Fafrees FM8 vs Fafrees FM9
On the numbers that decide this pair, the Fafrees FM8 is 1.2 kg lighter than the Fafrees FM9. 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 FM8 | Fafrees FM9 |
|---|---|---|
| Estimated range | 38 km | 39 km |
| Battery | 522 Wh | 540 Wh |
| Weight | 25 kg | 26.2 kg |
| Motor torque | 40 Nm | 40 Nm |
| Top speed | 24 km/h | 24 km/h |
| Price | $1,799 | $1,799 |
| 5-year cost | $2,077 | $2,077 |
Where each one wins
- Fafrees FM8 is 1.2 kg lighter.
The Fafrees FM9 does not lead on a single measured axis here. That does not make it the wrong bike, but it does mean the Fafrees FM8 is the one to justify not buying.
Who each one is for
Fafrees FM8
Suits you if you want:
- rated to 150 kg of rider and luggage together
- about 38 km estimated, which covers a 19 km each-way commute
What it asks in return:
- 40 Nm of torque, so long climbs will ask for your legs
Fafrees FM9
Suits you if you want:
- rated to 150 kg of rider and luggage together
- about 39 km estimated, which covers a 19 km each-way commute
What it asks in return:
- 40 Nm of torque, so long climbs will ask for your legs
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 two land within 5% of each other, which is inside the error on any of these inputs. Cost is not the deciding factor here.
That figure moves mostly on the battery. The Fafrees FM8 covers about 27,840 km before its pack is due for replacement; the Fafrees FM9, about 28,800 km. Ride less than that and the replacement never enters the sum.
| Over five years | Fafrees FM8 | Fafrees FM9 |
|---|---|---|
| Purchase price | $1,799 | $1,799 |
| Charging | $68 | $68 |
| Servicing | $648 | $648 |
| Battery replacement | ||
| Resale value | $-438 | $-438 |
| Total | $2,077 | $2,077 |
Run these numbers on your own mileage
Which one to buy
- Pick the Fafrees FM8 if you carry the bike up steps, onto a train, or into a flat.
Verdict
On the measured axes the Fafrees FM8 is the better buy, and the Fafrees FM9 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.