The Kawasaki's end is nigh - Time for a new mode of transport

For some time now I’ve known that the KLE500 cannot go on for ever – despite living up to Kawasaki’s reputation for bullet-proof engines, it’s beginning to get more and more rat-like as only a £400 24-year old bike can. After 3 years of all-weather commuting with almost total reliability it certainly doesn’t “owe me anything”.

I’ve long been considering an e-bike (or “Pedelec”) as a replacement. On the odd days I cycle to my office in Great Portland Street from Stanmore I can do it in around 50-55 minutes, but it does somewhat take it out of me, especially on the way home. 

With no tax or MOT to worry about and the ability to reduce the journey time to a more acceptable 40 minutes while maintaining or even improving my fitness (as an e-bike does not remove the need to pedal it just assists - up to 15.5mph).

I’ve been researching this plan for some time (check out www.Pedelecs.co.uk – a website with a lively if highly opinionated forum) – I nearly took the plunge a year ago but held off as the Kawasaki felt like it had one more year in it.

Thanks to John at www.Cyclezee.com  in Milton Keynes I’ve ridden Ansmann and Heinzmann examples and David at www.TheFlatEarth.co.uk has provided test rides of Orbea and Wisper models. I was torn between the Wisper 905 Torque (https://amps.bike/product/wisper-905-torque) and the Bosch powered Orbea Keram Comfort (http://theflatearth.co.uk/shop/electric-bike/electric-urban/orbea-keram-comfort-10/) when an alternative presented itself.

I had previously rejected the idea of converting my existing bicycle until I saw a post on the Pedelecs forum promoting a January sale by www.pandaebikes.com . Following an extensive email conversation with Maria at Panda we settled on a custom conversion kit for my ageing but well sorted Dawes Sonoran. Although I was almost ready to spend £1,700 on the Wisper, the £366 price for the conversion kit was welcome and will allow me to “test the waters” without breaking the bank. The nature of the kit means that if I do subsequently buy an e-bike it can be removed from my Sonoran and fitted to Corinne’s similarly spec’d Kalahari.

The speed and quality of response from Panda has been exemplary and, for a Chinese made kit, the quality looks fine. Packaging was also first rate.

The next few posts detail the actual build - read on......................