In a market absolutely flooded with 28+ mph speed demons sporting thumb throttles and enough torque to wheelie your grandmother, the Fiido Nomads takes a decidedly different approach, and honestly, I find it a little refreshing. While everyone else is chasing top speeds that’ll get you a ticket (or worse), Fiido said “hold up” and built something that actually makes sense for riders who, you know, still like to pedal.
Capped at 16 mph with zero throttle in sight, the Nomads isn’t trying to replace your motorcycle. Instead, it’s laser-focused on being the ultimate fitness companion for riders who want to go farther and climb harder without completely selling their soul to the e-bike overlords. Think of it as the anti-Sur-Ron: a bike that amplifies your effort rather than replacing it entirely.
But, priced at just $1,299, it’s positioned squarely in that sweet spot where serious riders can actually justify the purchase without remortgaging their house. While other “touring” e-bikes are pushing $3K+ for similar range and features, the Nomads comes in swinging with its triple-battery system that can theoretically push 180 miles of range.
But range numbers are just marketing speak until you actually throw a leg over and start grinding out miles. So how does this pedal-first philosophy actually translate to real-world performance? Let’s dig into what makes the Nomads tick, and more importantly, whether it lives up to the hype when the rubber meets the dirt.
My Experience Riding The Fiido Nomads E-Bike
I enjoyed the bike, and this is coming from a self-admitted snobby cyclist who spends his weekends in lycra clad gear obsessing over watts and cadence. Why? Well not because of its ‘ebike’ designation, but rather because as a cyclist who genuinely enjoys the work associated with getting from point a to point b, there are times when I want to go further without feeling like I need an IV drip or a full afternoon recovering on the couch, or showing up so sweaty at my destination I look out of place at work, events, or wherever I’m headed.
The color I was sent was matte white and at first glance, it doesn’t scream ebike in terms of curb appeal. Instead it just looks like a bike with sleek lines and an appearance that hints at a lighter ride than most of the bloated ebikes we see on the bike paths, and that can be a good thing if you’re concerned about bike theft. The bike rides silent, or at least so quiet that I couldn’t pick up on any noises.
The frame’s geometry is a bit aggressive where you can lean into the handlebars in more of a MTB style ride, but with the adjustable stem, you can move that up and in turn make the ride a bit more upright and relaxed. It’s never going to be a cruiser upright and relaxed, more of a hybrid position which fits the theme of this bike well.
Having no throttle was a refreshing change and the pedal assistance is buttery smooth and a very natural feeling, which I’ve come to appreciate and now expect from the brand MIVICE who supplied the torque sensor on the Nomads. I love riding bikes and I don’t want to rely on throttles and punchy moped power. Instead with the Nomads, I get most of the ‘work’ associated with the bike ride itself but have the ability to toss in some assistance here and there to stretch that ride further or show up looking fresh. It gives me all the benefits of both worlds. This is a bike you can ride with the motor off as easy as you can ride up a hill with the assistance on. Who said you can’t have your cake and eat it too?
That said, the bike is limited to 15.5 mph and although it did bump up to the mid 16’s before backing back down, if I’m being honest, it was a bit slower than I’d like. If I jump on my analog city bike at home I commute with, just a few solid pushes of the cranks on flat ground with minimal upkeep lets me cruise at 18-20 mph and that seems like a much more reasonable max speed for me.
In other words, a future over-the-air update to bump the speeds of US-based Nomads would be a very solid upgrade for most of us in the US where 15-16 just feels a bit slower than I’d like once I’m up and spinning in a groove. On the other hand, the bike is light enough you can make up the difference, but you will feel that power drop off and all of the sudden pushing past that 16mph limit starts to feel more daunting than it should.
Range
Estimated Range (from Fiido): Up to 43.9 miles
Real World Range Test Results:
- Minimum Assistance: 61 miles
- Maximum Assistance: 32 miles
In terms of Range, Fiido claims up to 43.9 miles, and while that’s oddly specific, it honestly felt a bit conservative when I first saw it. But after putting this thing through its paces, I can tell you the real story.
In real world testing, I managed 61 miles on minimum assistance and 32 miles when cranking it up to maximum help. So Fiido was actually being pretty modest with their numbers, which is refreshing in a world of wildly optimistic range claims.
I’m pretty convinced this impressive efficiency comes down to that MIVICE torque sensor. It’s not one of those aggressive systems that dumps power the second you touch the pedals. Instead, it reads your effort and delivers just enough assistance to keep things smooth and natural. No wasted watts, no sudden power surges, just really intelligent power delivery that makes every watt count.
I walked away from thinking if you go for the triple battery setup, and honestly why wouldn’t you for serious touring, we’re talking about a theoretical 180 miles without needing to find a plug. That’s not just e-bike range anymore, that’s proper touring territory. You could ride from one city to the next without even thinking about charging stops. That’s the kind of freedom that changes how you think about bike touring entirely.
Power (Motor & Battery)
The Nomads packs a 250W motor putting out 45Nm of torque, which might not sound earth-shattering on paper, but it’s perfectly tuned for what this bike is meant to do. There’s no throttle here, just pure pedal assist that you can dial between 3 or 5 modes depending on what you set up in the Fiido app. The official top speed is 15.5 mph, though I’ve noticed the speedo likes to flirt with 16mph before the system gently pulls it back down as a correction.
What really makes this motor shine is that MIVICE torque sensor. It’s incredibly smooth and subtle, almost to the point where you forget it’s there. The assistance feels so natural that you genuinely think you’ve just discovered some hidden reserve of endurance you never knew you had. It’s not giving you massive bursts of power, just this gentle, consistent push that somehow carries you way further than you’d expect, which explains those impressive range numbers I was getting.
The battery setup is where things get really practical for touring. You’re looking at a 36V, 11.6Ah unit that puts out 417.9Wh of juice. The whole thing is removable, which means you can take it inside for charging or just peace of mind when you’re parked somewhere sketchy. At only 6.5 pounds, it’s not going to break your back hauling it around either.
Here’s the clever bit though. This bike is designed to work with a battery cage accessory that mounts to the rear rack. Want to carry one or two spare batteries for that epic 180-mile adventure? You’re only adding about 13 extra pounds to your setup. When you consider that some people carry more than that in camping gear alone, suddenly that massive range extension doesn’t seem like such a big trade-off.
Components
The drivetrain is handled by a Shimano 9-speed setup, which gives you plenty of range to find the right gear whether you’re grinding up hills or cruising on the flats. Nothing fancy here, just reliable shifting that works when you need it to.
For stopping power, you get TEKTRO HD-M275 hydraulic disc brakes front and rear. They’re solid, predictable, and give you the kind of confidence you want when you’re loaded down with gear or coming down a long descent.
The cockpit keeps things simple with a 1.47-inch LCD color display that shows you the essentials without being cluttered. There’s a walk assist button for those moments when you need to push the bike up something particularly steep or navigate tight spaces.
Up front, there’s a basic suspension fork to take the edge off bumps and keep you comfortable on longer rides. It’s not going to turn this into a mountain bike, but it does its job for mixed terrain touring.
The wheels are where this bike shows its touring credentials with large 29×2.1 inch tires. These big hoops roll over obstacles easily and give you the traction and comfort you need whether you’re on pavement, gravel, or those inevitable sections of questionable road surface that seem to pop up on every good adventure.
The frame itself is aluminum alloy construction, keeping weight reasonable while still being tough enough to handle a full load and the rigors of extended touring.
Screen / User Interface / App
The display is full color and easy to use with lots of data screens to scroll through, plus there’s a companion app in the Fiido app. The display is mounted in a unique stem-integrated manner that while it does look great, it might be a bit of a headache sourcing replacement parts years down the road if ever needed, though it may never be an issue.
The main screen on the display has all the basics like speed, odometer, real time power usage, battery level, PAS level being used and cadence as well as time of day. Tapping the ‘M’ button on the display control pad cycles through a few more data screens that have metrics like max and average speed, time and distance of ride, cadence and power averages and more.
Advanced settings can be accessed by long pressing the ‘M’ button and that allows for tweaking some extra settings like units switching from mph to kmh, screen brightness, wheel diameter, serial numbers, and hardware and firmware versions of components.
The companion app is limited in what it does for the bike itself, but you can track and record rides via GPS and share those results on the Fiido social side of the app that lets you share your ride metrics, routes and images you took on the ride with other Fiido owners. You can also follow other users and get followed back if you want.
The best part of the Fiido app in my opinion is the ability to facilitate over the air updates with real time fixes from the brand as they roll them out. That’s a much better alternative than bikes that don’t ship with apps, leaving consumers to figure out the updates themselves or dropping the bike off at a local bike store and leaving it to them to figure out how to do it.
Fiido Nomads Model Options
Fiido keeps things refreshingly straightforward with the Nomads lineup. You get one color option, a nice matte off-white that looks clean without being too flashy for serious touring work.
Frame sizing comes in two options that cover most riders. The small frame fits folks from 5’5″ to 6’3″, while the large handles the taller crowd from 5’9″ to 6’9″. There’s some overlap there, so if you fall in that middle zone you’ve got choices based on your riding preference.
The real decision comes down to range. You can go with the standard setup, or for an extra $600, step up to the extended range package. That upgrade gets you two additional batteries for a total of three, plus the battery cage mounting system for your rear rack. They even throw in weatherproof and insulated cases to keep those extra batteries safe and temperature-stable, and everything is designed to fit perfectly into the cage system.
When you’re talking about potentially tripling your range for six hundred bucks, that extended range option starts looking pretty compelling, especially if you’re serious about using this thing for actual touring adventures.
Is The Fiido Nomads Worth Buying?
The Fiido Nomads delivered where it counts. The range is genuinely impressive, that MIVICE torque sensor makes every ride feel effortless, and the whole package just works without drama. It’s quiet, comfortable, and built for the long haul with quality components that won’t leave you stranded somewhere inconvenient.
My only real gripe is the 15.5 mph speed limit. I’d love to see this thing opened up to 20 mph, but that’s more about my personal preference than any real flaw with the bike. The current speed is perfectly legal and probably safer for most riders anyway.
Either way, this is a really well-executed touring bike that’s easy to live with day after day. At $1299 for the standard model, it feels like solid value for what you’re getting. Add in that extended range option if you’re serious about covering serious distance, and you’ve got a setup that can handle just about any adventure you throw at it.
Pros
- A 61-mile range test results tells me if you opt for the 3 battery setup, the Nomads could travel up to 180 miles without ever needing a charge.
- The MIVICE torque sensor delivers buttery smooth, natural pedal assistance that give the Nomads a very premium ride feel.
- Quiet operation with sleek, understated design that doesn’t scream “ebike”
- Quality components including Shimano 9-speed drivetrain and TEKTRO hydraulic disc brakes
- Over-the-air updates through the Fiido app keep the bike current without dealer visits
- Priced at $1,299, the Fiido Nomads presents a serious value in today’s e-bike market where prices often eclipse the $2,000 price point for lesser build qualities.
Cons
- 15.5 mph speed limit feels slower than ideal, especially for riders who naturally cruise at 18-20 mph
- Stem-integrated display looks great but could be challenging to replace years down the road
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