Wisper parts swap

I was just wondering, if I bought a Wisper 905 for a reasonable price. Whether it would be possible to transfer the 'electric bits' to a different bike. Instead of buying a retrofit kit.

 

Martin

Nearly all e-bikes are built around standard cycle parts, so in general the electrics can be transferred to a normal bike.

 

That rear A frame width will have to be sufficient of course, so perhaps a 905e owner can measure that for you.

 

The pedelec sensor is another possible difficulty. If Wisper's is like the eZee one, it should be transferable onto the bottom bracket spindle, but perhaps a 905e owner can confirm that also. Alternatively, you could use the bike in throttle control mode only when a bike has that option.

 

Otherwise the battery and controller mountings have to be devised, and their chosen locations might entail some cable length adjustments.

.

Nearly all e-bikes are built around standard cycle parts, so in general the electrics can be transferred to a normal bike.

 

That rear A frame width will have to be sufficient of course, so perhaps a 905e owner can measure that for you.

 

The pedelec sensor is another possible difficulty. If Wisper's is like the eZee one, it should be transferable onto the bottom bracket spindle, but perhaps a 905e owner can confirm that also. Alternatively, you could use the bike in throttle control mode only when a bike has that option.

 

Otherwise the battery and controller mountings have to be devised, and their chosen locations might entail some cable length adjustments.

.

 

But apart from that it would be a doddle right!.

The reason I am interested is because of the rear wheel drive. Do you know which hub they use? or is it specifically made for Wisper?.

Also I wonder what it will be like on hills with 700c wheels?.

I don't know for certain, but I think Frank said it's the Torq 1 motor. If so, it's Suzhou Bafang's 8fun, 576 watts gross, about 470 watts nett.

 

In the Torq 1 with 700c, it's very poor on hills unaided, just managing a 6% slope without pedalling, but giving 22 mph. I've always regarded it's use in 700c as too high geared unless with a strong cyclist. That then transforms it, flying up any hill the partnership can cope with at relatively high speeds, say 16 mph or even more on 8%.

 

In the Quando's 20" wheel it's transformed, and is the best legal hill climber on power alone, doing a restart without pedalling on 12% with my 70 kilos plus a few kilos on the back. It comfortably runs to 16/17 mph on motor alone then. Coupled with gears in my Q bike's 20" wheel, I can comfortably restart on a 22% sitting down.

 

I think it's ideal compromise wheel size would be 24", giving good hill climbing and about 19 mph top assisted speed.

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On my old 905e, the pedelec sensor was just a plastic disc with embedded magnets. It fitted onto the pedal spindle easily because the hole in the middle has lots of little flexible 'legs' around it which means it will push onto just about any spindle. The disc rotates with the spindle and each of the little magnets passes by a small sensor which is mounted on the bottom of the bottom bracket. I would have thought it would be easy to fix onto just about any bike.

 

The battery would have to be mounted somewhere on the bike too of course.

 

Much as the Wispers may not be exactly the ideal pedelec, in my opinion, it seems a waste to destroy one in order to build a bikem surely?

It's worth considering that virtually all rear hub motors will only take a freewheel and have no compatability with cassettes, somewhat limiting the available rider gearing options.

 

Much as the Wispers may not be exactly the ideal pedelec, in my opinion, it seems a waste to destroy one in order to build a bikem surely?

 

The reason I asked the question is because I have ordered one of these Bike Hugger · Kona Ute -- Rock solid cargo bike I am looking to put a rear wheel motor on it. The kits I have seen such as Bionx, Heinzmann and Ezee would cost nearly a grand.

So I thought if I could get a Wisper for less than £500 and use the bits off it, it could workout cheaper.

 

Martin

It's worth considering that virtually all rear hub motors will only take a freewheel and have no compatability with cassettes, somewhat limiting the available rider gearing options.

 

Yes Ian thats another point to think about. Also do you know if the Wisper hub is likely to fit between my 135mm dropouts?.

 

Martin

Sorry Martin, I'm don't know the width of the Wisper motor. Another thing to consider is that the 700C wheels on the Kona are considerably larger than the 26" fitted to the Wisper, which would result in more speed a but a poorer hillclimbing performance if the wisper motor were fitted into that wheel.

 

No problems stowing the battery though!

Ian

Yes the bigger wheels could spoil the idea.

:confused:

 

Martin

Given the fact that the gearing on the Kona is very much in favour of heavy haulage rather than speed the most suitable motor would be one that was similarly geared, particularly if you intend to use the bike for load carrying. Unfortunately it may be difficult to find a motor that gives the right characteristics in a large wheel.

 

If its any help the Suzhou Bafang 8Fun motor in my Torq measures 120mm between the dropouts, thats in a front wheel application obviously with no freewheel though.

You could get a kit for significantly less than the price of a Wisper 905e.

 

Lowest cost route is to order direct from the manufacturer in China. I bought a Tongxin direct from the manufacturer, and the Suzhou Bafang has a link on their site. A wide range of Crystalyte motors with different characteristics are also available at reasonable prices from ebikes.ca. You can then choose your own battery.

 

Frank

Thanks for all the info, very helpful as always.

 

Martin