Old versus new at Flyer: A comparison of 13 years of e-mountainbike development

Although the Haibike eQ Xduro The history of the e-mountainbike began for us at BIKE with Flyer. Years before the first mountain bike with a motor, Flyer boss Kurt Schär tried to get BIKE founder Uli Stanciu interested in e-bikes. Stanciu remained sceptical. "Only when you provide me with a proper full-suspension e-MTB can I take the subject seriously." And Stanciu kept his word. In September 2010, together with a brand new Flyer X-series and cycling legend Wolfgang Renner, he embarked on a brand new adventure: Transalp on an E-MTB. Stanciu was thrilled.

>> E-MTB milestones: How the e-mountainbike has changed since the first Haibike in 2010

Flyer X-Series: The first e-bike for the mountains?

Full suspension, powerful Panasonic motor with up to 300 watts of power. The Flyer X series was the culmination of Flyer's various prototype trials, which the Swiss e-bike pioneer had been conducting since the mid-2000s. The decisive factor for use in the mountains was the battery, which was very large by the standards of the time at 475 watt hours. Unlike today, the battery was positioned behind the seat tube and relied on lithium-manganese cells.

Of course, this also has an effect on the shape of the bike. The chainstays are extremely long due to the motor and battery. The steep steering angle and the very long stem are still very reminiscent of a trekking bike, as are the Schwalbe Marathon tyres. The Flyer is therefore both: half mountain and half trekking bike and is therefore likely to have been used a lot on easy tours at the beginning. An economical 100 millimetres of suspension travel fits in with this and the equipment with frame lock and side stand is also consistent in this respect. But Stancius Transalp showed that the Flyer can also be different.

Flyer Uproc Evo:X - Modern E-Enduro in carbon fibre guise

Flyer's latest e-mountainbike, the Uproc Evo:X, has a completely different set-up. The frame is made of carbon instead of aluminium, the battery is integrated into the frame and is almost twice as big with 750 watt hours. However, the modern Bosch CX motor with up to 600 watts of power also has twice as much oomph as the Panasonic in the Flyer X series. And there is no sign of any trekking genes here: the chainstays are short, the steering angle is slack, 170 millimetres of suspension travel and the large 29-inch front wheel make it clear off-road that there is an era between the two bikes.

>> Read the test of the potent Flyer Enduro Evo:X here.

The equipment gives the same picture: powerful brakes with 200-millimetre discs, fat 38 mm stanchions at the front, Tele support, twelve-speed gears with a small climbing gear. If the modern Flyer Evo:X had been presented at Eurobike 2010, visitors would have almost felt like they were at a motocross event. Exciting: There is not always linear progress to announce. For example, the modern Flyer only comes with coloured LEDs instead of a display with numbers for battery status, speed and support level. And the modern carbon bike can't really score in terms of weight either, due to its robust equipment and large battery.

Facts, figures and data: Flyer old and new in comparison

• Bike: Flyer X-Series (old) / Flyer Evo X (new)
• Weight: 23.62 kg / 25.34 kg
• Battery capacity: 475 / 750 Wh
• Battery weight: 3753 g / 4394 g
• Motor power max.: 300 W / 600 W
• Suspension travel: 100/100 mm / 170/165 mm
• Wheel size: 26 inch / 29/27.5 inch (Mullet)
• Stem length: 110 mm / 35 mm
• Steering angle: 70° / 63.5°
• Seat angle: 71° / 76°
• Chainstay length: 573 mm / 448 mm
• Wheelbase: 1235 mm / 1275 mm

Conclusion Adrian Kaether - Editor EMTB

Of course, the two e-bikes are worlds apart - hardly surprising after 13 years of development. Of course, e-MTBs have also become more modern since then, but above all much more diverse. From SUVs and cross-country to fat enduro bikes, e-MTBs have long since covered every type of mountain biking and have fully arrived on the scene.