I was going to join everyone else in this thread in bashing elements of the design and product, the specifications, etc. But I won't do that.
Instead I'll do the opposite.
I'll point out upfront, I own 5 bikes, I run one of the largest cycling forums in the world, and I run one of the largest cycling clubs in the UK. I get cycling.
I like it. The FlyKly.
I like it because it allows a rider to keep their existing bike, and yet to retrofit for a really reasonable price an electric motor.
I like it because the vast majority of the weight within the wheel isn't a moving thing, the batteries are fixed.
I like it because the 30 mile range, whilst not suiting my 18 mile commute for a daily charge, actually does suit the vast majority of cyclists that I know who only commute fewer than 10 miles.
I like the 1,000 cycles, which is probably 900 in reality, is actually a few years of use for the average cyclist. Even most cycle commuters don't actually cycle 7 days a week, and those do diligently do so on all work days only do so for 220 > 250 days per year.
It hits all of the sweet spots:
1) Can I keep my existing bicycle?
2) Can I just get the electric bit and not pay to replace all of the other bits I have?
3) Will it just work and be easy to install?
4) Will it help me on my commute?
5) Will it realistically last a couple of years?
6) Is it priced such that I can afford it?
For the majority of cyclists I know, the answer is yes to all of the above.
I think it's got a good chance, which doesn't mean I'll be buying one but then I'm not your average cyclist.
PS: FlyKly, you show several times the use of the wheel on a brakeless fixed-gear bike. That's just for the aesthetics right? Or is the wheel fixed compatible such that you're fine with people skid/skip stopping?
> I like it because the 30 mile range, whilst not suiting my 18 mile commute for a daily charge, actually does suit the vast majority of cyclists that I know who only commute fewer than 10 miles.
If you can easily remove the wheel, then this isn't much of a problem, they say it charges in 2-3 hours from a normal socket so you could probably get to work, plug the wheel in under the desk and have it charged well before you're going home.
fwiw, as a designer I think this team is solving some of the biggest issues with current ebike design that is holding back wider adoption in the US/UK markets. Kudos to them, hope they hit a home run.
"the electric motor shouldn’t be able to propel the bike when it’s travelling more than 15mph"
Curious now whether that's actually what the law says, if so it seems badly drafted. That would appear to mean a physical limit on the motor is required rather than just a software control - as then the motor would "be able" to propel the bike faster but he device as a whole, unmodified, would not.
That's pretty fast for a commuter IMO. In heavy city traffic 15mph is probably above the average for cars? [quick check on Google, single search, only gave me that [some?] Melbourne rush hour traffic averaged below 20km/h (~13mi/h)].
TBH 15mi/h seems about right for an all ages accessible motorised bicycle.
With some of the long backups you get at lights around the belt in Houston (the lights are far apart, weirdly spaced, the timing is a nightmare, I'm sure), I get around 18 mph if I coast between stopped cars on divided highways and about half that if I drive like a car.
I obey the other laws, even signaling and all, but I'm almost positive lane splitting like that is illegal on bicycles (I know it is for motorcycles).
The drivers are also much worse the further out you get, since there aren't bike lanes or sidewalks (illegal but better than getting harassed), and people don't seem to know you're allowed to own your lane. My commute is mostly in a manufacturing area, with lots of dump trucks and 18-wheelers. I've been yelled at and pushed off the road by angry trucks and trailers several times.
Having something like this to get me up to the flow of traffic quickly would keep people from having to go around as much maybe, but I'd rather get one of the small gasoline engines and tanks for about half the price.
Instead I'll do the opposite.
I'll point out upfront, I own 5 bikes, I run one of the largest cycling forums in the world, and I run one of the largest cycling clubs in the UK. I get cycling.
I like it. The FlyKly.
I like it because it allows a rider to keep their existing bike, and yet to retrofit for a really reasonable price an electric motor.
I like it because the vast majority of the weight within the wheel isn't a moving thing, the batteries are fixed.
I like it because the 30 mile range, whilst not suiting my 18 mile commute for a daily charge, actually does suit the vast majority of cyclists that I know who only commute fewer than 10 miles.
I like the 1,000 cycles, which is probably 900 in reality, is actually a few years of use for the average cyclist. Even most cycle commuters don't actually cycle 7 days a week, and those do diligently do so on all work days only do so for 220 > 250 days per year.
It hits all of the sweet spots:
1) Can I keep my existing bicycle?
2) Can I just get the electric bit and not pay to replace all of the other bits I have?
3) Will it just work and be easy to install?
4) Will it help me on my commute?
5) Will it realistically last a couple of years?
6) Is it priced such that I can afford it?
For the majority of cyclists I know, the answer is yes to all of the above.
I think it's got a good chance, which doesn't mean I'll be buying one but then I'm not your average cyclist.
PS: FlyKly, you show several times the use of the wheel on a brakeless fixed-gear bike. That's just for the aesthetics right? Or is the wheel fixed compatible such that you're fine with people skid/skip stopping?