Ridden: Fiido T2 Longtail Cargo eBike – The Family-Friendly Beast That Brings the Fun

Introduced in April this year, the T2 Longtail Cargo eBike, or T2 for short, is the company's first family-friendly e-bike and the first proper cargo bike in an already very impressive lineup that includes everything from feather-light all carbon fiber e-bikes to fatties designed for adventures outside of the city confines. The T2 is a much sturdier and more competent variant of the T1 PRO, designed to haul plenty of gear and/or a couple of passengers in the rear, but without compromise in terms of performance and range.

Most cargo e-bikes are touted as suitable alternatives for the daily driver, offering the kind of convenience only a slim two-wheeler could in a crowded urban environment, where congestion and dead times in traffic are a daily given. What the T2 aims to do differently is to pack the same kind of convenience with the might and the fun potential of an offroader, outstanding range, and versatility.

Perhaps bolder than that is Fiido's promise to do all this with an e-bike that remains essentially affordable. That's a huge undertaking, to be sure. But it's also one that Fiido – and the T2 – ace.

Design Evaluation

As the full name clearly shows, the T2 is a longtail cargo bike, which means that it's longer than a standard bicycle. This allows Fiido to up the maximum payload and guarantee stability on the road, solid maneuverability, and practicality in a myriad of daily applications.

So, the T2 is longer and heavier than its predecessor, the T1 PRO, and quite probably than anything else you've ridden before, with the exception of other cargo e-bikes. Even if it doesn't look like it in photos, the T2 presents itself as a beast of an e-bike, massive, sturdy, and heavy, with an almost industrial-like vibe to it.

Like all Fiido e-bikes, the T2 also ships almost 85% assembled and with all the necessary tools included in the box. All units ship out with the front rack as standard, but my review sample included running boards for a rear passenger (for my handsome young assistant), child safety railing (which is essential if you have kids you want to take along for the ride, or else they have nothing to hold on to), and a padded rear seat.

For cargo hauling, Fiido offers a series of add-ons ranging from panniers to baskets and bags, but I McGyvered my way with a plastic crate just as well. Improvisation will work if you're only going to use it for the occasional grocery run or trip to the local market, but if you plan on relying on it for frequent trips, whether for personal or commercial use, the legit add-ons are a must.

Assembly is fairly standard for a Fiido bike, which means even someone with less experience can do it, with assistance from the Fiido team via the owner's manual and online tutorials. However, given the nature of the e-bike and the amount of weight it's going to carry, it's best if you have a local bike shop (LBS) have a look at it before that first ride to make sure everything's in the right place and to get rid of any whooshing or rattling sounds.

Power comes from a 750W XD brushless geared rear-hub motor with 60 Nm of torque, fed by a ginormous UL2271-certified 998Wh battery hidden behind the seatpost, right next to the cargo area. You get to choose between 3 or 5 PAS (pedal assist) levels and make use of the 7-speed Shimano gearshift to crush any hill that comes your way. Easily so.

Stopping power comes from 4-piston hydraulic brakes with 230mm rotors. The bike rides on one-piece wheels clad in CST 20x4.0 tires, and tips the scales at a whopping 39.5 kg (87 lbs). On the bright side, maximum payload is 200 kg (441 lbs), including the rider's weight, divided between the rear and front cargo spaces.

The battery requires 7 hours for a full charge and is removable from its location for charging off the bike. Fiido says that a full charge is enough for an estimated 100 km (62 miles) of riding in eco mode or some 50 km (31 miles) on throttle only at maximum speed. Speaking of speed, it's 25 kph (15.5 mph) for countries with a stricter limit on e-bikes but can be unlocked to 40 kph (25 mph) in what Fiido calls the "rocket mode."

The T2 has an aluminum alloy frame with a step-through design that makes it usable for riders between 5'1 (150 cm) and 6'5 (200 cm), with adjustments to the seatpost and the handlebar. The front suspension, the beefy tires, and the wider saddle work together to offer a cushy ride for the rider and whatever or whoever else is onboard at the time.

Standard equipment includes an IP54 rated color display on the left-hand side, a loud and annoying horn instead of a bell, a powerful headlight and a taillight with integrated braking light, a sturdy two-legged kickstand, and connectivity to the Fiido app or the Fiido Mate smartwatch, which allows remote unlocking of the bike and more detailed access to settings and stats. In total, Fiido offers a dozen accessories over the standard spec. The rear skirts are standard and prevent your cargo or the legs of your young passengers from getting caught in the wheel.

Real World Application

As noted above, the T2 is – looks and feels – massive, both in terms of length and weight. It comes across as slightly intimidating at first, a feeling that persists for much of the first ride.

Because of its weight and its construction, the T2 comes with a learning curve. It's nothing too steep or to be scared about, but it's there – and you probably anticipated it, given the fact that this, at the end of the day, is a workhorse. It's not your standard city e-bike, and there's no sense in expecting it to behave like one.

Among the first things you'll have to get used to is the fact that the front rack doesn't turn with the wheel. Neither does that headlight, which might prove somewhat challenging on nighttime rides, especially at sharper turns. Neither is an insurmountable obstacle.

Next up is the way the motor delivers assistance to complement your pedaling. The T2 comes with a cadence sensor instead of a torque sensor, which means that assistance is triggered after one or two turns of the pedal, instead of at a single press on it. In more specific terms, if you're taking off from a dead start with the bike loaded up, it's going to be tricky unless you put all your heart (and might) into it or make ample use of the throttle thumb shifter.

The latter option, which is also the most convenient and fun, will deplete the battery faster. With the e-bike packed to the max, it's also the only real option available, especially in traffic or up an incline.

Here, too, the T2 requires some getting used to, but once you learn the exact amount of pressure to apply on the throttle shifter so you won't feel like you're lurching when you start, you'll be breezing to and from where you have to be. That said, that first experience on the T2 is somewhat comparable to trying to rein in an unbroken horse.

Once you're properly acquainted with the T2, it's clearly a solid alternative to using a car – in certain scenarios. In areas with a proper infrastructure, it's ideal for doing the kid dropoff, and the fact that it can fit two kids in the back is a huge plus. It's perfect for doing groceries and running errands, and is probably suitable for delivery fleets and other commercial applications, though I can't speak for that from my experience.

Unrelated to the T2 itself, there's the issue of safety you have to consider with a purchase. Regardless of the state of the cycling infrastructure in your area, you'll still be doing much of the riding in traffic on the street – with a bike that can go faster than standard e-bikes, to boot. Invest in proper safety equipment and ride responsibly at all times, being mindful of local regulations.

As with all e-bikes, no matter the make or capabilities, range estimates are always estimates, so they're highly dependent on a variety of factors, ranging from the weight of the rider to riding style, terrain, weather, and whatever cargo the bike is carrying. My tests with the T2 confirm Fiido's estimates: some 50 km (31 miles) on throttle only with a young passenger in the back and up to 100 km (62 miles) in the lowest PAS with minimal use of throttle and the same kind of weight in the back, either a passenger or light cargo.

The bike and the display are rated as dust- and waterproof, but you shouldn't be doing any riding in the rain as a rule. The display is the same one Fiido has on other affordable entries in the lineup, like the C11 city e-bike, and it's the same one I've taken issue with before for not including a down button for PAS levels. The issue seems more glaring here, because this is a cargo bike, but the good news is that it can be overridden with the same throttle shifter or by using the phone as a display because Fiido has updated the app, adding a down button for PAS.

Fiido has also included a "cruise control" mode that allows you to ride in moped mode without having to keep pressure on the thumb throttle. All these neat "surprises" might not be legal in some territories, so keep that in mind.

Conclusion

When Fiido introduced the T2 cargo e-bike this spring, they promised more than just a family-friendly bike: they promised a cargo bike that was still fun to ride, stable and reliable, and with multiple functionality across the board. The T2 is all these things – and excellent value for money, as well. In this economy, that last part is nothing to scoff at.

The T2 cargo e-bike takes some getting used to, but it's perfectly capable of handling the tasks it was designed for. Whether that means dropping the kids to school, hauling gear, doing groceries, or even doing deliveries, it aims to be a reliable and compliant workhorse. You can count on it for work, but it's also here to show you that you can still be having fun when you're doing chores, whatever they might be.

The T2 gets extra points for the powerful motor and the solid range, as well as for the fact that it was designed with modularity in mind. No one says that an e-bike should replace your car, but if you want to, the Fiido T2 is a solid alternative.

Available in simple Gray and Forest Green, the T2 Longtail Cargo eBike is now offered at the discounted price of €1,499/$1,499 in standard spec, to which you add whatever your preferred add-ons cost. Fiido is offering free shipping and delivery to many territories.

Pros

• Excellent value for money
• Powerful motor and long-range battery
• Fat tires and front suspension for a cushy ride
• High payload
• Versatility through add-ons
• Hydraulic brakes
• App connectivity and remote unlock

Cons

• No down button for PAS
• Cadence sensor

Rating: 4.8/5