Frappé FSD M200 ebike
£2,299 Fully equipped around-town special
Weight 24.7kg (57cm/L) Frame 6061 alloy Fork Alloy Gears Shimano Inter 7 Wheels Alloy rims, Nexus 7 rear hub Brakes Shimano hydraulic disc MT200 Ebike motor system Sport Drive gen IV, 418Wh battery Finishing kit Selle Royal Nuvola saddle, CST Otis 37c tyres
DUTCH BRAND FRAPPÉ builds all of its bikes in Europe, and the whole line has more than a flavour of the classic Dutch roadster about it. Take this FSD M200: the slender aluminium frame evokes those classic steel roadsters that have remained unchanged for decades. Even its understated matt-black livery gives the FSD a retro air.
The ride position is commanding and upright like a classic town bike, which stands out when most of us are used to riding drop-bar bikes, or racier flat-barred commuter machines. I have to say I rather enjoyed it, though: the comfortable, cushioned Selle Royal saddle and wide bar with its well-shaped ergonomic grips all encourage a more sedate pace. You can, of course, adjust the angle of the stem to lengthen the ride position and lower the bar, but I think that rather defeats the object of the bike.
Aside from the retro styling and classic cruising position, the M200 does have plenty of solid, up-to-date qualities. First and foremost is the mid-mounted Sport Drive motor. It’s not a system I’ve come across before, but it compares well to similar types from Bosch and Shimano. The motor has four modes that make the most of its generous 80Nm of torque, and it’s well integrated into a neatly shaped down-tube-cum-bottom-bracket shell. The down-tube also hosts a removable 418Wh battery.
The four progressive modes start, logically, at level 1, which offers low-power assistance ideal for flat roads, downhill gradients and gentle cruising. Level 2 gives a bit more oomph and is what I used the most throughout testing. In both 3 and 4, it delivers plenty of punch; level three offers up as much boost as I needed even on steep climbs with panniers full of shopping. As for level four, the full power on tap was more than enough to help me ascend the steepest of my local roads.
The bar-mounted controller has a clear LCD screen displaying an icon to show battery level and percentage, which level you’re in, and all the metrics you’d expect, such as current speed, light status and distance travelled. Then +/- buttons control the modes and a button on the top turns the system on and off. On the underside, there’s another button to switch on the lights. Hold it down a little longer and you’ll activate the walk mode, which powers up the motor to help you push the bike up steep slopes – and is very useful considering the bike weighs nearly 25kg.
Stop and go
Working in unison with the mid-motor is Shimano’s Inter 7 rear hub gear and 42-tooth, single-ring chainset. The gearing range is ideal for urban and suburban riding, but the shifting leaves a little to be
desired. Upshifts are quick, slick and without hitch, but when you’re heading down into lighter gears on climbs, the rear hub often stutters and needs a halfbackpedal to properly engage. If you have a long, steady climb on your commuter route, this is a bit irritating: just when you’re getting into a rhythmic cadence, you have to slow, change gear, backpedal, and try to maintain momentum. Halting your momentum isn’t a problem with the M200 hydraulic brakes, however. The smooth action and long brake levers mean plenty of feel and great all-weather, safe control.
The range you get from the 418Wh battery is, of course, subject to how and where you ride. I averaged 38 miles/61.5km (with around 410m/1,345ft of climbing). On a particularly cold day (1-2°C), however, the range dropped down to 24.5 miles/ 39.4km when I did a nearly identical amount of ascent, but this isn’t uncommon for an ebike with an external battery. In fact, my own Shimano Stepsequipped ebike suffers the same range drop-off in truly cold weather.
The bike’s level of equipment is impressive: the full-length mudguards work very well, stayed rattle-free and have red stays to help integrate the bike’s subtle livery with the funky compact rear rack. This rack comes with a bungee to help secure items, but as its metalwork is oversized, try out panniers before buying.
The chainstay-mounted kickstand is neat, and the key is secured in the classic AXA frame-mounted lock until you activate (lock) it, old-school style so you’ll never leave home without it. The integrated lights are great for urban roads, with the front light powerful enough to see on unlit urban roads, although I did need to add a secondary, brighter light for pitch-black rural roads and towpaths.
In all, the Frappé is a practical abouttown ebike with a good level of equipment and decent motor performance. Despite the slightly irritating gear changing, I’d be happy cruising to and from work and shops or on steady Sunday family treks on it.
Verdict
“As for level four, the power was more than enough to help me ascend the steepest of my local roads”
Well-equipped classic Dutch roadster updated with slick ebike power