We had a chance to review and test Fiido D11. This electric bike is attractive in many ways: it is compact and can be folded smartly. But, for about 1000 euros, what should we expect in terms of finish and performance? Here are some answers and our assessment.
Table of Contents
Fiido D11 At a Glance – final test score: 7/10
What we liked
- Original and compact design
- Autonomy
- Handling
What we did not like
- No mudguards
- The acceleration handle, which is a bit messy
- Some finishings (cables, welds…) could be done cleaner
Fiido D11: Full Review
The electric bike could be the future of transportation. You may feel threatened by the growing popularity of electric bikes, as if standard bikes will suddenly disappear. Rest assured: electric bikes will not make traditional bikes obsolete.
Nevertheless, the market is full of trendy two-wheelers of all shapes and sizes. Here, the Fiido D11 is a segment in its own right. The feature of compact folding electric bicycles that’s what it’s all about.
If you hang out on e-commerce sites, the Fiido brand should be familiar to you. It is an Asian brand that designs very compact bikes that can fold.
We had the opportunity to test the Fiido D11. It is one of the latest representatives of Fiido that was specially designed to be their first bike for the European market.
Fiido D11 Datasheet
| E-bike Model | Fiido D11 |
| Motor | 250 W nominal power rear hub motor |
| Electric Assist Levels | 3 |
| Maximum speed | 25 km/h |
| Range with pedal assistance | 80-100 km |
| Autonomy with throttle | 40-50 km |
| Battery | 418 Wh |
| Weight | 17,5 kg with battery |
| Maximum load | 120 kg |
| Frame | Aluminum |
| Wheels | 20 inches |
| Brakes | mechanical disc brakes |
| Display | LED display with speedometer, battery gauge, and trip meter |
| Extras | LED headlight, seat post mounted taillight, fender mounting points, and sturdy kickstand |
Extremely Foldable and Compact
It’s true that, at first sight, this Fiido D11 reminds me of my old mechanical bike. The lever in the center of the frame is there, allowing a folding in two. The folding is done in 30 seconds, it’s convenient, and the whole thing seems solid.
The first time, you will notice that the central spring is resistant: you must put a little force to fold it. We are talking about a compact bike because the Fiido D11 has a smaller wheel diameter (20 inches) than a conventional bike. You can also lower the stem and turn the handlebars.
Let’s remember that Fiido e-bikes are nothing new in this respect. There are compact electric bikes, the best-seller in this category being the Sahel Compact from the German brand Kalkhoff (sold at twice the price of the Fiido D11).
In short, this compact bike is for those who want to avoid bothering with a bike rack or those who live in small apartments. It’s also a practical bike for train travel: it could easily fit in the luggage compartment.
The D11 weighs 18 kilograms (40 pounds) with its battery: it is relatively heavy but less heavy than the classic electric bikes that usually exceed 20 kilos (44 pounds), and the battery is removable.
Read also: How to select the best folding e-bike? – in this article. And, How much does a good foldable e-bike cost? – in this article.
That is important because you can recharge the battery without carrying the bike around. The system is ingenious, with a battery built into the seat post. If you pick up the battery to charge it, you also pick up the saddle, so it’s safe. Finally, strangely enough, the pedals don’t fold, but that doesn’t hinder the storage.
A Moped or an E-bike?
It is the question that is annoying concerning this e-bike. We often speak about an e-bike as an electrically assisted bicycle. Here, the motor is supposed to come into action only to complete the cyclist’s movement. Is this D11 an electric bike? Not really.
The model is a throttle-powered moped or motorcycle. In short, a two-wheeled vehicle powered by a motor can be activated without pedaling.
That is one of the three modes of the D11, which we call the “scooter” mode (throttle-only mode), which is activated with the right handle, like with a moped or a scooter.
As soon as you press it, the 250 W motor integrated into the rear wheel starts to work, and it pulsates. So it’s perfect for starting at red lights on city streets.
The e-bike accelerates quickly to about 20 km/h (12.5 mph), then gains a bit of speed to reach a maximum speed of 25 km/h (15.5 mph), the top speed allowed by the law for electric bikes in Europe.
Read also: What is the difference between a regular e-bike and a speed e-bike? – in this article. And, is it legal to derestrict electric bicycle speed? – in this article.
Is it legal? Yes, but not for an electric bike. You will need a document indicating your age, proof of registration, and vehicle insurance. Moreover, the use of this vehicle on the road requires the wearing of a helmet and gloves.
The throttle is not essential to Fiido D11‘s e-bike operation. You can disconnect it to comply with local legislation.
A Good Compact Electric Bike
The D11 is also an e-bike with several assistance modes, as we know them on other electric bikes. The 250 W motor accompanies your pedaling to help you climb hills and give you some momentum in a straight line.
It reacts very well in climbs, even the most difficult we could take. However, the assistance is erratic. The torque increases in a non-constant way, but you will find yourself in any case at the top speed of the bike, fixed around 25 km/h (15.5 mph).
On the left are an LED display showing the speed and the selected assistance mode. You can also turn on the LED headlights with a physical button. It’s a primary display but difficult to read in sunlight.
The Fiido D11 is not a connected bike: unlike others, you won’t be able to connect it to your smartphone. As such, there is no remote security function with an automatic wheel lock or GPS-based geolocation system. These functions can be found on the e-bikes of other brands, such as Cowboy, VanMoof, and Angell, for example.
The frame and the design of the e-bike are perfect. I had many compliments about it, especially this blue-green color that I like a lot and this frame shape that gives a clear identity to this product.
The disadvantage of this design is the difficulty of attaching an anti-theft lock. Finally, the welds of the frame are rough and visible.
Read also: How to protect your e-bike from theft? – in this article. Does it make sense to buy specialized e-bike insurance? – in this article.
The cassette (the set of sprockets on your rear wheel) has 7 speeds associated with a Shimano derailleur and a 52-tooth chainring. That means that the D11 performs like a good bike – admittedly compact with 20″ wheels – as a classic bike.
The same goes for the disc brakes (with cable): they are efficient, and Fiido has chosen suitable components with an almost flawless design.
If its finishing may seem impeccable, except for a few details, we didn’t like the installation and the multiplication of external cables between the handlebar and the frame. You will need to disconnect one of these cables to disable the throttle. Fiido could have integrated these cables into the stem.
Finally, let’s finish with the autonomy and the charge, two strong points of this Fiido D11. First, autonomy is essential, between 20 kilometers or 12.5 miles (in scooter mode) and over 80 kilometers or 50 miles (in eco assistance mode).
On daily 10-kilometer (6-mile) trips, the decrease in autonomy (only visible via the three battery bars on the small LCD screen) was not even visible. After two round trips of more than 45 kilometers (28 miles), we reached the last charge bar, yet we used the throttle extensively during these trips.
Read also: Here is why e-bikes are really cool – in this article. And, How to select the best city e-bike? – in this article.
The charge is done via a connector placed on the front of the seat post. The charger is tiny, the equivalent of a standard laptop charger. You can charge the bike with the battery (36 V/11,6 Ah) on or off the bike. It’s convenient, count about 4 hours for a full charge.
FIIDO D11 Availability and Price
The Fiido D11 is available from online stores and from the Fiido website. The recommended retail price is around 1,100 dollars or euros.
This e-bike-moped is cleverly designed, friendly, and easy to handle. The compactness and the integration of the battery are all strong points that make the D11 one of the best in its category.
Read also: Is Fiido a good e-bike brand to buy? Brand and models review.
