Got my wisper!

[Danny-K]

Oh dear, looks like ebikes only use the old style threaded hubs, that limits choice a fair bit.

Mussels, try all your favourite local and online bike suppliers first. Failing all that, do not despair, Highpath Engineering can fix you up to your exact requirements, threaded or cassette versions, whatever - it doesn't matter which, and then some. For instance I can buy Marchissimo cassette sprocket sets made to my custom preference from almost anywhere, but I only order them from Highpath engineering. The advice you get is at engineering brilliance level.

Here's Chris Bell's website -

Highpath Engineering : Cycle transmission notes : 5


P.S. Just reread the web page and maybe I'm wrong; doesn't seem much there now on threaded hubs.

P.P.S. Wait a minute - can't believe your bike uses threaded blocks - they stopped fitting those to complete bikes before the ark was built! However LOCKS OF SANDWICH LTD Tel:01304 617161 (shades of 'Last of The Summer Wine' about them) supply a lot of old parts, and they do have in stock a 7 speed threaded Shimano 11-34 megarange block (£19.95). They've also got varieties in modern cassettes too. However you can't swap 6 speeds and 8 speeds willy-nilly, the hub lengths are all different and they just won't interchange.

Hopefully Flecc can advise you whether your model of bike sports sprockets in a cassette or a threaded block first though.

 

[flecc]

I agree on Highpath, but Chris there cannot do anything about the lack of choice in multi sprocket freewheels, and I know he doesn't like them.

The problem is that only e-bikes with rear motors use them now, and that's far too small a market for Shimano and the like.

The cassette type sprocket blocks on splines are very much stronger and supported with bearings at each end of the core, so they've taken over completely on normal bikes. I did notice recently one newer rear hub motor e-bike that has a cassette for a change, a wise move, though it's bound to make the rear frame much wider to accommodate the cassette core extra width.

P.S. Just seen that Wiggle have no multi freewheels on site now apparently, though stocking all until recently. If hunting down the HG50 11 to 34 megarange freewheel, be aware that they have HG50 cassettes as well, so best to double check when ordering.
.

 

[eddieo]

wireless cycle computer model JS-204

The wireless cycle computer model JS-204. I guess this is an original fitting but I have no instructions...and it would be nice to get an idea of mileage etc....

please, can any one help with instructions?

Just back from day 3 ride. Boy! south London traffic is really dangerous........ reminds me to top up life insurance.

have added bike to household policy and it was £20 extra for the year.

any ideas as to whats the best brand motion alarm to get?? as I went to the library today and was really nervous leaving it outside even though its locked. Was reading that if they can't knick it straight away they sometimes super glue the lock to prevent you taking it! and come and take it later! always try and secure with lock facing downwards was the advice.....

 

[Mussels]

The wireless cycle computer model JS-204. I guess this is an original fitting but I have no instructions...and it would be nice to get an idea of mileage etc....

please, can any one help with instructions?

PM me your email address and I'll send them to you, too big to attach here. Before 15:45 and I can send them today.

 

[Danny-K]

...The problem is that only e-bikes with rear motors use them now, and that's far too small a market for Shimano and the like...

Just got back in from visiting an E-bike shop - and yes, as Victor Meldrew might say - I don't believe it!

2008 bikes: rear motors and confirmed - all threaded hubs for Shimano freewheel blocks. None of them cassette type hubs. Unbilevable! Why are manufacturer's making things difficult for themselves, (and us), by choosing obsolete freewheels?

 

[flecc]

It's a technical problem Danny.

The standard cassette design has a slim core that has to accommodate the bearings and a standard bike spindle, and there's no room for anything larger.

Unfortunately most types of hub motor have to have a side flatted larger hollow spindle to accommodate the 3 phase current wires and 5 Hall sensor wires to the motor, and as it stands the larger spindles are only just strong enough. Worse still is that the length of the cassette core would make the spindles even longer and supported even further from the motor armature.

So the only solution would be a completely new cassette design with a larger core and a full range of larger sprockets to suit, all this for the small rear motor part of a relatively small e-bike market. Certainly not big enough for the likes of Shimano. A further complication is that existing bike frame designs could not be used with a much larger spindle, so there are implications for kit motors as well as production.

There are other multi freewheels available, and I notice that Shimano's now difficult to obtain Cadet models have been duplicated by another company and being sold here by Fisher Leisure, but as you'll see, they are confined to only 14 to 28 teeth, either 5, 6, or 7 speed.

As remarked, I had seen one cassette core motor announced, but that could have been a 3 wire motor that had to be pedalled off the mark for power to start.
.

 

[Phil the drill]

So, in many respects you are better off with a front hub motor - just so long as it is not too heavy, adversely affecting the handling. The likes of Ezee, Powabyke, Cytronex and a few others with this configuration have a lot going for them...much easier wheel removal, full choice of cassettes and gearing, often shorter and straighter chain paths, yep there's definitely something in it....
Phil

 

[flecc]

The chain path and length won't be changed by where the motor is Phil, only the length by the battery placement, though the other advantages apply.

Personally I much prefer a rear hub motor and changing my Torq to that improved the handling over it's old position.
.

 

[frank9755]

I'll second that; my old Powabyke with front motor was like holding a pneumatic drill when going over a rough road, and Ezee owners have reported the same.
Front motor tends to require suspension forks, pushing you down the 'moped' route.
In my opinion, the only motor that works satisfactorily as a front motor is the Tongxin, which is so small and light that you don't notice it, and, incidentally is not made in a useable rear wheel configuraton.

Frank

 

[eddieo]

My wife and the wisper...

My wife had a go this afternoon, she just flew up local hill without even changing gear, I was very envious. whereas I had to use all the gears and just about made it......

The bike is to heavy for her, and she def wants a step through. she was having problems getting used to it....is there anyway to isolate the throttle control at all? as she kept on leaning on it and losing control.

it would be useful to switch of throttle and use purely as a pedelec...Is this not possible on a wisper?

 

[frank9755]

any chance of a picture please ?

Here you go!

 

[frank9755]

There are other multi freewheels available, and I notice that Shimano's now difficult to obtain Cadet models have been duplicated by another company and being sold here by Fisher Leisure, but as you'll see, they are confined to only 14 to 28 teeth, either 5, 6, or 7 speed.
.

I've seen this which is the first 8-speed freewheel I'd seen, with 13-28 teeth, giving slightly more range. But it would be a real blow for the e-bike market if freewheels start to disappear - as appears to be the case.

 

[Danny-K]

I've seen this which is the first 8-speed freewheel I'd seen, with 13-28 teeth, giving slightly more range. But it would be a real blow for the e-bike market if freewheels start to disappear - as appears to be the case.

I don't think the 8 speed will fit into the allotted space devoted for a 6 speed freewheel Frank.

The dedicated 6 hub will take an upgraded 7 cluster that fits in the same space.

A dedicated 7 speed hub will take an upgraded 8 speed cluster, but pretty sure the 8 will not fit the 6 hub.

[However, e-bike rear motor hubs are different as Flecc has pointed out to me, so I'm only going on tradditional set-ups in tradditional pushbikes]

- With ever narrowing space between sprockets, sprockets themselves and yet narrower chains, at every 'squeeze'. I'm a bit rusty on freewheels but I think that's right, (I still have two older bikes with freewheel hubs of 6 speeds amongst my collection, but once selected they've lasted yonks, so you tend to forget all the rigmarole).

Threaded freewheels are still about; a cycle specialist at my local bootsale on Saturday had two brand new Shimano Megarange 34T clusters, 7 speed, still in their plastic wrappers, with some of the outer cardboard packagiing left intact. I just saw 'Megarange' and 34T and £8.50 so bought too quickly, thinking it was an 11-34, but later, counted up and was disappointed to find it and the other one were both 14-34.

On eBay that evening I saw several sellers retailing the same Megarange cluster for £8.99 plus a couple of quid for postage. But none were the all-encompassing 11-34

I've also downloaded a web page where they display the 11-34 Megarange for £20. Will be checking up this week if that's an obsolete page or the real-deal.

 

[Danny-K]

Here you go!

Frank that looks awfully like a 24" wheel. Thought the Wispa was a 26", (or even a 700c) What size is it? Must be the angle of the photo; it looks so small.

 

[flecc]

I've also downloaded a web page where they display the 11-34 Megarange for £20. Will be checking up this week if that's an obsolete page or the real-deal.

There was also a 13 to 34 six speed megarange, and I use those on my bikes.
.

 

[flecc]

I've seen this which is the first 8-speed freewheel I'd seen, with 13-28 teeth, giving slightly more range. But it would be a real blow for the e-bike market if freewheels start to disappear - as appears to be the case.

Going by the price, that's probably a single bearing job, which would be even more frail than the old wide ranging cheap freewheels. Anything over 6 sprockets really needs an outboard bearing as well, and it's this frailty of multi-sprocket freewheels that's partly responsible for their demise.

The weakness is acceptable on e-bikes usually where the pedal effort is less than on a normal bike, but as remarked before, the rear motor e-bike market is too small to be interesting to manufacturers. There will always be some cheap replacements available, but the range will be very limited.
.

 

[frank9755]

Frank that looks awfully like a 24" wheel. Thought the Wispa was a 26", (or even a 700c) What size is it? Must be the angle of the photo; it looks so small.

Its 26"
My wife, on the bike, has very long legs!

 

[frank9755]

I don't think the 8 speed will fit into the allotted space devoted for a 6 speed freewheel Frank.

Sorry, Danny, I'd rather ranged off topic of the Wisper onto the future availability of freewheels in general. As it happens, the Wisper has a 7-speed freewheel as standard and the axle is reasonably generous in length, so a bit of a stretch to the frame could possibly get an 8-speed in, should the need or desire arise.

 

[Danny-K]

Its 26"
My wife, on the bike, has very long legs!

Hee hee! Have you told the her you've put her legs on display on the world wide internet then?

 

[Mussels]

Going by the price, that's probably a single bearing job, which would be even more frail than the old wide ranging cheap freewheels. Anything over 6 sprockets really needs an outboard bearing as well, and it's this frailty of multi-sprocket freewheels that's partly responsible for their demise.

The weakness is acceptable on e-bikes usually where the pedal effort is less than on a normal bike, but as remarked before, the rear motor e-bike market is too small to be interesting to manufacturers. There will always be some cheap replacements available, but the range will be very limited.
.

So as I'm a high mileage rider (when the bikes not being repaired) who puts in quite a bit of peddling effort as well would you recommend I get a six speed next time?