The Fiido X Folding Ebike Returns Stronger But Still Stylish And Fun

This review is for the 350-Watt U.S. spec version of the Fiido X.

The Fiido X features a folding frame and was surprisingly roomy.

The Fiido X folding ebike had a tough birth. After garnering a fair bit of attention earlier this year for its from-the-future magnesium frame design, we reviewers were suddenly told to stop riding our review bikes after several hinge failures were reported (I personally had no such issues despite a fair number of miles ridden). But Fiido did the right thing and pulled the plug on production despite a low number of failures. I was told new bikes would sent out when the issue was resolved and production was restarted. It was a huge setback for Fiido, which had gotten a lot of attention - and funding - on Indiegogo during the X's run-up to launch.

The updated Fiido X (Version 1.1, as it were) arrived in the fall, and thankfully, it did not require a major redesign. In fact, the original and "fixed" new bikes are essentially visually and mechanically identical aside from a redesign of the primary folding hinge and some frame fasteners. The small LCD display on the left bar also got a minor update but still sticks to the basics.

The magnesium frame is the real highlight, but the seatpost battery idea is a good one as well.

The look of the $1,799 Fiido X first drew me in, and wherever I rode the bike, it had no problem drawing a crowd and a lot of questions, so I was happy to see the overall look of the bike was essentially unchanged. But more than that, what surprised me about the original Fiido X (and the updated version) was how unexpectedly fun it was to ride.

This area around the frame clasp required strengthening. So far, no problems have been reported. The ... [+] Fiido X's tolerances seem very tight and the frame is very stiff.

As a Class I bike (pedal assist only to about 20mph) with no throttle, it's no speed demon, but I didn't care as the light weight, friendly geometry and unexpectedly good road manners had me choosing the Fiido over some other bikes I had in for review. Other people that I let ride the X had initial skepticism but after a short time came back with a big smile and that quizzical "what did I just experience" expression - and again, a lot of questions.

Some answers: As noted, the Fiido X is a Class I ebike, so you have to pedal to trigger the assist systems, which has three levels and a "zero assist" level as well that keeps the bright built-in LED headlight, taillight and the bike's tech on. Top assist speed is 19-ish mph for U.S. spec bikes, and the rear hub motor uses a torque sensor to fine-tune how much love it will give while pedaling.

The built-in LED headlight is bright and runs off the main battery.

A Shimano 7-speed rear gear set helps out on hills and the Fiido X features full hydraulic disc brakes instead of cable-operated brakes. Fiido's battery design and placement on the X is clever as it's in the form of the seat post, making removal easy and negating the need to put a big battery on a rack, inside the frame or on a carrier of some sort, which would sully the frame's starring role in the aesthetics. And it is a big 36 Volt, 417.6Wh battery, with a claimed 62 miles of range. I never came close to running it out despite running the motor at Level 3 (maximum) most of the time. My review bike also came with black plastic fenders that required simple installation and they effectively knocked down tire spray and tightly hug the wheels.

My 5 foot 11 teen fits just fine on the Fiido, as does my 5-3 partner. Seat height adjustment is ... [+] easy.

The look of the Fiido X is sleek and sophisticated, and it has a bit of a sci-fi vibe to it; if someone used this bike as a prop for a movie set in 2050, you’d think "that's a cool futuristic bike." And it is. The teal magnesium frame curls, kinks and plunges from the central spar, and the wing-like seatpost/battery give the look some heft. It weighs in at 42 pounds (as tested), which is on the lighter side of many folding bikes it competes with. Folding it up is fairly simple, and includes releasing the frame lock, folding down the handlebar stem, folding up the pedals and either dropping or removing the seat post/battery, depending on your space needs.

Folded, the Fiido X can slip into a trunk, hatchback or under a desk. Remove the seat and battery to ... [+] make it even smaller.

A strong magnet holds the front wheel to the back axle area when folded and the bike can be rolled or carried. The seat post battery, being an unusual shape, uses a large clamp lever that takes a bit to get familiar with but also makes seat adjustment a breeze. Once I got the hang of it, I could have the Fiido X folded for transport or unfolded and ready to ride in about 30 seconds.

The Fiido X was a fun bike to cruise Portland's many bike lanes and bike byways.

And the ride dynamics from the Fiido X were an unexpected surprise. Like many folding bikes, it has 20-inch wheels wearing 1.95-inch wide tires, but the geometry of the Fiido X adds in a bit more length and rake than many foldies, so it feels more planted and, well, more normal than many small folding bikes. The magnesium frame is also very stiff and the high-rise handlebars, despite being atop a tall stem, don't feel

Basic LCD display keeps it simple. Bike bell is included.

sloppy or overly flexy. For a folding bike, the Fiido X tolerances feel very tight and taught. In fact, I got the Fiido X up to well over 20 mph on some downhils and it tracked straight and true, with no twitch or squirm, and the hydraulic brakes give strong but linear stopping power with good feel. At night, the front LED headlight, which is integrated into the frame similar to a Van Moof's headlight, has decent power and comes on automatically, as does the very bright red rear LED tail light, which does not function as a brake light.

Despite it weighing only 42 pounds, it seems to ride "heavier" than that figure. On hills, the 7-speed Shimano derailleur and the 350-watt motor combine to make ascents easy while sitting, and the big battery packs enough charge for longer rides, which is good news since even for me at 6-foot-1, the Fiido X was an unexpected good fit. I was able to do some longer loops on Portland's extensive bike path and bikeway network in comfort. Assist power comes on smoothly thanks to the torque sensor, and getting the X up to it's 20mph assist maximum speed is no problem in the flat, thanks to the 350-Watt hub motor, large front chainring and seven speeds out back.

The rear keypad unlocks the Fiido S's seat removal lock and electronics. Interesting, but also a bit ... [+] too much. LED tail light is very bright.

There's a bit of unusual tech out back in the form of a keypad-based security system that is located under a flip-up plastic cover below the bright rear LED tail light. The system locks out the electrical functions of the bike if you don't key in an unlock code, and it also locks and unlocks the seatpost battery for removal. It takes a few sessions to get good at the code entry and power-up routine. Additionally, there is a power button on the battery itself just below the seat that has to be activated for the bike to work (oops, forgetting that cost me some frustration). The lockout doesn't lock the wheels, so the X can still be rolled (or pedaled) away with no power at all so the system seems a bit overkill for what it is; a dedicated phone app would seem to be a better solution and word is Fiido is working on one. Otherwise, the keypad thing had good intentions, but if the "locking" system doesn't physically disable a wheel, it's somewhat superfluous. Better to fold up the bike and use a good U-lock to secure it and your peace of mind. I’d also like to see the rear LED work as a brake light and maybe move up higher on the frame.

Beside that bit of tech, the Fiido X is a highly capable, comfortable and innovative ebike. The fact that it folds up is a bonus. Lightweight and compact, it unfolds into a wheelbase and size that is both comfortable and inspires confidence for a larger rider like myself. For those well under six feet tall, a quick seat adjustment was all that was required to accommodate anyone who wanted to take it for a ride, which was a LOT of people.

Everyone who rode the Fiido X came away impressed, even if they weren't sure why. It just had that certain something that made it instantly friendly and unimposing, and the range, comfort and miles of techno style makes it an easy choice to ride at every opportunity.

Highly recommended.

Riding Gear: Bell XR Spherical bike helmet with MIPS