"We've always been self-confident, it's in our DNA," says Haibike's Chief Engineer Ingo Beutner, referring to the new Flyon fleet. This self-confidence is also needed to develop an e-mountainbike as radical as the Haibike Flyon Xduro Nduro on its feet. With its sleek looks, extremely powerful motor and high weight, the new wonder bike is going its own way and has been the subject of much discussion since its presentation last year. Practical experience and riding reports have been few and far between, and the Schweinfurt e-bike pioneers have kept their secret well. For the First EMTB edition 2019 we had the opportunity to test the bike in tough off-road conditions.
Off-road: The powerful electric motor stands out from the first few metres. The TQ drive is the most powerful e-MTB drive we know, making steep climbs child's play. The bike literally tears down nasty ramps, reaching the 25 km/h limit in no time at all. Riding the Haibike Flyon with full support inevitably gives you that moped feeling. And as far as the other riding characteristics are concerned, the Flyon surprises with values that we were not previously used to from a Haibike.
Testing the Haibike Flyon on the trail
It's as if someone has levelled, defused and cleared our test lap. The section with the loose scree the size of a child's head, which gets your pulse racing despite Turbo mode, now seems like a harmless gravel path. The steep rocky passage, where you have to aim with centimetre precision while constantly pulling on the chain to avoid slipping mercilessly, is mastered with ease today. And the section with the roots, where you almost always get stuck if you try to pedal through without tapping, only elicits a tired smile from us today.
Are we travelling on foot? No. Have we changed sports equipment? Almost. This is the first practical test of the new Haibike Flyon: a solid carbon chassis with consistent system integration, plus the well-known powerful TQ drive - with these attributes, the Flyon was the shooting star of the last Eurobike trade fair. The advance praise was numerous, the order books full: Haibike had obviously captured the spirit of the times with the Flyon's self-confident appearance and features. And yet there have also been critical voices since then. Tenor: too heavy, too much motorbike. To show us what the Flyon is really capable of, the Schweinfurt e-MTB pioneers provided us with a pre-production model of the top-of-the-range Nduro 10.0 model for an exclusive ride test.
To get straight to the point: The Flyon weighs around 27.5 kilos, which is undeniable. However, the Haibike engineers have tweaked a few things on the Flyon to compensate for the extra weight. There is no longer any trace of the upright, comfortable riding position of the classic Haibike models. And no trace of the usual soft, almost lifeless suspension feeling. On the Flyon, the riding position is sporty and stretched, with firmer and livelier suspension. To prevent the suspension from bottoming out on steep climbs, the Haibike engineers have used a tried and tested method from the kinematics box of tricks. The keyword is anti-squat. Put simply, the chain hoist pulls the suspension apart and prevents it from compressing too much. As a result, the Flyon can cope with even the steepest ramps without the front wheel climbing. Despite its low bottom bracket, it hardly ever bounces off the cranks. Those who are used to riding uphill in a playful uphill wheelie style and with a lot of physical effort will have to get used to the Flyon. The pronounced anti-squat kinematics and the rather long rear triangle make it difficult to lift the front wheel at all. The motor is beyond reproach. Even in the middle of the five gears, it pushes powerfully, and in the highest gear there is no stopping it. The noise level feels slightly above Bosch level, i.e. quite loud. The power delivery is even in the middle levels and the bike is easy to control. When setting off, the motor power kicks in early and thus helps when setting off on steep sections.
But woe betide you if you get stuck in the rough terrain on the way uphill. Then the weight literally comes into play. Pushing uphill over rocky passages is hard work, and even the potent push assist is of little help. If you are looking for high altitudes, you have to pay tribute to the high power of the TQ drive. The removable battery provides 630 watt hours, after one of our test uphills of 460 metres in altitude, mainly in low and mid mode, the capacity indicator showed half full. We therefore assume that the realistic altitude range is around 1000 metres. Theoretically, the battery could be changed in a few simple steps, but it weighs a whopping four kilos. A spare battery in the rucksack is therefore unlikely to be an option for most people.
But eyes light up again on the descent. It is not just the 180 millimetres of suspension travel and the high unsprung mass that ensure safety and reserves. The suspension works progressively and provides feedback. The Flyon is surprisingly easy to pull off even small obstacles and provides counter-pressure in berms. The faster the ride, the more playfully it can be manoeuvred even on tight trails - this is where the enormous frame stiffness comes into play.
Test summary of the Haibike Flyon Xduro Nduro 10.0
If you like sheer power, it's hard to ignore the Flyon. Hardly any other bike offers comparable torque. If you also want to show your strength visually, you get a bike with consistent integration, unique features and great riding characteristics. Anyone focussing on the full spectrum of a mountain bike, which also includes long day tours (high altitude) with carrying passages, is better off opting for a different model - the powerful motor, the consistent integration and the focus on uncompromising stability clearly take their toll. The Flyon is therefore a fun machine for e-bikers with a penchant for technology and connectivity, and certainly the sportiest Haibike ever - and perhaps even the forerunner of a new e-MTB category: power bikes.
Haibike Flyon Xduro Nduro 10.0 - Technical data and details
Suspension forkFox 36 Float Factory 180
DamperFox Float X2 Factory
BrakesMagura MT7
CircuitSram EX1
ImpellersDT Swiss FR1950
TyresSchwalbe Magic Mary 27.5" x 2.6''
EngineFlyon/TQ HPR 120S; 120 Nm
Battery: 630 Wh
Weight27.5 kilos (manufacturer's specification)
Price8999 Euro
"Self-confidence is in our DNA."
Haibike was the first bike manufacturer to take the topic of E-MTB seriously. Chief engineer Ingo Beutner has been involved since the very beginning. The new Flyon is his personal interpretation of a perfect off-road e-bike.
EMTB: The Flyon deviates from the typical features of earlier Haibikes. Sporty riding position, long geometry, responsive suspension. How did the change of heart come about?
INGO BEUTNER: We have further developed our established XDuro and SDuro series models over the years, but in terms of geometry and suspension, they are based on the findings from the early days. With the Flyon, we rethought the E-MTB from scratch. We were faced with a blank sheet of paper and built a bike that meets our requirements today.
What exactly are your requirements?
First of all, we no longer wanted to be measured by the name of the motor manufacturer used. We didn't want a Bosch or Yamaha bike, but a Haibike. We found the ideal partner for this in TQ. Then, of course, we wanted to consistently integrate not only the battery, but also the lights, cables and display. And of course we also wanted to demonstrate power. Not only with the look, but also with enormous motor power. But Flyon is not just a powerful motor, it is a holistic concept.
Is it a good thing to bring this one type of bike onto the market at a time when we all have to fear that our sports equipment will be stripped of its status as a bicycle - with the worst possible consequences?
We have always been self-confident, it's in our DNA. We are aware of the legal situation. We do everything we can to consistently prevent illegal tuning. For example, with our coded speed sensor disc. Of course we are more powerful than others, but up to 25 km/h nobody can do anything to us. That's the beauty of it.
The significantly higher weight is the price for power and integration?
The high weight is not only due to the more powerful drive and the consistent integration. We are working on a new standard in which our bikes are tested up to a total weight of 150 kilos. The Flyon frame is so sturdily built that it could one day fulfil this standard. The bike is also approved for use with a trailer; we have integrated a special coupling. The Flyon is a new class and cannot be compared with others.
