One of many lovely issues in regards to the state of the electrical bicycle trade presently being within the equal of the Twenties automotive market is that you simply’ve obtained round 100 totally different e-bike corporations all attempting new and loopy issues with typically wildly divergent design ideas. The recently-announced Heybike HERO is the purest embodiment of that concept, showcasing what occurs when an organization says “Let’s construct a brilliant light-weight carbon fiber body but additionally stuff it stuffed with suspension and heavy, high-power parts.”
Need to see this thicc boy in motion? The bike, I imply. Then try my using and testing video under. Then hold studying for my full ideas on the Heybike HERO!
Heybike HERO video assessment
Heybike HERO tech specs
- Motor: 1,000W peak-rated rear hub motor (mid-drive model additionally out there)
- High velocity: 31 mph (50 km/h)
- Vary: Claimed as much as 60 miles (as much as 100 km)
- Battery: 48V 18Ah (864 Wh)
- Weight: 75 lb (34 kg)
- Load capability: Claimed 400 lb (181 kg)
- Body: Carbon fiber full-suspension body
- Tires: 26×4″ fats tires
- Brakes: Twin-piston hydraulic disc brakes
- Extras: Coloration show, entrance LED gentle, entrance and rear suspension, kickstand, internally routed cables, detachable battery
A lot to absorb
There’s lots to absorb if you first lay eyes on the Heybike HERO.
At first look, it seems like quite a lot of step-through fats tire journey e-bikes we’ve seen. However a better look reveals hidden rear suspension within the type of horst hyperlink suspension. You virtually don’t discover it at first as a result of the shock is properly designed to be tucked up into the body behind the seat tube.
Then in fact there’s the truth that the body has quite a few unusual angles, throwing off the visuals. These are made doable by the development of carbon fiber. Good luck attempting to get a cool body like this with simply hydroformed aluminum.
There’s a considerably misplaced moto-style headlight up entrance, mounted to the identical place on the fork the place a entrance fender is conspicuously absent. There’s additionally no rear fender, although that’s fairly widespread with full-suspension e-bikes.
It could appear like there’s a mid-drive motor, however that’s only a ruse. The Heybike HERO does actually are available a 750W mid-drive variant, however we’re testing the 1,000W hub driver model. Which means the mid-drive-lookin’ field down by the pedals is simply an empty cavity, or could maintain the controller and rat’s nest of wires, at most.
A surprisingly high-digit 9-speed transmission within the type of a Shimano Altus derailleur is tucked up subsequent to 1 aspect of that chunky rear hub motor, and a 180mm disc rotor sits on the opposite aspect of the motor. A pair of dual-piston hydraulic calipers present the stopping energy.
Okay, however how does it experience?
So these are the specs and the loadout, however what’s it wish to hop and twist the throttle?
In a phrase, peppy! That hub motor places out 100 Nm of torque, which is extra than simply about any hub motor e-bike we’ve examined. By the point you attain 65 or 70 Nm, you’re into pretty highly effective territory. 100 Nm is greater than anybody actually asks for, however Heybike has no qualms about giving it to us!
Not solely does the bike rise up to a powerful (and questionably authorized) 50-ish km/h, or round 31 mph, but it surely does it on throttle solely. You possibly can in fact toss in your individual pedaling effort to benefit from the pedal help, however in contrast to most e-bikes that reduce the throttle above 20 mph, the Heybike HERO let’s you retain roaring to max velocity together with your ft firmly planted within the stationary place.
The dealing with can be higher than you’d count on, not less than for a 75 lb fats tire e-bike. The suspension feels fairly good, although once more, I’m going into this with the mindset of a 75 lb fats tire e-bike, most of which deal with like a truck.
That four-bar suspension within the rear works fairly properly, and positively higher than I used to be anticipating. It’s not going to offer larger finish e-bikes a run for his or her cash, but it surely’s lots higher than a budget stuff or the hardtails, that’s for certain.
That being stated, the bike remains to be a beast. It’s lighter than it needs to be (the final full-suspension fats tire e-bike I attempted weighed practically 100 lb), but it surely isn’t a featherweight. I wouldn’t even name it nimble. You’ve nonetheless obtained to plan your turns upfront if you’re using twisty terrain, and I’d argue that the bike is finest saved to extra relaxed trails that don’t have quite a lot of tight hairpins meant to be taken at velocity. That is no downhill mountain bike, however reasonably a enjoyable journey bike.
The 9-speeds are good to have, although few folks will most likely run during them, particularly with limitless throttle on faucet. There IS a torque sensor constructed into the bike, so if you happen to can resist the urge to throttle more often than not, you’ll take pleasure in having the broader vary of gears and the added torque sensor for pure feeling pedal help efficiency. However that full-speed throttle certain is good, particularly on a motorcycle with the ability and suspension to really feel like a lightweight path bike or motorcycle much like Sur Ron-class rides.
All in all, I’d say the Heybike HERO is quite a lot of enjoyable. I’ve been having a blast using this factor, although I’m undecided if the added costly of the carbon fiber body warrants the added value, to the tune of US $2,399. The bike can be on Indiegogo proper now the place it’s taking pre-orders. Whereas I usually give a wholesome warning about crowdfunding campaigns, on this case, we not less than know that Heybike is a tried-and-true firm that has been round for years and has delivered tens of 1000’s of e-bikes to clients. That is NOT some in a single day startup.
So the Heybike HERO has positively been a enjoyable, highly effective, and responsive e-bike that I’ve loved enjoying round on the paths and even for road using. However you’ve obtained to be actual into that carbon fiber body and the enjoyable orange visuals on this funky body to wish to pony up the money for this one.
