Xiaomi Mi Smart Electric Folding Bike review: cute, very practical and cheap

Xiaomi on all fronts Technical sheet Presentation of the Xiaomi Fold Bike Getting started Application and screen Folding system Daily use Autonomy Price and availability ConclusionCommentsSee the product sheetAvailable at €999

Launched in France in the course of 2020, the Xiaomi Mi Smart Electric Folding Bike electric bike is practical in many ways. We tested it over 100 kilometers for several weeks. Here is our feedback.

Test of the Xiaomi Mi Smart Electric Folding Bike, our verdict! // Source: Arnaud Gelineau for Frandroid

Xiaomi on all fronts

If Xiaomi is above all known for its catalog of smartphones, the Chinese brand has slowly but surely positioned itself in many other niches: from electric scooters to connected bracelets, including smartwatches and even TV boxes in the form of HDMI key.

To go further What are the best electric bikes in 2022?

It is therefore hardly surprising to see the Chinese manufacturer entering the electric bike segment with its Mi Smart Electric Folding Bike. This two-wheeler is in fact the European version of the QiCycle EF1, already available on Chinese territory for a few years, but launched in France in 2020.

Xiaomi Fold Bike Datasheet

This test was carried out with a copy lent by the Boulanger Opéra boutique. A 10% discount is offered in this store to Frandroid readers.

Introducing the Xiaomi Fold Bike

Design and frame

At first glance, the Xiaomi Mi Smart Electric Folding Bike has this little something that sets it apart from other bikes: a side that is both cute and modern, materialized on the one hand by its small size, and on the other by its chrome effect of the most beautiful effect. In short, the two-wheeler catches the eye and has not failed to pique the curiosity of many pedestrians and other cyclists.

The Xiaomi Folding Bike — which we'll call it that from now on — is a foldable electric bike made entirely of aluminum alloy: from its frame to its handlebars, including its fork, seat post and pedals. This material is now mainly used on bicycles, because it is relatively light, affordable and easier to work with than steel. Another advantage: it does not rust.

The Xiaomi Mi Smart Electric Folding Bike // Source: Arnaud Gelineau for Frandroid

Unfolded, the bike measures 1290 x 540 x 1010 mm, according to the official product page. Folded, the machine reaches 1300 x 240 x 600 mm: it is very practical, but we will come back to this later in the test. With its original design, this frame has a totally open frame: no tube therefore interferes with your leg when getting on the bike.

In terms of finishes, the result is correct for an electric bike sold at 1000 euros: certainly visible, the welds are nevertheless slightly concealed by the chrome effect. At the front, the visible cables necessarily tarnish its aesthetics, but we can't throw stones either: we are not dealing here with an ultra-pure high-end cycle. The large horizontal tube gives it character in my opinion.

Battery

The big horizontal tube, precisely, is not installed there by chance. It actually houses the Samsung 18650 Lithium-ion cylindrical battery with a capacity of 209 Wh (36V, 5.8 Ah). Good news: this accumulator is removable. Taking it with you to recharge it at the office or at home is therefore quite possible, and what is more practical. Although the all-purpose size of the bike is enough to take it everywhere with you.

The cylindrical battery is housed in the horizontal tube // Source: Arnaud Gelineau for Frandroid

To remove the battery from the Xiaomi Fold Bike, simply loosen the two clamps located at the base of the saddle and under the top tube, and completely remove the saddle from the bike. The battery release button is located under the rear light. On the battery, four indicator lights indicate the remaining level of autonomy – with necessarily imprecision –, supplemented by a small flexible hatch under which the charging port is hidden.

Engine

The Xiaomi Fold Bike benefits from a 250 W brushless motor placed in the middle of its front wheel. Xiaomi does not specify the brand of this one. A brushless motor has the advantage of being more durable, less bulky and offering better performance. It is also supposed to produce less noise, but this is not especially the case here (we will discuss this point later), without being a defect.

The motor of the Xiaomi Mi Smart Electric Folding Bike // Source: Arnaud Gelineau for Frandroid

The electric bike also has a TMN4 torque sensor. The operation of the torque sensor is simple: it measures the force of your pedaling and therefore adapts the power of the electric assistance accordingly. In short: this sensor is supposed to give you the right level of assistance according to the effort produced. Unlike the rotation sensor, which activates the assistance when the pedal turns, regardless of your strength.

Transmission

Xiaomi opted for a Shimano Nexus 3-speed drivetrain. Nexus systems have the particularity of offering a hub with integrated gears. In other words, the Fold Bike does not have a derailleur, since the gear changes are done directly in the hub. Also, the bike has only one sprocket.

Source: Arnaud Gelineau for Frandroid

This system brings several advantages: there is no risk of derailing (I have never encountered this problem over more than 100 kilometers of use), maintenance is minimal, chain breaks non-existent, and the whole benefits from an always interesting waterproofing against rain and dust.

Brakes

On the brake side, the Xiaomi Fold Bike is equipped at the front with a Caliper caliper (also called side-pull brakes), which can be found on many entry-level road bikes. They are not the most powerful. At the rear, the cycle accommodates a drum brake, which generally provides braking that is both flexible and of good quality.

Equipment

This is one of the first major weak points of this Xiaomi Fold Bike: its equipment, or rather its lack of equipment. As for the headlights, the bike provides you with them (with a major defect, see below) with front (0.5 W) and rear (1 W) lights directly integrated into the horizontal tube. They are not adjustable.

Le guidon du Xiaomi Mi Smart Electric Folding Bike // Source: Arnaud Gelineau for Frandroid

Reflectors are also on the seatpost, handlebars and rims. On the other hand, forget the mudguards to protect you from wet ground (the experience was bitter), as well as a luggage rack. Even if the absence of the latter is not prohibitive with regard to its size. Finally, note the presence of a crutch always welcome and a bell that does not fall perfectly under the thumb for little fingers.

Getting started with the Xiaomi Fold Bike

Frame

If Xiaomi does not specify the measurements that best suit the Fold Bike, the adjustment of the saddle is generous enough to adapt to the maximum number of users possible. From the height of my meter seventy-five, I was able to find the perfect height to unfold my legs as much as possible. A nice extra margin is offered to taller cyclists.

When you get on the bike for the first time, the impression of dominating the bike is palpable: the machine is not very big, you inevitably feel this impression. Your body also tends to lean forward slightly due to the location of the handlebars, which are lower than a more conventional bike. The open frame takes on its full meaning here: climbing on your mount is disconcertingly easy.

Balance and maneuverability

The Xiaomi Fold Bike benefits from good maneuverability. Its small 16-inch wheels give it a more than interesting turning radius, but at high speeds, the feeling of safety is not optimal either, because the bike is more difficult to control. This is particularly noticeable in tighter turns. It is well known, the stability of small folding bikes is not the best.

Arnaud Gelineau for Frandroid

Its balance is quite correct thanks to the cylindrical battery nestled in the horizontal tube. But I still advise you not to let go of the handlebars, since the arrival of the electric assistance can create slight jolts depending on the force of your pedaling. Weighing 14.5 kilos, the Xiaomi Fold concentrates a bit more weight at the front, where the engine is located. You will feel it when carrying the bike unfolded.

Wheels and comfort

With 16-inch wheels, the Xiaomi Fold Bike necessarily makes some small concessions. Starting with the efficiency, which is therefore lower than with larger wheels. Grip is also lacking, especially at start-up, when the pedal stroke is a little too powerful. It happened that the front wheel slipped, even on dry ground.

Comfort is not the strong point of this Xiaomi Fold Bike either: first, the saddle does not provide a very pleasant seat after several tens of minutes of travel. Second, the total absence of front, rear or seatpost suspension necessarily makes it difficult to exercise on uneven roads or when crossing sidewalks.

Brakes

For biting braking enthusiasts, the Xiaomi Fold Bike should not fully meet your expectations. The front brake lacks punch, counterbalanced by a more pronounced, but also smooth and progressive feel from the rear drum brake. Also pay attention to the small wheel lock when you press the levers fully, this can happen. Even if they do the job, we would still have appreciated more powerful brakes.

Power assist and gears

Just like the battery, the behavior of the electric assistance is one of the key parts of an electric bicycle. The torque sensor installed on the Xiaomi Fold Bike has a definite advantage: that of instantly responding to your needs according to the force transmitted in the pedal. And this little game, the cycle is very reactive.

In a few fairly powerful pedal strokes, you are propelled to a speed of 25 km/h (the maximum speed authorized in France for electric assistance) thanks to an instantaneous torque. It's very pleasant, and what's more, it's very practical for adapting to or extricating yourself from a delicate situation.

This system gives the Xiaomi Fold Bike good dynamism which allows it to easily overtake another cyclist riding at an average pace thanks to a more assertive pedal stroke, de facto providing this famous instantaneous torque. Provided, however, that you engage the highest gear, n° 3, as well as the highest assistance.

Source: Arnaud Gelineau for Frandroid

In total, three levels of assistance are offered to the user: Eco, Normal and BO+. A mode without assistance is available, but I strongly advise against using it in view of the difficulties in dragging the bike without an electric boost. All modes can take you to a speed of 25 km/h: the effort is just not the same depending on the mode used.

The BO+ mode is in my eyes the most interesting, because the fastest and the most suitable for urban driving: it takes you to a speed of 25 km/h quite easily. Gear n° 1 is in my opinion useless, unlike gear n° 2 which can help you better climb a hill. Speed ​​#3 is probably the one you will use most often, and especially the most naturally in relation to its degree of resistance.

Small downside: I noticed some irregularities when the bike was close to 25 km/h. The assistance cuts off suddenly and resumes in stride. It's not the most pleasant and we would have preferred to taste a slightly more stable system. But overall, the driving sensations are good.

Also, the gear lever has some difficulty operating smoothly: switching from gear no. 3 to gear no. 2 can sometimes take several seconds. Even for a bike at 1000 euros, this kind of anomaly remains annoying.

App and screen

If you are familiar with Xiaomi connected devices, then the mobile application available on iOS and the Play Store has no real secrets for you. In reality, it has no secrets for anyone as its use is simple. Pairing between your smartphone and the bike is done using a simple Bluetooth connection. To do this, you must turn on the screen located on the handlebars using a button located on its lower edge.

As with any new connected product stamped Xiaomi, you will need to assign it a room in your home. Then, by pressing on the map of the bike, you will then access the percentage of battery remaining (practical, because precise), the number of kilometers covered in the day and the total mileage.

A " More information " tab offers a host of statistics that may be of interest to some or all: number of kilometers traveled per day, week or month, duration of journeys, average speed and even the time slots of your journeys. This can be interesting if you pay close attention to your practice.

The screen located on the left side of the handlebar acts as a control and on-board computer. It is also used to turn on the bike, engage the assistance and set the modes. It also displays your actual speed, travel time and number of kilometres. A small additional clock would not have been refused.

Mi Home

When you turn on the screen, remember to press the power button again to activate the assistance. The latter is represented by a rocket icon. You can then press the physical arrows placed on the left of the screen to switch from one level of assistance to another. To turn off the system, simply hold down the power button for several seconds.

As for the activation of the headlights, a simple long press on one of the physical arrows is enough.

How to fold the Xiaomi Mi Smart Electric Folding Bike

The Xiaomi Fold Bike has this advantage that other more classic bikes do not have: it can fold. Completely. Really completely. Down to the pedals, to tell you. Step by step, here's how to fold the e-bike.

How to fold the Xiaomi Fold Bike?

First, remove the saddle. To do this, and as explained at the beginning of this test, you must loosen the two saddle clamps: one is at the base of the saddle, the other just below the horizontal tube.

After extracting the saddle, the rear structure of the bicycle must be folded forwards. The rear wheel thus tilts towards its front counterpart and is magnetized there thanks to an ingenious little magnetic system. From there, the bike stabilizes on its two wheels placed side by side, which rest on the back of the horizontal tube.

For more overall stability, do not hesitate, in the meantime, to reinsert the saddle and secure it with the clamp. The entire rear part thus remains firmly fixed thanks to the seatpost resting on the ground.

The maneuver continues with the steering tube, which must be unlocked using a small latch. The tube accompanied by the handlebars will then bend to die on the left side of the bike, next to the rear wheel. All that remains is to bend the pedals to complete the operation.

Small downside: the head tube does not magnetize or attach to any part of the bike. So I find it a bit tossing around at times, but nothing too bothersome. On the other hand, the left brake tends to interfere with your right leg when carrying the bike. Paradoxically, carrying the Fold Bike is not very practical.

Practicality

It must be admitted that the format of the Xiaomi Fold Bike is very practical on a daily basis: whether it is folded or not, the cycle can easily find its place in a more or less spacious apartment, next to your office or even on a café terrace (tested and approved when these remained open).

Its small size allows it to take public transport without particular difficulty. In a moderately frequented train, there is no need to fold it, because the space for the oars is sufficient. If you want to fold it and carry it, its weight of 14.5 kilos is certainly in the low average of electric bikes... but it's still 14.5 kilos at arm's length.

Il pèse quand même son poids // Source: Arnaud Gelineau for Frandroid

The Xiaomi Fold Bike will be very suitable for users looking for a practical electric bike capable of being placed in a living room that is not particularly spacious. For the folding operation, it's a little help to take: but once run in, the maneuver is done in one minute and thirty seconds flat. Reminder of the dimensions once folded: 1300 x 240 x 600 mm.

We nevertheless regret one point: the impossibility of folding it in its center – as some competitors offer – for even more compactness. Finally, I did not benefit much from the folding system during the weeks of testing, since the bike, unfolded, is sufficient on its own.

The Xiaomi Fold Bike on a daily basis

For this Xiaomi Fold Bike test, the majority of our trips were made in intramural Paris and its inner suburbs, for a total of more than 100 kilometers. Categorized as a city electric bike, the two-wheeler has therefore mainly been put to the test of urban asphalt, on short (3 km), medium (between 6 and 8 km) and long (15 km) routes. ).

Route Daumesnil (12th arrondissement) – La Garenne-Colombes (Hauts-de-Seine)

To start the test of the Xiaomi Fold Bike as it should, nothing better than a first outing of 15 kilometers mixing cobblestones, smooth surface, irregular roads, hills and descent, between the south-east of Paris (Daumesnil) and the peaceful town of La Garenne-Colombes (Hauts-de-Seine). The majority of the ride was done with the highest level of assistance.

On cycle paths, the bike is sufficiently dynamic and versatile to easily overtake other cyclists traveling at a speed of 20 km/h. For other users going at a speed of 25 km/h, the same as yours in theory, the exercise is more difficult: the absence of assistance from 25 km/h combined with the small wheels makes the cycle hard to drag.

Clearly, do not expect to reach 30 km / h without forcing - as can be the case on sporty carbon electric bikes - at the risk of getting out of breath a lot. The Fold Bike has been designed to travel up to a maximum of 25 km/h, period. And for the city, it is more than enough.

Le petit écran de bord du Xiaomi Mi Smart Electric Folding Bike // Source: Arnaud Gelineau for Frandroid

If the bike easily crosses 24 km / h, the threshold of 25 km / h is more complicated to reach: you have to give a good pedal stroke to achieve it. We would have preferred to force less. From this first trip, I also noticed a small anomaly in the gear lever.

Sometimes, but rarely, said lever changes gears – from 3 to 2 for example – without the operation having been initiated. Also, the passage from speed 3 to speed 2 can take a few seconds before actually activating. This lacks immediacy and further categorizes the bike in the entry-level segment.

On the cobblestones of the Champs-Élysées, it was clearly not the time to party. The lack of suspension literally shook my whole body, from the buttocks to the head. This is one of the flaws of the Xiaomi Fold Bike: its comfort. Also, the saddle lacks softness and bothers you after several tens of minutes.

Le phare avant du Xiaomi Mi Smart Electric Folding Bike // Source: Arnaud Gelineau for Frandroid

You should also know that the guaranteed zero effort is not in the game: after a 53-minute journey, I simply arrived in a sweat at my destination. The bike actually lacks punch on the hills: you have to either force it into gear 3 to reach 20 km/h (difficult to go higher), or use a too loose gear 2 which forces you to perform 10,000 turns of cranksets to get to a downhill speed.

It might have been nice to add other speeds for a more gradual effort. More generally, the Xiaomi Fold Bike asks you, whatever happens, for a minimum of effort to receive an electric boost, force sensor requires. To say that your heartbeat stays stable throughout a ride would be lying to you.

Clearly, the Xiaomi Fold Bike fulfills its role correctly for trips of ten kilometers, but is perhaps not the most suitable for this type of distance. On arrival, a small shower could be refreshing in case of climbs during your walk.

Velotaf

In my case, the Xiaomi Fold Bike was mostly used for Velotaf and a few other short trips around town. A use that seemed to me much more appropriate. Its autonomy allows it, for example, to make two trips of 6 kilometers per day, without having to recharge it daily. We will come back to this later in this test, but autonomy is not its strong point.

In heavy traffic, the bike does just fine for weaving between cars and other road users. Its brakes fulfill their role correctly in an emergency, but remember to remain very attentive to press the levers as soon as possible. The Fold Bike is not the king of braking either.

Une sonnette un poil éloignée pour les petits doigts // Source: Arnaud Gelineau for Frandroid

The big black spot observed during my trips is none other than the absence of mudguards. It is literally a nightmare in bad weather or on soggy ground. After 20 minutes of riding, my buttocks and the back of my legs were swimming in water. Selling an urban electric bike for 1000 euros without this type of accessory is, in my opinion, borderline scandalous.

Fortunately, specific mudguards are available for sale for a few tens of euros. Another mishap: when the battery drops to 0%, I wish you good luck in completing your route. Without assistance, the bike is extremely difficult to move forward. So remember to recharge it.

The experience was sometimes frustrating: as explained above, the assistance only propels you to 20 km/h when the autonomy drops below 50%. It becomes difficult to overtake. The bike then loses dynamism and interest, and is therefore less efficient after only about ten kilometers.

Le Xiaomi Mi Smart Electric Folding Bike une fois plié // Source: Arnaud Gelineau for Frandroid

The motor also tends to emit a whistle typical of electric vehicles: personally, I don't find this very annoying. On the contrary, it can act as a sound signature that can naturally alert other cyclists. Although pretty, the integration of the headlights poses a problem: since they are nestled in the frame and not on the steering tube, your lights no longer light your way when you turn the handlebars.

Let's emphasize once again its super practical aspect: the bike is easy to transport, to get off your building or to go up to the office. It even happened to me to take the elevator with three colleagues without us all being glued. At work, storing it in the hallway was no problem.

Autonomy of about 30 km

Actual autonomy vs advertised autonomy

In terms of autonomy, Xiaomi does not hesitate to communicate on a range of 45 kilometers. With the highest assist mode, clearly don't expect to hit that threshold. According to my calculations after a few hundred kilometers traveled, the autonomy of Xiaomi Fold Bike oscillates between 25 and 30 kilometers at the most. More like 25, actually.

To give you an idea, the bike dropped to 80% after a 6.2 km ride, then to 55% after another 6.1 km. In Paris, stops and restarts are frequent, as are restarts, due to heavy traffic. Inevitably, the electric motor is more stressed during its fairly regular intensive acceleration phases.

Loaded and unloaded

The manufacturer does not communicate on the number of charging cycles relating to its Fold Bike. Difficult, therefore, to know after how many kilometers and charging sessions the accumulator loses efficiency. But in general, consumers do not have too much to worry about on this point.

I still noticed a very small loss of energy (55 to 54% remaining autonomy) after leaving the bike at rest for several days. This loss is certainly minimal, but very real. The full recharge takes about four hours: when the battery is full, a green indicator light appears.

To be sure that the battery is at 100%, do not hesitate to turn on the bike and your mobile application, then check the battery percentage indicated on your smartphone.

Xiaomi Mi Smart Electric Folding Bike price and availability

The Xiaomi Fold Bike is available at a price of 999 euros on the brand's official website and on other commercial platforms. Its price can drop by several hundred euros (up to 500 euros) depending on your region, department or city, which may offer a financial bonus for the purchase.

And of course, you can find this Xiaomi electric bike in the Boulanger store in Paris Opéra, with a 10% reduction, specifying that you have seen the test on Frandroid.