NIU XQi3 Electrical Dust Bike Evaluate

Mild two-wheeled machines are hands-down among the best functions for electrical powertrains. Gobs of torque, no shifting, no carb tuning. Simply twist and grin. From featherweight mountain e-bikes to the 250-pound 80-horsepower Stark Varg, electrical shines within the dust.

NIU was beneficiant sufficient to allow us to totally take a look at its newest XQi3 electrical dust bike for practically 2 months throughout prime Pacific Northwest driving season. We had some good enjoyable collectively!

Briefly: The XQi3 impresses as a single-quiver e-moto. It’s one of many solely street-legal dual-sport electrical bikes value your cash. For street-only or dirt-only customers, there could also be higher choices.

NIU XQi3 Wild Evaluate

Positive it’s good enjoyable, however how a lot enjoyable is it subsequent to different contenders in a crowded discipline? New imports from Asia land every week, and startups within the U.S., like our mates at Mud Moto, are creating highly effective new choices.

And, a motorcycle just like the XQi3 isn’t new per se, however it’s acquired comparable specs to the Bultaco Brinco — which sadly went out of enterprise in 2018 — I launched in Spain a decade in the past. However, I’ll argue that the NIU stacks up properly … relying on what you ask of it …

An identical Twins

First, notice that there are two XQi3s, each priced at $4,999. One for dust known as “Wild” and one for highway known as “Avenue.” They’re the very same bike, simply working totally different software program.

The road model is proscribed to 30 mph — a tragic lack of velocity — however it implies that it may be titled as a moped. That opens up the market of patrons who don’t have a motorbike endorsement. Our “Wild” tester mannequin is just not road-legal however simply hits 47 mph.

That doesn’t clarify why our dust mannequin got here with flip indicators, mirrors, and all of the appendages you want for road driving. Chris Ervin, NIU’s USA Key Account Supervisor, defined that solely 2024 fashions will ship this fashion. Beginning in 2025, dust fashions shall be stripped down in order that hooligans like us can’t flog the indicator lights on our first outing. (Sorry, Chris!)

One other curiosity — the knobby tires come on each Wild and Avenue fashions. There are much better — and one would possibly argue safer — tires to run on asphalt. The knobbies really feel misplaced on pavement and don’t have the stopping energy of slicks.

Robust Vendor Community

To my data, the NIU XQi3 Avenue does qualify because the least costly street-legal electrical bike you can at the moment purchase at a U.S. seller. Emphasis on “seller” — having a community is a vital distinction.

It’s doable to purchase some lower-cost e-motos from importers like CSC who promote direct to shoppers on-line. The worth of getting a nationwide community of sellers when one thing goes improper can’t be understated.

I actually walked into Vespa Portland — my native NIU seller — final week and requested Matt in components for a brand new set of brake pads, as a result of I drive the snot out of my private NIU GT scooter. The fabulous factor about electrical is that there’s nearly zero upkeep. No carbs to tune! However if you do want components and/or service, having a neighborhood seller is essential to getting again to driving shortly and with out huge prices — like transport.

NIU has 85 sellers within the U.S. and is rising quickly — particularly in powersports, which is a booming market right here. However, that’s nothing in comparison with the remainder of the world, as NIU strikes half 1,000,000 items yearly.

Charging & Curse Phrases

Charging is the worst a part of the consumer expertise on the NIU XQi3. How the engineering workforce authorized it’s past me.

First, take away the seat — a two-step strategy of unlatching a big cam buckle after which releasing an digital security latch. Discover someplace to stash that banana seat so you should use each your fingers to unclip a second small cam-latch that releases the higher battery bracket. Now, with entry to the connector, you possibly can lastly unplug the pack from the bike after which plug within the charger.

Phew, now simply 5.3 hours of cost time ’til we are able to go play once more. That’s loads of daylight wasted ready, particularly contemplating the XQi3’s rivals cost in round 3 hours.

Gloves really useful — there’s loads to bash knuckles on throughout that course of.

Battery Connector

As the present CTO for an electrical boat firm —and somebody who has labored at a number of electrical bike corporations — I take into consideration connectors loads. I do know, tremendous horny.

So the primary time I noticed the NIU connector I froze — what number of occasions are you able to do that earlier than the contacts fail? Perhaps a thousand?

Most EVs — of any dimension — have separate cost connectors for good purpose. It’s costly to make a contact that may maintain excessive energy output and final 1000’s of cycles. It’s extra wise to have a serviceable lower-current charging port that prices much less and doesn’t contain bashing your knuckles to entry the battery.

To its credit score, NIU acquired us a fast reply, simply not a comforting one. “400 or extra cycles.” That’s it. It’d last more, however no assure. After 400 fees, you will have to interchange the battery harness — a $100 half —  on the bike, and presumably on the battery as properly.

I requested an professional and good buddy Carter Marquis of Huge Orange Cables, who focuses on EV connectors, for his opinion. Doubtless, he defined, NIU has solely examined for 400 cycles, however that it’s going to final for much longer for those who’re light with it and take care to maintain the contacts clear.

The battery sees twice as many cycles because it’s being plugged into the charger after which again into the bike on every cycle. You would possibly then fear that it might be toast after simply 200 cost cycles, however for the reason that battery has the strong contacts of the connector pair, it needs to be rather more strong. Your mileage might fluctuate!

Connectivity Challenged

Tesla paved the trail to a key-free future, and NIU is making an attempt onerous to comply with, largely efficiently. In idea, my XQi will establish my cellphone and magically unlock it as I strategy. Solely it hasn’t labored but, irrespective of what number of occasions I reset the dang factor I’ve pairing points. It’s possible simply my cellphone, or perhaps I have to apply my “alohomora” incantation?

The opposite method to begin the bike is by way of an NFC tag — merely maintain a small fob close to the steering tube and the XQi blinks to life with all of the bleep-bloop fanfare of an astromech droid. Its sounds are cute however tiring.

The XQi additionally comes geared up with a theft-prevention setting that will get fairly obnoxious for those who transfer the bike round when it’s powered down — you possibly can disable this within the app, nonetheless.

I discovered myself cursing that function whereas loading the XQi on a trailer, the bike bleep-blooping in protest. With out entry to my cellphone, I elected to tug the principle battery cable and put the seat again on.

Solely after doing so did I understand my mistake. The seat was locked in place, the battery disconnected, and now there’s no energy to the seat launch. The important thing fob depends on battery energy, so there’s actually no method to reconnect the battery now.

NIU does ship the bike with a bodily key which 99% of the time you gained’t use, however don’t lose it. I discovered one important use for the important thing — the handbook launch of the battery latch.

NIU App

Having owned an NQI-GT electrical scooter for 4 years has given me loads of time to be taught the NIU app. It’s excellent — truthfully higher than what you discover on many automobiles.

I fortunately fork over $49 per yr for its “sensible service.” What does that get you?

Properly, if hyper-efficiency metrics are your love language (like me) otherwise you need to present your Rivian driving mates how a lot nearer to Gaia you’re than they’re, you’ll love the information analytics. It’s simple to evaluation your kWh/mi for each journey. I worth the theft-prevention side (suppose Lojack) and with the ability to verify battery standing from anyplace.

The XQi3 provides a couple of neat options to the combo. You possibly can add extra NFC keys or you possibly can authorize different customers to unlock the bike with their cellphone. Very difficult.

Show & Controls

I believe NIU additionally nailed it on the show. It has all the pieces you want in a well-known spherical interface. Truthfully, whether or not within the metropolis or out on the path, I not often have a look at it.

One enjoyable function for observe driving is a built-in chronograph with set off switches above the hand grips to time your laps with ease. On highway, the included USB-C charger port is useful.

The left thumb change will allow you to change the journey mode, to both Sport or Eco. I counsel that except you’re frightened about vary, simply go away it in Sport, because it’s higher to have full acceleration on faucet if you want it. Plus, it’s simply extra enjoyable!

The suitable aspect includes a magnetic kill-switch you possibly can hook to a lanyard in case you’re separated from the bike. All braking is hand-lever managed. The left lever is the rear brake (like a standard bike) and the appropriate is the entrance. This takes some rewiring of mind cells for those who’re a bike owner, as usually these brakes are reversed in your pedal bike.

We rode this little machine onerous, onerous sufficient that the grips began sliding off. Nothing a little bit tremendous glue and security wire couldn’t repair, however common dust riders would possibly need to swap these for his or her grippy compound of alternative and a few bash guards.

Suspension

For the pricepoint, the XQi3 feels properly sorted. You could possibly complain that it’s a bit gentle, however I believe it’s an important steadiness for on/off highway, and each rebound and preload are adjustable entrance to rear. Even working road pressures, the NIU felt assured on all features of the dust dust playground we utilized for testing.

Electrical Motorbike Energy

Removed from underpowered, the XQi will wheelie on command, particularly with a full battery. Off-the-line torque is what you count on from electrical — spirited — and it accelerates properly as much as 47+ mph. I’ve seen 49 on a downhill, however it gained’t allow you to cross 50.

Peak energy is listed at 6kW (8 horsepower) however faucet the appropriate set off, and you may allow 8kw (10.7 horsepower) “increase” for as much as 10 seconds.

Off-road vary impressed. After a few hours working hard-charging laps on some single observe by means of the woods with jumps and berms, we solely used about 60% of the battery. On highway, when restricted to 30 mph, it’s going to possible run even longer; I’d imagine NIU’s listed 50+ mile vary.

I actually would like to have the “Wild” velocity functionality with slick tires. It might make an important city assault software. Handy, enjoyable, and it will get tons of feedback. However, in most American cities, you really want to have the ability to hit 45 mph to maintain up with visitors.

The XQi3 doesn’t have any provisions for baggage, however that’s clearly not the rationale most people would purchase one. We’d additionally suspect that NIU might need one thing within the works.

NIU XQi3 Opponents

The closest equal mild, electrical, off-road-capable bikes are from Talaria and Surron. The Talaria MX5 is but to hit the market, however the MX4 is an in depth match. Let’s have a look at how these three bikes stack up towards one another on paper.

All three e-motos provide adjustable suspension, although the Talaria is barely superior. The NIU and Talaria come inventory with higher stopping energy than the Surron.

Bodywork is shipped with the NIU — which can or is probably not a plus to you — however you possibly can swap out fairings with different colour and graphic packages. NIU’s cockpit can also be full featured with the big colour show, set off switches, and sensible key options, which you don’t discover on the opposite bikes.

The NIU and Surron each have a seller community for service, which Talaria is missing. A robust aftermarket of upgrades and equipment has grown with the recognition of the Sting and Lightbee Surron fashions, together with lively and passionate on-line consumer teams. It’s simple to spend thrice the sticker value of a Surron on aftermarket components, however these components provide spectacular efficiency upgrades.

Driving Subsequent to Elites

We didn’t take a look at towards a Surron or Talaria immediately, however we did take the XQi3 out to play with the massive children on the block. Particularly, an Alta Redshift (which ended manufacturing in 2019) working customized race firmware and the present unchallenged powerhouse in off-road electrical bikes, the Stark Varg. It was spectacular how properly the Alta stored up with the Varg which is 10+ years newer.

The XQi3 seems like a Toys-R-Us Huffy compared to these highly effective dust bikes. It’s no match in any class — however by some means it left every of us grinning all the identical! It’s loads punchy if you need to velocity right into a soar. Subsequent to its electrified huge brothers, it felt pleasant and playful.

Huge due to race tech Quentin Wilson for bringing the Alta and Bob Simpson of EV Drive for internet hosting us on his non-public off-road bike observe and giving us a couple of laps on his Varg.

If I had a sufficiently big storage, I’d personal all of them. But when I had to decide on one, it’d be the Varg — no contest.

NIU XQi3 Evaluate Wrapup

In some methods, the XQi3 is an odd duck. Off highway, it’s pricier and never fairly as succesful as a Talaria. The on-road verison is kneecapped with a 30mph prime velocity, however it has a ton of torque to get you there quick, and it’s gobs of enjoyable — only a bit costly for a “moped.”

NIU XQi3 Avenue

For those who’re all about practicality, look elsewhere. For a 3rd of the associated fee, you can get into a top quality e-bike that may simply hit 25 mph and doesn’t require title and registration charges. Urbanites on bikes also can beat visitors in bike lanes.

NIU’s personal UQI GT scooter for $2,099 is barely rated for 30 miles and 28 mph, however is arguably simply as sensible for many riders and may match a prime case.

For those who don’t need to be seen on a “scooter” and wish the dust bike aesthetic, then the XQi3 could be for you. And for those who like hitting trails after work, 30 mph is loads of velocity to have enjoyable with.

It’s properly documented in boards that there are methods to bypass the Avenue’s velocity restrictions, however to take action on highway is illegal.

NIU XQi3 Wild

For those who’re actually spending all of your time on singletrack, there are possible higher matches in your driving. There are many good causes to think about the XQi3 Wild, although.

A robust guarantee providing and a seller community are an important consolation. And, the NIU is polished, providing an important show, lap timing, and app connectivity.

If NIU had been to take away that velocity cap, the XQi3 can be a straightforward alternative as the one road authorized dual-sport mild electrical cash should buy. Even within the moped section, it’s a pretty possibility. It’s not the right machine for everybody, however I’d suggest anybody who’s curious to go test it out in particular person. There’s loads to like about this odd duck.