Shots fired! British electric bike brand Flit has made a not-so-subtle dig at Brompton by offering its M2 folding e-bike with a half-kilogram tin of high-grade caviar as a bundle for £5,800 – the same price as Brompton’s Electric T Line that was launched earlier this week. Flit doesn’t refer to Brompton by name in this tongue-in-cheek move, but it’s clear what’s going on here.
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The Flit M2 weighs around 14.5kg and is priced at £2,499, while Brompton’s Electric T Line is marginally lighter at a claimed 14.1kg and costs well over three grand more. Of course, weight isn’t everything, but it’s certainly a relevant factor when it comes to folding bikes, and it’s what Flit has decided to focus on with its light-hearted move.
> First ride: FLIT M2 e-folder now smaller and lighter thanks to weld-free technology
“£3,300 for half a kilo less weight – that’s about £7 per gram of weight saved,” says Flit’s co-founder Alex Murray.
“It turns out you can buy a lot of things for £7 per gram, including high-grade caviar from Fortnum & Mason. Given the current cost of living, we have decided to give commuters what they are clearly calling for: a Flit M2 folding e-bike plus a half-kilo tin of caviar to power their ride for the bargain price of £5,800. Or you could buy two Flit M2s and still have plenty left over for accessories and kit.”
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Okay, we get the point, although if you’re interested in such things, Campagnolo earlier this week introduced a £900 Ultra upgrade to its top-level Super Record groupset that works out at £11.17 for every gram saved.
Richard Peace took the Flit M2 for a first ride for ebiketips a couple of years ago and was impressed.
“It couldn’t be simpler to hop on and ride the Flit M2,” he said. “Like the original Flit 16, it’s a single gear model with an easy step-over frame and a fairly upright and comfy ride position.”
The 250W hub motor (max torque 35 Nm) is smooth and quiet, and it’s great for hill starts. Flit claims a battery range of 50km (31 miles), depending on assist level and terrain.
Richard said that the fold is quick and easy and that the folded-down package (797mm x 600mm x 305mm) is very neat and ideal for train-bike commuting.
The Flit M2 is made from anodised 6061 aluminium and uses adhesive bonding rather than welding. The frames are made in Cambridge, and the bikes are assembled there too.
Flit says, “Because it is designed electric from the start with all electronics built into the frame, and doesn’t have to resort to exotic materials like titanium, it achieves such a light weight at a lower cost.”
Again, this is seemingly another little pop at the Brompton Electric T Line with its titanium frame.
Alex Murray says, “Flit’s mission is simple: to tip the scales towards fast, flexible, and fun urban travel without unduly weighing down people’s wallets. Smart design, not extravagant pricing, is what makes great ebikes accessible.
“Oh, and I’m serious about the caviar: call us.”
We approached Brompton for a comment, but we’ve yet to hear back.
