Can an e-bike look elegant?

Pedal-assist bicycles are becoming increasingly popular around the world. They provide the mobility benefits of biking, without the sweat and the exhaustion.

Despite this, I never seriously considered owning one. They tend to be heavy, clunky, and quirky. But after going on a long ride with the Fiido C11, I thought I might have found an e-bike I’d consider owning.

With the arrival of my C11 Pro, I finally got the chance to personalize an e-bike. And I was gladly surprised with the results.

The Fiido C11 is an e-bike for urban commuting. This is apparent with its features: a step-through frame, a swept-back handlebar, a suspension fork, and a rear rack for hauling cargo.

It’s also deceptively speedy with its big 700c wheels and powerful 500W motor. My biggest gripe was that it had a cadence sensor, which made the pedal assist feel abrupt in standstill traffic.

Apparently, I wasn’t alone, as many users wanted a torque sensor for a more natural riding experience. And that’s why Fiido released the C11 Pro.

For the sake of transparency, the Fiido C11 Pro costs P65,000 at Popcycle. But because I work there, I didn’t have to pay a single centavo for it. However, I spent on all the accessories and the modifications I put on my unit.

So don’t take this piece as a critical review of the product. Rather, view it as my personal challenge to beautify my e-bike. Who knows? Maybe this could inspire you to get creative and experiment on your own.

The idea behind my build was to create the most comfortable and practical ride—without sacrificing the aesthetics or going all-out on the expenses.

The centerpiece of my build was the handlebar. I like the Traction B00 with its generous amount of back sweep. However, squeezing through tight spaces was difficult because of the 58cm width.

That’s why I opted for the Velo Orange Left Bank. At 49cm wide, the handlebar is as narrow as it can get before my shoulders feel cramped. If you find it too pricey, I eventually learned that there are more affordable alternatives on Lazada and Shopee.

Silver fenders would complement the silver handlebar. But unlike before with my Bridgestone Eurasia, I’m not spending P7,000 on Velo Orange fenders that are just going to get scratched and dirty.

Thankfully, a replica was available for P1,300 from Bike and Roll Marketing on Shopee. Installing the fenders was pretty straightforward, but I needed assistance to remove the rear wheel, which weighed a whopping 6kg because of the motor hub.

The end result of all the silver bits was that it drastically changed the character of the e-bike, transforming it from a futuristic city bike to something more like a classic European bicycle.

There are many ways to store cargo on a bicycle. For this one, I wanted a huge Wald basket at the front to complement the handlebar.

Since the suspension fork of the C11 Pro has eyelets, I was able to attach a front rack locally made by Bikedelic, where the basket was secured using zip ties.

The basket is convenient because it can hold irregularly shaped objects with bungee cords. But it can’t have too heavy a load, or else the weight will counteract the steering.

I originally didn’t plan on touching the drivetrain. But the stock shifter was awkwardly placed, and I still had a spare friction shifter lying around. Being a sucker for classic bikes, I tried attaching it out of curiosity. Surprisingly, the Rivendell Silver Shifter worked with the flat-bar adapter of Microshift.

This isn’t supposed to improve performance, but the shifting became noticeably smoother. I still kept a thumb throttle since it’s handy for taking off.

It’s easy to think an analog friction shifter wouldn’t be compatible with a thumb throttle and an electric motor. But because an e-bike still functions like a normal bicycle, this combination works flawlessly.

The last item on the list of budol was the saddle. Unlike my drop-bar bikes, a wider saddle was better because of the upright riding posture. The Brooks B17 is a common choice (for those who can afford it).

But as stylish as it looks, I had some serious concerns. The saddle costs P8,500; the leather shouldn’t get wet; and it needs to be treated occasionally—just like a fine pair of penny loafers.

Knowing all of this, would I feel comfortable parking my bike in public with such a fancy saddle? No. Thankfully, there was the “Brokes” saddle from China on Lazada for P1,600. The quality might differ from the original, but it’s close enough for me. At least I wouldn’t feel paranoid.

Was there even a need to customize my e-bike? No, not really. I just couldn’t help myself since I view my bicycles as an expression of my personality, just as much as they are tools for commuting.

However, I learned my lesson and avoided splurging on high-end components. Regardless of how much you spend, the luster dulls over time.

To minimize the cost when building a bike: Reuse parts that you have lying around; find affordable alternatives on Lazada, Shopee, or Facebook Marketplace; and purchase expensive components only when necessary.

If there’s anything to take away from this build, it’s that electric bikes have more similarities than differences compared to purely mechanical ones.

So there’s no need to be afraid of spicing them up to a certain degree. Just don’t mess with the electronics, and you should be fine.

Modifying bikes is fulfilling because it challenges my creativity, knowledge, and problem-solving skills. When executed properly, it results in a uniquely beautiful creation.