My neighbour got the latest model:
Compared to my model from 8 years ago it features:
- New colours
- Bosch motor
- Belt drive instead of chain
- Hub gear shift
- Foldable pedals for easier storage
- Shopping basket
- Strong foldable lock mounted on frame
Experiences with my Electric Bicycle, a Swiss made "Flyer", model "i:sy"
2021-03-20
New model with Bosch motor, belt drive, hub gear and foldable pedals
2020-11-06
New Power Pack has Arrived
The new power pack has been delivered. It is larger than the old one, but it fits pefectly.
The display shows that it is fully charged.
How will it perform?
Panasonic Battery Worn out After 9 Years
Coming from the supermarket with two bags full of groceries, I started my return trip home as usual: Battery check. Full, no worries, off we go. After about 300 meters hill up on the slope, the power indicator flickered and went from nearly full capacity to zero. Luckily, I managed to reach my house without a total power stop.
Immediately,I ordered a new batteryr,the first one after 9 years!
I paid 369 Euro for a brand new original Panasonic 16 ah power pack.
At this very moment, the postman has delivered it.
2015-05-20
Accu (Battery) Check
In spring I take my "Flyer" electric bike out of the garage, I insert the accu battery and I start enjoying again.
The performance of the accu (battery) after four years of riding
is still good.
One reason may have helped to keep it going: During the frost period of winter I did not leave it in the cold garage but took it into the house because its exposition to extreme temperatures should be avoided.
The performance of the accu (battery) after four years of riding
is still good.
One reason may have helped to keep it going: During the frost period of winter I did not leave it in the cold garage but took it into the house because its exposition to extreme temperatures should be avoided.
2012-05-21
With Swiss E-bike "Flyer" on a Hiking Trail in the Mountains
Riding my Swiss made electric bike "Flyer" model "i:sy" in the urban jungle has been a great success as you can see from my previous postings. - The bike`s design has the looks of possessing good durability and of being a young life style product at the same time. Any pleasure rider will love its most important typical e-bike feature: it takes the exhaustion out of going up hills.
With a proven success record as an ecological vehicle in the big city, how does it rate on a hiking trail in the mountains? Made in Switzerland, the country of mountaineering, should be a guarantee for its good performance on steep hiking trails. Is this true?
On a fine day in May I rode the "i:sy" on one of our most attractive hiking trails along the Rhine, the Rheinsteig, starting in Bonn.
The electric drive of ,my "Flyer" gave me an enjoyable ride through the woods of the "Siebengebirge" on the edge of the Rhine valley. But when I came to the steepest slope leading up to the mountain "Petersberg" I had to descend for the last 500 meters. The hiking trail is not meant for bikers at this part of the route. But thanks to the bike`s push button for a boost while walking, it gave me a comfortable support when pushing the bike up the small, slippery wet and rocky trail.
Now, what is my answer to the question: Can you do the Reinsteig on a "Flyer" model "i:sy"?
The answer is: You can go very well on some parts of the trail, if you are an experienced biker on rough terrain, but you would be much better off on a mountain bike.
With a proven success record as an ecological vehicle in the big city, how does it rate on a hiking trail in the mountains? Made in Switzerland, the country of mountaineering, should be a guarantee for its good performance on steep hiking trails. Is this true?
On a fine day in May I rode the "i:sy" on one of our most attractive hiking trails along the Rhine, the Rheinsteig, starting in Bonn.
The electric drive of ,my "Flyer" gave me an enjoyable ride through the woods of the "Siebengebirge" on the edge of the Rhine valley. But when I came to the steepest slope leading up to the mountain "Petersberg" I had to descend for the last 500 meters. The hiking trail is not meant for bikers at this part of the route. But thanks to the bike`s push button for a boost while walking, it gave me a comfortable support when pushing the bike up the small, slippery wet and rocky trail.
Now, what is my answer to the question: Can you do the Reinsteig on a "Flyer" model "i:sy"?
The answer is: You can go very well on some parts of the trail, if you are an experienced biker on rough terrain, but you would be much better off on a mountain bike.
2012-05-02
The Pleasure of Riding at Night
On the web pages of my Indian bicycle friends (http://cyclists.in/group/nightbikeriders) I read that there is a group of 259 members who have joined behind the idea of riding at night. The location is Mumbai.
I agree with their observation, it`s a pleasure to ride at night, even here in Bonn, Germany. After a visit to a beer garden, I did about 8 kilometers near midnight from the city center to my suburb, and there were only three public buses going by and two cars coming my direction.
Having the road for myself, I left the lane for cyclists. Amazing the difference, the lane for cyclists is often rather bumpy, whereas motorists are enjoying a nice smooth black-top surface. We bicycle riders need to do a lot more lobbying for better lanes. --
And the air was fresh and cool, how nice after a day (May 1, 2012) of 30 degrees centigrade in the shadow of my porch.
Before closing down my computer, I saw the British website of nightriders. They have scheduled a big event in June. Interesting is the charity aspect. By fund raising activities they are planning to collect 1 million pounds for a good cause. Here is the link: Nightrider.org.uk
I agree with their observation, it`s a pleasure to ride at night, even here in Bonn, Germany. After a visit to a beer garden, I did about 8 kilometers near midnight from the city center to my suburb, and there were only three public buses going by and two cars coming my direction.
Having the road for myself, I left the lane for cyclists. Amazing the difference, the lane for cyclists is often rather bumpy, whereas motorists are enjoying a nice smooth black-top surface. We bicycle riders need to do a lot more lobbying for better lanes. --
And the air was fresh and cool, how nice after a day (May 1, 2012) of 30 degrees centigrade in the shadow of my porch.
Before closing down my computer, I saw the British website of nightriders. They have scheduled a big event in June. Interesting is the charity aspect. By fund raising activities they are planning to collect 1 million pounds for a good cause. Here is the link: Nightrider.org.uk
2012-04-04
First Technical Service: Chain Replacement
The other day I took my pedelec, a Flyer "i:sy", back to the dealer for the first technical service.
After nearly half a year of riding the bike without any problems, I had assumed that the service would amount to little less than oiling and tightening some screws and bolts. But it was not that simple at all. The mechanic, a friendly and higly professional man, showed me his measurements with a Rohloff rule. The chain was elongated and needed replacement. He also found that the smallest sprocket had worn out and did not work any more. His explanation: probably poor chain maintenance on my part, i.e. insufficient cleaning and greasing. I was disappointed, granted, I am not a semi-professional and definitely not a bicycle racer who looks after his bike with meticulous care every day, whiping off every little piece of dust and dirt, but I have ridden bicycles all my life and never had a sprocket and a chain worn out in the first half year. He called the Flyer company in Switzerland to find out if they would give me a free new sprocket. They declined. When I learnt that the dealer had no spare sprocket on stock to fix the problem immediately, I was disappointed again. In a reproachful manner, the manager and owner of my service station told me I could not expect him to have all kinds of sprockets on stock. At that, he lectured me that chain and sprockets are parts that wear out depending on the maintenance quality provided by the user. And he was certainly right. - I had learnt my lesson.Once the proud owner of a Flyer model "i:sy", I left the service station`s yard, unamused and dissatisfied.
Could it not be that the electric drive is putting chain and gears under more stress than an unelectrified bike? Should a new electric bike customer not be cautioned to avoid putting in the highest gear when starting the bike in order to prevent a premature wear-out of the sprocket? Shouldn`t customer and dealer cooperate and find a solution together?
One thing has become clear to me. If you are a pleasure rider who is willing to pay an almost luxury price for a pedelec like the "i:sy", don`t buy it with a chain derailleur. Spend more money and get one with a hub gear system.
After nearly half a year of riding the bike without any problems, I had assumed that the service would amount to little less than oiling and tightening some screws and bolts. But it was not that simple at all. The mechanic, a friendly and higly professional man, showed me his measurements with a Rohloff rule. The chain was elongated and needed replacement. He also found that the smallest sprocket had worn out and did not work any more. His explanation: probably poor chain maintenance on my part, i.e. insufficient cleaning and greasing. I was disappointed, granted, I am not a semi-professional and definitely not a bicycle racer who looks after his bike with meticulous care every day, whiping off every little piece of dust and dirt, but I have ridden bicycles all my life and never had a sprocket and a chain worn out in the first half year. He called the Flyer company in Switzerland to find out if they would give me a free new sprocket. They declined. When I learnt that the dealer had no spare sprocket on stock to fix the problem immediately, I was disappointed again. In a reproachful manner, the manager and owner of my service station told me I could not expect him to have all kinds of sprockets on stock. At that, he lectured me that chain and sprockets are parts that wear out depending on the maintenance quality provided by the user. And he was certainly right. - I had learnt my lesson.Once the proud owner of a Flyer model "i:sy", I left the service station`s yard, unamused and dissatisfied.
Could it not be that the electric drive is putting chain and gears under more stress than an unelectrified bike? Should a new electric bike customer not be cautioned to avoid putting in the highest gear when starting the bike in order to prevent a premature wear-out of the sprocket? Shouldn`t customer and dealer cooperate and find a solution together?
One thing has become clear to me. If you are a pleasure rider who is willing to pay an almost luxury price for a pedelec like the "i:sy", don`t buy it with a chain derailleur. Spend more money and get one with a hub gear system.
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