Freego Nova 3 Review: A Budget Mid-Drive Dirt E-Bike That’s Actually Fun
July 7, 2025
I’ve been commuting on Freego’s X2 Pro a lot, so I was genuinely curious to see what the Nova 3 was all about—especially because the headline feature here is the mid-drive setup. On first glance, the vibe is very Surron-adjacent, just more bare-bones and a little more “open” in the way everything is laid out.
After spending time wrenching on it, tuning it, and getting it dirty, the Nova 3 landed in a pretty clear spot for me: it’s a fun, affordable mid-drive platform that rides better than I expected, but it also has a few quirks you’ll want to address if you plan to ride it hard.
First look: the “budget Surron” feel (in a good way)
The Nova 3 has that compact electric dirt bike stance that just makes sense for trails, pits, and messing around on local dirt. It sits fairly low, which I appreciated as a shorter rider.
A few things stood out immediately:
The tires are 17x3.15 with a knobby tread that feels legit for dirt, but still reasonable if you’re doing light street use.
Braking hardware looks like proper moto-style components with DOT fluid and big rotors.
Lighting is surprisingly complete for what this is: headlight, rear light with brake function, and rear turn signals.
It’s not trying to hide what it is. It’s an electric dirt bike with a simple build, and that’s part of the appeal.
The quick mods I did before riding
Out of the box, there were a few things I wanted to change right away—mostly for security and comfort.
Battery security was the first one. The battery is held by the plate, but I wanted more support pulling it toward the frame and keeping everything snug, so I added cinch straps.
I also swapped to grips I like and changed the throttle from half twist to full twist. On a bike like this, full twist just feels more natural and controllable to me, and the swap is straightforward.
One of the best surprises: the seat and mounting points are compatible with a Surron-style saddle seat, so I was able to run a proper Surron saddle. Same story with the rear fender—I threw on a Surron rear fender I had, and it fit up nicely.
Those little changes made the bike feel more “finished” immediately.
Mid-drive character on the trail
The first thing I noticed once I started rolling: it’s faster than it looks.
It pulls cleanly and feels composed when you’re moving, and the mid-drive setup makes it feel like it’s built for terrain changes—especially when you point it uphill. On an incline, it kept pulling and didn’t feel like it was running out of breath the moment the grade showed up.
Power delivery is smooth, and after tuning it (more on that below), the bike felt more eager without becoming sketchy. It still isn’t that instant “snap” you get from some harder-hitting setups, but it’s fun and usable—more of a progressive ramp that makes the bike easy to manage.
Handling: easy to maneuver, but the footrest area needs attention
The Nova 3 is genuinely easy to throw around. It changes direction well and feels playful.
But the biggest ergonomic issue for me is the footrest situation. I hesitate to even call them pegs—they feel more like footrests, and the position is awkward. My feet felt high and a bit forward, and it took conscious effort to keep everything placed where it should be.
There’s also a design detail you should not ignore: the primary belt is exposed, and the space between the foot area and the belt/drive zone is tighter than I’d like. If your foot drifts back, it’s easier than it should be to rub the belt area. That’s not just comfort—it’s a safety and confidence thing.
If you buy this bike, upgrading the footrest/peg setup would be high on my list.
Suspension: usable, but I felt everything
On smoother dirt and casual riding, it’s fine. Once I started hitting grass bumps and uneven ground, the limits showed up fast.
The front fork feels generic and I didn’t see obvious adjustability for compression. The rear shock did the job, but I’d personally upgrade it if I planned to ride off-road often.
The bike is still fun as-is, but if you’re expecting plush suspension out of the box, this isn’t that.
Brakes: strong hardware, but the lever feel wasn’t my favorite
The rotors and overall braking components look serious, and stopping power is decent. But I didn’t love the lever feel—there were moments where it felt like I had to pull the lever deep.
Also worth noting: the brake setup isn’t in the moto-style configuration some riders prefer (rear brake on the left, front on the right). If you’re coming from motos and you ride aggressively or do stunt riding, that can matter.
Tuning the controller: where the Nova 3 gets interesting
One of the reasons I’m into this bike is that it’s running a FarDriver controller, but the stock harness is customized in a way that makes Bluetooth access non-trivial.
To get proper access for tuning, I used an aftermarket harness and Bluetooth module setup. Once connected in the FarDriver app, I was able to adjust the tune to improve the way it responded.
This is where the Nova 3 starts to feel like a legit project platform. If you like tinkering, you can dial this thing in to match your riding style.
Real-world ride vibe
If I had to sum up the ride in one line: it feels like a toned-down Surron on a bike-ish frame.
It’s quick, it’s maneuverable, and it’s an absolute blast in open dirt. It also feels like it wants you to customize it—pegs/footrests, suspension, and potentially braking feel depending on your preferences.
And as always with bikes like this: there are no pedals, so street legality can be a gray area depending on where you live. Off-road is the obvious home base.
What We Like
Mid-drive power feels strong and usable, especially on hills
FarDriver tuning potential makes it easy to personalize the ride
Fun, nimble handling that encourages messing around off-road
Solid mod platform with lots of upgrade paths
Surron-style seat/fender compatibility is a nice bonus
Things To Consider
Footrest/peg placement feels awkward and sits close to the belt/drive area
Exposed belt area means you need to be mindful of foot placement
Suspension feels budget and I’d upgrade the rear shock if riding dirt often
Brake lever feel and control setup may not match moto expectations
No pedals means street legality depends on your local laws
Final Thoughts
The Freego Nova 3 surprised me—in the best way. It’s quicker than I expected, climbs confidently, and it’s genuinely fun the moment you get it on dirt. It also feels like a bike that rewards a little wrenching: secure the battery better, fix the contact points (especially the foot area), and consider suspension upgrades.
If you want a mid-drive electric dirt bike on a budget and you like the idea of building it into your own setup over time, the Nova 3 is a solid starting point.
Links
Freego Nova 3 (use promo code RUNPLAYBACK for $100 off): https://freegobikes.com/products/freego-nova3-mid-drive-electric-motorcycle
Econic FarDriver BT Dongle (use promo code RUNPLAYBACK5 for a 5% discount): https://econiccycles.com/products/fardriver-sinewave-controller-bluetooth-module
Econic FarDriver Harness (use promo code RUNPLAYBACK5 for a 5% discount): https://econiccycles.com/products/fardriver-sinewave-controller-replacement-wire-harness-small
Econic FarDriver Pre Wire Kit (use promo code RUNPLAYBACK5 for a 5% discount): https://econiccycles.com/products/controller-essentials-key-ignition-w-voltmeter
Econic QS90 R Motor (use promo code RUNPLAYBACK5 for a 5% discount): https://econiccycles.com/products/motors-qs90-motor-w-428-sprocket-hall-version-copy
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RunPlayBack Merch: http://shop.runplayback.com/