Woosh Santana.. A rose or a thorn?

Chainring

Esteemed Pedelecer
Apr 24, 2013
335
164
Don't seal the bottom edge of the controller compartment, otherwise there's a danger of it filling up with water and drowning the connectors/controllers.
I will take your advice on that, and make sure there is somewhere for the water to leave! When it's on the stand, it's over at an angle, so I will find the lowest point. I had no luck with the red tape, I'm afraid, but a row of 1cm bands cut from an old inner tube have turned my grips from slippy to grippy. The charger goes cold when it's finished, and the light looks dimmer. That's my best hope, if nobody's around.
 

RoadieRoger

Esteemed Pedelecer
Nov 8, 2010
726
200
Chainring next time Lidl have Cycle gear have a look at their gloves .A few weeks ago I bought some with non slip palms . They were full not fingerless and came in green , blue and pink , all with black . I must confess I bought the pink as they really stand out ! Aldi probably do the same ones .
 

Oldie

Pedelecer
Mar 29, 2013
151
41
Scotland
Apologies for reviving an old thread but I had occasion to use my wife's Santana yesterday when a puncture on my motorcycle left me stranded. I was slightly dubious about the Woosh managing my 30 mile route (with some serious hills) but it was absolutely spot on. In particular, I was impressed by it's hill climbing ability and compared very favourably with my crank drive. Overall, it's a very nice bike and a pleasure to ride.
 

Chainring

Esteemed Pedelecer
Apr 24, 2013
335
164
Well, I've managed the 1000 miles, in just over four months. This is the mileage I usually covered in six months on my normal bike, so it proves something. That 'something' is probably that it's a pleasure to ride, and easy to ride. Unless I've covered 20 to 30 miles, I feel okay when I get off. My age and condition account for any tiredness on the longer trips. I fitted a bracket to the handlebar stem to attach the wiring harness, as I'd seen on a Freego. This had the unintentioned consequence of making the riding position a lot more comfortable. I can think of only two problems so far. The first was a dodgy pedal. I fitted a spare pair I had, and dismantled the suspect one. I'm pretty sure there was one too many ball bearings in there. With one removed and reassembled, it seems okay. The other thing was the plastic tray the battery sits on. Part broke off, but this was replaced FOC within 24 hours by Woosh. While fitting it, I realised it was possible for water to enter around the 2-pin plug for the battery, which is a floating fit in the centre of the plate. I sealed this with some high tack silicone grease. Really good stuff for an electric bike! I bought mine from this online plumbing supplier.
Well, while riding it, I've had time to form an opinion of my ideal Ebike. I like the battery in the centre, as it keeps the weight in the right place. 700C wheels may make it more free-moving, but I have not tried one. I do not need lots of gears for my use, as I'm usually in a low one to start off, or a high one once moving. I may consider a conversion when the warranty period expires. The Momentum Model T seems to have some good ideas, like the 2speed autochange hub. A thumb throttle would be better, then I can change the grips. The rigid forks and practical front rack on the Kudos Duke/Duchess are appealing. I would have to fit a front motor to enable me to change the gearing, but for use in built-up areas with no major hills, a 2 or 3 speed hub is definitely the best setup. The Sundowner was suggested to me by Hatti, but I have bad memories of hub gears slipping and the end result....... I get the impression that things have changed now with the technology available, but I don't like the battery high up and past the back axle line. All in all, a really good bike. I have looked at others on offer at 2 to 3 times the price, but they seem to be constructed using identical components, which does make me wonder about the price difference. I just hope Denwyn can find a bike that he can be as happy with as I am with this one! Oh, and one more thing. Someone on this forum commented that the long wheelbase because of the central battery, made the bike unwieldy. I cannot say I have noticed this, but it does give a smooth ride, much like the difference between a long and short wheelbase Landrover.
 

derf

Esteemed Pedelecer
Aug 4, 2014
1,007
766
54
Well, I've managed the 1000 miles, in just over four months. This is the mileage I usually covered in six months on my normal bike, so it proves something. That 'something' is probably that it's a pleasure to ride, and easy to ride. Unless I've covered 20 to 30 miles, I feel okay when I get off. My age and condition account for any tiredness on the longer trips. I fitted a bracket to the handlebar stem to attach the wiring harness, as I'd seen on a Freego. This had the unintentioned consequence of making the riding position a lot more comfortable. I can think of only two problems so far. The first was a dodgy pedal. I fitted a spare pair I had, and dismantled the suspect one. I'm pretty sure there was one too many ball bearings in there. With one removed and reassembled, it seems okay. The other thing was the plastic tray the battery sits on. Part broke off, but this was replaced FOC within 24 hours by Woosh. While fitting it, I realised it was possible for water to enter around the 2-pin plug for the battery, which is a floating fit in the centre of the plate. I sealed this with some high tack silicone grease. Really good stuff for an electric bike! I bought mine from this online plumbing supplier.
Well, while riding it, I've had time to form an opinion of my ideal Ebike. I like the battery in the centre, as it keeps the weight in the right place. 700C wheels may make it more free-moving, but I have not tried one. I do not need lots of gears for my use, as I'm usually in a low one to start off, or a high one once moving. I may consider a conversion when the warranty period expires. The Momentum Model T seems to have some good ideas, like the 2speed autochange hub. A thumb throttle would be better, then I can change the grips. The rigid forks and practical front rack on the Kudos Duke/Duchess are appealing. I would have to fit a front motor to enable me to change the gearing, but for use in built-up areas with no major hills, a 2 or 3 speed hub is definitely the best setup. The Sundowner was suggested to me by Hatti, but I have bad memories of hub gears slipping and the end result....... I get the impression that things have changed now with the technology available, but I don't like the battery high up and past the back axle line. All in all, a really good bike. I have looked at others on offer at 2 to 3 times the price, but they seem to be constructed using identical components, which does make me wonder about the price difference. I just hope Denwyn can find a bike that he can be as happy with as I am with this one! Oh, and one more thing. Someone on this forum commented that the long wheelbase because of the central battery, made the bike unwieldy. I cannot say I have noticed this, but it does give a smooth ride, much like the difference between a long and short wheelbase Landrover.
it's been a year more or less since i bought a santa ana (and since ive been here) and i feel i need to give an update, not leastbecause its teh kidn of thing i badly would have wanted when i bought it (to know how it works out longer term, say over 12 months). Woosh just replaced the battery (one of the cells may have leaked internally - there was a smell of ammonia) - that alone if i had to do it all again would make me buy from a local company like woosh, rather than say import a bike, or buy second hand. it's great support (and something i couldnt be sure of at the outset). there's been another side to the coin - ive replaced wheels, brakes and tyres over the year (and about 1500 miles) - but i weigh 95kg's, the roads are beyond third world where i live, and i realise how much i abuse the bike when i switch back to a normal racer and ride through potholes instead of around because im so used to just hammering through with the woosh. i dont think it would have happened if i lived in amsterdam and used it for gentle journeys to cafes.it was an inexpensive bike, who knows whether i'd have had to replace all this stuff if it were a kalkhoff. On the plus side it hasnt been vandalised or stolen (I deliberately picked an unsexy bike). i like the relaxed geometry, the crank drive provides just enough support for me.On balance it feels a good decision so far.