Frey vs Biktrix
- Thread starter Gee_Whiz
- Start date
reed scott
Well-Known Member
For me it is not so much comparing particular models as it is comparing basic design and components. I highly respect Biktrix as a company and if they had had a FS bike in my size when I was ready to buy I would have purchased one. I had already become familiar with Frey as a company and the bikes they produce. I discovered that they make bikes that are sold by several different retailers. This first came to my attention because of Bakcou 'hunting' bikes. Through questioning here on the site I found they make other retailer's bikes. Frey is an innovative company with very good frames and they put good components on their bikes. I especially like their beefed up rear suspension designs.
That being said ... there are powerful reasons to go with a company like Biktrix. Though in Canada they are a responsible company that takes care of their customers and that includes the US. Their offerings are quite varied and one of the very few 'direct to consumer internet companies' ( DTC ) that offer right up front customization. You can choose many of the components for your bike. If you want to spend more money.
Still, you can get more bike by buying directly from Frey for less money. A toss up. Could go either way.
reed scott
Well-Known Member
You know ... thinking about it ... Frey and Biktrix represent the best of the best right now of the 'fricking reasonably priced' ( !!!) and supported bike purveyors. I've looked at them all ... till I'm exhausted ... and I wouldn't give a hill of beans for any of em. Either absurdly priced ... or junk. But that's considering my kind of bike. Those who don't mind riding less than MTB type bikes have more choices. Lots more. I've never ridden a tour bike and never will. Actually the idea of 'touring' freaks me out. Sitting bolt upright on a bicycle freaks me out. Don't even mention step through or folding. ARRRRRGGGG
My buddy recently bought a Biktrix Ultra FS and he likes it. Throttle setting on his is weaker than it should be but he can reprogram it to fit his needs. I also liked the FREY bikes but not wanting to pay $$ or wait 6 mos to get it was a deal breaker. I ended up going with a WW Frame and motor and built it up but thats another thread. Two of my friends have just ordered bikes through "AndyKirbyE bikes"over in the UK I think it's called the Vapour and they look pretty competitive. Full suspension, 27.5" tires with Aluminum frame. I like the head tube angle better than on the Frey Or Biktrix bikes. Not the highest end components but good enough and it comes with the Ultra motor and throttle. Since we build our own battery's he can toss the one it comes with and go probably up to 34.5ahr on size, similar to the one I fitted to my ride.Looks like they ship directly from China to your door, it is just the transaction that goes through the UK. I think they are getting their bikes in DEC so there is a bit of a wait also.
reed scott
Well-Known Member
Nice to know there's people out there doing things like This. I'd buy that bike ( Andy's ) 
D.Unwin
Active Member
I spoke to Andy about purchasing this exact bike but this one is very expensive with decent parts on and is different from the one he sells on his website, because of this I went with a Frey which was better value even though both bikes are quite good, the Vapour was £3400 (spec below) not sure if there were taxes or shipping involved in that costs?
KirbEbike Vapour full suspension eMTB (FULLY BUILT BIKE)
KirbEbike Vapour full suspension eMTB (FULLY BUILT BIKE) KirbEbike Vapour KirbEbike Vapour full suspension eMTB (FULLY BUILT BIKE)
www.cloudsto.com
D.Unwin
Active Member
yeah being saying the same thing to a few lads on here about the batteries, the mind boggles why they can't be sent out beforehand? not much I can do now other than wait but maybe people who purchase in the future ask can they have theres sent out quicker? especially if they have already been paid for
Yes the bike Andy builds out is different than the one sold as a package. You can also just buy the frame seperate from the motor from alibaba for probably $1250 or so but then you have to ship it and then wait for it to show up and then fit everything up. You can buy just the frame, battery, motor for about 2g's from Andy and not get the full build. I have never spoke to or communicated with the guy just wanted to post another option. Not cheap to build up a higher end dual suspension e-bike. I know the biktrix rear shock and front shock are ok but not great. Just an example of spending more $. My Biktrix buddy dropped some a bit of cash getting the ultra FS and with his 38ahr battery he's tippin the scales at 82lbs. My rig with a 34.5ahr battery rolls in at 66lbs. Running a Wren 150mm fork on the front and a Rockshox super deluxe ultimate 230mmx65mm but I paid 60% more. Compromises abound. Spent $100 on a stem that ended up being to short, and then picked up a longer one off c-list for $40 that fits great. It doesent have to be more expensive to be better. Hence Biktrix, Frey, Kirby, WW. Dont get me started on the Apollo... My buddy just went up to San Luis Obisbo to see his daughter going to school up there and saw a guy ride by on an Apollo so I guess they did sell at least 1. FWIW my Biktrix friend got his battery 2 days after he got his bike. Canada to San Diego.
reed scott
Well-Known Member
You could always use a third battery. Get hold of Simon and see if he might sell you one.
This would insure as well that your other batteries showed up the next day.
D.Unwin
Active Member
yeah, i actually contacted Simon to buy a Frey but was told he was holding off buying any more for months that's when I decided to contact Frey and purchase it under my own steam, this way it was the cheapest way to buy one although it isn't without issues.
i might start a Frey battery company
i might start a Frey battery company
D.Unwin
Active Member
yes it looks like it, when you order it you end up buying it from china, they all come from china, i dont think anyone in the UK or USA makes there own frames, if they do can you pop the info on here please so peeps can indulgeVapour?
Isn't that Seroxat from AliExpress?
170.25US $ 15% OFF|Seroxat Mountain Bike Frame Am Frame 27.5 29er Mtb Dh Frame Aluminum Alloy Hybrid Bike Frame Rear Shock 150mm E-bike Motor 1000w - Bicycle Frame - AliExpress
Smarter Shopping, Better Living! Aliexpress.comwww.aliexpress.com
752.25US $ 15% OFF|Mountain Bike Frame 27.5 29er Mtb Aluminum Alloy Color Et - AliExpress
Smarter Shopping, Better Living! Aliexpress.com
Seroxat has hidden battery option as well.
170.25US $ 25% OFF|Seroxat Mountain Bike Frame Am Frame 27.5/29er Mtb Dh Frame Aluminum Alloy Hybrid Bike Frame E-bike Motor 1000w Internal Battery - Bicycle Frame - AliExpress
Smarter Shopping, Better Living! Aliexpress.com
Got an update on my buddy's purchase of an "Andy Kirby Vapour Bike"
One friend ordered a complete bike back in mid Nov. 2020 from cloudsto.com and my other buddy ordered his at the start of Dec. 2020.
Neither of my friends had much communications from any "Andy Kirby" representative as to when bikes would ship or......
Myself felling responsible for their purchasing the bikes ( told them they looked like a good deal ) I felt bad for them not being informed and left hanging in the wind.
So I sent an e-mail to cloudsto.com attn: Andy Kirby Vapour bikes and got a response the next day saying the bikes were scheduled to ship the first week of Feb 2021.
So guessing on shipping time as probably 2-3 weeks if coming by boat I was quite surprised when my buddy that ordered his ride in Nov was contacted by UPS on 2-15-21 and said they needed a copy of the purchase receipt to verify shipping. He now finds out today that the bike is in Ontario California and the VAT tax due is $870 additional on top of what he has already paid which I think is about 4.5K. Not sure if bike came by sea or air to be arriving that quickly but better to be lookin at it than lookin for it.
There is a disclaimer on the cloudsno.com website saying that any import or VAT taxes would be paid by end user.
I am not badmouthing the company or bike in any way but since I brought up this brand in a previous post on this thread I wanted to let anyone know how this purchase went down since I couldn't find ANY previous reviews on the bike that were ordered. When my friend finally gets the bike in hand I will check it out and post back up on quality, parts etc.
3 months waiting for a bike is crazy but maybe the norm now. Stay tuned...
One friend ordered a complete bike back in mid Nov. 2020 from cloudsto.com and my other buddy ordered his at the start of Dec. 2020.
Neither of my friends had much communications from any "Andy Kirby" representative as to when bikes would ship or......
Myself felling responsible for their purchasing the bikes ( told them they looked like a good deal ) I felt bad for them not being informed and left hanging in the wind.
So I sent an e-mail to cloudsto.com attn: Andy Kirby Vapour bikes and got a response the next day saying the bikes were scheduled to ship the first week of Feb 2021.
So guessing on shipping time as probably 2-3 weeks if coming by boat I was quite surprised when my buddy that ordered his ride in Nov was contacted by UPS on 2-15-21 and said they needed a copy of the purchase receipt to verify shipping. He now finds out today that the bike is in Ontario California and the VAT tax due is $870 additional on top of what he has already paid which I think is about 4.5K. Not sure if bike came by sea or air to be arriving that quickly but better to be lookin at it than lookin for it.
There is a disclaimer on the cloudsno.com website saying that any import or VAT taxes would be paid by end user.
I am not badmouthing the company or bike in any way but since I brought up this brand in a previous post on this thread I wanted to let anyone know how this purchase went down since I couldn't find ANY previous reviews on the bike that were ordered. When my friend finally gets the bike in hand I will check it out and post back up on quality, parts etc.
3 months waiting for a bike is crazy but maybe the norm now. Stay tuned...
reed scott
Well-Known Member
Eagerly await your report.
OK my buddys bike got dropped off this AM, no more further cost's except original purchase price plus the $870 VAT tax.
So...... I got to his place and bike was already unboxed and came partially assembled which would be standard I guess.
First impression the frame quality looks really good all welds are even and smooth, nice matte black color.
Bike was specs'd out for a Rockshox Yari front fork ( about $500)....... It has a DNM USD-6A inverted fork I'm pretty sure thats a sizable downgrade ( can't find a price but some of their components are listed on Amazon so thats not good). All I could find on the fork was it has adjustable air chamber and I'm guessing an oil damper on the right side with a rebound knob on bottom of the stanchion leg.
Plastic lower leg guards mounted and looks like around 150mm of travel. Axle pushes through fork and is secured on opposite side by a threaded cap and then there are tightening screws on lower legs to secure axle body itself to fork.
Never seen this before as it has brake caliper post mounts molded into BOTH sides of the lower legs so you can run your rotor right or left. Hub doesn't care so all you would have to do is pull the tire and remount it opposite so rotation would be correct. Also the hydraulic brake line would be pointing downward so unless they make a reverse caliper or one that is interchangeable ...Hmmm
Bike was also specs'd out for a XFusion O2 190mm x 50mm rear fork (about $340)...... and it has a DNM AO42RC rear shock ( $97.30 on Amazon) WTF BS if you ask me. I told my buddy to contact AK and have them adjust cost on downgrades. We'll see.
Tires are good Schwalbe 27.5" x 2.6" and the hubs are 100mm front and 142mm rear so NON boost spacing 32h and the rims are no-name and about 40mm wide so they should support 3" tires if he goes that way. Not sure if they are tubeless ready we'll check on that mañana as my friend had to go to work
Seat and Seatpost OK
Bars, Stem, and Grips OK
Brakes, 2 piston with 180mm rotors and post/post adapters included
Derailer 10spd Deore and shifter, lower end but will work.
Came with a DPC-18 display which we removed and replaced with a 750C
Bafang Ultra motor at least that's legit
48v battery charger
NO BATTERY or any info regarding it. We figured it would ship separately after reading numerous posts. Also since we won't be using it anyway and I will be making one that fits in the mid area it's not a big deal but a little com would of been nice from their end. Here's a couple of pics. I took a short video but I'm not smart enough to post it but I'll keep trying.
So...... I got to his place and bike was already unboxed and came partially assembled which would be standard I guess.
First impression the frame quality looks really good all welds are even and smooth, nice matte black color.
Bike was specs'd out for a Rockshox Yari front fork ( about $500)....... It has a DNM USD-6A inverted fork I'm pretty sure thats a sizable downgrade ( can't find a price but some of their components are listed on Amazon so thats not good). All I could find on the fork was it has adjustable air chamber and I'm guessing an oil damper on the right side with a rebound knob on bottom of the stanchion leg.
Plastic lower leg guards mounted and looks like around 150mm of travel. Axle pushes through fork and is secured on opposite side by a threaded cap and then there are tightening screws on lower legs to secure axle body itself to fork.
Never seen this before as it has brake caliper post mounts molded into BOTH sides of the lower legs so you can run your rotor right or left. Hub doesn't care so all you would have to do is pull the tire and remount it opposite so rotation would be correct. Also the hydraulic brake line would be pointing downward so unless they make a reverse caliper or one that is interchangeable ...Hmmm
Bike was also specs'd out for a XFusion O2 190mm x 50mm rear fork (about $340)...... and it has a DNM AO42RC rear shock ( $97.30 on Amazon) WTF BS if you ask me. I told my buddy to contact AK and have them adjust cost on downgrades. We'll see.
Tires are good Schwalbe 27.5" x 2.6" and the hubs are 100mm front and 142mm rear so NON boost spacing 32h and the rims are no-name and about 40mm wide so they should support 3" tires if he goes that way. Not sure if they are tubeless ready we'll check on that mañana as my friend had to go to work
Seat and Seatpost OK
Bars, Stem, and Grips OK
Brakes, 2 piston with 180mm rotors and post/post adapters included
Derailer 10spd Deore and shifter, lower end but will work.
Came with a DPC-18 display which we removed and replaced with a 750C
Bafang Ultra motor at least that's legit
48v battery charger
NO BATTERY or any info regarding it. We figured it would ship separately after reading numerous posts. Also since we won't be using it anyway and I will be making one that fits in the mid area it's not a big deal but a little com would of been nice from their end. Here's a couple of pics. I took a short video but I'm not smart enough to post it but I'll keep trying.
Last edited:
reed scott
Well-Known Member
greeno, Do me a favor please. Ride the bike if you have not already and tell us if you think the stock controller is any better than they were a year or two ago. Mine when it came was pretty good. But I'm a dayglo green noob with ebikes. I had mine for so little time I barely remember the real feel it had. My Archon has the derestricted throttle and its a bat out of hell when I need it to be. Like you I barely use it. I've never used it in the top two gears. If I punch it in like 5th my pretty fast dog is panting in the dust inside 2 seconds.
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