Folding electric - Wisper 806 or Brompton?

[benjy_a]

I am in the market for an electric folding bike. I have two main requirements which are;

1) As high powered as possible and able to cope with a 10 mile hilly trip (each way) a couple of times a week.
2) Be foldable and portable enough to take on and off trains without too much fuss and stress; sometimes busy commuter trains.

I have narrowed my choices to either a Wisper 806 Alpino or the Brompton electric conversion by CH White – the Brompton Brazen:

Brompton Brazen 36V

The Brompton is a great folder and I have test ridden the CH White conversion. My reservation is that it feels fairly underpowered when compared to the Juicy Sport that I have owned for 2 years. I was hoping for it to perform just as well, both being Bafang 36v motors with 15A controllers but the Brompton feels significantly less powerful. The build quality of the Brompton conversion seems top notch and the Brompton is perfect for lugging on/off trains without annoying other passengers.

I have handled a Wisper 805fe but not ridden it yet, I cannot find anywhere with an 806 to try. I was disappointed with the way the Wisper folds; nothing to hold it together when folded down and was advised I would need to get a bungee for it. This seems poor for a £1500 bike.

Does anybody have any experience of commuting using the Wisper 806? I am really interested in how unwieldy it is on and off trains. I would perhaps get a bag to put it in but again I am concerned this will be a right pain in the proverbial to get it in and out frequently.

Any further insights /info regarding the Wisper 806 would be appreciated – performance, range, comfort, handling and moving when folded, speed of folding/getting into a bag etc etc.

Many thanks.

 

[dingrpdl]

Hi Benjy,

Here are my thoughts...

The Wisper 806 folds the same way many Dahons do. I owned a Dahon before and the most irritating thing about it is that when folded, the easiest way to carry it and maintain balance is to stand on the side of the exposed drive train because that puts the weight closest to you. That means getting chain muck on your legs or pants. And the instinct is to hold the package away from your body. Do that and you will soon have back and joint problems. And you do have to carry a Dahon (and a Wisper) because they are almost impossible to wheel around in the folded state. Now add the weight of the battery and motor and you can see how your carrying woes are multiplied.

With the Brompton, you can wheel it in several ways. Both going forwards and backwards. So do you don't have to carry it except to negotiate stairs or step over ditches or curbs. And when you do carry it, the dirty chain is in the middle of the folded package.


Richard

 

[eddieo]

Your need both bikes or a change of plan!lol Brompton for commuting, and the 20inch wheeled powerful Wisper for 10 mile return run.

I'm thinking of Alpino to carry in my camper.......there is no way that it is a commuter bike. Even with my Dahon folder (non electric) I would not dream of carrying it on a commuter train, brompton half the size

 

[jerrysimon]

Agreed 1. and 2. are mutually exclusive. If you require to easily take an efolder on and off a train the Brompton (with a light conversion) really is your only choice.

Regards

Jerry

 

[Cakey]

Not sure you would get 20 mile round trip on alpino.
Very hilly where I live , only flats, are tyres and properties.

 

[benjy_a]

Thanks for the replies! I do realise that the Wisper is a bit of a lump but my thoughts are these:

It seems I cannot achieve what I want with what is currently available which is a small but powerful folder. This is a shame as on paper the CH White conversion should be just that. So I have to compromise. I either have to cope with the bulk and size of a 20" folder, or cope with a low powered Brompton.....I ask myself which of these will cause me more stress in the long run?

I do not envisage carrying the bike any great distance folded...on / off the train is about it. The bike can be left full sized right up until the point it is lifted onto the train; as I said I was considering using a bag which then makes it the size of a suitcase with no oily bits on show. Having looked at a few forums it seems that people do indeed commute with 20" folding bikes.

In it's present specification I think that the Brompton will cause me stress on the 10 mile trek!

The final consideration is that CH White will be testing some new programmable controllers over the next week or two which may well have the option to increase the max current (which I am guessing is the reason for the difference in performance that I experienced between the Brompton and my Juicy Sport; both having Bafang 8fun motors).

I have managed to find a bike shop to test ride the Wisper on Monday which I look forward to. I will have the opportunity to recharge the Wisper during the working day so the maximum range I will need is 13 miles which it should cope with I believe.

Decisions decisions decisions!

B.

 

[eddieo]

or buy one or even two £20 bikes of gumtree or local paper, and leave chained at station for your commute.

and a proper bike, something like a Wisper 905 SEL for leisure riding

 

[benjy_a]

or buy one or even two £20 bikes of gumtree or local paper, and leave chained at station for your commute.

and a proper bike, something like a Wisper 905 SEL for leisure riding

I really need electric...after working a 12 hour night shift the last thing I need is a 10 mile ride on an old bike. For leisure riding I do not use electric; I have a nice road and mountain bike for that. Electrical assistance is a working form of transport for me so I don't arrive sweaty, or die from tiredness getting home after a v long shift!

 

[eddieo]

so its a a commuter train journey AND a 10 mile ride as well.....have you thought about moving? (only joking honest!lol)

 

[jerrysimon]

An EBrompton could still meet the requirement if you carried a decent sized battery to suit. The Brompton will allow you to split the weight between bike and bag. Some train officials give you hassle even when you carry 20" folders. The 20" folding electrics are no where near as compact as 16" wheeled Brompton E conversions.

Other passengers will also not thank you for carrying a larger 20" folder with a battery onto the train.

Where are you based ?

Regards

Jerry

 

[flecc]

The 20" folding electrics are no where near as compact as 16" wheeled Brompton E conversions.

I agree, the Bromptons are by far the best bet. Somehow a few manage 20" wheel bikes though, one member used to bike/train commute into London with the earlier 25 kilo eZee Quando 2, he must have had weightlifter's muscles to tote that around, I have enough trouble lifting mine into a car boot!

 

[BCM]

My Wisper 806 Alpino is a very powerful bike it pulls fantastically up hills, it's great to be able to go on a ride and know that if I had any problems I could just call a taxi and pop it in the boot or hop on a bus. If I ever fancy exploring further afield from home I can just pop it in my car boot and travel. That all said, I'm a Brompton owner(non electric), the Wisper in my opinion is only an occasional folder due to its fold, size and weight, it's locking mechanism is extremely solid though with no play when riding it, and I personally would never go back to a full sized ebike after my Wisper 806 it’s a great bit of kit. As for the Brompton, I've owned many folding bikes most 20" wheels but the Brompton is the only one I'd consider using for a daily train commute its much talked about fold really is the best, easy, fast, safe/secure and very compact. Of the many types of bikes I’ve owned all shapes and sizes if I only had to own one bike it would be my Brompton.

 

[Cakey]

Hi bcm , is that a bag around the battery or just a luggage bag?
I keep wondering how my 806 will survive in the rain.

 

[BCM]

Hi bcm , is that a bag around the battery or just a luggage bag?
I keep wondering how my 806 will survive in the rain.

Hi Cakey, it's a small rucksack rain cover around the battery, with a thin elastic cord wrapped around it to stop it ballooning up when riding.

 

[benjy_a]

An EBrompton could still meet the requirement if you carried a decent sized battery to suit. The Brompton will allow you to split the weight between bike and bag. Some train officials give you hassle even when you carry 20" folders. The 20" folding electrics are no where near as compact as 16" wheeled Brompton E conversions.

Other passengers will also not thank you for carrying a larger 20" folder with a battery onto the train.

Where are you based ?

Regards

Jerry

Thanks again everybody for all the replies and advice. You have given me enough arguments against the Wisper on a commuter train and so I will go for the Brompton. I will wait a couple of weeks and see what the new controller is like on the CH White conversion; hopefully it will allow a little more current draw (which I know the Bafang motor can cope with) to give me a bit more oomph that I'm looking for.

The 10 mile commute is not a daily thing, I will be able to get away with it just 10 miles one way a couple of times a week which I'm sure the Brompton will be up to.

Jerry I'm located between Bristol, London and Surrey! A complicated existence, living in Bristol, working in London and staying in Surrey during the working week....involving lots of train journeys and I want to eliminate relying on public transport other than the main leg on the train. I'm hoping the Brompton will give me that freedom.

 

[eddieo]

Right choice I think....

 

[jerrysimon]

I should add that I will probably be selling my Tongxin converted Brompton in a few weeks after I complete the next project detailed in my sig

Regards

Jerry

 

[overthehill]

Brompton with a Heinzmann conversion will go up and down hills all day long and probably outlast any any other conversion on the market.Not cheap but probably the best.

 

[JuicyBike]

Ben, Jerry's conversion looks ideal for you. See this Post

It would be good to hear more about the latest miles on your Juicy Sport. How's the bike performing?
Looks like your Job has changed a lot since we last spoke. Would be good to catch up.

 

[banbury frank]

Hi I think this is the best kit I have seen Made for The Brompton

Crystalyte Europe :: Motorkits :: Folding bike motorkit

Frank