Woosh Big Bear - a good buy?

[Jay Lewis]

Hi folks,
I'm thinking of buying the Woosh Big Bear, and was wondering if people on here have had any experience with this company and/or this bike?
Btw I'm new to the forum, so hope I'm posting this in the right place, etc.!
Thanks,
Jay

 

[signwave]

Hi and welcome.

Here's one review, and another.

 

[Deleted member 4366]

They're brilliant and so is the company. What more do you want to know.

Personally, I prefer the step-through version. It's like riding an armchair. It's so comfortable and relaxing.

These bikes are good if you don't want to pedal too hard, if you have steep hills or if you've been eating too many pies.

 

[Benjahmin]

I concur. Pulls like a tractor. Solid build. Has my wife, not an enthusiastic cyclist, doing 25mile rides.

 

[Jay Lewis]

Thanks for the replies folks, much appreciated. Looking good so far!

 

[D8ve]

The bike is simple reliable and powerful.
The question is ...what do you want a bike for?

 

[Jay Lewis]

Hi D8ve,

I plan to use it for cycling around Bristol - quite a few hills.

I still own a Smarta Bike that I've had big battery problems with. First battery died after 14 months, second battery lasted about the same time - just charges enough now to get down the road and back to do shopping.

So I'm hoping for something that's less prone to battery problems, more reliable for cycling across the city and back, and not too expensive - though I'd pay more for greater relaibility, and have also been looking at e.g. the lower end of the Kalkhoff range (there's a local stockist).

Cheers,
Jay

 

[IR772]

Trex strokes moustache with look of satisfaction

 

[IR772]

greater relaibility, the lower end of the Kalkhoff range (there's a local stockist).

Cheers,
Jay

The above are two words rarely seen together in this forum.

 

[Jay Lewis]

Really? Should I cross Kalkhoff off my list???

 

[IR772]

Or maybe search the forums as their engines have a poor record, one thread was 24 pages long and still on topic.

Lovely bikes when working, but that is not always the case.

 

[footpump]

a m8 drove to southend and tried a few ebikes, he and his wife will both be using it they bought the big bear , but the step through vertion.
he is happy with the b bear.
this is a couple of months back,befor the price increase?
opted for spare charger,rather than delivery

 

[RobF]

Pah, the Big Bear is nothing more than a motor plonked on a £99 bike.

(Afternoon, trex, hope you are well.)

http://www.pedelecs.co.uk/forum/threads/2017-orbea-keram-20-lr-best-value-bosch-emtb.25562/#post-329745

 

[Deleted member 4366]

What more do you need? Remember this motor plonked on a £5 bike, which did 1000 miles in three months through the winter with no maintenance at all. For 1/4 the price of that Bosch bike, it has longer range, better climbing power, higher top speed, better comfort, lower maintenance costs, lower depreciation, better light and better mudguard - and, of course, nobody would want to nick it, though the saddle looks tempting:

 

[Benjahmin]

I'm in.............order a thousand

 

[IR772]

What more do you need? Remember this motor plonked on a £5 bike, which did 1000 miles in three months through the winter with no maintenance at all. For 1/4 the price of that Bosch bike, it has longer range, better climbing power, higher top speed, better comfort, lower maintenance costs, lower depreciation, better light and better mudguard - and, of course, nobody would want to nick it, though the saddle looks tempting:

Does that say Trex on the bar?

 

[Deleted member 4366]

Does that say Trex on the bar?

Yes. Alright, you've got me. I admit it. I'm sponsored by a company that makes lard and they give me free samples.

 

[IR772]

Slippery customer.

 

[Jay Lewis]

And now I'm totally confused. I need to buy an electric bike - not a bog standard bike - because of a minor disability. But "researching" what to buy is deeply confusing. One person will say yeah, great bike, go for it. The next will say nah, pile of garbage. I mean, WTF?!? I don't want to spend a grand on something either (a) substandard, or (b) that looks sleek and shiny but doesn't actually work. Is this just elec bikes that have this problem? I mean, I can't remember seeing reviews of a motor scooter that say yeah looks good but the motor doesn't work properly! I dunno - no idea what to do.

 

[Deleted member 4366]

Woosh have been selling electric bikes for many years. If they were no good, they'd be out of business.

All electric bikes work. I've tried literally hundreds, and I've never found one that I'd be unhappy to own if it were the only one I could have. Any electric bike can have/develop a fault, though most don't.

If you own an iphone and a wardrobe full of designer clothes, you probably won't be happy with a Woosh. If you have a Casio watch and like to shop in Aldi, a Woosh bike will make you very happy. That's about what it comes down to.

You were looking at Kalkhoffs because you thought they might be more reliable. They seem to have problems at the moment, but lets pretend that they didn't. You buy your Kalkhoff for £2000. Three years later, there's better bikes, so you want to change it. You'd probably get about £800 for it, so it cost you £400 a year. That doesn't include the cost of a couple of new chains and sprockets, which is more or less a certainty if you do many miles.

Let's say you bought a Woosh for £1000, and after three years the battery was knackered, so you decide to sell it. You'd get about £250 for it, so it cost you £250 a year. You'd be unlucky to have any costs for replacement parts in that time.

Which is best?