There are e-bikes and then there’s the Segway Xyber. The Xyber pushes the limit of what even constitutes an electric bicycle—though it does have pedals. It verges more on a moped-style vehicle with a top speed of 35 miles per hour (mph). Segway follows the popular motorbike style of Super73, but takes it to the extreme, with three throttle-driven modes plus pedal assist, a bright display for monitoring your speed and battery, expandable range, and GPS tracking. That said, the bike is quite expensive at $3,299.99. It's also big and bulky, best for riding off the beaten path. If that's what you're looking for, however, the Xyber is a lot of fun and one of the smartest options available.

Specs and Features: Rugged and Well-Connected

Priced at $3,299.99 and only available in the US, the Segway Xyber is expensive but not out of line with similar models like the HappyRun 6500W Electric Dirt Bike G300 ($3,499) and the Super73-Z Aventure Series SE ($3,195). More affordable rugged options include the Ride1Up Revv1 ($2,495) and the Aventon Aventure series ($1,999). If you don't need a rugged model with beefy tires suitable for off-roading, an e-bike like the Cowboy Classic ($3,299) makes more sense to cruise around local parks.

The Xyber can accelerate from 0 to 20mph in 2.7 seconds and has a top speed of 35mph. Its top speed is set to 20mph, but that can be changed in the mobile app. Technically, the Xyber can be a class 1 or class 2 e-bike. Without speed and throttle limitations, Segway recommends this bike only be used for off-roading. You'll also want to look into your local laws if there are qualifications around weight and size.

The bike has a 56-mile range with a single battery or 112 miles with two batteries. With both batteries in use, you also get a higher peak torque of 175Nm, up from 120Nm with a single one. By default, the bike comes with a single battery. A second can be purchased for $999.99, but it will need to be installed at a Segway dealer.

(Credit: Tyler Hayes)

The Xyber weighs 138 pounds, and its aluminum frame supports riders up to 400 pounds (technically 396.8 pounds). That's similar to the HappyRun 6500W G300's 136-pound weight and 350-pound payload limit. Segway's bike has 110mm dual-crown front suspension and 100mm adjustable rear suspension. Four-piston hydraulic brakes grace the front, and dual-piston brakes flank the rear.

I'm 5'11, 155 pounds, and didn't have any trouble lifting my leg over the bike or sitting on it. Its height isn't adjustable, so you'll need to be comfortable with a 32.3-inch seat height. My 14-year-old was able to sit on the Xyber and ride it, but because of the bike's total weight and safety concerns, it's not one I would recommend for teens.

The seat isn’t the most comfortable I’ve ever sat on, but it won't limit the amount of time you want to ride the bike. The dual shocks helped cushion bumps that would have otherwise been too much for the firm seating area. The Ride1Up Revv1 has a much more squishy and comfortable seat than the Xyber. Segway's seat isn't so rock hard or uncomfortable that you should be nervous about it, but it could use a revision at some point.

The bike’s controls are shown via a 2.4-inch color display that’s IPX7 water resistant and can output up to 1,400 nits at peak brightness. The entire bike itself offers the same water resistance, so it isn’t in danger in a downpour or other inclement weather.

In terms of security, it has an AirLock with automatic unlocking through Bluetooth via its companion mobile app. There’s even tracking via GPS and Apple’s Find My. The app offers the ability to tweak most of the settings and perform software updates.

Assembly: May Require Two People, But It Won't Take Long

The Xyber arrived at my home on a slim wooden pallet covered with cardboard. I assembled it in the driveway, where FedEx dropped it off. 

(Credit: Tyler Hayes)

You will probably need two people to lift the bike out of its crate and hold it upright initially. The good news is that there isn’t too much to the assembly process. The wheels and tires, seat, batteries, and frame all come set. The main piece that needs to be manually secured is the handlebars, but even those are already attached. They just need to be bolted on with four screws.

After the handlebars, pedals, and display are assembled, the remaining work mainly involves screwing in the tedious reflectors across various parts of the bike. The hardest part for me was simply removing all the foam and plastic wrapping on the bike to keep it safe during shipping. There’s a lot of it. Even for novices, the whole process shouldn’t take longer than 90 minutes to get the bike set and ready to ride.

Segway's Mobility App: Critical to the Experience

Once the bike is set up, you need to download the Segway Mobility mobile app for Android and iOS. For one, it’s how you register the product and get it started the first time. It’s also how the bike stays updated with the latest software. While the app has a fine design, there are a lot of things crammed into it.

(Creit: Tyler Hayes)

Outside of the nuts and bolts, the app offers some fun tricks. If you enter an address or destination into the map widget, you can get turn-by-turn navigation on the Xyber’s screen. The app also lets you share a virtual key with friends or family, check battery details, change sound effects, and access servicing information. You can disable the bike's AirLock just by bringing your phone within Bluetooth proximity.

The Xyber supports Apple's Find My tracking, and I added it just like I would an AirTag or other tech gadget. Although this isn't always the most accurate way to track something, it does add a little extra peace of mind that you'll be able to remember where you parked it. Having the tech built in and not taping an AirTag under the seat is always a nice win.

Be aware: After the first year, there is a $59.99 yearly subscription fee for cloud-based Smart Services. That includes things like phone alerts if your bike is moved while it's locked, remote power-on support, and low battery notifications.

The Riding Experience: Fun for Off-Roading

When using the throttle to zoom around, the Segway Xyber is a joy to ride. It’s quick, smooth, and silent. I didn’t hear any noise from the motor, gears, or electronics. As a motorbike, it’s a tremendous vehicle.

(Credit: Tyler Hayes)

As a pedal-assist e-bike, it’s much less notable. However, that shouldn’t be a surprise. Even before I used the Xyber, I had a suspicion that it wouldn’t be a good bike to pedal and ride like a traditional one. It’s much too heavy to ever use without any kind of electric assistance. I couldn’t—and didn’t want to—do it for more than a few dozen feet.

The pedal-assist power is also less impressive than you might expect. I found it to be adequate overall, but kind of weak on the highest level compared with the Ride1Up Revv1. That one has a noticeable kick from heavy torque when engaging the pedals on its highest assist level.

Where the Xyber shines, and the reason to buy it, is for its automatic, throttle-driven modes. You might even forget the Xyber has pedals after rotating the right-hand grip to engage the throttle. I mostly did.

There are three throttle modes: Eco, Sport, and Race. While each can achieve a top speed of 35mph, they differ in terms of acceleration. Eco mode is great for starting out, as it evens out the power and eases you into the speed. I used it for the first few days, but mostly abandoned it after that.

Sport mode is probably what you'll use most of the time. This was the case for me. It provides a healthy amount of giddy-up without being overbearing or ever feeling out of control. And while I wouldn’t describe the Race mode as being out of control, its extra boost is noticeable.

I primarily engaged Race mode when I was off-road or away from cars, people, and other objects. The fastest mode also came in handy when I was climbing steep inclines. From a stopped position, I needed to use it to make it up certain hills because Sport mode wasn’t quite cutting it.

Changing the riding modes using the twisting knob on the right handle is simple, but I constantly had trouble remembering which direction made it go faster or slower. Pushing and holding that same twist knob on top puts the Xyber into cruise control. It’s a fun feature, but outside of curiosity, I didn’t find natural places to use it.

There aren’t any turn signals on the bike, but there is a horn and a bell. The loud, electric horn is startling enough to get the attention of a car. The manual, analog bell might be an emergency measure, but the only time I used it was for novelty, to get a laugh from the dinky sound coming from such a beefy ride.

Battery Life: Good, With a Caveat

Even with a single battery, the rated 56 miles of range should be enough to really enjoy the Xyber for a full day. With two batteries, I found I hardly needed to consider the battery at all. Going on a 12-mile round-trip ride after charging it to full didn’t make much of a dent in the dual-battery range, which was still hovering around 100 miles. The battery was never too low for me to go on a ride whenever I checked on it.

(Credit: Tyler Hayes)

The bigger consideration to note with the battery is phantom drain or power draw when it's not in use, presumably from it constantly waking up. For example, I noticed around a 15% battery drain over a week of non-use while it sat in the garage. During this time, I walked next to it regularly and saw the screen light up and say it was unlocked, from it detecting my phone. You can plan ahead and turn off the app unlock feature if you know you won't be riding the bike for an extended period of time.

Recharging the batteries is basically the same as any other e-bike, but a little more intense. The charger, housed in a metal case with a dedicated handle, is bigger and bulkier than others I’ve used in the past. It's big to carry in a backpack, but it shouldn't get in the way in a garage. If you have two batteries, both can be charged at the same time.