FLIT unveils 13.3 kg folding e-bike

A commuter reaches a station staircase, folds the bike and lifts it instead of wrestling with 20–25 kg of machinery. That is the practical target behind FLIT’s new M2i, a folding electric bike that the British maker says weighs 13.3 kg. FLIT has unveiled the model at £2,999, positioning it 500 grams lighter than Brompton’s Electric T Line, which costs £5,799.

The M2i is not simply a standard folding bicycle with its motor removed from the equation. FLIT cut 1.2 kg from the regular M2 without switching to a titanium frame. Its custom aluminum frame is manufactured in Cambridge using structural adhesives rather than traditional welding. The company says the aerospace- and automotive-derived approach can avoid the heat distortion caused by welding and help maintain precise alignment.

The remaining savings come from a set of lightweight components. FLIT lists British-made Hope XCR Pro X2 hydraulic disc brakes, Goodyear Eagle F1 R tires, a fizik Vento Antares R3 saddle, TPU tubes and a hollow-pin KMC chain, among others. The company says the parts account for more than £875 in upgrades over the M2. The manufacturing process was developed with support from Innovate UK, the Royal Academy of Engineering and the Advanced Propulsion Centre.

FLIT’s Alex Murray says the team did not want a bike that was merely light on a scale. The M2i keeps integrated front and rear lights, can roll on its wheels while folded and is small enough for train luggage racks.

So what changes for a rider? Carrying the bike up station stairs or onto a crowded commuter train becomes more plausible at 13.3 kg, while the lights and folding mobility remain in place. That is the difference between a lightweight specification and a feature someone can use every day. The model is newly unveiled, and the weight, component package and pricing described here come from FLIT.