Fafrees F20 Light vs Fafrees F20 Mate
On the numbers that decide this pair, the Fafrees F20 Mate is 25 Nm more torque than the Fafrees F20 Light. Everything else is below, including where it loses.
Range is our estimate under the reference ride, not the manufacturer's claim. Cost is over 5 years at 3,000 km a year, on the same formula the cost-of-ownership calculator runs. How we work this out
| Spec | Fafrees F20 Light | Fafrees F20 Mate |
|---|---|---|
| Estimated range | 42 km | 62 km |
| Battery | 576 Wh | 874 Wh |
| Weight | 25.4 kg | 39.9 kg |
| Motor torque | 40 Nm | 65 Nm |
| Top speed | 24 km/h | 25 km/h |
| Price | $819 | $2,418 |
| 5-year cost | $1,335 | $2,868 |
Where each one wins
- Fafrees F20 Mate is 25 Nm more torque.
- Fafrees F20 Light is 14.5 kg lighter.
- Fafrees F20 Mate is 298 Wh more battery.
- Fafrees F20 Mate is 20 km further on range.
The Fafrees F20 Light leads on 1 of these, the Fafrees F20 Mate on 3. Neither sweeps it, so the choice comes down to which of those you actually use.
Who each one is for
Fafrees F20 Light
Suits you if you want:
- folds, so it fits a boot, a train or a hallway
- rated to 120 kg of rider and luggage together
- about 42 km estimated, which covers a 21 km each-way commute
What it asks in return:
- 40 Nm of torque, so long climbs will ask for your legs
Fafrees F20 Mate
Suits you if you want:
- 65 Nm of torque, enough for rolling ground
- folds, so it fits a boot, a train or a hallway
- rated to 180 kg of rider and luggage together
- about 62 km estimated, which covers a 31 km each-way commute
What it asks in return:
- 39.9 kg, which is a bike you park rather than carry
Each line above is read straight from the specification: torque, weight, payload, battery and our range estimate. Nothing here is a preference, and neither bike is being recommended over the other.
What each one costs to own
Over 5 years the Fafrees F20 Light costs about 1,420 EUR less to own, once purchase, charging, servicing, a battery replacement where one is due, and resale are all counted.
That figure moves mostly on the battery. The Fafrees F20 Light covers about 30,720 km before its pack is due for replacement; the Fafrees F20 Mate, about 46,613 km. Ride less than that and the replacement never enters the sum.
| Over five years | Fafrees F20 Light | Fafrees F20 Mate |
|---|---|---|
| Purchase price | $819 | $2,418 |
| Charging | $68 | $68 |
| Servicing | $648 | $972 |
| Battery replacement | ||
| Resale value | $-200 | $-590 |
| Total | $1,335 | $2,868 |
Run these numbers on your own mileage
Which one to buy
- Pick the Fafrees F20 Mate if you ride to the edge of the battery and dislike planning around it.
- Pick the Fafrees F20 Mate if you would rather charge less often than carry less weight.
- Pick the Fafrees F20 Light if you carry the bike up steps, onto a train, or into a flat.
- Pick the Fafrees F20 Mate if your route has real hills, or you carry cargo or a passenger.
- Pick the Fafrees F20 Light if the five-year total is what you are optimising.
Verdict
On the measured axes the Fafrees F20 Light is the better buy, and the Fafrees F20 Mate needs a reason of its own: a colour, a frame, a shop you trust, a price that moves. None of those are in our numbers, and all of them are legitimate.
Range here is an estimate under one reference ride, not a measurement. Yours will differ with terrain, weight, tyres and weather, which is what the range calculator is for.
Tell me when either of these gets cheaper
One email when a price moves on a bike you are watching. Nothing else.