Segway knows their way around the e-bike world, and nothing showcases their love of mobility vehicles and style better than the Xyber line. The original Xyber brought dirt-bike attitude and serious performance to Segway’s e-bike lineup, and now the line is expanding to street riding, too. The new Segway Xyber Air takes everything great about its predecessor and makes it lighter, more affordable, and focused on everyday riding.
The Segway Xyber Air leans into the futuristic look, with X-shaped lights on the front and back and an angular design that makes it look a little like you rode it out of one of the Matrix movies. Despite the “Air” name, this still isn’t exactly a featherweight at roughly 84 pounds, but the aluminum frame gives it a cleaner and more streamlined look than the original Xyber. It can support up to 330 pounds.
It also packs plenty of power behind those looks. The Xyber Air uses a 750-watt nominal motor with up to 1,600 watts of peak power and 80 Nm of torque. Segway says it can accelerate from 0 to 20 miles per hour in nine seconds. A 717 Wh battery provides up to 58 miles of claimed range on a charge, though as always with e-bikes, your actual mileage will depend on factors like rider weight, speed, terrain, weather, and how much help you’re asking from the motor.
It also sports a full-color TFT screen that can display ride specs and navigation, automatically adjust brightness, and even control music and handle or reject calls from a connected phone. Segway also includes its Intelligent Ride System, a suite of features like AirLock auto-unlocking, Apple Find My, GPS tracking, motion alerts, and Lost Mode remote disabling. Keep in mind that some connected features, including GPS tracking and Lost Mode, require a subscription after the first year.
On the bike side, it has a dual-crown front fork with 80 millimeters of travel to smooth out your ride and 20-by-4-inch tires for plenty of traction and cushioning on city streets and rougher pavement. You’ll stop equally smoothly thanks to two-piston hydraulic disc brakes on the front and back with 180-millimeter rotors. There’s also traction control, hill-start assist, and regenerative hill-descent control to help keep things composed when conditions get a little more interesting.
When the sun starts going down, a 600-lumen automatic headlight helps light the way, while the taillight incorporates brake-light functionality so the people behind you have a better idea of what you’re doing.
You can also toss on some optional accessories to make sure you arrive at your destination with everything you’ll need. A $79.99 front and rear fender set helps keep road spray off you and the bike, while the $79.99 rear rack includes built-in bungee attachment points and can carry up to 22 pounds. There’s also a $99.99 weather-resistant hardshell in-frame bag with a built-in combination lock for carrying tools, electronics, or anything else you’d rather not leave exposed.
The Segway Xyber Air can function as a class 1, 2, or 3 e-bike. If you’re not sure what that means, it’s fairly simple:
- Class 1 means the motor only kicks in when you’re actively pedaling, and it typically tops out at 20 miles per hour. The electric portion boosts how much speed each pedal rotation provides.
- Class 2 adds in a throttle, but is also generally capped at 20 miles per hour. So if you’re tired of pedaling, you can coast and throttle a bit, and the motor does all the work. Finally,
- Class 3 means you’re pedaling to engage the motor, but the power provided is much higher, allowing for a top speed of 28 miles per hour.
There’s also a Hybrid Mode that combines the two, allowing you to use the throttle up to 20 miles per hour while pedal assist can continue up to 28 miles per hour, where local laws allow it. You can select the different modes through the Segway app, which gives the Xyber Air flexibility depending on where and how you’re riding.
These distinctions can matter quite a bit depending on where you live, and it’s important to make sure you familiarize yourself with your state laws. Segway specifically notes that class functionality, top speed, availability, and operation are all subject to federal, state, and local laws.
For example, in my home state, the fact that the Xyber Air can be a class 3 means someone under age 15 wouldn’t be allowed to ride it, and the bike would have to be registered with the motor vehicle commission.
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