How to find a trustworthy bike shop if…

guerney

Esteemed Pedelecer
Sep 7, 2021
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Whats the problem here/in relation to ?.
Is the shop too far for the OP to visit? Are they official dealers of Wisper bikes? Is it a trustworthy bike shop? Tune in next year for the the answers to these and other fascinating questions?
 

Sylvs

Pedelecer
Apr 27, 2023
58
11
Is the shop too far for the OP to visit? Are they official dealers of Wisper bikes? Is it a trustworthy bike shop? Tune in next year for the the answers to these and other fascinating questions?
I can travel there no bother.
Is it an official dealer..hopefully Dave can confirm.
Waiting with bated breath for the next instalment of Q&A
 

Sylvs

Pedelecer
Apr 27, 2023
58
11
On a slightly different note, I know that Moore Large entered liquidation, so buying a forme Buxton pro E would leave me with no warranty or parts(?). Does anyone know if they are being bought over?
 

Nealh

Esteemed Pedelecer
Aug 7, 2014
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David, so would you recommend CS+throttle rather than a TS? Also…from what I’ve seen, your throttle upgrades go through DVSA so that adds waiting time, am I right?
And finally, any local dealers up Glasgow way?;)
The DVSA route is only for a fully operational throttle up to 15.5mph, otherwise one can have the walk along assist throttle set to a max 6kmh/4mph, this option is the same as walk assist used on basic bikes with the three speed led buttons. They have no throttle but one has to push a dedicated walk assist button for it to work.
 

cyclebuddy

Esteemed Pedelecer
Nov 2, 2016
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Beds & Norfolk
On a slightly different note, I know that Moore Large entered liquidation, so buying a forme Buxton pro E would leave me with no warranty or parts(?). Does anyone know if they are being bought over?
If you're looking for an opinion on the Forme Buxton, here's mine:

I think the inclusion of a larger 500Wh battery and hydraulic brakes is surprising at the £1350 price. And the branded/standard Bafang rear hub motor. That's all great IMHO.

What I personally dislike is the frame welding looks a bit scrappy, and the central display is mounted directly over the stem latch... the display bracket is likely/prone to breakage if you need to keep twisting it to undo/adjust the handlebar.

For me the concerns would be that the battery appears to be a bit non-standard (branded "Veken"), the display/electronics King Meter. If there's doubt about continuity of the supply chain, future replacement of these parts especially may prove tricky (the rest seems straightforward enough).

So to answer your question: With Moore Large only just hitting the skids I'd say it's far too early to see if anyone else picks up that mantle (I haven't read anything yet in the cycling press), especially given how the broader UK bike market has reportedly shrunk by 20% and staff lay-offs are becoming widespread across the industry. That Moore Large's stock has been auctioned off piece-meal and not sold in entirety suggests there's little interest in taking it over as a going concern.

The bike does look good value for the money, but IMHO it is a risk unless Forme as a brand is acquired... To me that doesn't seem likely to happen soon (if at all) given current economics.
 
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Sylvs

Pedelecer
Apr 27, 2023
58
11
If you're looking for an opinion on the Forme Buxton, here's mine:

I think the inclusion of a larger 500Wh battery and hydraulic brakes is surprising at the £1350 price. And the branded/standard Bafang rear hub motor. That's all great IMHO.

What I personally dislike is the frame welding looks a bit scrappy, and the central display is mounted directly over the stem latch... the display bracket is likely/prone to breakage if you need to keep twisting it to undo/adjust the handlebar.

For me the concerns would be that the battery appears to be a bit non-standard (branded "Veken"), the display/electronics King Meter. If there's doubt about continuity of the supply chain, future replacement of these parts especially may prove tricky (the rest seems straightforward enough).

So to answer your question: With Moore Large only just hitting the skids I'd say it's far too early to see if anyone else picks up that mantle (I haven't read anything yet in the cycling press), especially given how the broader UK bike market has reportedly shrunk by 20% and staff lay-offs are becoming widespread across the industry. That Moore Large's stock has been auctioned off piece-meal and not sold in entirety suggests there's little interest in taking it over as a going concern.

The bike does look good value for the money, but IMHO it is a risk unless Forme as a brand is acquired... To me that doesn't seem likely to happen soon (if at all) given current economics.
This puts my doubts to rest. Seems like too many things can become a real pain in the future. Forme is not an option.
So I’m now looking at a Wisper or the Fiido d11 (I’m not sure how much of an actual upgrade the 21 actually is in real terms).
I’ve got hang ups about the rear rack battery placement on the wisper, and don’t know if a low step is ok on a folder, but pros are that it’s an established company plus I can probably get it from a local-ish bike shop.
Fiido, well, cheap, integrated battery, loads of users say it’s surprisingly good, loads of DIY videos means I can save on repairs (or die trying :) )
One of lbs sent me to https://www.tgc.bike/electric-bikes-c4 to look at bikes but I haven’t heard/cannot get one iota of a review on the company or their bikes.
 
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guerney

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Sep 7, 2021
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Sylvs

Pedelecer
Apr 27, 2023
58
11
Not quite as far away as Wiltshire, should you need something fixed under warranty. But not close.

They shop did say they could get me a bike from TGC, but didn’t get as far as asking what type of service they’d offer. The bikes seemed a bit like something from AliExpress (I know that probably 90% of bikes are made in China or thereabouts). At least the more common ones mean there’s a community of people who can help with tackling issues that come up with the bike.
 

guerney

Esteemed Pedelecer
Sep 7, 2021
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Cycle To Work Scheme - what happens after/if the bike gets stolen? Does the employee continue paying for a bike they can't use?
 

Sylvs

Pedelecer
Apr 27, 2023
58
11
Cycle To Work Scheme - what happens after/if the bike gets stolen? Does the employee continue paying for a bike they can't use?
Bike is technically not mine for 4 years;) I have used it before on fully leg powered ones and never had one stolen (watch this new one get nicked within a week now:D)
 

Wisper Bikes

Trade Member
Apr 11, 2007
6,282
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Sevenoaks Kent
Is the shop too far for the OP to visit? Are they official dealers of Wisper bikes? Is it a trustworthy bike shop? Tune in next year for the the answers to these and other fascinating questions?
Yes they are a dealer.

All the best, David
 
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cyclebuddy

Esteemed Pedelecer
Nov 2, 2016
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So I’m now looking at a Wisper or the Fiido d11 (I’m not sure how much of an actual upgrade the 21 actually is in real terms).
In the same way as Wispers 806 is available with a Cadence Sensor or a Torque Sensor, Fiido's D11 is the Cadence version and D21 the Torque.
 

guerney

Esteemed Pedelecer
Sep 7, 2021
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Bike is technically not mine for 4 years;) I have used it before on fully leg powered ones and never had one stolen (watch this new one get nicked within a week now:D)
It can't be covered by your insurance, because it isn't yours. The bike either belongs to the employer or the scheme... so what would each do respectively if the bike gets stolen? Write it off? Make an insurance claim? Require you keep paying? Use two big D locks...
 

soundwave

Esteemed Pedelecer
May 23, 2015
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the bike shop gets all the money straight away and then paid back via the ctw and the employer.

just ring plod and say your bike was nicked then they will give you a crime number and then give that to the employer and free bike :p

tho if you lock it up and remove the batt that will put off most or if you do leave the batt they will try and rip it off as the most expensive part and you cant do a runner with a 20+kg bike with no power :p
 

guerney

Esteemed Pedelecer
Sep 7, 2021
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you cant do a runner with a 20+kg bike with no power
I'd expect habitual bike thieves to be quite fit - I'm not at all fit, actively avoid being cycling fit (cadence sensors are wonderful), but even I can do a slow runner with my 20+kg bike unpowered.
 

Sylvs

Pedelecer
Apr 27, 2023
58
11
It can't be covered by your insurance, because it isn't yours. The bike either belongs to the employer or the scheme... so what would each do respectively if the bike gets stolen? Write it off? Make an insurance claim? Require you keep paying? Use two big D locks...
the bike shop gets all the money straight away and then paid back via the ctw and the employer.

just ring plod and say your bike was nicked then they will give you a crime number and then give that to the employer and free bike :p

tho if you lock it up and remove the batt that will put off most or if you do leave the batt they will try and rip it off as the most expensive part and you cant do a runner with a 20+kg bike with no power :p
So I’m now reading up on cassette gear ratios/sprockets/chainsets, and need to add insurance to my list
 

guerney

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Sep 7, 2021
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soundwave

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May 23, 2015
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not if you pick it up and run away with it you wont Gubbins had his bosch bike nicked from out side his house as they followed him home and then got the bike off the drive and the guy held on to it from the back seat from a car with the window down to get away pmsl tho was insured and got paid out.

never found the bike tho.
 
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