FLYER Upstreet1 in review – The feel-good package

Swiss brand FLYER present the Upstreet1, a compact bike with 20″ wheels, Shimano Nexus drivetrain and Bosch Performance Line motor. Can this urban ebike deliver in everyday life and stand out above the competition? We put it to the test to find out and tell you all about it.

Get an overview of the grouptest here: Big city life on 20/24 inches – 4 hot compact ebikes on test

**FLYER** Upstreet 1 | Bosch Performance Line/500 Wh
26.08 kg in size | € 4,699 | Manufacturer’s website

You didn’t sleep well after having a little too much wine yesterday evening, you set a new snoozing record, and, to top it off, you’re out of coffee beans. Is there anything that could put you in a good mood after starting your day like that? Swiss brand FLYER might have the answer with the Upstreet1. By pushing the ON button, you can start from the beginning and give the day a second chance. The battery is fully charged, climbing aboard is super easy thanks to the step-through frame and pedalling requires minimal effort. Before, your commute consisted of a nerve-wracking stop-and-go ride through the crowded streets of the city centre, but now you can meander through the city aboard the compact FLYER Upstreet1 and arrive at the office with a smile on your face. Who would have thought this possible when waking up without coffee?

Components and details of the FLYER Upstreet1

Step-through bikes are starting to make up an increasing portion of the bikes used for commuting – and rightly so. FLYER also rely on a step-through frame without a top tube for the compact Upstreet1, making it much easier to mount and dismount and, simply, more convenient in day-to-day use. In this regard, the Upstreet1 stands out above the competition. Small details like the U-lock also make everyday life more pleasant, allowing you to lock the bike within seconds. In terms of workmanship, the FLYER scores well in some respects and less so in others. The grips, brakes and Speedlifter for adjusting the handlebar height are of excellent quality and make a sturdy impression, though the quality of the welds and paint isn’t on par with the competition. After just a few kilometres, we found several chips in the matte green paint of the FLYER Upstreet1.

The FLYER Upstreet1 is available from € 3.999, depending on the spec, and the version on test topped the scales at 26.08 kg. Like the Riese & Müller Tinker and the QiO EINS, it relies on a suspended parallelogram seat post for added comfort at the rear. Unfortunately, the Swiss brand haven’t made the wisest choice by going with SR Suntour here. The seat post is hopelessly underdamped, which means it feels a bit like a seesaw and the riding position can change very suddenly, such as when braking. The seat posts on the QiO and Riese & Müller perform a lot better. On the upside, the test crew loved the design of the step-through frame. The step-through section is as low as it could be, making easy work of climbing on and off and thereby making everyday life much more comfortable. Excellent job!

**Nicely integrated**
The 500 Wh Bosch PowerTube battery is nicely integrated into the frame and can be easily removed if required.

**Unintuitive for motorbike riders**
Compared to the Enviolo drivetrain of the R&M, the twist grip of the Shimano Nexus drivetrain on the FLYER and QiO is unintuitive, shifting down when you twist it like you would when you open the throttle on a motorbike.

**Giddy-up, horsey…**
Unfortunately, the suspended SR Suntour seat post can’t keep up with the competition since it’s underdamped and tends to seesaw.

FLYER Upstreet 1

€ 4,199

Specifications

Motor Bosch Performance Line 65 Nm
Battery Bosch PowerTube 500 Wh
Display Bosch Intuvia
Fork -
Rear Shock -
Seatpost SR Suntour NCX
Brakes Shimano DEORE 180/160 mm
Drivetrain Shimano NEXUS 1x5
Stem Speedlifter Twist Pro SDS 90 mm
Handlebar FLYER Riser 660 mm
Tires Schwalbe Pick-Up 20 x 2.35

Technical Data

Size One Size
Weight 26.08 kg
Perm. total weight 150 kg
Max. payload (rider/equipment) 123.92 kg
Kickstand mount ja

Specific Features

RackTime rear rack 25 kg
Parallelogram seatpost
cockpit adjustable
Abus Shield 5650 lock

**How come these are still around?**
All the Bosch powered bikes on test use external spoke magnets on the rear wheel. Is that necessary in this day and age? Isn’t there a more beautiful and reliable solution?

**Come on, let’s twist again**
The Speedlifter Twist allows you to adjust the handlebar height without tools and makes a very sturdy impression.

**Zero**
The GATES belt drive means zero maintenance and zero grease on your trousers.

Size	ONE SIZE
Seat tube	440 mm
Top tube	580 mm
Head angle	70.5°
Seat angle	72.0°
Chainstays	420 mm
Wheelbase	1,072 mm
Reach	403 mm
Stack	524 mm

Motor and battery system of the FLYER Upstreet1

Like the ebikes from R&M and QiO, the FLYER Upstreet1 is powered by a Bosch Performance Line motor, which offers a maximum torque output of 65 Nm instead of 85 Nm compared to the top-of-the-range Bosch model. However, this is sufficient for an urban bike of this class, making it a sensible as well as an economical choice. The 500 Wh Bosch PowerTube battery is neatly integrated into the down tube, making for a clean look. It is both lockable and easy to remove for charging. When charging the battery in the bike, you will likely find that the charging socket could have been placed a little higher up. Unfortunately, the Upstreet1 also relies on the outdated Bosch Intuvia display, which is stingy with functions and smart features. It’s too bad that VanMoof are the only brand on test that prioritise smart digital functions, thereby offering plenty of added value and everyday convenience.

Whether you’re riding an ebike for the first time or you’ve already done thousands of kilometres on one, you’ll feel right at home aboard the FLYER Upstreet1.

Tuning tip: swap the suspended seat post for a model from Cane Creek

Riding the FLYER Upstreet1

Let’s get down to business: how does Upstreet1 fare day-to-day on the streets and paths in and around the city? First off, we were struck by how quiet the bike is. Apart from the relatively loud shifting of the Shimano Nexus hub, you’ll hardly hear this urban ebike. Fortunately, all the compact ebikes on test are relatively quiet. The FLYER also convinced us in terms of its handling, striking an excellent balance between composure and agility, showing the other three bikes how it’s done. You can steer it actively through the corners or just let it cruise along. Due to this intuitive handling, the Upstreet1 is a good choice for commuters of all skill levels. Unfortunately, you have to make compromises in terms of comfort, since the front is completely rigid compared to the rear and doesn’t provide any damping. As such, we would only recommend the FLYER for urban areas and paved roads without big bumps, similar to the VanMoof X3. For added compliance, we would suggest experimenting with the pressure of the 20 x 2.15″ Schwalbe Pick-Up tires, which should offer plenty of leeway.

Our conclusion on the FLYER Upstreet1

The FLYER Upstreet1 is a solid all-round urban ebike, offering a low-step through for easy access, balanced handling, a beautifully integrated battery and high-quality cockpit components. Even though it doesn’t score high in terms of paint quality and comfort, it’s the perfect choice for those who want a compact step-through ebike for paved terrain and smooth surfaces.