... I have another thread going where I asked about bike recommendations. I'm looking for a bike that will easily do a 12 mile (in total) commute in pretty hilly terrain and will cover the odd bit of off roading (likely along canal tow paths rather than MTB per say) with as little effort as possible. It's likely to be for 90% road commuting and 10% leisure/off road. The advice I got there was that a high torque motor might be best which put the Oxygen S-Cross MTB on my radar. The high torque requirement put me on to the Wisper 905 Torque Mk II. I'm likely only to commute via bike for 3 out of 5 days a week so I want to keep cost down as far as possible but don't want to go right to the bottom, price wise, or push the boat out too far.
I'm looking at places that can do the Cycle2Work scheme to help me get £300 ish off. So this has led me to Ebikesdirect, as follows:
Oxygen S-Cross MTB 13Ah - £1377 (approx £1057 with Cycle 2 Work but no panier rack, lights, mudguards so figure on £100 extra so £1157 total after Cycle2Work discount)
Wisper 905 Torque MKII Graded EX DEMO bike 11AH - £1234 (approx £914 after Cycle2Work discount - has all the commuter bits I need included).
I'm leaning towards the Wisper but slightly concerned at the battery size. I'm not likely to be doing long journeys so as long as it covers me to and from work a couple of times a week before recharge (25 miles approx) I'd be happy with that (upgrading to the 16AH 575wh battery would cost £400+ more).
Would the Wisper Torque manage with the road hills around Huddersfield area would you think?
Would a 11ah battery be acceptable for the use I intend and bearing in mind pretty hilly around here.
Would I be better spending £250 extra to get the Oxygen S-Cross MTB, having to kit it out for commuting use and even though I'm not intending on doing much, if any, off-roading?
Would the 27 gears on the Oxygen help for getting up hills with less effort than the Wisper with only 8 speed gears?
Any concerns over getting a demo bike? (I'm willing to accept knocks to paint job and minor defects for price reduction.)
As before any comments/suggestions/advice, much appreciated!
I'm looking at places that can do the Cycle2Work scheme to help me get £300 ish off. So this has led me to Ebikesdirect, as follows:
Oxygen S-Cross MTB 13Ah - £1377 (approx £1057 with Cycle 2 Work but no panier rack, lights, mudguards so figure on £100 extra so £1157 total after Cycle2Work discount)
Wisper 905 Torque MKII Graded EX DEMO bike 11AH - £1234 (approx £914 after Cycle2Work discount - has all the commuter bits I need included).
I'm leaning towards the Wisper but slightly concerned at the battery size. I'm not likely to be doing long journeys so as long as it covers me to and from work a couple of times a week before recharge (25 miles approx) I'd be happy with that (upgrading to the 16AH 575wh battery would cost £400+ more).
Would the Wisper Torque manage with the road hills around Huddersfield area would you think?
Would a 11ah battery be acceptable for the use I intend and bearing in mind pretty hilly around here.
Would I be better spending £250 extra to get the Oxygen S-Cross MTB, having to kit it out for commuting use and even though I'm not intending on doing much, if any, off-roading?
Would the 27 gears on the Oxygen help for getting up hills with less effort than the Wisper with only 8 speed gears?
Any concerns over getting a demo bike? (I'm willing to accept knocks to paint job and minor defects for price reduction.)
As before any comments/suggestions/advice, much appreciated!
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