NIU XQi3 Electrical Grime Bike Evaluate

Mild two-wheeled machines are hands-down probably the greatest 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 completely check 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 price 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 buddies at Mud Moto, are growing highly effective new choices.

And, a motorbike just like the XQi3 isn’t new per se, however it’s received 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 nicely … relying on what you ask of it …

Similar Twins

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

The road model is proscribed to 30 mph — a tragic lack of pace — however it implies that it may be titled as a moped. That opens up the market of consumers who don’t have a motorbike endorsement. Our “Wild” tester mannequin will not be 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 might 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 may argue safer — tires to run on asphalt. The knobbies really feel misplaced on pavement and don’t have the stopping energy of slicks.

Sturdy Supplier Community

To my information, the NIU XQi3 Avenue does qualify because the least costly street-legal electrical bike which you could presently purchase at a U.S. supplier. Emphasis on “supplier” — having a community is a crucial distinction.

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

I actually walked into Vespa Portland — my native NIU supplier — 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 an area supplier 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 authorised it’s past me.

First, take away the seat — a two-step means of unlatching a big cam buckle after which releasing an digital security latch. Discover someplace to stash that banana seat so you should utilize each your fingers to unclip a second small cam-latch that releases the higher battery bracket. Now, with entry to the connector, you may 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 a variety of daylight wasted ready, particularly contemplating the XQi3’s opponents cost in round 3 hours.

Gloves really useful — there’s a lot 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 rather a lot. 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 measurement — have separate cost connectors for good motive. It’s costly to make a contact that may maintain excessive energy output and final hundreds of cycles. It’s extra smart 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 received us a fast reply, simply not a comforting one. “400 or extra cycles.” That’s it. It would last more, however no assure. After 400 expenses, you’ll have to switch the battery harness — a $100 half —  on the bike, and presumably on the battery as nicely.

I requested an knowledgeable and good good friend Carter Marquis of Huge Orange Cables, who focuses on EV connectors, for his opinion. Seemingly, he defined, NIU has solely examined for 400 cycles, however that it’ll final for much longer in case you’re mild 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 may then fear that it will be toast after simply 200 cost cycles, however because the battery has the stable contacts of the connector pair, it needs to be rather more strong. Your mileage might range!

Connectivity Challenged

Tesla paved the trail to a key-free future, and NIU is attempting onerous to observe, largely efficiently. In concept, my XQi will establish my telephone and magically unlock it as I method. Solely it hasn’t labored but, regardless of what number of occasions I reset the dang factor I’ve pairing points. It’s seemingly simply my telephone, or perhaps I must observe my “alohomora” incantation?

The opposite option 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 outfitted with a theft-prevention setting that will get fairly obnoxious in case you transfer the bike round when it’s powered down — you may disable this within the app, nevertheless.

I discovered myself cursing that characteristic whereas loading the XQi on a trailer, the bike bleep-blooping in protest. With out entry to my telephone, 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 option 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 study 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?

Nicely, if hyper-efficiency metrics are your love language (like me) otherwise you need to present your Rivian driving buddies how a lot nearer to Gaia you might be than they’re, you’ll love the info analytics. It’s straightforward to overview your kWh/mi for each experience. I worth the theft-prevention facet (assume Lojack) and with the ability to test battery standing from wherever.

The XQi3 provides just a few neat options to the combination. You’ll be able to add further NFC keys or you may authorize different customers to unlock the bike with their telephone. Very tough.

Show & Controls

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

One enjoyable characteristic for monitor 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 helpful.

The left thumb change will allow you to change the experience mode, to both Sport or Eco. I counsel that until you’re fearful 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 precise facet incorporates a magnetic kill-switch you may 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 correct is the entrance. This takes some rewiring of mind cells in case you’re a bicycle 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 slightly tremendous glue and security wire couldn’t repair, however common dust riders may need to swap these for his or her grippy compound of selection and a few bash guards.

Suspension

For the pricepoint, the XQi3 feels nicely sorted. You may complain that it’s a bit smooth, however I feel it’s an ideal stability for on/off highway, and each rebound and preload are adjustable entrance to rear. Even operating road pressures, the NIU felt assured on all facets 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 anticipate from electrical — spirited — and it accelerates nicely 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 correct set off, and you’ll allow 8kw (10.7 horsepower) “increase” for as much as 10 seconds.

Off-road vary impressed. After a few hours operating hard-charging laps on some single monitor 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 would seemingly run even longer; I’d imagine NIU’s listed 50+ mile vary.

I actually would like to have the “Wild” pace functionality with slick tires. It will make an ideal 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 site 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 may need one thing within the works.

NIU XQi3 Rivals

The closest equal gentle, 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 in opposition to one another on paper.

All three e-motos supply 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 may swap out fairings with different coloration and graphic packages. NIU’s cockpit can be full featured with the massive coloration show, set off switches, and sensible key options, which you don’t discover on the opposite bikes.

The NIU and Surron each have a supplier 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 straightforward to spend 3 times the sticker value of a Surron on aftermarket components, however these components supply spectacular efficiency upgrades.

Using Subsequent to Elites

We didn’t check in opposition to a Surron or Talaria instantly, however we did take the XQi3 out to play with the massive children on the block. Specifically, an Alta Redshift (which ended manufacturing in 2019) operating customized race firmware and the present unchallenged powerhouse in off-road electrical bikes, the Stark Varg. It was spectacular how nicely the Alta saved up with the Varg which is 10+ years newer.

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

Huge because of 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 monitor and giving us just a few 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 pace, 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

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

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

In the event you don’t need to be seen on a “scooter” and wish the dust bike aesthetic, then the XQi3 is likely to be for you. And in case you like hitting trails after work, 30 mph is loads of pace to have enjoyable with.

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

NIU XQi3 Wild

In the event you’re really spending all of your time on singletrack, there are seemingly higher suits on your driving. There are many good causes to contemplate the XQi3 Wild, although.

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

If NIU had been to take away that pace cap, the XQi3 could be a simple selection as the one road authorized dual-sport gentle electrical cash should purchase. Even within the moped phase, it’s a beautiful possibility. It’s not the right machine for everybody, however I’d advocate anybody who’s curious to go test it out in particular person. There’s rather a lot to like about this odd duck.