GI FlyBike

[Mr Dumpster Stache]

A kickstarter project that looks really cool but I wonder about practicality.

https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/227461008/gi-flybike-the-first-electric-bike-that-folds-in-o

[big_slacker]

One thing I immediately notice just looking at pics is no rack mounts. So you are stuck with a backpack/messenger bag if you're a serious commuter. Also I wonder about how the fenders will fit/perform.

Interesting bike though, I'd certainly be down to try one but I don't think I'd take a $2k+ leap of faith.

[Jeremy E.]

I am not going to look into this so much, but I think this bike is only for areas where rent price per square foot is ridiculous. Anywhere else just get a reputable ebike (like a haibike xduro rx 29) or a reputable ebike kit (like e-rad kits)

[HipGnosis]

I'm semi-interested because I'm mildly thinking of doing P2P car rental and a folding Ebike would allow me to offer drop off and pick-up in a broader area.
But I'm not seeing the specs that I need to truely evaluate it.

[Northwestie]

40lbs - holy cow.   If you are using transit why do you need the electric component?  Just get a good manual fold-a-bike.  Oh, yea -- the idea is to expend as little human energy as possible.  This thing definitely comes under the REAL cost/benefit ration approaching = very, very high.

[Syonyk]

Ugh.

Not a fan.

"Maintenance-free" - absolutely.  It's using extreme exotica so you cannot possibly repair it.  Both in the materials and the electronics.  It breaks, you scrap it.  This is an utterly unmaintainable bike in every way.  They claim maintenance free, I call bullshit.  For the first few years, sure.  Beyond that, it's scrap.

"Up to 40 miles range."  About 10 miles.  Maybe 15.  Hard to tell without the actual battery capacity.

And they assume they'll be around, with a "network of service centers" to replace your battery in 5 years.  Realistically, there's almost no chance of that, so your 5 year option is to either ride with a weak battery, or hope someone like me can rebuild it.  Even companies who are still around (BionX) don't seem to give one shit about replacing older batteries.

Pass.

[Larabeth]

I am not going to look into this so much, but I think this bike is only for areas where rent price per square foot is ridiculous. Anywhere else just get a reputable ebike (like a haibike xduro rx 29) or a reputable ebike kit (like e-rad kits)

Even in these places, can't you put a bike rack on your wall?

[shallow pockets]

Check out the geometry of the bike.  When the battery dies on that 40 pound heap,  you'll legs will be on fire after peddling one city block.