cycle show

[jac]

hi i had nice day at the show although sad to say you can not try electric bikes in the test area for some strange reason. i did have small go on a wisper which was a really nice bike liked the look of the new infineum bikes also the new powabike both battery systems really neat the powabike charger nearly small enough to keep in your top pocket so easy to carry round with you also the stacking system on the infineum you could stack six batteries i think they said.
The biketec flyers were there with a British importer so hopefully they should start appearing in uk shops soon also had good look at kalhoffs which as everyone has already said look top quality bikes. I would like to have tried some of the fast bikes from kalkhoff and the flyers but will have to wait for some other time

jim

 

[dicklaiwisper]

Here is the pictures of Wisper stand

Here are the pictures of Wisper stand for who didn't attend that show.

 

[Phil the drill]

I made the trip up to the show today and really enjoyed it. Got around all the ebike stands (as well of plenty of others too, naturally).
Was surprised to find Boris Johnson on the Powabyke stand, complete with blue helmet! Had fun with a short conversation there too !
In short a great day out and really reinforced the point that there are a lot of good ebikes out there, each with their own particular selling points - which will obviously appeal to different folk - and that's got to be a good thing! I found almost all of the dealers helpful, geniunely keen on their products and doing their best to give sensible answers to my questions. A collective well done to them all!
Two mentions in particular, thanks to 50 cycle for the £4 off the entrance fee via their promotion, that was nice.
To Dave and Douglas on the Wisper stand who were kind enough to listen to my comments on the Wisper 905se and very generous in their responses, a big thank you. Their customer service has been exemplary and if for no other reason (and I will quickly add that there are plenty of other reasons!) I am pleased to have given them my business by buying a 905se (not at the show, I've had mine for 6months). It is particularly gratifying to find a manufacturer who is happy to listen to what is intended to be constructive criticism, to assess it and act so rapidly on it where they feel it is appropriate.

Cheers, Phil (no relation to the Wisper team - and not on comission !!)

 

[wotwozere]

Hi Jac

Did you see the proconnect sport with a German number plate on it. It was the nicest bike I have ever seen and the same price as the lowest price swissflyr, it has got a premium motor that has no limit and will reach 25mph. They won't do a stepthru model though and they said around 1800 so way above my affordablity.

thx

Bob

 

[Danny-K]

Hi Jac

Did you see the proconnect sport with a German number plate on it. It was the nicest bike I have ever seen and the same price as the lowest price swissflyr, it has got a premium motor that has no limit and will reach 25mph. They won't do a stepthru model though and they said around 1800 so way above my affordablity.

thx

Bob

And way out of your legal grasp too. It's illegal to sell it to the public in the UK.
(Wonder if one could go over on holiday via the ferry and buy in a German shop, and return with bike on the ferry as a foot passenger?)

 

[jac]

hi bob yes the proconnect s was a realy nice bike although i would also like a flyer maybe santa will be nice to me this christmass and i dont think it would be illegal to give me a high speed bike as i would be riding it round my massive estate

jim

 

[Bigbee]

Hi Jac

Did you see the proconnect sport with a German number plate on it. It was the nicest bike I have ever seen and the same price as the lowest price swissflyr, it has got a premium motor that has no limit and will reach 25mph. They won't do a stepthru model though and they said around 1800 so way above my affordablity.

thx

Bob

I thought the Swiss Flyer's were well over priced and old fashioned designed.Over £2k!

 

[jac]

hi these bikes might seem overpriced but i am sure compared with some of the road bikes there they would be a bargain as for style thats down to individual

jim

 

[poppy]

Style and bikes

hi these bikes might seem overpriced but i am sure compared with some of the road bikes there they would be a bargain as for style thats down to individual

jim

I don´t see any special style in the Flyer that justifies the price tag. And isn´t it heavier and with the same power than the Pro C. s?

 

[flecc]

I don´t see any special style in the Flyer that justifies the price tag. And isn´t it heavier and with the same power than the Pro C. s?

Yes to both, 2.2 kilos heavier. In part the price is the quality of all the components used, but most is due to the usual high price of Swiss quality products.

As ever though, those who want the best quality and can afford it aren't bothered by the price. If they were, we wouldn't have Rolex, Rolls Royce, Maybach etc, all grossly overpriced.
.

 

[jac]

hi i have to say that anyone comuting every day to work on one of these bikes the bike would have payed for itself within 3 years if your bus or train fare was about £3 or £4 a day as mine would be. My lafree has easily paid for itself

jim

 

[flecc]

hi i have to say that anyone comuting every day to work on one of these bikes the bike would have payed for itself within 3 years if your bus or train fare was about £3 or £4 a day as mine would be. My lafree has easily paid for itself

jim

But not if you charge your pedalling time at a reasonable labouring rate Jim.
.

 

[Mussels]

But not if you charge your pedalling time at a reasonable labouring rate Jim.
.

For me both the train or bus or any combination takes longer than my Wisper so I'm making a double profit from my Wisper.
If it wasn't for all the money I'm spending on all the essential mods and ancillaries.

 

[bogmonster]

For me both the train or bus or any combination takes longer than my Wisper so I'm making a double profit from my Wisper.
If it wasn't for all the money I'm spending on all the essential mods and ancillaries.

My commute in the car takes about an hour and on a pushie takes an hour 20. Not sure I will cut that much on an ebike. Takes me an hour 50 on the way bike and I am knakered. Hoping an ebike will help a bit here.

On the cost front, I think some of the figures are a bit missleading. Batteries need to be factored in as they need to be replaced regularly. Also, the bikes are very expensive (I think too expensive for what you get). I can't get rid of our second car as my wife needs a car and I am not going to cycle in the winter when the roads are icy. Not worth the risk on main roads. If the bike was a car replacment then the case is much more compelling but it probably wont be for most people.

My commuting car does about 55 to 60 mpg and needs servicing every 2 years so is not too costly to run. For me the benefit is more the environmental impact or lack of and the exercise. I'm finding an ebike hard to justify on its economic credentials alone.

On the environbmental front, as I already have a largely unused mountain bike it would make sense to use this with a kit rather than purchase a whole new bike. The enviromental impact of the batteries is a bit of a concern for me. I understand that lithium batteries are easy to recycle, anybody got any info about this?

BM