New Cyclamatic

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mike killay

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Feb 17, 2011
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The reason I singled out CD bikes and torque sensor is because shops stock what sells and in turn, what sells feeds back to what shops stock. If your budget is £2k, there isn't any offering from direct vendors like Woosh, you have to either go to the shops or convert a bike, so the choice is limited: Bosch, Yamaha, Brose. They all give the same sort of ride.
it's often the case of what's best for the customers. A lot of our customers have the usual troubles that come with age, knees, hips, can't lift the leg high enough, balance, oxygen etc. CD bikes with torque sensor are not as good for them as a step through bike with a strong geared hub motor, a rear rack and a full throttle.
When you say' geared hub', do you mean a two speed hub?
 

Woosh

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May 19, 2012
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When you say' geared hub', do you mean a two speed hub?
oh no, I meant the usual hub motors with built in reduction gear that we use on the woosh bikes, to be distinguished from the direct drive hub motors which are suitable for high speed ride on flat roads. Sorry for the confusing word.
 
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A lot of our customers have the usual troubles that come with age, knees, hips, can't lift the leg high enough, balance, oxygen etc. CD bikes with torque sensor are not as good for them as a step through bike with a strong geared hub motor, a rear rack and a full throttle.
Yesterday,I went to help a lady with one of the original Ezee bikes. She's late middle aged. After 6 years and the second battery on the Ezee, she bought a Bergmont with Bosch motor, but she can't get up hills on it. Both bikes have hub-gears, and even her husband, who is slim and fit for his age, says that he got stuck on some hills because he couldn't get started. They have very steep hills where they live. She won't use the Bergmont, instead, she bought a third battery for the Ezee.

These CD bikes with torque sensors don't suit everyone. The Ezee has significantly more torque than the Bosch. I think I heard somewhere that some of the early ones had 25 amp controllers.

The Ezee had a dirty connector, which was easy to sort and is understandable after 8 years of all-weather use.
 

Wisper Bikes

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Apr 11, 2007
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The shop 150 yards from us in the same street sell Wispers. His customers rarely pop into our shop and vice versa although sometimes we see customers test ride Wispers and Wooshes up and down the same street.
There are always middle of the road products that seem to compete for the same segments of the market but not over the whole range, no. This said, our prices have crept up to over £1,000. I don't like it but the strength of the dollar leaves me with little choice.
Would you see a Wisper cruiser or a Wisper full-sus or a Wisper Fat Boy?
We are currently working on bikes for the 2018/19 season. There will not be a fat boy (we have one of those already!:oops:) or full sus in our range. The fat bike we beleive is a bit of a fad and won't be around very for much longer in areas that don't have a lot of snow and sand riding. Full sus bikes are catered for so well by the mountain bike specialists that we have decided it's not our market. We are however working on a CM model and depending on the motor we finally decide on, the bike could easily be over £2000.00.

We will continue to make and maintain solid reliable bikes that appeal to a wider audience.

Another two Wisper 806 Torques with 575Wh batteries were ordered by our Southend dealer yesterday. It just goes to show people are prepared to pay for a good bike the location of the assembler it not critical.

If you are in Southend beware of the traffic wardens, a couple of them now scoot around town on Wisper 705SEs!

All the best, David
 
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flecc

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Oct 25, 2006
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The Ezee has significantly more torque than the Bosch. I think I heard somewhere that some of the early ones had 25 amp controllers.
Yes, although nominally 20 controllers, the earlier controllers on all Ezee models would deliver a peak of 28 amps. My 2006 Quando (geared for 16 mph max) with my 70 kilos at the time plus a bit of shopping in two large panniers would take off under power only on a 12% hill, and on a 7% would then steadily accelerate, cresting the top at over 10 mph.

Normally I'd assist with pedalling of course, which was far easier than on the crank drive Lafree.
.
 
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Kudoscycles

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Apr 15, 2011
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The reason I singled out CD bikes and torque sensor is because shops stock what sells and in turn, what sells feeds back to what shops stock. If your budget is £2k, there isn't any offering from direct vendors like Woosh, you have to either go to the shops or convert a bike, so the choice is limited: Bosch, Yamaha, Brose. They all give the same sort of ride.
it's often the case of what's best for the customers. A lot of our customers have the usual troubles that come with age, knees, hips, can't lift the leg high enough, balance, oxygen etc. CD bikes with torque sensor are not as good for them as a step through bike with a strong geared hub motor, a rear rack and a full throttle.
That's completely the opposite that Trex used to push CD bikes,hehe
Dave
 

Woosh

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May 19, 2012
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I like equally the CD bikes - but keep the thumb throttle.
The thumb throttle is very useful on hills, one naturally flicks between thumb throttle and gear shifter.
 

cyclebuddy

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Nov 2, 2016
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If you are in Southend beware of the traffic wardens, a couple of them now scoot around town on Wisper 705SEs!
That does beg the question as to why the local Council are not supporting their own local industry, local employment and buying local?

Clearly, someone in the Essex Council needs a very good slap... a local Southend business-rate tax payer and employer that supplies credible e-bikes, and yet the spend goes to Kent?

Questions need to be raised with your local MP, Woosh!
 
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Wisper Bikes

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That does beg the question as to why the local Council are not supporting their own local industry, local employment and buying local?

Clearly, someone in the Essex Council needs a very good slap... a local Southend business-rate tax payer and employer that supplies credible e-bikes, and yet the spend goes to Kent?

Questions need to be raised with your local MP, Woosh!
They are supporting local businesses, our dealer has high street premesis in Southend, employs locally and pays business rates. Both Brands are Built on China. They no doubt buy the best police cars for the job too.

I suppose that's another advantage to buying from a local dealer, all sales go towards supporting the local community.

And of course, I am a Southend boy! :)

All the best, David
 
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cyclebuddy

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They are supporting local businesses, our dealer has high street premesis in Southend, employs locally and pays business rates. Both Brands are Chinese. They no doubt buy the best police cars for the job too.

I suppose that's another advantage to buying from a local dealer, all sales go towards supporting the local community.

And of course, I am a Southend boy! :)
Yeah, but a Southend boy who moved to Kent. Your dealer only makes a little of the total margin. The bigger contribution to the local economy would be made by supporting genuine local enterprise rather than some reseller making just a few quid.

Frankly, Essex Council needs a good kicking, and (if I lived there) I'd be asking some questions. Are the Council bent or just stupid?
 
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Wisper Bikes

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They are supporting local businesses, our dealer has high street premesis in Southend, employs locally and pays business rates. Both Brands are Chinese. They no doubt buy the best police cars for the job too.

All the best, David
Yeah, but a Southend boy who moved to Kent. Your dealer only makes a little of the total margin. The bigger contribution to the local economy would be made by supporting genuine local enterprise rather some reseller making just a few quid.

Frankly, Essex Council needs a good kicking, and (if I lived there) I'd be asking some questions. Are the Council bent or just stupid?
I don't think they are stupid at all. Supporting a big local bike dealer and buying the best product for the job.

Bikebase Southend have many different models and brands of ebike and offer expert and impartial advice.

http://www.bikebasesouthend.co.uk/

Win, win in my opinion. :)

All the best, David
 
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cyclebuddy

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Win, win in my opinion. :)
Well yes, you would say that: You're making the money. And if/when problems arise, would it be better to ship the bikes back to Kent, or walk the bikes back down the road to the actual local Southend importer who specified, imported, and understands them and can quickly fix them?

My issue certainly isn't with Bike Base. My issue is with the stupid twat at Essex Council for not understanding and properly supporting their own local business. They haven't thought that through, have they? But hey, who cares... it's not my Council tax.
 
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Wisper Bikes

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Well yes, you would say that: You're making the money. And if/when problems arise, would it be better to ship the bikes back to Kent, or walk the bikes back down the road to the actual local Southend importer who specified, imported, and understands them and can quickly fix them?

My issue certainly isn't with Bike Base. My issue is with the stupid twat at Essex Council for not understanding and properly supporting their own local business. They haven't thought that through, have they? But hey, who cares... it's not my Council tax.
That's the whole point of dealing with a local expert ebike dealer, rather than an importer many miles away. If there is an issue the council, wherever they are simply, have to walk the bike to the local dealer they don't have to send the bike all the way back to the supplier. In this case Bikebase. All our dealer's are able to sort out any issues with a bike, locally.

It was a good solid decision by the powers that be in Southend.

All the best, David
 
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cyclebuddy

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That's the whole point of dealing with a local expert ebike dealer, rather than an importer many miles away. If there is an issue the council, wherever they are simply, have to walk the bike to the local dealer they don't have to send the bike all the way back to the supplier. In this case Bikebase. All our dealer's are able to sort out any issues with a bike, locally.

It was a good solid decision by the powers that be in Southend.

All the best, David
What you're saying, David, is that Bike Base understand your bikes as well as you do. In that case, why are they even dealing with you rather than importing their own direct from China? Are they stupid too?
 

flecc

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What you're saying, David, is that Bike Base understand your bikes as well as you do. In that case, why are they even dealing with you rather than importing their own direct from China? Are they stupid too?
Come on Cyclebuddy, you are being ridiculous in this relentless attack on one of the most supportive of e-bike suppliers.

David Miall's long experience means the design of the Wisper brand e-bikes he originated owes much to his knowledge, brand designs made possible due to the large qualities he can buy for sale internationally.

All a local dealer could do is buy off the peg designs in much smaller quantities, and they might find it difficult to buy the minimum of a whole container load.
.
 
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Wisper Bikes

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What you're saying, David, is that Bike Base understand your bikes as well as you do. In that case, why are they even dealing with you rather than importing their own direct from China? Are they stupid too?
Thanks Flecc.

Cyclebuddy,

They (Bike Base) are actually pretty good at looking after our bikes, but of course one of our tech team is always available to all our dealers if they come across something that snookers them.

Developing, building and importing bikes is a different business to retailing them. We are set up to do the building and our dealers to do the retailing and local servicing. It's a team effort and works perfectly.

Thanks for your point of view though, it's interesting.

All the best, David
 
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cyclebuddy

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Nov 2, 2016
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Come on Cyclebuddy, you are being ridiculous in this relentless attack on one of the most supportive of e-bike suppliers.

David Miall's long experience means the design of the Wisper brand e-bikes he originated owe much to his knowledge, brand designs made possible due to the large qualities he can buy for sale internationally.

All a local dealer could do is buy off the peg designs in much smaller quantities, and they might find it difficult to buy the minimum of a whole container load.
.
My criticism is not aimed specifically at Amps... other than David at Amps is clearly revelling here in his ability to supply e-bikes to a County (town) where Whoosh reside.

My criticism is I feel perfectly valid... Essex Council have bought e-bikes outside their local County boundaries when there is clearly an importer/supplier capable of supplying a similar product at similar cost from within. Did they even have that discussion?

With the glories of the internet, any arse - myself included - can buy a container of e-bikes from China, and start an e-bike company. The designs are largely standard - you provide your own branding. There are numerous "boutique" resellers doing exactly that. I've considered doing it myself. It's pi** easy.

I believe Councils should - for the sake of local tax payers (business rate payers included) - have a duty to keep those taxes low, and be supporting local business and not "buying in".