Ebike Industry Updates

There are two speed modes you can switch between by pressing the up and down arrow buttons on the handlebar display at the same time. It’s quick and easy to swap between them, and we started calling them UK and US riding modes, though Fiido doesn’t use those terms.

We’ll describe these modes in more detail below, but whichever you pick, both deliver a hefty dose of power from the large geared rear hub motor. As you’d expect, for instant power, you’ll reach for the thumb throttle, while pedal assist gives you more gradual acceleration.

In both cases, the power delivery isn’t the smoothest we’ve tried, but it’s definitely effective. Acceleration ramps up quickly once you overcome the inertia of this heavy fat bike and get rolling above about ten mph. The torque sensing responds most smoothly to a decent amount of pressure on the pedals, combined with selecting the right power level for the terrain. When you hit that sweet spot, it feels like you’re getting a good workout while also getting an efficient and proportional boost from the motor.

It’s worth mentioning that there’s a fair bit of noise from the rear hub motor. We don’t necessarily see this as a bad thing – other road and trail users will hear you coming. After all, it’s now law that electric cars – whose motors are often silent – be made audible when driven, precisely as a safety feature.

As we’ve mentioned, out of the box, there are two riding modes you can quickly switch between, roughly similar to UK and US modes, though neither mode seems to be strictly legal.

Troxus makes the bike in one frame size suitable for “most riders.” At 5’11”, I typically find a proper (or close to it) fit on most single-size e-bikes, so I tested this claim by inviting two of my fellow reviewers to ride the Lynx Plus and report back.

At 5’0”, Sydney is the shortest of our testers. She easily found a comfortable position with proper reach and leg extension, leaving a few inches of saddle height for riders even shorter. On the other end was Matthew, at 6’5”; he liked the bike’s fun factor and feel but was limited in his leg extension. He had a blast using the throttle, regardless.

We agreed that the Lynx Plus was comfortable. Its saddle felt supportive and well-cushioned, the BMX-style handlebars were flared at an ergonomic angle, and the rubber grips felt soft and easy to hold on to.

I’ve spoken at length about the bike’s handling, but I’ll reiterate that it was quick, playful, and zippy.

I thought the speed of motor engagement was good in both riding modes—but perhaps too good in the torque-sensing mode. The Lynx could feel noticeably jerky in its torque-sensing mode; it sped up and slowed down rapidly with small changes in cadence and pedal pressure. This wasn’t a deal breaker, but it didn’t feel as natural as we hoped for.

In terms of sizing and fit, we were pleased to note that the bike is available in two frame sizes: a small for riders between 5’0” and 5’7” and a medium fitting those from 5’7” to 6’3”. We tested the medium, which felt appropriate for my height of 5’11”, with room to spare for taller riders.

The Trax LT’s adjustable stem allows riders to tailor the bike’s fit to their preferences. With the stem angled forward, users can adopt a more forward-leaning riding position. Conversely, with the stem set vertically, the riding position can be more upright. Personally, I preferred the upright seating position due to some back issues, as it alleviated pressure.

I found the curved handlebars, cushioned saddle, and rubber grips to be comfortable as well; I was able to enjoy long test rides without any soreness.

The bike’s user interface was simple, colorful, and easy to read and understand. A large button pad made for simple operation and a color LED display inevitably gave the bike a nicer feel than a traditional black-and-white screen. I also appreciated the added touch of its included road animation that played when the bike was moving.

Troxus included fenders, a headlight, and a 55-lb capacity cargo rack with a taillight/brake light. We appreciate these features, as they are well suited to commuting, but considering the Trax LT’s price of roughly $1,600 (at the time of writing) and its display’s compatibility, we hope to see turn signals included in the future to increase the bike’s safety factor.

Securing the rack to the hitch

Assembling and mounting the rack doesn’t take long. I assembled the rack itself in about 20 minutes; there are only a few parts to bolt together. The 24mm threaded bolt that attaches the hitch rack to the receiver offers a more secure fit than the models with the expansion bolts. All racks have a bit of sway once mounted, but my sense was that the Yakima OnRamp LX had less than most.

Loading bikes

Thanks to the ramps integrated in the trays, it’s easy to roll an e-bike into position. The bigger issue here is making sure that the trays are positioned properly so that the two e-bikes don’t interfere with each other. Once that is dialed, the e-bikes roll into position with ease.

While many hitch racks mount both trays on a central arm that comes off the mount, the OnRamp LX is different in that there is a large, square-shaped frame to which the trays are mounted. What this does is give a more stable platform for the trays, which cuts down on sway and wiggle. That’s good.

However, the trays are bolted into position on one side, while a hand-tightened knob is on the other. The side that is bolted in determines, in part, both how wide and how far to the left or right the tray will sit. We would like this rack a little better if there were knobs on both sides, though, so that it would be easier to slide the whole tray side-to-side more easily as well as adjusting width simultaneously.

The reason why is that the e-bikes have to be positioned left-to-right so that the lobster claws can reach the frame or seatpost; because it can’t be moved, the bikes must be shifted into position relative to the arm.