Test: S-Pedelec of the Flyer U series in an endurance test. The forced switch to the e-bike due to a road block made test rider Stefan Treml very happy - no wonder considering the fast S-Pedelecs of the Flyer U series that he rode more than 1.000 kilometers and can therefore afford a really profound opinion.
The four-month complete closure of the federal highway 11, which connects Deggendorf in the Danube valley with the villages in the lower Bavarian Forest, forced many a commuter to rethink. Accept cumbersome detours, take the “Waldbahn” or bike? Velomotion tester Stefan Treml opted for the latter. And since the 300 meter difference in altitude between home and work was a bit too much even for the experienced cyclist, Treml tried an S-Pedelec from the Flyer U series.
Flyer U series commuter e-bike
A great opportunity for Velomotion to intensively test a Flyer U-Series 7.70 HS. The S-Pedelec with the innovative two-speed automatic transmission, combined with a ten-speed derailleur - is a high-quality, sporty-looking bolide that is also appealingly light at 21 kilos (for an S-Pedelec). Rigid fork, voluminous semi-slicks and the typical insurance number, the Flyer offers the typical look of fast urban bikes. In addition, there is the elegant, partially integrated battery of the Panasonic mid-engine, plus the special button block on the left of the handlebar with the rocker switch for the two-stage gearbox, which can of course also be operated manually.
Stefan Treml's first test phase with the Flyer U series lasted five weeks – meaning 25 working days with 20 km to and from home, a total of a good 1.000 kilometers. A forest road that was open to traffic, but blocked for cars, offered the route – a possible alternative route even after the end of the full closure. In the direction of Deggendorf, there was only around 50 vertical meters to be mastered, which the powerful mid-engine could literally "fly over". On a longer, only slightly sloping straight and at the entrance to Deggendorf, Treml drove his Flyer U series to the limit - unlike many S-Pedelecs, such as the typical Bosch models, the Swiss e-pioneer is a real 45 km/h inside. Stefan Treml was amazed himself when he realized after the first two or three trips that it only took him a little more than half an hour to get to the job. It's not much faster by car either.
1.000 km with the Flyer U series – in wind and weather
The return to Gotteszell was also pretty quick with the Flyer U series. 300 meters in altitude is no small matter, but the test commuter didn't need more than 40 minutes for the 20 km - and, as Treml emphasized, without arriving home sweaty. He also put the bike under a lot of pressure: "I mostly rode the Flyer on the automatic or high level," he explains, "I don't really think the Eco level makes sense for the S-Pedelec".
Sure, with a fast e-bike speed is paramount, but the Flyer U-Series had many other advantages to offer. The particularly quiet running of the central motor, for example, plus the overall good functioning of the automatic gearshift, which changes the gear stage and support mode automatically and at what feels like the best moment. Certainly not entirely silent; in manual mode it also sometimes took a bit before the higher gear could be engaged. In automatic mode, the bike surprised its test rider with an unusual feature: a vibration in the handlebars announces the shifting process.
Flyer U series – fast bikes with great features
The drive's large display with its numerous functions appealed to the test driver, as did the harmonious look of the sports tourer, which had lost none of its attractiveness even after 1.000 kilometers in sometimes uncomfortable conditions.
Treml found the extremely bright Supernova emitter to be a real highlight, which always offered good visibility on evening rides in early summer, even at high speeds. The pleasantly sporty seating position and the smooth-running tires also made the daily commute very comfortable, with our commuter flirting with the optional Suntour parallelogram spring support after a few rides.
However, the beautiful, fast Flyer U series cannot remain free of criticism either: "It happened that the engine overheated and switched off when the outside temperature was high - around 30 °C - in the automatic driving mode. It then needs a few minutes to cool down again,” reports our Velomotion driver. This happened a total of three times during the test period.
Flyer U series – not entirely free from criticism
Is the fast U-Flyer the perfect commuter vehicle? As far as engine power is concerned, determines; However, Stefan Treml missed a few features that are not intended for e-bikes in the "Urban" category. A luggage rack, for example, as well as a suspension fork, especially since small quirks in the road surface are clearly noticeable at constant speeds of around 40 km/h. The battery of the Flyer U series, which is rather small at 432 watt hours, didn’t really fit the test conditions either – when Treml ran the bike at full speed, the battery capacity was just enough for the way home. Incidentally, the bike proved to be hardly ridable without motor support - the transmission had a disadvantage here.
The Flyer RS series would not be quite as elegant, but would be better suited for long-distance continuous use: just as fast, but with an optional 648 Wh battery it is significantly more durable and comfortably sprung. And the luggage rack for hanging a pannier is fitted as standard on the RS series. The only thing you have to do without on the trekking model is the innovative two-speed gearbox, as well as the sporty character due to the different geometry with a longer wheelbase.
Flyer U series - S-Pedelec and the problem with the Road Traffic Act
There is also the matter of the road traffic regulations: As a responsible person, Stefan Treml naturally pushed “his” Flyer U series through the Deggendorf pedestrian zone (open to cyclists) – not just for the photographer. The fact that many short cuts that are ideal for cyclists cannot be used with a fast e-bike makes this vehicle category uninteresting for most users - including our test driver. "A bike that I can't use on a family tour, for example, wouldn't make sense for me - especially at this price," says Treml. "A normal e-bike with a maximum speed of 25 km/h would be too slow for my commute."
The problem is well known: cyclists who cover long distances every day can usually ride 25 km/h under their own steam - so a normal e-bike makes little sense for them. The fast models (many of which of course do not permanently reach the permitted 45 km/h anyway) are too inflexible, because they are only allowed on highways - and driving at 40 km/h in rush hour on the busy B11 would not only be no for Stefan Treml pleasure, but also quite dangerous in the long run.
E-bike dilemma: 25 km/h is too slow and S-Pedelec too cumbersome!
So an intermediate level would be desirable - for example an e-bike class that supports speeds of up to 30 or 35 km/h and (perhaps with a speed limit) is also permitted on cycle paths. Or even a support limit of 20 miles per hour like in the US, which would correspond to the sensible speed of 32 km/h. Switzerland shows how something like this can work: S-Pedelecs may/must use cycle paths there; with the engine switched off, they can use routes that are forbidden for mopeds but allowed for normal bicycles. If the legislature allowed such a vehicle class, there would soon be a new e-bike in Stefan Treml's garage.
