Usual disclosure: we sell this bike. So here's the version with the problems in it.
The C11 Pro is one of those bikes that quietly over-delivers — a torque sensor, hydraulic brakes and a 499Wh battery on a step-through city frame, at a price where most rivals are still fitting cadence sensors and mechanical discs. Tom's Guide gave it 8/10. Electroheads rated it five stars.
It's also 24.5 kg, the motor is noticeably louder than most, and it's a bike with a very specific job. Here's the full picture.
The Quick Verdict
Price: £1,635
What it is: a 700c step-through city commuter. 250W rear hub motor, MIVICE S200 dual-sided torque sensor, 499.2Wh (48V 10.4Ah) removable battery, dual-piston hydraulic disc brakes with power cut-off, Shimano 7-speed, 40 mm oil-damped suspension fork, IP54 weather resistance, mudguards, rack, lights and kickstand as standard. 120 kg max load.
The short version: the torque sensor is the reason to buy it and it's genuinely excellent. The weight is the reason some people shouldn't.
The Good
The torque sensor is the headline, and it earns it. The MIVICE S200 is a dual-sided, non-contact unit that Fiido says reads pedal pressure within 0.01 seconds. In practice that means the assistance arrives the instant you push, scaled to how hard you're pushing — not the on/off shove you get from a cadence sensor.
One reviewer with 50 years of cycling behind him put it best, comparing it to a cadence-sensor bike he'd owned: that one "rides like a bike with a motor strapped on it rather than a bike that helps you ride longer and faster." The C11 Pro doesn't. At this price, a torque sensor this good is genuinely unusual — most of the market still doesn't offer one.
The brakes are a standout. Dual-piston hydraulic discs with a power cut-off that kills the motor the moment you brake. Tom's Guide singled these out as one of the bike's strongest features.
Real range is good, and honestly stated. Fiido claims up to 104 km on pedal assist from the 499.2Wh battery (55 km on throttle-free electric-only riding). Independent testing has found the real-world figure convincing rather than fantasy — Electroheads put the usable spread at 80–104 km depending on mode. That's a genuinely strong result, and the battery is removable, so you can charge it indoors. If you live in a flat, that matters more than any other spec.
It arrives properly equipped. Mudguards, rear rack, chain guard, kickstand, front and rear LED lights, bell. Nothing extra to buy on day one.
It's comfortable. The step-through 700c frame, 40 mm oil-damped suspension fork and 700×40C tyres make for a settled, upright ride. Urban comfort was one of the qualities Tom's Guide picked out specifically.
It's quick enough off the line. Electroheads measured 0 to the 15.5 mph limit in just over five seconds in Turbo mode.
IP54 weather resistance — it's built to be left out in British weather and ridden in it.
The Bad
1. It's 24.5 kg, and that's the main limitation
Tom's Guide named weight as the C11 Pro's main practical limitation, and they're right. At 24.5 kg this is not a light bike.
What that means in practice:
- Riding it: irrelevant. The motor does the work and the weight adds stability.
- Wheeling it: fine.
- Lifting it onto a rack, into a van, or up stairs: genuinely hard work.
The removable battery helps a little — take it out before lifting. But if you live up a flight of stairs with no ground-floor storage, this is the wrong bike and we'd rather tell you now. Fiido's own Air is 13.75 kg if weight is your priority, at a higher price.
2. The motor is loud
Electroheads listed this as their one con: "Motor is fairly loud compared to other e-bikes."
It's not a fault and it won't stop you enjoying the bike, but if you've ridden a near-silent belt-drive e-bike, you'll notice. On a quiet towpath at 7am, you'll notice more.
3. Entry-level drivetrain
Shimano TY300D rear derailleur with a TZ500 shifter — Shimano's budget 7-speed tier. It works, it's cheap to service, and it's a sensible place to save money on a bike with this spec elsewhere. But it isn't refined, and the seven-speed range is modest if you face steep hills.
4. Chain protection is basic
Reviewers have flagged the chain guard as one of the C11 Pro's minor weak points. Trousers and chain oil remain a combination you'll want to think about.
5. Control ergonomics aren't perfect
Another minor but repeated criticism — the layout of the controls isn't as polished as the rest of the bike. Not a dealbreaker; just one of the places the cost-saving shows.
6. The saddle divides opinion
One owner was blunt: "I like the bike and it is everything it's advertised to be, but for me personally, the seat isn't comfortable." They also noted nobody else who rode it had an issue — which is the saddle story on almost every bike ever made. Budget for a replacement if you're particular, and don't judge it on a five-minute test ride.
7. It's not a hill specialist
250W rear hub plus a modest 7-speed range plus 24.5 kg means steep, sustained climbs will have you working. Moderate gradients are fine. This is a flat-to-rolling city bike, and it's honest about being one.
8. It's a city bike, full stop
Step-through frame, 700×40C tyres, 40 mm of travel. Towpaths and rough tarmac are fine. Trails are not.
Who Should Buy It
✅ Buy the C11 Pro if:
- You want a genuinely natural-feeling ride without paying premium prices
- Your commute is flat to moderately rolling
- You have ground-floor storage, or somewhere you can wheel it to
- You want everything included — rack, mudguards, lights, kickstand
- You ride in all weather and want hydraulic brakes and IP54 sealing
- You value stability and comfort over outright speed
❌ Don't buy it if:
- You'll carry it up stairs or lift it onto a car rack regularly
- You have steep hills on your route
- You want a silent motor
- You need a refined drivetrain
- You want to ride anything rougher than a towpath
The Verdict
At £1,635, the C11 Pro spends its money in exactly the right places.
The torque sensor and the hydraulic brakes are the things you feel on every single ride, and both are a class above what this price usually buys. The battery is large, removable, and delivers the range it promises. The equipment list is complete. That combination is why Tom's Guide gave it 8/10 and described its equipment-to-price ratio as one of the strongest reasons to consider it.
What you give up is weight, motor noise, drivetrain refinement, and hill-climbing headroom. Those are coherent compromises rather than corners cut at random — Fiido clearly decided ride quality mattered more than grams, and for a flat-city commuter that's the right call.
Buy it for the ride feel. Just make sure you've got somewhere to park it at ground level.
▶ See the Fiido C11 Pro at Uni-trax — and if stairs or hills are part of your life, come and talk to us first. Those are the two things that decide this bike.
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