Very different bikes.
Hi Scott, and thanks Flecc for letting me know about this thread.
I will be as unbiased as I possibly can be considering my position!
The Kalkhoff and Wisper bikes are very different animals, both very well made using many high quality Far Eastern components, the Kalkhoff is constructed in Germany and the Wisper in Shanghai. Chinese components shouldn't cause concern as long as they are of high quality, indeed most of the best computers, mobile phones, televisions, cameras etc are made using components made in China and in most cases are built there.
There are several important points to consider when making a choice between these bikes. The way the power is supplied to the wheels, the battery size/range and the frame sizes being the most important. These are all areas where bike choice is down to the riders preferences. I will try to explain the differences;
Frame size Kalkhoff certainly has a lot more choice than Wisper. The Wisper frame has a longer wheel base than most medium sized frames and because of the attention we have spent on the handlebars and the way they can be adjusted the Wisper really can suit most sizes. However for the very tall or short I would certainly try a small or large Kalkhoff before you buy.
Battery size/range Wisper has a choice of the very large capacity 518Wh Lithium Polymer battery or the smaller (and £200.00 less expensive) 296Wh version. Kalkhoff uses a very good but smaller 260Wh Lithium Ion battery. The ranges of the bikes approximately work out to 1 mile per 10Wh. The choice is whether you need the long range or not. If not the Kalkhoff or smaller Wisper battery are about the same.
The way the power is supplied to the wheels This arguably the biggest difference.
Kalkhoff use a superb complexed Panasonic torque sensor system with the drive though the chain. The use of a torque sensor means that when you press down on the pedals the bike recognises the amount of effort you are exerting pushing the pedal down and rewards you with an adjustable amount of help in return. It also means that the effort of both the rider and motor is through the gear system and better hill climbing is possible.
Wisper uses a far more simple system. The drive is through a hub motor that is placed in the rear wheel of the bike it is controlled by a cadence sensor to turn the motor on. There is a High/Low range switch that sets the starting point for the amount of power introduced when the motor first starts to assist and a throttle which finely adjusts the amount of power the rider requires in any particular circumstance from 40% to 100%. In essence the rider, not the bike control the amount of help given to the rider by the motor. At the moment in the UK the throttle is able to propel the bike without the pedals being turned at all, however this is likely to end soon and the EU standard of the throttle only being usable when the pedals are turning (even though there is no force being exerted on the pedals) is introduced.
All this being said, I honestly believe the only way to decide is by giving both (and other) bikes a good test ride for at least and hour or so. In our dealers experience the split of prefference between the torque sensor and throttle control is about 50/50 so it is very personal.
Good luck in your choice. Please email me at
miall@aol.com and I will give you the adress of your nearest Wisper retailer.
Best regards David
