My First Gravel eBike! Fiido C21 Review

[@jlp-mtb1391]

I’m in the US and I got this bike about 6 weeks ago with the pre order discount and it’s been great. Smooth and quiet. I’m mostly on PAS 1 or 2 and usually off when on flat gravel roads and down hills. I like to pedal and workout a little bit that’s why I got this bike without a throttle. I just need a little power for the climbs, PAS2 is all I need for hills 5-12%. I can get around 40+ miles, but if you use PAS5 100% of the time, you’ll only get 10-15 miles with a lot of climbs. Also, this bike actually rides really good without power. I own 10 e-bikes and this is in my top 3 for no throttle bikes. Definitely worth the pre order price of $1299, especially with torque sensor. You can also unlock the speed by pressing the down arrow from the limited 15mph to 20mph.

[@Techtablets]

Yes it rides really well without any power, very fast I've found. I think the idea is the battery and motor is really for only the climbs. Thanks for the tip on the speed unlock!

[@krollpeter]

That's what for me an e-bike should be about, just assisting on some steep sloops or longer climbs. The purpose is staying healthier.

[@frankamona5771]

Im new to ebike.. whats your other 2 ebikes in your top 3 list

[@francescodifonzo9213]

Hi 😊 what's the max speed after you unlock the speed?

[@biggusdickus5986]

I need a throttle having a hip replacement, and being advised not to use it too much or too strenuously, the high assist and thumb throttle on the Fiido C11 city bike l have is a boon to people with limited mobility.

[@iulian2548]

Hi Chris, E bike sceptic here. I really like you are moving on with ebike reviews and I hope people buy and use them for urban commuting as well. A few geek thoughts, I hope I don't sound like an condescending a**: - The brakes are fine and should be reliable. I seriously doubt the rotor or pads are supposed to be lubed. Normally pouring some water on the caliper speeds up the braking in process. Avoid hard braking until stand still during the braking in process, just brake hard down to 5 kph or so. This way you will get better performance. - The frames looks nice but the contrast between the bottom bracket welds and the other welds is huge. I dig the bottle shaped extra battery. - Going with a 9 speed cassette is a sensible move towards durability - Ltwoo drivetrains are praised among the bike bargain hunters even for high end road group sets.

[@ronggearrob9622]

Hydraulic disc brakes need to be bedded in before riding, not difficult to do and it only takes a couple of minutes. Easiest way is to find a gradual slope (or can be done on flat ground too), get the bike up to a casual cruising speed, apply brakes to SLOW the bike down - Don't come to a complete stop, and then release the brakes and repeat a dozen times should do it. The more reps you do, you should feel the brakes bite better each time.

[@troywalt4834]

Missed opportunity here I think the market wants more of the single speed belt driven electric gravel like the ride1up roadster v2 gravel. Also this is a bit on the expensive side.

[@emercinalcos2716]

Hi Chris. Been watching your channel since I started looking for an ebike a few months now. This one actually looks promising. Fiido has had some issues with frames on their other models. So I wanted to ask what you think of the frame integrity on this one? Other than having a small non-removal battery, this bike seems to be pretty bang on. Seriously considering this as my first starter ebike. Thanks for the time you put into these reviews. 👍

[@Techtablets]

Very good this bike. I really like it, I think the frame is fine for what it's designed for, gravel roads. Now if it was taken offroad or abused maybe not. But I could not fault it and yes Fiido have had a few recalls, the X and the T1 (first model) last thing I want is a cracked frame but I think this is good. Having a non removable battery makes it also stronger.

i've seen this kind of thing before, within three months it'll be "My First Wingsuit Dive", and then game over.

[@Techtablets]

Haha well no plans to test a wingsuit out :D

[@gkirmathal]

Could the idea behind this small battery have been to only use it on rough and steep terrain and not use it more flatter and smooth road surfaces?? Oh and btw finally a gravel e-bike with torque sensor which is affordable!

[@Techtablets]

Yes, I think it because they maybe only intended it for helping with the climbs and wanted it to look more like a normal bike. Then they have the extra bolt on expanded battery for those that want to do more kms. Yes, great to finally see a gravel ebike with torque sensor.

[@st33ldi9ital]

It's simply small cause motor is small. Not cheap enough to be a cheap bike.

[@gkirmathal]

@@st33ldi9ital good point!

[@SarkarSoren-bn6bf]

@@Techtablets tr6

[@jlp-mtb1391]

The battery can be replaced. It says it on the site, but it does not need to be replaced often. Most batteries can be charged up to 1000 times. If you ride everyday, that’s about 3 years until you need to replace it. It’s just a guess, I would think it will need to be replaced after 5 years or so. I have 3-4 year old ebikes and never had to replace a battery yet. So far so good.

[@Compostela911]

Hi Crhis! Is this the M or L size? Im 182 cm tall and 73 kg and Im not sure if the M will do the job for me (I usally preffer smaller than bigger). What do you suggest @techtablets. Thanks!!

[@cmalvesgomes]

Hi, I'm 180 cm tall and on the same boat. Which size did you end up getting?

[@patrick1978maas]

What i notice with most of the bikes is that they all drain the battery because of the way the software works. It is to bad that there is no way to tune the powerstages of the bikes in the way you can make a real eco mode. I tuned my Himiway Cobra this way and in Power setting 1 i can drive the 38 kg monster over diverse offroad terrain for +/- 130 km. Most of the bikes just are way to powerfull in setting 1.

[@Techtablets]

That's very true unless they are using s torque sensor and then it's not full power straight off the bat.

[@patrick1978maas]

@@Techtablets Jep, but also the torquesensor bikes could use a tuning mode. 9 of 10 uses way to much power. And that's to bad for the range of the bike and Eco riders.

[@MrTechcat]

Even the smallest Fiido D3 has +30% bigger battery and is rated for only under 60km.. like real 30km. There is no surprise C21 does not have any range at all.

[@Techtablets]

The larger wheels help, but only a 5.8Ah / 208Wh battery is really small. Should be double this!

[@alphalunamare]

5:50 Where I live we share the pathe with folk and their dogs. Sounding the claxon would be quite inappropriate. The Bell is polite. If one needs a claxon then one is not riding in accordance with ones environment. Either that or one is a dip. Bells' like Whiskey, is better for contentment amongst society.

[@mmjj63]

Hello Chris, If you have to choose between this one and the ADO DECE 300? Which one and why? Thanks, I find really good your videos!

[@iamyourfather3643]

Ado dece since you can remove the battery.

[@nailil5722]

some reviews of Europeans brands like Kalkhoff or Bianchi would be cool

[@mizoalmasri3022]

I like the design, it looks light. it could be lighter. there are carbon fiber bicycles that weighs 2 to 3 kilos. I'm waiting to see someone who can create an e-bike with 10 kilos

[@Techtablets]

Wouldn't be cheap using light components and carbon fiber frame.

[@mizoalmasri3022]

@@Techtablets They are extremely expensive and they are not electric.. but the idea its self is intriguing, and the battery plus engine weigh around 8 kg together. it is possible to have a 11 kg powerful e-bike.. It would just be too expensive, but totally possible

[@mizoalmasri3022]

They actually exist:) with a tearing 9000 euro you get a 250 watt engine 10kg e bike.. but 250 is just not enough to justify. so whatever. back to powerful heavy bikes

[@19eightytw0]

How does it manage the hills? Thank you!

[@marcin_karwinski]

Two fatal flows in the design... 1) low tier rear dérailleur without any chain tensioning clutch system (a few bucks more could net them a clutch design, with more range in the casette and bigger largest cog for muscle powered uphill climbs), 2) battery is non-removable so no charging out of the bike...

[@Techtablets]

Non removable battery is a shame, a chain tensioner can't really be added as there is no mount point for one.

[@marcin_karwinski]

@TechTablets that's why they should have used at least one tier-up dérailleur... a 46+ tooth rear cog and a clutch dérailleur would have made far better an option... though the battery issue would still persist. Maybe they'll decide to go an extra mile and do a revision fixing these issues in the future instead of adding remote/proximity start-up functionality through their smartwatch and more of similar connected ecosystem options.

[@Techtablets]

Tooth rear cog and a clutch dérailleur would push up the price but would be nice. Let's hope they do revise this model.

[@marcin_karwinski]

@TechTablets true, they would, but not that much... L-Twoo, whose dérailleurs they're using, has about $5 or $10 pricier units than the one used here offering these features. And that's at retail. Once we're at mass contract B2B arrangements, the difference in prices would be even less... and at $1500 or more on the finished product, even a $15 difference for higher tier units used means a 1% price increase or just 1% less for the manufacturer on the finished product, or in a half-half solution with negligible impact on both sides of the table... if we were talking of a $200 bike, then this price hike coming from a higher tier component would be substantial enough to warrant fears of losing customers to competitors, but at the prices the e-bikes are coming to market the price hike on this component or overall profit margin would hide the difference between lower tier and higher one in the grand scheme... unless, of course, you're the every penny in the profit margin counts mentality manufacturer where possibly you got extra offer on those lower tier components to move them for next to nothing whilst charging premium for offering a dérailleur anyway over a fixie arrangement...

[@Karadal]

Nice review and views

[@Techtablets]

Thank you 😃

[@Infinitas-vj4sz]

Good day, I received my Fiido C21 Pro today, unboxing and assembly was completed with the help of the Fiido video. the fenders were a little trickly and fiddly. Just 2 questions. 1. can you tell me if there is a way to check my C21 frame is medium or large, it feels large as I can only just stand up straddling the crossbar, the order stated clearly M. 2. When using the cycle for the first time I was expecting to see assist levels 0,1,2,3,4,5. But see eco, normal, sport, turbo, turbo+ and rocket modes, has this replaced the assist modes that I saw when looking at various videos on youtube including yours which was one reason why I chose this e-bike.

[@Techtablets]

Hi, okay the best way is to measure teh frame and compare it to their website. As for the renaming of the assist modes that's a bit silly I guess they have used a new screen?

[@Infinitas-vj4sz]

@@Techtablets Many thanks, have measured the frame and it is medium, measurements confirmed by Fiido and they confirmed the assists are now as I stated and not numbered 0-5. Do you still use cycle, I wondered how it has lasted and if you have updated the C21 in that time. Thanks again.

[@daztastic147]

Doesn’t the button unit on the left with the up/down arrows adjust the assist levels, it seems an unlikely design feature to have to take your hand off the grip and move it to the stem area to change levels. Obviously that unit does it as you’ve shown but surely the thumb buttons on the left do the levels?

[@alphalunamare]

10:00 I live where The 2nd Augustan Legion used to live .... as for the battery, horses for courses. If I was Your weight on that Island, I would have a chaufer. :-) Why didn't you hit the top of that mountain? Get the battery backup and try it? That would be awesome! :--) x

[@kenbee1957]

They sacrificed range for lightness and discreetness I think if you're looking for this sort of stealthy eBike, the trade-off is worth it You didn't mention the price at all? Or did I miss it somehow?

[@asan1050]

TechTablets!..Thanks Much !.......

[@Techtablets]

thanks.

[@HDRPC]

First viewer from India

[@Techtablets]

🙌

[@HDRPC]

@@Techtablets 🙌

[@gemikaeh5811]

Which size frame have you got?

[@Chris_PerthWA]

best bike

[@Techtablets]

It’s not bad for the price and what’s on offer just wow the range was a bit better!

[@Chris_PerthWA]

@@Techtablets Range is fine and it is so light that I don't need the motor

[@mr.humble8111]

Hi, what if you need to replace the battery

[@kasimmisak]

Yes. That’s what I came to ask. Anyone know?

[@N0N0111]

@@kasimmisak Yes, I know. I have been investigating on this bike. I have seen over 5 review video's and I can tell you the inner battery is removable. On the bottom or below the power button there is a plastic cover with screws, you can open this to wire the battery extender. To remove the inner battery you have to unscrew 2 screws on the outside of the tube and slide out the battery. Yes not easy but it is possible.

[@kostasathens2346]

Is throttle included ir not? Which are the specs of battery? Volt + Amp ?

[@Techtablets]

Depends on the region if it’s included or not

[@hkchew03]

It's Lt-woo R5, many pronounce it as L-too.

[@Techtablets]

Okay well not a great name...

[@Uruglot]

Thats Not Bad!

[@Techtablets]

Very good bike expect the range is a bit short.

[@akyerit]

Bad range and low power, almost seems to defeat the purpose of a gravel ebike. Might as well just get a great, regular gravel bike. There is a LOT to be said about not having range anxiety. This bike would constantly give you that. Even with that tiny extra battery "range extender". People that don't own/ride ebikes especially, don't get it, until they do. And then suddenly realize that they can only do so much, due to the limitations of their expensive ebike. And for what? To help you get up that one hill?? lol. I own both, and when I dont want to be limited by my transportation, I ride my regular old pedal bike. As odd as that is to say, at the end of the day, it's true. The real secret to proper electric transportation, that you can actually treat and rely on as transportation, is a big battery unfortunately. And again, unfortunately, that requires weight. Sure you can spend alot of money to get these little cute grocery getters and what have you, but if you need any sort of REAL transportation, unfortunately until someone invents a better power solution, (like an Elon Musk lol) the only choice is more battery power. Realistically you need to get up in the 20ah or more department for a proper, non range-anxiety inducing ride. And none of that is lightweight. 30ah is a sweet spot

[@Epiclight-2743]

Doesnt look like an e-bike I like that about it

[@Techtablets]

Yes looks quite a bit like a normal bike.

[@fadenmsrl9238]

.8Ah battery, no thank you fiddo.

[@mehmetaligencturk8151]

Where can you buy that extra battery?

[@Techtablets]

From Fiido but I don't see it listed on the website yet.

[@emirhg252]

All good until you mention the range!

[@krollpeter]

That's a serious negative, in especially as you can't remove the battery and charge it in between somewhere.

[@PedroDiogoPinto]

My experience with this bike is awful… noises, battery extender is a joke, cheap components, wheels are bad… and mine came with cracks in the front fork (that Fiido offered to replace)

[@CalvinMinster]

Battery dead and not even 6 months old :(

[@kalsangtashi3040]

👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍

[@Techtablets]

Thanks for watching.