Review: Fantastic Fido X Folding eBike Powered by Travel

In July last year, e-mobility company Fido Funky launched the Indiegogo Crowdfunding for Folding eBike.  The campaign was successful but the global epidemic expanded the original shipping estimates.  Supporters are now riding on Fiido X and we were sent one to try.

  At a glance

• Fast-folding eBike with 250-W hub motor and novel seat-post battery

• Three pedal-assist steps and a 130 km range claim

• Keypad activation, integrated headlight and tail-light

Shenzhen’s Fido plunged its toes into Crowdfunding water with the D11 Folding eBike in 2020, a focused mid-range frame, 100 km (62 miles) charge-per-seat battery and a 250-pedal W rear-hub motor 25 km / h (15.5 mph)  ) Helps up.

The company seems to be down to a winning formula, attracting pledges from thousands of supporters and raising more than HKD 8 million.  COVID-19 has expanded the original delivery estimates to next year, but all supporters have shipped their new rides in April.

Meanwhile, the project team has listened to the feedback and tweaked the design of a new advanced model called Fido X, launched in Indiegogo in July 2021.

The new Electric Folder shook the shape similar to the D11 but came with soft lines, a new folding mechanism, a redesigned seat-post battery and a novel keypad smart lock for security.

Once again Fido Crowdfunding hit gold, attracting over 1,500 supporters and over 12 million HKD.  And once again, COVID-19 caused supply-chain damage on original distribution estimates, with US ebikes all shipped in February of this year but shipping to supporters in other areas is still underway.

  On your bike,

And that pretty much speeds us up.  Our EU Model Review eBike is virtually fully assembled, with the seat-post battery and handlebar locked into place to pop the frame’s enlarged seat-post tube.

The chunky seat-post battery is not connected to eBike’s electronics via a cable like the D11, but racks of nifty power rails that run the length of the battery for a sneaky look.  As before, the battery module protrudes from the bottom of the frame for low or high riders.

This left us wondering about the possible impact damage to low riders (for example on uneven terrain for pedestrians or beat trackers), but Fido told us that the metal exterior should provide adequate protection and we had no effect.  Issues during our review.

It is recommended to fully recharge the battery before leaving, and it can be juice on the bike or it can be taken out and charged indoors when the X stands in the garage or office storeroom.  Removing the battery involves typing the passcode on the keypad – so you have to remember the numerical password instead of using a physical key – and then select Unlock.

But I had a problem here initially, blaming myself with the prospect of a full release of the battery, but the seat-post tube then stubbornly refused to go.  There is no mention of such things in the user manual, but even happy Indiegogo supporters have experienced the same problem and shared the solution in the Discussion section of the Crowdfunding page – which was to turn on and off the X’s seat-post battery.  This is to juice up the keypad’s own small battery for a few hours.

  Fold and roll

_{(The Fiido X folds in four easy steps, the wheels come together so it can be rolled between rides)}

The Fiido X folds in four easy steps, and the wheels come together so that the rides can be rolled between the Paul Ridden / New Atlas

The ebike has a sweet folding mechanism that hides most of the work inside the magnesium alloy frame and collapses to four levels – 794 x 350 x 803 mm (31.2 x 13.7 x 31.6 in) – first the handlebar, then the seat-post battery, pedal and frame – and takes just a few seconds.

The small metal plates on the axle of each wheel are magnetically attracted to one another, although the guide hand on the frame helps the eBike to hold the seat together as a push.  The XTips offers scales at 19.8 kg (43.6 lb), which is not the lightest folding eBike available but should not present too many problems for the car’s trunk or platform to make a quick heft on the train.

Opened to 1,490 x 580 x 1,020 mm (58.6 x 22.8 x 40.1 in), the ebike supports a rider height between 1.55 and 2 m (5 – 6.5 ft) – the handlebar height cannot be adjusted, but the seat height – and has a maximum height of 120 kg (264.5)  Lb) the ability to pull

The Chain-Drive serves as a normal old folding bike when the Fiido X is not powered, rocking the Shimano MF-TZ500 7-speed derailleur with the S-Ride handlebar shifter, radius hydraulic disc brakes with a 160-mm rotor on the front and 140mm on the rear, CST 20×1.95-E  Opt for installing 20-inch wheels wrapped in tires, a dinky low mechanical bell, and fenders, or skip them for a sportier look.

But does the Fiido X 250-W Brushless Gear Hub provide the motor with a reported peak output of 270 W (the 350-W motor is installed on the US version of eBike), the 417.6-Wh battery and the torque sensor to help?

 _{Paul Ridden / New Atlas has proven that Fiido X initiates plenty of head-turning and conversations}

On the road

The European versions of the Fiido X have a top pedal-assist speed of 25 km / h, while US riders get motor assistance up to 32 km / h (19.2 mph).  After the seat-post battery is turned on, the same password is used to enable eBike’s electrical system, which is used to unlock the battery from the frame.

The bright, daylight-readable handlebar display displays the battery charge level, speed, motor assist level, and icon when the integrated front and rear LED lights are turned on.  One button on the left turns off the eBike or lights, the other runs through three available pedal-assist steps.  There is also a USB charging port to top up the mobile device using ebike’s battery.

As mentioned above, this display can power off pedal assist and related systems, such as using the X as a normal folding bike, but you have to step down, enter a passcode and push the eBike button on the keypad to turn on the eBike – which can be a bit uncomfortable.

While on the road, the Fido X beeps when the pedal-assist speed reaches 15 km / h (9.3 mph), which is required by law in some countries where the ebike is located, so the company has decided to make the default setting.  Sent.  This can easily be deactivated if it proves annoying and it probably will.  Another regulatory awkwardness is that the display only shows a speed of 25 km / h by default and not above.

For people in countries that use Imperial units, you have to make some mental adjustments when riding because there is currently no way to change the display by km / h, although Fido told us that such a feature will be added to the next generation.  Display Module, plus odometer.

Riders still need some effort

Folding eBike means passengers can ride it to the transit center, collapse it, step on a train or bus, and then pedal the last mile to unwind and work on it and not necessarily get into a steam wreck.  Exciting shower.

With a low pedal-assisted system and fairly flat terrain, riders can theoretically cover a range of 130 km (80 miles) per charge.  While we were on the road, we rode 60 to 90 km (37 – 55 miles) of mixed power on the flats and slopes, charging the battery overnight, which is more than enough for most daily commutes.

The high help level helps to flatten 25 percent of the slopes, after which you will need to ride in less mechanical gear and pump your legs.  The area where I live in the UK has lots and lots of hills, so help on some more moderate ascents is very welcome but I was dropped by a motor and suffocated on several more demanding slopes.

  Conversation Starter

I have had many interesting conversations about ebiking in general and Fido X in particular, and as I rode around and parked for photo ops, almost everyone commented positively about its cool, clean, fussy vibe and clever technology.

Some cyclists brought the old “it’s cheating” chestnut, but after one or two hours of motor-assisted riding, my heart and lungs have been treated with exercise and I can confirm that my legs are definitely speaking.  To me, they just wouldn’t be.  Obviously helpful for an easy ride, and the fun factor is dialled one or two steps, but I stayed on the road longer so you can see why science suggests that eBikes are just as good as regular bikes.  For the fit.

If you are sitting along your eBaying journey, you will feel every bump and every pot-hole shaking your bones as there is no suspension here, but this is true of many common folding bikes.

The eBike benefits from the IP54 waterproof, which is great for riding in light rain but is not completely protected from dust particles – with Fiido confirming, “We do not advise you to ride in a heavy rainy day or in a swimming pool.”  If you want to ride after dark or look more in the daylight when using the X as a standard bike, you can’t (unless you add your own hardware).

Final Worlds

I enjoyed riding the Fiido X a lot.  Sure, the ebike comes with a few niggles and odds, but the build quality feels good, long-lasting and includes a bunch of intelligent technology that will engage the inner nerd.  When practically useful.

I am quite jealous of US riders who benefit from more powerful motors to roll (not to mention throttlers with no leg effort), but the combination of seven mechanical gears and 250-W Ikema hubs makes the motor even more welcome in our EU review model.  And bonus points for adding a torque sensor rather than a cadence sensor, the eBike responds instantly to my input on the pedals.

The seat-post battery can be raised or lowered to support riders between 1.55 to 2 m (5 – 6.5 ft) high

In the Paul Ridden / New Atlas, a seat-post battery can be raised or lowered to support riders between 1.55 to 2 m (5 – 6.5 ft)

It’s not the lightest eBike on the market, but the new folding mechanism works well and you can roll around on its two wheels when it crashes down.

Although very subjective, I found the X to be a good looking ride and I certainly wasn’t alone here.  ebike proved to be quite a talking point when out and about, and something upside down (I don’t think people are seeing me bored).

Fiido X is now available through the company’s online store and is an easy recommendation for last mile trips.  Its price is in US dollars with real-time currency conversion for EU buyers and beyond.  The list price of EU or US models is US $ 1,799, although the company is currently campaigning for a reduction of $ 200.  This makes this folding eBike cheaper than GoCycle or Helix but more expensive than the RadExpand 5 Rad Power Bikes.

 Sources : Fiido