Hi everyone,
just recently I have decided to get rid of my car at the end of this month and have been looking for an alternative means of transportation. Since I am doing a lot of mountainbiking in my freetime, I started looking for a new bicycle and finally decided that a pedelec would be worth a try.
After getting information on the web (a lot came from this side, thanks flecc for all the detailed technical explanations) I thought that the pedelec system best suited for me would be one with the Panasonic system.
On my initial list had been the Gazelle Easy Glider and one of the Kalkhoff models. By accident I found a dealer in my city who had the Flyer bikes available for test rides.
I then chose a T-Flyer model (the 15mph version) and did a short 10 mile trip along a river. Unfortunately it was a womens bike with an uncomfortable saddle. Still, it felt nice, but I had some trouble getting used to the low cadence pedaling. When I came back to the shop I wasn't as impressed as I thought I would be. Almost out of the door, the dealer asked me whether I would like to try a fast S-Flyer bike. My first reaction was to refuse it, due to the high price. But then I thought why not? Thats when the magic began.
The S-Flyer is a completly different beast compared to the slow models. I just did a short 2 mile run within the city and couldn't get that grin off my face. I felt like doing 15mph, but when I checked I was doing almost 25mph with not too much effort. Amazing. Back at the shop I arranged another test ride a couple days later for a long distance test.
That test I did yesterday. The dealer had fully charged the battery overnight and told me the battery was on its second charging cycle (including the initial charge at the factory) since he got it.
I live near Frankfurt/Main in Germany and the area I intend to use a pedelec is mostly flat, therefore speed is more important to me than hillclimbing abilities. Just that you get an idea of my own abilities, I am 38 years old and doing like 1 - 2 mountainbike tours per week (in hilly terrain).
First I tested how the bike behaves without the motor. I rode the bike from the shop back to my place, about 2 miles. I would say the bike is easier going than my 2000,- Euro full suspension mountainbike. Very impressive.
For my testride I was going from my place to Frankfurt city, riding along the Main river (completely flat track), a 14 miles distance. I had to cope with incredibly strong headwinds. On this section of the testride I used the 100% setting of the Panasonic system. Nevertheless I managed to get an average speed of 17,5mph with not too much effort. Still, I started sweating since it was quite warm, even with the strong winds. When I arrived in Frankfurt, the first 2 of the 5 battery lights had went out.
For my way back I chose a different route. I used exatly the route I would use with my car (a 12,5 miles distance). This time I used the 150% setting of the Panasonic system (Flyer bikes have 150% compared to the 130% that other bikes have with the same system). Also I had less headwind. This time I reached an average speed of 22mph with less effort than on my way to Frankfurt. On one section with no wind I was doing a steady 24,5mph for about 3miles and felt like doing 12-15mph with a regular bike. When I reached my home city, the last battery light just started flashing, indicating that I would soon run out of power.
So, on one full battery charge I did around 26,5 miles with a mixed 100%/150% setting on flat surface with partial strong headwinds. I thought thats not too bad. One interesting note: on may way back from Frankfurt I needed almost exactly the same time as I would have with my car (I skipped a few red lights...).
After this testride, I was so impressed that I am going to order a S-Flyer tomorrow, even if the price is quite high. The dealer made me a reasonable offer, including a 20% discount on a second battery, if I would buy it within the first 6 month after the bike purchase.
Some final thoughts:
- if you are an average or above average bicycle rider, this bike seems much better suited than the slower 15mph models, mostly due to the high cadence pedaling. It just feels much more natural. In fact, after a while I totally forgot that there was a motor working in the background.
-I didn't test hillclimbing abilities, only had a couple of overpasses. But since you have 24 gears, it is easy to shift down in a low gear and get decent assistance from the motor while keeping a higher cadence (again, feeling very natural)
-the fastest I was going was 27,5mph still not pedaling at my max. I guess, with some more sweat involved, higher speeds are very possible. The section I was doing with the steady 24,5mph, I was pedaling in the third highest gear.
-this bike makes you going faster than you initially intend to go. Especially at low speed you can feel that the bike is pushing you to go faster. Which made me sweat a little more than planned, but it is just so much fun.
-I couldn't feel a real big difference between the 100% and the 150% setting at higher speeds, so sticking to the 100% setting will be good enough for most of the time, while saving some extra battery power. (might be different going uphill for a longer time)
-a word of warning: you have to get used to the higher speed. As I wrote earlier, I was doing almost 25mph but it felt like 15mph the most, so at one time I did almost crash because I went too fast into a corner. Same thing with car drivers, they underestimate your speed, which can be quite dangerous.
-in Germany the S-Flyer needs a moped insurance. But in my oppinion this is a big advantage. If you want to insure a regular bike (costing 2000,- Euro and more) against theft, you have to pay up to 300,- Euro per year.
A moped insurance, including theft, you can get for around 90,- Euros.
-the built quality of the Flyer bikes are near perfect. They have a hefty price tag, but I think they are worth it.
-this month, a big german cycling magazine had a test of 8 pedelecs. Their conclusion for the S-Flyer: "sensational! go and plunder your bank account for this one". I do fully agree with them.
Hope this information was helpful for some of you. If you have any questions I will happily answer them. Also, if there are some more germans in this Forum, it would be nice to get in contact, since there is no forum in Germany.
One question for flecc (in case you are reading this): considering the battery range, would you recommend a second battery, or just go with one and take the charger with me. Since I have my own little company I don't have to go to work everyday with the bike, but I would use it for example to get to Frankfurt for shopping. Is it really that bad for the Li-ion battery to get fully discharged?
Patrick
just recently I have decided to get rid of my car at the end of this month and have been looking for an alternative means of transportation. Since I am doing a lot of mountainbiking in my freetime, I started looking for a new bicycle and finally decided that a pedelec would be worth a try.
After getting information on the web (a lot came from this side, thanks flecc for all the detailed technical explanations) I thought that the pedelec system best suited for me would be one with the Panasonic system.
On my initial list had been the Gazelle Easy Glider and one of the Kalkhoff models. By accident I found a dealer in my city who had the Flyer bikes available for test rides.
I then chose a T-Flyer model (the 15mph version) and did a short 10 mile trip along a river. Unfortunately it was a womens bike with an uncomfortable saddle. Still, it felt nice, but I had some trouble getting used to the low cadence pedaling. When I came back to the shop I wasn't as impressed as I thought I would be. Almost out of the door, the dealer asked me whether I would like to try a fast S-Flyer bike. My first reaction was to refuse it, due to the high price. But then I thought why not? Thats when the magic began.
The S-Flyer is a completly different beast compared to the slow models. I just did a short 2 mile run within the city and couldn't get that grin off my face. I felt like doing 15mph, but when I checked I was doing almost 25mph with not too much effort. Amazing. Back at the shop I arranged another test ride a couple days later for a long distance test.
That test I did yesterday. The dealer had fully charged the battery overnight and told me the battery was on its second charging cycle (including the initial charge at the factory) since he got it.
I live near Frankfurt/Main in Germany and the area I intend to use a pedelec is mostly flat, therefore speed is more important to me than hillclimbing abilities. Just that you get an idea of my own abilities, I am 38 years old and doing like 1 - 2 mountainbike tours per week (in hilly terrain).
First I tested how the bike behaves without the motor. I rode the bike from the shop back to my place, about 2 miles. I would say the bike is easier going than my 2000,- Euro full suspension mountainbike. Very impressive.
For my testride I was going from my place to Frankfurt city, riding along the Main river (completely flat track), a 14 miles distance. I had to cope with incredibly strong headwinds. On this section of the testride I used the 100% setting of the Panasonic system. Nevertheless I managed to get an average speed of 17,5mph with not too much effort. Still, I started sweating since it was quite warm, even with the strong winds. When I arrived in Frankfurt, the first 2 of the 5 battery lights had went out.
For my way back I chose a different route. I used exatly the route I would use with my car (a 12,5 miles distance). This time I used the 150% setting of the Panasonic system (Flyer bikes have 150% compared to the 130% that other bikes have with the same system). Also I had less headwind. This time I reached an average speed of 22mph with less effort than on my way to Frankfurt. On one section with no wind I was doing a steady 24,5mph for about 3miles and felt like doing 12-15mph with a regular bike. When I reached my home city, the last battery light just started flashing, indicating that I would soon run out of power.
So, on one full battery charge I did around 26,5 miles with a mixed 100%/150% setting on flat surface with partial strong headwinds. I thought thats not too bad. One interesting note: on may way back from Frankfurt I needed almost exactly the same time as I would have with my car (I skipped a few red lights...).
After this testride, I was so impressed that I am going to order a S-Flyer tomorrow, even if the price is quite high. The dealer made me a reasonable offer, including a 20% discount on a second battery, if I would buy it within the first 6 month after the bike purchase.
Some final thoughts:
- if you are an average or above average bicycle rider, this bike seems much better suited than the slower 15mph models, mostly due to the high cadence pedaling. It just feels much more natural. In fact, after a while I totally forgot that there was a motor working in the background.
-I didn't test hillclimbing abilities, only had a couple of overpasses. But since you have 24 gears, it is easy to shift down in a low gear and get decent assistance from the motor while keeping a higher cadence (again, feeling very natural)
-the fastest I was going was 27,5mph still not pedaling at my max. I guess, with some more sweat involved, higher speeds are very possible. The section I was doing with the steady 24,5mph, I was pedaling in the third highest gear.
-this bike makes you going faster than you initially intend to go. Especially at low speed you can feel that the bike is pushing you to go faster. Which made me sweat a little more than planned, but it is just so much fun.
-I couldn't feel a real big difference between the 100% and the 150% setting at higher speeds, so sticking to the 100% setting will be good enough for most of the time, while saving some extra battery power. (might be different going uphill for a longer time)
-a word of warning: you have to get used to the higher speed. As I wrote earlier, I was doing almost 25mph but it felt like 15mph the most, so at one time I did almost crash because I went too fast into a corner. Same thing with car drivers, they underestimate your speed, which can be quite dangerous.
-in Germany the S-Flyer needs a moped insurance. But in my oppinion this is a big advantage. If you want to insure a regular bike (costing 2000,- Euro and more) against theft, you have to pay up to 300,- Euro per year.
A moped insurance, including theft, you can get for around 90,- Euros.
-the built quality of the Flyer bikes are near perfect. They have a hefty price tag, but I think they are worth it.
-this month, a big german cycling magazine had a test of 8 pedelecs. Their conclusion for the S-Flyer: "sensational! go and plunder your bank account for this one". I do fully agree with them.
Hope this information was helpful for some of you. If you have any questions I will happily answer them. Also, if there are some more germans in this Forum, it would be nice to get in contact, since there is no forum in Germany.
One question for flecc (in case you are reading this): considering the battery range, would you recommend a second battery, or just go with one and take the charger with me. Since I have my own little company I don't have to go to work everyday with the bike, but I would use it for example to get to Frankfurt for shopping. Is it really that bad for the Li-ion battery to get fully discharged?
Patrick
