This is a 'Wired' Magazine review not a Cytronex review and I agree while it is not comprehensive it is reasonably objective. I can see why Cytronex rather than Wisper would want it on their website (even with the obvious mistake about the battery chemistry).
Cycle to work scheme
- Thread starter Pedalo
- Start date
Yes it is annoying that Cytronex wont deal with Cyclesheme in any way. I found this out when I was researching what bike to get in 2008 (when Cytronex started out). I asked could I pay the extra 10% but they simply didnt/dont want to deal with Cyclescheme in any way, which I can understand to a degree, but I think its a bit of a selfish perspective personally.
Why Cyclescheme are winning here is that they make it very very easy for the employer. They give monthly summaries, a comprehensive service and a web based solution. It just makes it all easy for the Employer, who frankly are not concerned by the 10% or the CTW scheme.
With the Kalkhoffs this wasnt an issue, adding the £100 commision (10% of the £1000 voucher) to the final price of the bike I got the bikes in the simplest manner (paid for on Card and then later refunded the £1000).
My scheme has finished now, and my employer (as expected) doesnt want anything to do with the bike (no final payment, or anything), they simply run the scheme as an employee perk, like Health club discounts or things like that. The less involvement the better.
John
Why Cyclescheme are winning here is that they make it very very easy for the employer. They give monthly summaries, a comprehensive service and a web based solution. It just makes it all easy for the Employer, who frankly are not concerned by the 10% or the CTW scheme.
With the Kalkhoffs this wasnt an issue, adding the £100 commision (10% of the £1000 voucher) to the final price of the bike I got the bikes in the simplest manner (paid for on Card and then later refunded the £1000).
My scheme has finished now, and my employer (as expected) doesnt want anything to do with the bike (no final payment, or anything), they simply run the scheme as an employee perk, like Health club discounts or things like that. The less involvement the better.
John
Yes Harry, as pleased as I was to see the review I too was surprised at the "Moped" reference as the bike weighs less than the UM!
I really should scan in the opening page of the report as there is the best ever image of Wisper. I should also explain the bike reviewed was a very early prototype of the 906, at last we have a great comment about our brakes!!
All the best David
As I said I think the bike has a great spec for an everyday commuter machine. Personally I will wait and see whether or not it is 'moped like' after giving it a test ride. By the way do you take the cyclescheme vouchers?Yes Harry, as pleased as I was to see the review I too was surprised at the "Moped" reference as the bike weighs less than the UM!
I really should scan in the opening page of the report as there is the best ever image of Wisper. I should also explain the bike reviewed was a very early prototype of the 906, at last we have a great comment about our brakes!!
All the best David
Cycle Scheme
Hi Harry we dont sell directly but I would be delighted to put you in touch with the nearest Wisper dealer who does accept them.
Good luck with the test ride!
All the best
David
Hi Harry we dont sell directly but I would be delighted to put you in touch with the nearest Wisper dealer who does accept them.
Good luck with the test ride!
All the best
David
I find the moped like ability of the 905 is a good thing for practical commuting. Most of the time I ride it like a pushbike and put a lot of effort in but when I'm having an off day then I can use 'moped' mode. I know several other people who ride to work on normal bikes but the only other people I know who manage a long distance (30+ miles round trip) every day ride Wispers.
Very much like I ride my eZee based bike, and it's why I prefer throttle control for it's ability to allow both roles, bicycle or low powered moped, according to mood and circumstance.
.
this scheme sounds very good does anyone know if i can do it with disability beneift i would like to upgrade my xl this year i think now i am much fitter and slimmer i might go for something more sporty . if i could use the sceme to pay for some i could get something even better.
does anyone know if i can do it with disability beneift i would like to upgrade my xl this year i think now i am much fitter and slimmer i might go for something more sporty . if i could use the sceme to pay for some i could get something even better.I can't see any way that the scheme could work with benefits, it's a tax break on the cost of traveling to work. In a nutshell, your employer lends you a bike to get to and from work and in return you agree to accept a lower rate of pay.this scheme sounds very good
Patrick
I've just found what the taxman has to say about the scheme:
EIM21664 - Particular benefits: exemption for bicycles and cyclists' meals or refreshments
Here's the stuff about transferring assets, although this page says that the bikes are excluded from this rule, the page above says that if you buy your bike in the way we've been talking about then it does apply after all.
Particular benefits: transfer of an asset previously available for use by a director or employee
EIM21664 - Particular benefits: exemption for bicycles and cyclists' meals or refreshments
Here's the stuff about transferring assets, although this page says that the bikes are excluded from this rule, the page above says that if you buy your bike in the way we've been talking about then it does apply after all.
Particular benefits: transfer of an asset previously available for use by a director or employee
I think the Cycle to Work Scheme is an excellent initiative and I am in total agreement with the aim (i.e. get more people to cycle to work).
Anyone can buy a Cytronex bike under the Cycle to Work scheme, which is a government scheme, as opposed to Cyclescheme which is a private business and has nothing to do with the government. The income of the latter is gained from commissions it charges bicycle suppliers. I have no problem with this other than the fact that it inevitably results in higher bicycle prices. The ten percent has to be found somewhere and clearly anyone who works with Cyclescheme needs to make sure they have sufficient profit margin in any of the bikes they offer to cover this.
The reason we have only sold direct is that we wanted to keep the price of our product as low as possible and even so our margins are low. It is undeniably expensive to hand build electric bikes in the UK but it does allow us to produce a quality product and which evolves fast.
When our kit does eventually come out there will be a great many innovations in it, and it is also likely to be available in bicycle shops, which means that it may well be possible to buy via Cyclescheme. Unfortunately I don’t yet have a date for the kit because it is a huge project, which has got more and more ambitious since its inception.
As regards the review mentioned by Harry, this was indeed from Wired magazine and has nothing to do with us. We simply asked them if we could reproduce it and they sent us the PDF in the link which is on our home page at Cytronex Electric Bikes - Electric Bicycles with Hidden Power Assistance.
Regards,
Mark
Anyone can buy a Cytronex bike under the Cycle to Work scheme, which is a government scheme, as opposed to Cyclescheme which is a private business and has nothing to do with the government. The income of the latter is gained from commissions it charges bicycle suppliers. I have no problem with this other than the fact that it inevitably results in higher bicycle prices. The ten percent has to be found somewhere and clearly anyone who works with Cyclescheme needs to make sure they have sufficient profit margin in any of the bikes they offer to cover this.
The reason we have only sold direct is that we wanted to keep the price of our product as low as possible and even so our margins are low. It is undeniably expensive to hand build electric bikes in the UK but it does allow us to produce a quality product and which evolves fast.
When our kit does eventually come out there will be a great many innovations in it, and it is also likely to be available in bicycle shops, which means that it may well be possible to buy via Cyclescheme. Unfortunately I don’t yet have a date for the kit because it is a huge project, which has got more and more ambitious since its inception.
As regards the review mentioned by Harry, this was indeed from Wired magazine and has nothing to do with us. We simply asked them if we could reproduce it and they sent us the PDF in the link which is on our home page at Cytronex Electric Bikes - Electric Bicycles with Hidden Power Assistance.
Regards,
Mark
The problem is that most of us can't unless we go through Cyclescheme or Halfords. Of course it is our employers choice to use these organisations not ours. So unless you deal with them and either absorb (as most bike shops do) or pass on the 10% (as 50 Cycles do) we are stuck buying a Cytronex at full price.
Yes I can't see that it's possible if you work for a company that refuses to take part or will only work with 1 chosen partner.
I had no choice but to pay the full sum with taxes. To be honest It hasn't been a big deal and still an excellent investment anyway.
However, given that many of our companies are constantly bragging about how green they are and how green we should be - I think they should be coughing up the commission rather than it being taken from the bike suppliers.
I had no choice but to pay the full sum with taxes. To be honest It hasn't been a big deal and still an excellent investment anyway.
However, given that many of our companies are constantly bragging about how green they are and how green we should be - I think they should be coughing up the commission rather than it being taken from the bike suppliers.
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