Flit Bikes

Flit Bikes is a Cambridge, UK-based engineering company specializing in lightweight, folding electric bikes for the urban commuter market. The company’s story began in 2015 when co-founders Alex Murray and Dave Henderson met while studying in Beijing. Inspired by the prevalence of e-bikes for navigating the city, they identified an opportunity to develop a product for European city dwellers. Henderson, a former Jaguar Land Rover engineer, brought the technical expertise, having built his first e-bike at age 15. Murray, who had studied transport policy and cycled across the US and China, provided the vision for creating happier, healthier urban environments. They founded the company, originally Hinton Bikes, in 2016 and relocated to Cambridge, the UK's cycling capital, to design their e-bike from a blank slate.

Flit operates on a direct-to-consumer business model, primarily selling its e-bikes online, a strategy that began with a successful Kickstarter campaign for their first model, the FLIT-16, in July 2019. This initial crowdfunding effort surpassed its goal by over five times. The company targets urban professionals who require a portable, multi-modal transport solution that is both easy to carry and store in compact city apartments. In February 2025, Flit secured £1.2 million in funding from ACF Investors and Cambridge Angels to scale up production and delivery of its newer M2 model.

The company's core product is a folding electric bicycle designed from the ground up to integrate its electric components seamlessly. The current model, the FLIT M2, weighs around 14kg and folds to a volume over 20% smaller than its predecessor, the FLIT-16. A key design element is the concealment of the 230Wh lithium-ion battery within the bike's top tube, which is removable for charging and provides a range of up to 50 km. A notable manufacturing process is the use of a no-weld adhesive bonding technique, borrowed from the aerospace and automotive industries, which enhances structural precision, reduces weight by 1kg compared to a welded frame, and allows for a more compact fold. The bike features 16-inch wheels, a rear hub motor for better traction and acceleration, hydraulic disc brakes, and integrated LED lights. It is a single-speed vehicle, which simplifies maintenance and reduces weight.

Keywords: folding e-bike, urban mobility, lightweight electric bike, direct-to-consumer, Cambridge startup, commuter bicycle, compact e-bike, removable battery, aerospace bonding, Dave Henderson, Alex Murray, FLIT-16, FLIT M2, urban transport solution, electric bicycle, cycle to work scheme, Kickstarter success, multi-modal transport, Bafang motor, pedal torque-sensing