Kingbull Literider 2.0 Review: Versatile, Powerful, But Not Perfect

Kingbull estimates the Literider 2.0’s range at 55 miles. In our low power test, the bike actually outperformed this, stretching to 60.75 miles. Additionally, when compared to a group of similar bikes, the Literider came in just above the 59.05 average.

We also tested the bikes range in its maximum assist level, which yielded a 34.81 mile result. This is also above average, but by a much more significant margin, as the class average was 27.87 miles.

There are a few key takeaways here. From a practical perspective, the full power test is a real win for the Literider. It has enough range here to afford riders multiple outings between charges, even at full tilt. This really strengthens the Literider’s case as a commuter or grocery getter.

Impressively, this range comes at a lower price than several bikes in the comparison.

Part of this showing comes down to the battery hardware. The 720 Wh battery is on the larger side, and this extra juice pays off. However, it’s not just down to the extra capacity; the Literider 2.0 also gets credit for its efficiency, especially on the max power test. When calculating efficiency by dividing watt hours by mileage, the Literider was impressively trim at 20.68 Wh per mile (max power test). For perspective, the category average was 24.71 Wh per mile.

In short, range is a strength for the Literider 2.0, and it’s up to the task of longer rides or space between charges.

On the face of it, the Literider has the right stuff for hill climbs. Our test rider, Justin, tackled Devil’s Backbone (our hill test location) once using the pedal assist mode, and again using only the throttle.

This bike yielded some slightly unexpected results in the throttle test. It reached the summit in 2:10 at an average speed of 13.9 mph; a bit slower than the category average of 2:01 at 15.2 mph. We weren’t expecting this, as the Literider’s motor does feel decently powerful. However, further investigation showed that the motor’s peak power output is 1056 W, and it produces 80 nm of torque; neither of these numbers are drastically low, but they are on the more modest end of the spectrum for this class of bike.

In the pedal test, the Literider 2.0 was actually above average, as it finished the climb in 1:52 at 16.2 mph. The averages here were 2:00 flat and 15.4 mph.

The Literider 2.0 is a capable hill climber, and these results are solid, particularly in the pedal test. While it wasn’t the fastest using throttle only, it still gets the job done, and we’d say that the Literider is up to the challenge of ascending challenging grades.

The Literider 2.0 is equipped with Dyisland two piston hydraulic brakes, which yielded a 26 feet 4 in average stopping distance. This is considerably longer than the comparison bikes – the average stopping distance for the category was 19 feet 11 inches.

The numbers line up with the real world experience, as these brakes don’t feel confident. There’s a sponginess and lack of feedback from this system that isn’t as confidence inspiring as other setups.

I wouldn’t go as far as saying these brakes are unsafe; at class 2 speeds or for light city riding, they’re fine, but there is definitely room for improvement here. With cargo or a passenger on the rear rack, having solid brakes becomes a priority, and we would recommend riders upgrade the brakes themselves if they plan on carrying cargo, as the bike may not be safe without that upgrade.

The reason for this requires me to nerd out for a few sentences. These brakes have some of the smallest reservoirs we’ve seen, meaning there is less fluid to actually activate the brakes. Several factors are at play in good braking performance, but there are a few key repercussions of the smaller reservoir.

One of the biggest is increased sensitivity to anything that’s out of place in the system. If there’s any leaks or air contamination, the brakes will lose performance quickly. This isn’t good for any hydraulic disc brakes, but the smaller reservoir makes it especially susceptible. Think of it this way: if I spill a barrel of oil into a small pond, the impact is likely to be significant – it could change the whole ecosystem in that body of water. If I spill that same single barrel into the ocean, it’s not necessarily harmless – but the oil is unlikely to overwhelm the entire biome.

Additionally, less fluid doesn’t distribute heat as well – the fluid can actually boil, introducing air bubbles into the brake lines – which causes the contamination issues I just discussed.

The simple version is that better stopping power would benefit this bike a lot. We’d recommend a brake upgrade for any rider planning on using the rear rack for cargo or passengers.

The folding Ebike category has grown to be extremely broad, and folders have been made to suit all kinds of use cases and ride styles. Some modern folders are designed for last mile commuting – resulting in a simple, bare bones approach where comfort is an afterthought. Others overlap with utility Ebikes, feeling much more stable and robust.

My point is, folders come in all shapes and sizes. This means that in terms of ride quality, they all feel radically different – especially ones on opposite sides of the spectrum. Just because they all fold, doesn’t mean they all feel the same.

The Literider 2.0 definitely leans toward the larger and more utilitarian side of the folder spectrum. It has fat tires, an optional passenger seat, and a rear rack for storage. This, combined with its 750W motor, make the bike versatile – it’s equipped for more than just leisure rides.

This doesn’t mean that leisure is out of the question. The front suspension, paired with the 20 x 4.0 tires, smooth out bumps quite well. The saddle isn’t quite as plush, but this is often a matter of preference, and can be easily changed. Riders are positioned upright with a bias of weight towards the saddle rather than the bars, and the reach is a bit lengthy, but not outrageously so. The positioning is largely comfortable – but the extra weight on the saddle does become noticeable after a few miles. Kingbull offers a suspension seatpost upgrade (or there are 3rd party options) which isn’t an absolute necessity, but it would be a reasonable purchase if you plan on taking longer rides.

Kingbull provides a sizing guide that establishes the “suitable” height range is between 5’2″ and 6’6″, but they also specify that it will be most comfortable for riders between 5’3″ and 5’10”. I think this is a fair characterization, and I’d actually stretch the comfort range up by an inch or two; I’m about 6’3″, and felt that the bike was reasonably comfortable, but I was slightly hunched over. If you’ve read any of my reviews by now, you’ll note I say this about most bikes. It’s not a knock on the Literider; the fit is solid, and the adjustable stem and seatpost make it workable for a wide variety of sizes.

Handling wise, the bike feels quite large. I’d liken it to a bayliner as opposed to a jet ski; It’s not very nimble, and we noticed some flex coming in and out of corners. That said, the fat tires do provide solid grip, and it does feel pretty settled at cruising speed.

Portability is always an important feature of folding Ebikes, but as I mentioned, they come in all shapes and sizes. The Literider isn’t designed to fit in the smallest of spaces. Rather, it feels like a full-size bike that can fold up to a manageable footprint. The folded dimensions are 38″ x 21″ x 33″. If math isn’t your thing, picture about the size of a large piece of luggage.

The Literider weighs in at 72.46 lbs, which isn’t abnormal for this style of bike, but it’s heavy enough that having a friend help with transport would be beneficial. Removing the battery is also an option, as it weighs almost 9 lbs on its own.

This bike’s adaptability is arguably its greatest strength, and it pairs well with the solid level of comfort to make a versatile option.

In short, the Literider 2.0 has a solid core to build on. The range is good, the motor is powerful, and it checks the box as far as comfort. The versatility is another upside as well.

The next level for this bike would be improved brakes and programming. As I said, this is a good foundation, but reevaluation in those areas could help build the case for the Literider. The potential is there, and we’d love to see it realized, because there are some real assets here.

Happy Riding! Make sure to let us know if you have any questions or if you think we left anything out in this review of the Kingbull Literider 2.0 down in our comments section.