Hello

[yaffa]

Hi. I'm another newbie to the world of electric bikes.Not sure if this is the correct part of the forum but here goes.
I've got about a million questions!(which I will post) who could of thought buying a bike could be so complicated?
I'm looking to purchase an electric bike in the near future.
I don't need to be able to climb up Snowdon on it, just need some assistance to get around my hilly home town and the slight but long gradient on my way home being a middle aged woman who hasn't use a bike much since I was 15!
The more I look into the various options the more confused I get;
Hub or deralliers,
Front or rear hub drive or crank drive,
Which make of drive.
I have always been told you get what you pay for but the bikes seem to jump up in quite big increments price wise.Is it worth paying £2000 pound or is a £1000 pound bike going to be as good?
I will need a low step through type frame, at least I'm sure of that! my "short-list"has 14 bikes priced £1000-£1500 and 5 at about the £2000 bracket. The price I was going to pay has been creeping upwards!

 

[Alan Quay]

In my opinion, if you haven't ridden a bike for a long time you will be happy with just about any pedelec.

If you don't know why you would prefer hub over derailleur then it doesn't matter too much. Either will be fine.

It's true you get what you pay for, but Woosh (and others) make sub £1000 bikes that will make you very happy for many years.

If you are a bike enthusiast that wants to commute 10,000 miles a year it's a different story.



Sent from my HTC One_M8 using Tapatalk

 

[Deleted member 4366]

Those questions are difficult to answer. IMHO, it doesn't make a massive amount of difference which electric bike you get. They all work. None are particularly problematic. All bought from normal dealers are covered by guarantees. How long they last doesn't seem to be related to cost. Cheaper bikes might have a higher frequency of low cost problems, while as higher cost bikes might have a lower frequency of higher cost problems. One thing is pretty clear, that the cost per mile is less with a low cost bike in the long run, because depreciation is likely to be the biggest cost.

It's easy to recommend a bike when you have special requirements, otherwise it's a case of take your pick. I wouldn't get hung up on the technical differences between gears. Again, they all work, otherwise they wouldn't be fitted to the bike. The same with types of motors and control systems, they all have advantages and disadvantages that tend to equalise out.

The only things I've found that make a real difference to your riding experience are hydraulic disc brakes and decent tyres, both of which can be retro-fitted at not a very high cost if the bike doesn't already have them.

Out of all the hundreds of electric bikes that I've ridden, the Woosh Big Bear Ls stands out because of it's high torque motor and comfortable riding position, which allow you to just relax and watch the world go by while you gently pedal along. The newer Wispers look promising if you still want good torque. I've only tried the crossbar one, which I felt was a step above similar bikes regarding the riding experience, though there's new bikes coming out all the time, so I can't say that those two are the best choices.

 

[Nealh]

Giving a location helps then folks can give you retailer recommendations also try before you buy as there are many configuration's. In all honesty avoid powerful front wheel bpm hub bikes if you are a light weight as you will find it hard to keep traction from a stand still or on wet/loose ground esp if you use the throttle.

 

[yaffa]

Hi,
Thanks guys. I'm in the Medway towns,Kent.
I think I will have a trip to EBikes Direct in Sussex tomorrow or possibly Cycling made easy in Tunbridge Wells and try a few out.

 

[JuicyBike]

You could also visit http://www.ecbate.bike in Dartford who have a good range of bikes.

 

[yaffa]

Well I went to Cycling Made Easy in Tunbridge Wells today and tried 4 different bikes out I'm definitely a convert!
Rob was very helpful and let a very nervous me test ride the bikes!.The shop was busy as they had a rep.from Raliegh/Haibike in today.
I tried a Freego Wren which I liked,
An Ebco which I wasn't so keen on(more because of the swept back handle bars than any thing)
A Raleigh Forge which felt more of a natural bike riding experience(like riding my Bobbin Brownie) but with assistance
And finally a Orbea Optima which at first I didn't like(it felt twitchy to me!) but
on coming up a second hill began to feel better. I think it would take a bit longer to get use to than the Freego but I think it would be a better long term choice but of course it's the most expensive!!

 

[Wisper Bikes]

Hi Yaffa,

EBikes Direct also have a great choice if you are near TWells and it's a nice drive!

 

[yaffa]

Hi David
I was going to call at Ebikes Direct yesterday but spent so long at Cycling Made Easy I wouldn't have made it before they closed!
I might even come and see you at AMPS as you are properly closer to me
and I would like to try a Wisper 705.

 

[Wisper Bikes]

h

Hi David
I was going to call at Ebikes Direct yesterday but spent so long at Cycling Made Easy I wouldn't have made it before they closed!
I might even come and see you at AMPS as you are properly closer to me
and I would like to try a Wisper 705.

Hi Yaffa, you would be most Welcome to pop in. We are just a warehouse not a retail shop but we can certainly get you out in a couple of Wispers.

Drop me an email david@amps.bike and we can make arrangements.

All the best, David

 

[yaffa]

h


Hi Yaffa, you would be most Welcome to pop in. We are just a warehouse not a retail shop but we can certainly get you out in a couple of Wispers.

Drop me an email david@amps.bike and we can make arrangements.

All the best, David

Thanks David, I will be in touch as soon as I have a free day. Landrover has decided it needs new shocks so this weekend is out I suspect.
Lynn.

 

[Wisper Bikes]

Hi Lynn,

Looking forward to seeing you when the Landrover is better!

Best regards

David

 

[Kudoscycles]

Hi,
Thanks guys. I'm in the Medway towns,Kent.
I think I will have a trip to EBikes Direct in Sussex tomorrow or possibly Cycling made easy in Tunbridge Wells and try a few out.

Yaffa.....the full Kudos range and many of the KTM range are available for testing,any Monday to Friday,9 to 5.
We have a large concrete apron in front of our warehouse and with some security you have a nice ride along the seafront.
We are located in Whitstable,down the M2.
You have so many questions these are best answered on a face to face conversation.
Hope that helps.
KudosDave

 

[yaffa]

Yaffa.....the full Kudos range and many of the KTM range are available for testing,any Monday to Friday,9 to 5.
We have a large concrete apron in front of our warehouse and with some security you have a nice ride along the seafront.
We are located in Whitstable,down the M2.
You have so many questions these are best answered on a face to face conversation.
Hope that helps.
KudosDave

Hi Dave,
You are another one I'm hoping to visit as I like the look of your Sonata.
We like going to Whitstable anyway. So you may see us soon.
Lynn.

 

[Kudoscycles]

Yaffa, we have most ready available for test,but if you can ring prior it does help.
Try to pick a nice day,when the tides in,it's a lovely ride along the seafront.
KudosDave

 

[Clara]

Hi. I'm another newbie to the world of electric bikes.Not sure if this is the correct part of the forum but here goes.
I've got about a million questions!(which I will post) who could of thought buying a bike could be so complicated?
I'm looking to purchase an electric bike in the near future.
I don't need to be able to climb up Snowdon on it, just need some assistance to get around my hilly home town and the slight but long gradient on my way home being a middle aged woman who hasn't use a bike much since I was 15!
The more I look into the various options the more confused I get;
Hub or deralliers,
Front or rear hub drive or crank drive,
Which make of drive.
I have always been told you get what you pay for but the bikes seem to jump up in quite big increments price wise.Is it worth paying £2000 pound or is a £1000 pound bike going to be as good?
I will need a low step through type frame, at least I'm sure of that! my "short-list"has 14 bikes priced £1000-£1500 and 5 at about the £2000 bracket. The price I was going to pay has been creeping upwards!

Hi. Welcome to the forum. I hadn't been on a bike for 40 plus years. I bought a BSO hybrid and a very cheap folder..however, as it is very hilly here, both those decisions were bad. I have been looking at ebikes just like you and it can become mind boggling just thinking about all the different makes, models, components, motors, drives, gears, power etc. I swing from a normal sized bike like juicy, roodog, and I have even started to drool over oxygen bikes. Then I swing towards the wisper 806SE and the volt metro (both folders). I now have a headache. As a poster above said, I don't think I will go wrong with any choice I make in the end.

I have so started looking at woosh bikes and TBH they seem to be very good value for money, very robust, and look like they will last for many years. Woosh also arnt afraid to tell people the cost of replacement batteries,which are very reasonable. I think I may well buy a woosh of some kind in the end. Good luck with your search and welcome to the forum.

 

[yaffa]

Well I've done it! I went down to Ebikes Direct today in East Sussex and brought a Wisper 705 Torque.

I tried a Raleigh Motus with Bosch drive which was very tempting but the Wisper just felt more comfortable to me (gear lever etc).

I was at first a bit discerned by the Wisper's whizzing forward under a very small amount of pedal pressure But it was in the highest assist mode!

I also tried a RooDog Chic but felt it was giving too much assistance! I do want to put some effort in! It might do in 15 years time!

Ebikes Direct is in a great location to try out the bikes. On a industrial(ex farm) estate with tarmac undulating road and with a quite a rise at the road end there is also a gravelled car park area. They were busy today but very helpful. They have a good selection of bikes ready to try. It's very funny to watch all these people riding along grinning to themselves!
Bike is being delivered on Thursday then I will be able to give it a proper review.

 

[Clara]

Congratulations. I quite fancy a wisper myself. They look wonderful. Let us know how you get on with it. I bet your excited.

 

[Wisper Bikes]

Well I've done it! I went down to Ebikes Direct today in East Sussex and brought a Wisper 705 Torque.

I tried a Raleigh Motus with Bosch drive which was very tempting but the Wisper just felt more comfortable to me (gear lever etc).

I was at first a bit discerned by the Wisper's whizzing forward under a very small amount of pedal pressure But it was in the highest assist mode!

I also tried a RooDog Chic but felt it was giving too much assistance! I do want to put some effort in! It might do in 15 years time!

Ebikes Direct is in a great location to try out the bikes. On a industrial(ex farm) estate with tarmac undulating road and with a quite a rise at the road end there is also a gravelled car park area. They were busy today but very helpful. They have a good selection of bikes ready to try. It's very funny to watch all these people riding along grinning to themselves!
Bike is being delivered on Thursday then I will be able to give it a proper review.

Fantastic news, thanks for investing in a Wisper, I am looking forward to hearing how you get on.

The system is very sensitive, in nearly all conditions level one is perfect for pulling away. If you ever need a more effortless mode, you can use one of the four torque sensor modes to get going then switch into F, this disengages the torque sensor so you run on cadence sensor alone. This will have the effect of giving you maximum power with minimum effort. The down side is your range will decrease by about a third.

I am particularly pleased to read you preferred the Wisper to the Bosch drive Raleigh Captus. The Captus is a great bike but we often hear riders prefer the Wisper Torque.

Above all.... Enjoy!

All the best, David

 

[JuicyBike]

Congratulations. I quite fancy a wisper myself. They look wonderful. Let us know how you get on with it. I bet your excited.

Clara
We have both the Wisper and Captus at our New Mills store available to try and Juicy too of course.