, I'm close to Loughborough so will give your showroom a call and see if the Agattu fits the bill.
Andy
Geared hub motors usually have an internal free-wheel mechanism to reduce drag when the motor is not engaged. The amount of drag can depend on where that mechanism operates.
You can get high speed through the pedal crank but hub motors can be fast too, particularly those sold in US/Canada where legal speeds are higher. Some hub motor bikes are restricted for the UK/EU market and the restricter can often be disabled.
C
Cyclezee
Guest
A few weeks ago, I would have recommended Wisper 905se German import, but they are no longer available. I think I got the last one.
Now there are few really good quality new bikes sub £1000, so I would go for used or see how good a deal you can strike with 50cycles on a smoke smelling 57 cm Agattu. I reckon they will be snapped up fairly quickly.
John
Now there are few really good quality new bikes sub £1000, so I would go for used or see how good a deal you can strike with 50cycles on a smoke smelling 57 cm Agattu. I reckon they will be snapped up fairly quickly.
John
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905eco
Don't forget the two new Wisper alternatives. Although they won't be available until July.
905eco 36v 10 amp at £899.00
905eco 36v 14 amp at £999.00
These are our two new entry level bikes and although they don't have any of the extras i.e. disk brakes, suspension, mudguards etc, the basics i.e. frame, wheels, tyres, battery, motor controller are the same.
You can add most of the extras to the bike at a later date.
All the best David
Don't forget the two new Wisper alternatives. Although they won't be available until July.
905eco 36v 10 amp at £899.00
905eco 36v 14 amp at £999.00
These are our two new entry level bikes and although they don't have any of the extras i.e. disk brakes, suspension, mudguards etc, the basics i.e. frame, wheels, tyres, battery, motor controller are the same.
You can add most of the extras to the bike at a later date.
All the best David
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