Test: The all-rounder Flyer Upstreet 4 from Switzerland is now available with the new e-bike ABS from Bosch. Whether S-Pedelec or 25 km/h model: the brake assistant is a sensible innovation - and definitely worth the extra charge.
Switzerland can be considered the motherland of the e-bike, and the manufacturer Flyer has a large part to play in it. From a prototype designed in 1993, which already anticipated the principle of the bottom bracket motor, the first production models were created from the mid-XNUMXs; the C series with the tried and tested Panasonic drive, which was introduced at the turn of the millennium, is still in production today. The company has remained true to the mid-engine, although Bosch units are now increasingly being used, especially in the more sporty models.
Every fourth e-bike in Switzerland is an S-Pedelec
Which brings us to a special feature of the Swiss e-bike brand: there, the share of so-called S-Pedelecs up to 45 km/h is around a quarter, while in Germany it bobs in the very low single-digit percentage range. Last but not least, this has to do with the different terms of use: In Switzerland, fast bikes are allowed to, indeed have to, ride on cycle paths, while in this country they are banned on the road, which always causes conflicts. Swiss parents are allowed to couple a trailer to the S-Pedelec; German mums and dads can only do this on a normal e-bike.
Anyone who has ever moved an S-Pedelec or traveled downhill with a loaded trailer knows how important strong brakes are. But it is just as important to be able to control it, and this is where the particularly strong brake systems that are often installed on S-Pedelecs have their pitfalls. Four-piston disc brakes can, so to speak, be brought to the blocking limit with the little finger; In addition, their dry and wet braking behavior are closer together - if the tires have less grip in the rain, the retarders are hardly any less snappy. This is where a technology comes into play that Flyer secured with the expansion of the model range to include Bosch motors: the anti-lock braking system for e-bikes, an adaptation of the system that has been tried and tested millions of times on motorcycles.
ABS on e-bikes: No more slipping or locking the front wheel
How the ABS works is quickly explained: Sensor rings are located on the brake discs and permanently monitor the wheel speeds. In fractions of a second, the system recognizes a drop in engine speed as well as differences in engine speed between the front and rear wheel – and thus the risk of two typical types of accidents: on the one hand, the front wheel slipping away if you brake too hard, for example on a wet or slippery road surface; on the other hand, the lifting of the rear wheel when the front wheel locks up. If such a scenario is imminent, the hydraulics in a compact box under the stem intervene: by increasing the volume, the brake pressure on the front wheel is reduced until the wheel speed has normalized and then built up again. This happens several times a second and is noticeable in the typical tapping of the brake lever – just like the pounding in the pedal when the ABS on the car is taking action.
Daring braking maneuvers show how well the anti-lock braking system works: If you pull the lever with full force at high speed instead of hesitantly decelerating, you will feel the said knocking and a pressure that seems to work against your manual strength - and you will also notice that this rear wheel stays firmly on the ground. The ABS is also activated by a hard braking maneuver at a slight incline on a sandy farm track. And whenever it starts, you know: without ABS I would have a problem now.
500 euros extra and 800 grams more weight are worth it
The safety gain of the brake assistant is therefore out of the question; the costs are kept within limits. Flyer demands a slim 500 euros extra for the system, plus around 800 grams more weight - both are easy to cope with, considering what a typical e-bike costs and weighs. Flyer offers the Bosch ABS not only for speed pedelecs, but also for 25 km/h models; the test bike – a Flyer Upstreet 4 – that was made available to Velomotion is not intended for the German market in the fast version anyway. With the strong "Bosch Performance Line CX" drive and double battery available in this country, the Flyer Upstreet 4 is in its element in everyday traffic as well as on long tours; A soft, responsive suspension fork with a full 75 mm of travel, the snappy ten-speed derailleur gears and the wide, non-slip tires provide comfort and safety. With a moderate elevation between the handlebars and saddle, the sitting position is pleasantly sporty, with the handlebar ends, which are slightly oriented towards the driver, allowing a very relaxed position of the hands and arms. In the cockpit, only the ABS indicator light indicates the high-end brake system; seen from above, the control unit is barely visible.
The system does not have to be activated; Above 6 km/h, it is activated automatically - and is then just as useful on an S-Pedelec as on a conventional e-bike. After all, you can also overbrake at lower speeds. A 2017 study by the Swiss Advice Center for Accident Prevention, which examined single-vehicle accidents with e-bikes and surveyed over 4.000 pedelec riders, also points to the benefits of the anti-lock braking system. A good half of them saw the slippery road as a cause of the accident; about a quarter self-critically stated that they had braked too hard. In view of this data, it is obvious that ABS on a bike could help to prevent accidents – on tours as well as on everyday rides. Equipping an all-rounder like the Flyer Upstreet 4 with the system makes a lot of sense.
The Flyer Upstreet 3.799 costs 4 euros in the basic configuration, 4.299 euros with ABS and 5.249 euros with an additional battery. While the latter is only recommended for absolute long-distance cyclists, sooner or later every cyclist will benefit from the brake assistant. And since the technology is mature, you can play the "early adopter" and don't have to wait for the second generation of the system.
