I purchased a Wisper 705 - 24 inch in May with a Torque Power Pack. When I test rode it up the nearest hill I wasn't that impressed but then I got introduced to the throttle button that solved all my issues. Basically the bike is really unresponsive when I ride it. Then I rode a 705 with a Cadence Sensor on holiday in Scotland. I was amazed at how responsive it was in terms of adjusting the power level as I rode along. Then I started to ask - why does my bike not respond in the same way?
Because my Torque sensor does not do this at all. If I want a response out of it I have to have it in the highest level of Assist and stand up on the pedals. To arrive at my destination panting and sweating. Not what you want when you ride an ebike.
When faced with a steep hill I have to use the throttle. Going up the steepest hill round here when I tested a Trek on it I went up at 11 mph. The Wisper crawls up at 4mph with the throttle hard on (admittedly laden with shopping). Not a peep out of the Torque sensor.
I am now being told that I cannot expect the same degree of responsiveness from a Torque power pack. I find this somewhat bewildering. Before I bought the bike I read up on the torque power pack. It says on the wisper website: "So… if the bike is starting from standstill, encounters a hill, a strong headwind or if the bike is heavily laden, the torque sensor will recognise that more pressure is being put onto the pedals and the bike will offer more powered assistance. It’s very simple and very clever! "
Of course I fell for it, because I live in South Yorkshire - so it's all hills round here, and I use the bike for shopping, so it is frequently laden. But I would say that that statement is "*******". My bike offers me no additional assistance when hill climbing, nor when laden. The only time I sense a bit more help is when I pull off (on a hill).
To get it to respond the amount of pressure required as I said means I have to stand up on the pedals and use all my weight. And then in Assist level 5 it responds. But I expect it to respond when I push down a little harder when I'm riding along in Assist level 3. If I ride it in Assist level 5 that means the battery level goes down rapidly - which again negates the whole point of the Torque sensor, which is supposed to deliver increased battery range.
My situation is now that in my view the Torque Power pack is definitely not worth the extra money. I shouldn't have to put down that amount of pressure to get a response.. The Wisper with a Cadence sensor is a nice ride. Apparently I can't swap it and apparently I shouldn't be using the throttle that much. Renders the bike somewhat useless. Which, when you have spent £2k on it is rather galling.
Because my Torque sensor does not do this at all. If I want a response out of it I have to have it in the highest level of Assist and stand up on the pedals. To arrive at my destination panting and sweating. Not what you want when you ride an ebike.
When faced with a steep hill I have to use the throttle. Going up the steepest hill round here when I tested a Trek on it I went up at 11 mph. The Wisper crawls up at 4mph with the throttle hard on (admittedly laden with shopping). Not a peep out of the Torque sensor.
I am now being told that I cannot expect the same degree of responsiveness from a Torque power pack. I find this somewhat bewildering. Before I bought the bike I read up on the torque power pack. It says on the wisper website: "So… if the bike is starting from standstill, encounters a hill, a strong headwind or if the bike is heavily laden, the torque sensor will recognise that more pressure is being put onto the pedals and the bike will offer more powered assistance. It’s very simple and very clever! "
Of course I fell for it, because I live in South Yorkshire - so it's all hills round here, and I use the bike for shopping, so it is frequently laden. But I would say that that statement is "*******". My bike offers me no additional assistance when hill climbing, nor when laden. The only time I sense a bit more help is when I pull off (on a hill).
To get it to respond the amount of pressure required as I said means I have to stand up on the pedals and use all my weight. And then in Assist level 5 it responds. But I expect it to respond when I push down a little harder when I'm riding along in Assist level 3. If I ride it in Assist level 5 that means the battery level goes down rapidly - which again negates the whole point of the Torque sensor, which is supposed to deliver increased battery range.
My situation is now that in my view the Torque Power pack is definitely not worth the extra money. I shouldn't have to put down that amount of pressure to get a response.. The Wisper with a Cadence sensor is a nice ride. Apparently I can't swap it and apparently I shouldn't be using the throttle that much. Renders the bike somewhat useless. Which, when you have spent £2k on it is rather galling.
