Flyer M880

Intro

Today we are looking at the Flyer M880, a midtail, fat-tire, electric cargo bike. This modern offering comes to us from the classic brand Radio Flyer.

This affordable cargo/commuter e-bike brings excellent value at an attractive price point. Radio Flyer have stuck to their roots with this design. Solid craftsmanship and attention to detail result in a balanced offering for the first e-bike from this company.

While the M880 may leave some commuters seeking higher speeds and more torque, it is an excellent option for parents and families choosing their first e-bike. Uses for the M880 include; recreational riding, cargo hauling, commuting, and the capacity to bring your child along in a compatible Thule seat.

With a robust build and thoughtful choices for components and accessories, the Flyer M880 covers all the bases for a cargo/commuter while still looking great on the road. Overall, this is an impressive first e-bike with only a few drawbacks.

Let’s discuss the M880’s ‘Pros and Cons’ while taking an in-depth look at the bike’s specifications.

Pros

• Quality build.
• Good components for the price range.
• The bike performs its purpose well and will benefit those primarily looking to transport children and cargo.
• The battery life and range are excellent. You will be able to cover long journeys without suffering range anxiety.
• With its upright riding stance, the M880 is comfortable to pedal and maneuver. Beginners will find it intuitive to use.

Cons

• This 500-watt motor may struggle to climb steep hills or tackle multiple inclines in succession.
• The motor engages slowly. This leads to a delay in power when taking off and keeping pace with traffic, or when making a sudden pass.
• The M880 is not rated for riding in wet conditions. The battery housing appears to allow water to enter, possibly contacting battery connections.
• The attached headlight, while well-integrated, is not bright enough for true night riding.

Points of Note Regarding the Flyer M880

Our testers believe that potential buyers of the M880 should take these considerations into account. These factors result from purposeful design choices and compromises based on bike type, style, and category. For this reason, they are not viewed as ‘Cons’ against the bike.

• Cargo bikes are heavy. This bike weighs almost 70 lb and can be cumbersome. It would not be easy to transport within an elevator or to carry up the stairs of your home/office.
• The moped-style kickstand requires the back of the bike to be lifted. While it is very stable, this may be difficult for smaller individuals.
• Class 2 e-bikes are limited to 20 mph. If you have a long commute, you may want to look at Class 3 e-bikes for their higher speed and larger motor.
• The M880 is designed for use on smooth surfaces, including pavement and gravel paths (that are level and maintained). This bike has a rigid, heavy-duty frame with no suspension. It is not designed for travel on off-road surfaces and does not perform well over bumps, rocks, or roots.

What Is the M880 Midtail Cargo Bike?

The Flyer M880 is a midtail, fat-tire, electric cargo bike. With a robust integrated rear rack, it is slightly heavier than a commuter-specific e-bike. With 3.0” tires and 75+ pounds of front and rear rack storage, the bike is ready to work.

What Does It Do Best?

The M880 is a commuter/cargo bike that focuses on functionality and safety. This bike is best suited to:

• Riders looking to carry kids and cargo.
• General commuters.
• Leisure riders.

The supplied moped-style kickstand holds the bike securely, allowing for easy loading. The M880 comes with integrated front and rear lights. Custom accessories, such as cargo racks and child seats, are available as aftermarket purchases. The bike’s step-through design makes it a breeze to ride with these accessories.

Who Should Buy This Bike?

The M880 is a strong choice for new e-bike riders looking for an urban/suburban cargo/commuter. It is a capable cargo hauler with kid-friendly accessories. The M880 will benefit users who are looking to take recreational rides, haul cargo and commute on one bike. It suits an owner who has access to a secure, ground-level location where they can store their bike.

Reasons to Look Elsewhere?

People should avoid this bike if:

• They would like to travel faster than 20 mph.
• Are focused on commuting.
• Are looking for ample torque to keep up with traffic.

Commuters with very steep hills, bumpy off-road terrain, or a need to travel in rainy weather will also want to look at other options.

Conclusion

In our opinion, the Flyer M880 performs very closely to how it is advertised. It performs its duties well. Purchasers will be satisfied with the build quality and components. Don’t purchase this bike with expectations of high performance and speed. That’s not the role this e-bike seeks to fulfill. When it comes to cargo-hauling, pleasure-riding, and commuting in safety, the M880 feels like a solid choice. This is an affordable, city-focused, Class 2 cargo/commuter e-bike.

Specs

Electric Bike Class: Class 2

Warranty: 1-Year warranty. 15-day free trial.

Model Year: 2021

Total Weight: 69.5 lb

Battery Weight: 9.8 lb

Motor Brand: Unbranded.

Motor Type: Hub motor (geared, rear wheel).

Motor Nominal Output: 500 watts

Torque: 50 Nm

Battery: 48V 15Ah (687Wh) UL Tested Lithium-Ion Samsung 50E 21700 Cells.

Range: 30 to 50+ miles.

Lights:

• Front: LED headlight.
• Rear: Integrated tail light with brake light.

Speed: Up to 20 mph

Pedal Assist: 5-level pedal assist with cadence sensor.

Display: LCD display showing speedometer, battery charge level, pedal assist level, odometer, and light indicator.

Charge Time: 6-10 hours for a full charge.

Throttle: Half-twist throttle.

Motor: 500W brushless hub motor.

Controller: 48V 500W

Charger: 54.6V, 2A smart charger operates on 100-240V AC outlets.

Brake Calipers: Tektro Aries MD-M300.

Brake Levers: Aluminum alloy levers with motor cut-off switch and integrated bell.

Brake Rotor: Tektro 180 mm front and rear.

Chain: KMC Z7 CrMo steel.

Frame: 6061 Aluminum.

Crankset: 44T, 170 mm forged alloy, dual-sided aluminum guard.

Derailleur: Shimano TY300 7-speed derailleur.

Fenders: Durable, impact-resistant ABS plastic.

Fork: Rigid steel.

Tires: CST Big Boat 26″ x 3.0″ with puncture resistant liners (front and rear).

Freewheel: Shimano TZ500 7-speed freewheel.

Grips: Ergonomic, Durable, TPE rubber.

Handlebar: Aluminum, 680 mm wide, 48 mm rise.

Headset: Semi-integrated, 1-1/8″ straight steerer tube.

Kickstand: Steel, dual-leg, spring-loaded.

Pedals: Integrated reflectors, CrMo axle, standard 9/16″ x 20 TPI threading.

Rims: Steel rims, 26″.

Saddle: Selle Royal Freeway.

Shifter: Shimano SL-TX50-7R shifter.

Spokes: 12-gauge stainless steel, black.

Stem: 100 mm, adjustable stem angle up to 60°.

Max Rider Capacity: 220 lb

Payload Capacity: 300 lb

Front Storage Capacity: 25 lb

Rear Rack Capacity: 80 lb

Battery Life: 50+ miles.

Detail

The M880’s frame is well-built and feels robust. Clean welds and lines give this bike a nice, utilitarian aesthetic. The integrated rack is very sturdy and blends into the frame. A compact battery design maintains this clean and simple look. There is no frame flex, despite the step-through frame style. Mounting and dismounting are simple, even with cargo on the rear. The frame is available in three sizes. The bike also features a highly adjustable stem. In combination with saddle height and angle, riders’ can tune the M880 to match their own preferences.  

Motor

The 500-watt, 50 Nm unbranded motor effortlessly speeds you to 20 mph on level ground. It offers a welcome boost on mild-to-moderate hills. The motor is capable of tackling steeper inclines with the help of your legs, but beware of tackling multiple hills in a row during a long commute! It loses speed quickly up hills and can become overwhelmed. The programming favors range over torque, so don’t expect to be racing up hill after hill. Performance is flawless on moderate terrain, with an impressive range-per-charge, capable of handling the majority of commutes with ease. Overall, it would be difficult to see a rider left wanting with its capacity.

This Class 2 e-bike runs at 20 mph, easily. However, when coming down from higher speeds, the motor can be slow to engage, waiting until 17-18 mph to apply power again. We noted that this delay in response seems to be purposeful, to ensure there is no jerkiness when applying power. The motor is reasonably loud under load, nothing too annoying, but it’s clear this is a powered unit. 

Cockpit and Control

The cockpit is clean and well-configured, with well-organized wiring and integrated lights (controlled from the display). When adding a mounted basket, Flyer supplies additional hardware components for mounting the front light. Operation of the bike is intuitive. The M880’s display is large enough to see while riding. It offers function without a ton of extras. When powered, the screen display indicates the odometer, speed, and five-bar battery level. Toggling the three buttons allows you to view the lifetime odometer, trip distance, and battery level (in volts). You can also adjust the bike’s five pedal assist levels, activate lighting and access walk mode.

The half-twist throttle is fun and easy to use, while offering a good way to get this heavy bike started without pedaling. The Shimano shifter is very intuitive and offers visual indicators for the gears, both from the shifting window and the position of the shifter.

Braking is comfortable. You can fit several fingers on the brake levers to assist with applying power to the mechanical brakes.

Battery

The Flyer is supplied with a 48V 15Ah (687Wh) battery using UL-tested, Lithium-Ion, Samsung 50E 21700 cells. This battery offers impressive range, even in the highest assist level. Distances of 30 miles are attainable, as Flyer claims. To ensure you always make it home (even when going long distances), the computer is programmed to preserve battery life as it drains. Due to this feature, you may have slightly less power available at lower battery levels.

Charger, Battery and Removal, Keys

The bike comes with a neat Flyer-branded two-amp charger and cable.

The charging port is located conveniently on the top of the battery (near the cockpit). This is a great feature, as it keeps it away from the cranks and makes the port easy to access. The battery is easily removed with a key, by inserting and turning it in the slot above the battery housing, on the right side of the downtube. This keyhole is located in a position that is accessible, without being obtrusive.

The battery locks and unlocks with a satisfying click and is easy to remove and install. The battery is easily removed for charging, which helps to reduce the bike’s overall weight when transporting it indoors. The battery takes 6 to 10 hours to fully charge, due to its large capacity!

Attention to detail is evident in the overall appearance, ease of use and comfortable design of these features.

Drivetrain

Shifting is easy, with compliments to Shimano for the Tourney shifter, rear derailleur and 7-speed cassette. Up front, you have a 44-tooth, 170 mm, forged-alloy crankset with a dual-sided aluminum guard.

Shifting is clean and gearing matches the capability of the motor, with its top speed of 20 mph. At higher speeds, you do lose the ability to pedal and are left just rolling along for the ride. The lowest gear tackles larger hills with minimal effort. 

All in all, the bike is well outfitted and suited to its intended purpose. The choice of name-brand drivetrain components is a great bonus.

Brakes and Motor Switch

Braking is taken care of with a set of Tektro Aries MD-M300 mechanical calipers and 180 mm rotors, as a nice assist. By opting to go with the Tektro brand, Flyer have shown an investment in reliability. The aluminum levers are comfortable to use. However, they do not feature a reach adjustment. The included motor cut-off on the brakes is a great safety feature. These brakes have good stopping power and feel reliable, though they become noisy under certain conditions (which can be disconcerting). A hydraulic disc brake would be a nice upgrade. These are present on some other bikes in a similar price range.  

Wheels, Tires and Fenders

The bike’s 3.0” CST Big Boat tires are large and offer a comfortable ride on the road. Cornering is decent and the ride is comfortable with the cushioning provided by these tires. The included puncture protection is also a nice touch to keep your riding problem-free.

The 26″ wheels feel well-suited to the bike. When combined with the over-sized tires, they actually perform closer to how a 27.5” wheel would roll, and cover ground efficiently. The front wheel features a quick-release front axle, allowing for easy tire removal. The rear wheel uses a bolt-on rear axle. They use 36-spoke steel rims and appear robust overall.

Fenders are composed of hard plastic with metal hangers and are easy enough to install (after some finagling on set-up). They fit snugly and perform well under most conditions. When faced with bumps and uneven surfaces, some movement is seen that can produce tire rub and noise. But again, this bike is not designed for uneven surfaces.

Safety

The M880 feels friendly to ride, with a smooth ramp-up in power at all assist levels. This is a nice feature when cargo or kids are in tow on the rear rack. The brakes feature a motor cut-off, ensuring you can come to a stop quickly from full power. The rear brake light always illuminates when braking. The front and rear lights can be used for nighttime driver awareness. This bike also features reflectors on the pedals and wheels as an added safety feature. If you purchase the additional baskets (with included basket liners) as add-ons, reflective Flyer logos are present at both the front and rear of the bike. An integrated bell, located on the left brake lever, allows you to alert other road users. 

Kickstand

Enthusiasm for the moped-style kickstand is down to personal preference. It is a very sturdy stand, holding the bike well with no fear of falling. You can easily load gear and work on the bike with the stand engaged. However, to disengage or engage the stand, you must lift the rear of the bike and kick the stand forward. This was not an issue for larger individuals, but those who are smaller-framed may find it difficult to lift and kick the stand at the same time. Design-wise, it performs its intended job very well and is a good choice for a cargo bike. 

Contact Points

These items are dependent on personal preference, but Flyer has offered some good components out of the box.

The Wellgo flat pedals are comfortable to ride on and offer good traction underfoot. These pedals have a BMX or flat MTB style. Overall, they are a solid choice for performance, durability and price. The pins are pretty aggressive, so riders should be careful not to take a hit to the shin! Your foot does feel very secure on the pedal, with no slip. 

The grips are ergonomic, comfortable, and easy to hold while operating the throttle and brake.

Flyer has made good design choices, regarding their saddle selection and choice of pedals and grips. The majority of users would be ready to ride with them, out of the box.

Accessories and Add-Ons

The bike comes with a range of included and optional accessories. These include front and rear storage baskets, integrated front and rear LED lights, and Thule child seats.  

The lights are a nice touch. However, the front light was a bit disappointing, since it is advertised as a high-intensity headlight. The light is much better suited to enhancing your own visibility to motorists, rather than for illuminating the path ahead. 

The rear light engages to indicate braking, which is a great touch. Both lights are powered by the battery and from the control pad.

All-in-all, the lights are a great inclusion, but we sought more power from the headlight.

The additional baskets are well crafted and of fantastic design. Their frames feel robust and, like the built-in rack, they appear to be capable of more than the rated weight (50 lb and 25 lb, respectively). The canvas liners are a great touch. They feature thick material that appears water-resistant, snap-button attachment points on four sides, integrated zippered pouches for carrying a phone or keys and two bottle/cup holders upfront. They attach to the bike easily and securely with the included mounting hardware, enhancing the cargo capabilities of the bike significantly.