Electric bike: FLIT-16 folding bike

Review in brief

FLIT is a UK design that puts light weight and portability at its heart.

Light weight
Quick compact fold
Well-equipped
No rack carrying option
A micro-derailleur with an extra gear would be a nice option without adding too much weight

About FLIT

Following a pre-sale campaign on Kickstarter that achieved 540% of its funding goal and jump-started manufacturing, FLIT is, at the time of writing, preparing to start delivering its second production run of e-bikes to customers.

About the FLIT-16 electric bike

Light in weight and quick to fold, it's got a slick design, too:

• Lightweight

At around 15kg (including a 230Wh battery and integrated lights), it’s certainly one of the lighter e-bikes out there, folding or non-folding. Other highlights include a dual side torque sensor, high torque 220W rear hub motor, and five levels of motor assistance with a neat LCD handlebar display. Mudguards are optional and there is also a kickstand. This long spec list makes the 15kg weight look even more impressive.

• Fold in a flash

It has a quick and very compact fold (72.8cm [L] by 63.2cm [H] by 33.5cm [W]) that lends itself to the 'multi-modal' commuting market, ie you can really easily pop it on a bus or a train.

• Stylish design

It's a slick design, too, from the frame-concealed battery that also integrates a rear light to the strong-looking steel hinges on a light aluminium alloy frame and an elastomer suspension block.

• Single gear

It has only one gear but, as the MiRider also proves, if chosen well to suit a high torque motor it will do a surprising amount up hills, even if it’s clearly not in the same easy-hill-climbing league as a Bosch-powered e-bike with multiple gears.

• Test drive

During our brief test ride the reputable Bafang motor system offered a very natural-feeling electric delivery system. Climbing was pretty reasonable, given the fairly steep hills in the test area and the fact the bike is single speed. In short it was smooth and speedy.