Fiido D11 test: Foldable e-bike with a modern look

Do high-performance e-bikes have to be expensive? Fiido regularly proves that this doesn’t always have to be the case. In recent years, the manufacturer has made a name for itself when it comes to great e-bikes for a low price. In the Fiido D11 test, we were able to take a seat in the saddle of a new Fiido bike, which, with its foldable design, should be of particular interest to frequent vacationers and commuters.

Technical data

Fiido D11 test: scope of delivery and unpacking

The Fiido D11 can be easily assembled on your own. This is not least due to the fact that the folding e-bike is quite lightweight. This means you can quickly lift it out of the packaging. Of course, Fiido also takes advantage of the foldable design during transportation and delivers the bike in a folded state. The rest of the assembly is also really simple.

The manufacturer has equipped the bike with sufficient protective padding to prevent damage during transportation. You should remove this padding first. The next step is to fit the pedals. Now all you have to do is insert the seat post with integrated battery into the frame.

Then unfold the folding bike, oil the chain again and check the air pressure of the tires. And then you can actually get started. In the end, it took us about a quarter of an hour to fully assemble the e-bike.

Fiido D11 test: design and workmanship

Once we had assembled the Fiido D11, we were finally able to take a first look at the foldable e-bike. And the first impression is right. This is primarily due to the minimalist design. In terms of design, Fiido stands out a little from the Fiido D4S e-bike we have already tested (Review | € 633.99 *). The frame shape reminds me much more of the SachsenRAD F12 (Review | € 1,699.00 *).

Fiido relies on an aluminum frame, which in the case of our test bike is in chic grey. The manufacturer deviates from aluminum for the front wheel. Instead, the front fork is made of a high-quality magnesium alloy, which makes an excellent impression and further emphasizes the slim design of the e-bike. In general, the build quality is impressive. The only thing to complain about is the rather thick weld seams.

It is above all the slim design of the Fiido D11 that gives the e-bike its modern look. But how does Fiido manage to build such a slim folding bike despite the e-bike technology? Well, unlike a Fiido C11 Pro (Review | € 1,099.00 *), for example, the manufacturer does not place the battery in the frame itself, but in the seat post without further ado. The rest of the equipment also looks well thought out.

Elements such as the stand or light don’t look like foreign objects, but fit naturally into the rounded overall picture of the Fiido C11 Pro. What I don’t like so much, however, are the visible cables. More expensive e-bikes such as the Urtopia Carbon One (Review | € 2,699.00 *) prove that this can be done differently. If Fiido were to make some improvements here, there would hardly be anything to complain about in terms of design.

Fiido D11 test: Uncomplicated operation

The Fiido D11 has a small display so that you can keep an eye on the most important parameters while riding. This is located on the left handle. Here you can read the speed, speed level and battery status, for example. For my taste, the battery level display is simply too imprecise.

You don’t get a percentage here, just a battery symbol with a total of five bars. Each bar corresponds to 20%, which means, for example, that you will see the same symbol at 100% charge level as at 81% charge level.

In addition to the display, you are of course also offered the standard equipment. This includes the two brake levers and the gearshift. Unfortunately, we didn’t like the latter very much. Shifting didn’t feel crisp at all, but rather a little sluggish. However, you have to bear in mind the price range we are in here.

Fiido D11 test: Comfortable folding

Of course, folding is also essential for a folding bike with an electric motor and battery. After all, folding bikes are not only of interest to people who want to store their bike in their home, cellar or trunk to save as much space as possible. Commuters who rely on a combination of public transport and bicycle are also increasingly opting for folding bikes. After all, their small form factor means that there are generally no additional costs.

However, in order to be able to switch from folding mode to riding mode as stress-free as possible, the mechanism should also function reliably and, above all, quickly. Fiido is literally not reinventing the wheel here. Rather, the folding process is reminiscent of other folding bikes. All you have to do is first fold the seat post down using a lever, then fold the handlebars using the quick-release fastener and then fold the frame in the middle.

Folding is quick and easy, but the end result leaves me with two questions: Why can’t you fold the pedals of the Fiido D11? And why doesn’t the manufacturer install magnets or other holding mechanisms that would ultimately make the frame much more stable. For me, there is really only one explanation here. You have to remember that the D11 is a low-budget folding bike.

And with this fact in mind, the folding mechanism with final dimensions of 87 × 50 × 74 cm is really solid. The D11 can therefore definitely be said to be suitable for commuting, although a little more would certainly have been possible with folding pedals. With the battery installed, the Fiido D11 weighs a total of 19.5 kg. That’s not super light, but still a solid weight for a folding bike with an electric motor. Incidentally, the maximum weight of the rider or the payload is 120 kg. This means it is not only suitable for lightweights.

Fiido D11 test: Track test

While the Fiido D11 is quite open in terms of body weight, the restriction on height is more noticeable. As the saddle reaches a maximum height of 115 cm and the handlebars cannot be adjusted to a height of 100 cm, people taller than 1.80 m should rather not take a seat here.

For everyone else, however, the folding e-bike provides a really fun and comfortable ride. Even on uneven roads. Although you won’t find any suspension here, the 20-inch tires do a pretty good job. As the Fiido D11 looks more like a short-distance bike than a touring bike at first glance, you can overlook the lack of suspension and the somewhat hard saddle. During the ride, we noticed the really well-tuned transmission ratio of the 7-speed gearbox.

The 250 watt motor flexes its muscles on the highest of the three support levels and accelerates up to 25 km/h. The D11 comes with a reliable torque sensor. This ensures that the motor supports you depending on the torque. This makes for a very natural riding experience and sometimes makes you think that you alone are responsible for the acceleration.

The brakes also do a good job. Fiido has fitted the folding bike with mechanical disc brakes at both the front and rear, which bring the D11 to a standstill quickly and reliably. The lights provide even more safety. Both the front and rear lights are impressively bright. The rear light also acts as a brake light when braking and lights up even brighter when braking. Another cool feature!

Fiido D11 test: Range

The 417.6 Wh battery in the seat post does not set any range records, but Fiido advertises a range of 80 to 100 km with active support. As with electric cars, these figures are always a little high for e-bikes. After all, these are figures that can only be achieved under optimum conditions. In reality, experience has shown that things look different.

If we extrapolate our observations, the Fiido D11 has a range of just under 50 km with active support. Although this is well below the factory specification, it is still a great value for a folding bike. If the battery is empty, it can be easily removed from the seat post and charged at home. A full charge takes just under 6 hours.

Conclusion

With the Fiido D11, the manufacturer delivers a solid, foldable e-bike at an attractive price, which is particularly interesting for commuters and occasional riders. The slim design, the comparatively low weight and the quick folding mechanism make it a practical companion for city rides and vacation trips. The motor works harmoniously with the torque sensor and ensures a natural riding experience.

Of course, there are drawbacks – the gears could be crisper, retractable pedals are missing and the range is less than stated by the manufacturer. We would also have liked slightly better cable management. The D11 is also less suitable for taller riders over 1.80 m due to the low maximum height of the saddle and the non-adjustable handlebars. Nevertheless, Fiido offers a convincing overall package that shows that a functional folding e-bike doesn’t have to be expensive.

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