Good post and fair comment..
So presumably its the fact that the Wisper does not suit the OP as to why he struggled on his maiden climb ?
Also having ridden the Bosch system and going back to your Wisper are you standing by your claim the latter is " a real alternative" to the former which suggests both systems would suit similar riders ?? This appears not to be the case.
Which system would you choose use on extended climbs ?
Which system would you recommend for OP. ?
Cherry picking a review on one system no matter what you claim answers neither question, It simply puts the onus back on OP getting fitter to use a bike he bought to make that task easier and less essential.
Did the OP buy the correct bike for his intended use ?
Its really difficult for a supplier/ retailer to take part in open forums without seeming to be biased. I,m surprised to see so many on Pedelecs forum non trade area ??
I agree Flud, it's so difficult, and TBH I try and keep out as much as possible nowadays.
The posted review was sent to me after a conversation in which she told me that her husband could not keep up with her "in the hills", he was riding a Bosch Performance ebike, I would be happy to tell you which one in a PM.
We spent nearly two years putting together our new Wisper Torque drive system. It's designed for the UK and Europe, with a low top speed (just over the 15.5mph +10% max) but with loads of grunt at lower speeds. We perfected it still further in the Mk2 version.
We commissioned the algorithms that run our system in 2014 and I believe by using our software, sine wave controller, a particularly good, very small and powerful hub motor with the correct gearing (costing us nearly double the price of a low-end hub motor), a sensitive torque sensor that works on both pedals, coupled with an internal cadence sensor, we have something quite special.
I was trying to create a silent system with enough "umph" and intelligence to cope with most conditions. I think we are pretty well there. For instance, when the bike is at standstill the cadence sensor recognises this, so instructs the system to give a much more powerful boost through the torque sensor making hill starts etc very easy. I also needed to consider expense, it had to be a system that was less expensive than a CD.
What we have achieved is a bike that doesn't feel like a standard cadence censored hub drive bike, it feels a lot more like a CD but with smoother gear change and hardly any motor noise, you can just about hear it on start up then it fades away completely. The fact that the motor is behind the rider further reduces the motor noise and quite honestly I cannot hear it when riding. I also wanted to create a discrete electric bike, some people don't want others to know they are on an ebike. With panniers fitted, you could hardly tell it's electric. No big battery on the down tube or motor housing around the BB. Through the savings we have made by not using a CD we have been able to use battery with nearly 400Wh, a superb set of frames with 10 year warranties, hydraulic brakes, a decent cassette rear cluster, a powerful hi torque motor, etc, etc and all for £1,499.00 SRP.
I am not saying it is better than a CD, as I have said previously I absolutely love the Bosch performance and particularly the XC version, it's brilliant.
Our bikes are simply different.
As to which bike is better for the OP I really could not say. it is completely a matter of choice. Of course for nearly £6,000 we could supply a beautiful Riese & Muller Delite with Fox CDT remote, a Bosch performance XC motor etc and that is certainly a better bike. But for sub £1,500 I think he has made a good choice.
All the best, and thanks for the opportunity to explain.
David