Heybike Hero review: sparing almost no expense in a carbon fiber e-bike

Heybike Hero review: heavy duty carbon fiber

I've reviewed a few Heybike products and can say the Heybike Hero is the best of the bunch. I would hope that this flagship model was the best, given the price and feature set, but that's not always a guarantee.

There are a lot of e-bikes out there, so it isn't easy to stand out, especially when many manufacturers rely on standard parts and aluminum frames. Heybike Hero makes a strong first impression with its striking angles and orange highlights.

Don't let the carbon fiber construction fool you. The frame may weigh only 6 pounds, but the entire bike is a hefty 75 pounds thanks to the giant tires, full suspension, and 1,000W motor.

Despite not being a foldable frame like the Ranger S and Mars 2.0 I've previously reviewed, the Heybike Hero has won me over with all of that glorious suspension. Sure, the other models had front-end shocks, but it makes all the difference when integrated in the rear under the seat.

Heybike Hero review - design

Heybike Hero will stand out thanks to its sweeping curves and hard angles. Its design is thanks to the carbon fiber construction — aluminum can't be easily molded with such precision.

The frame is a step-thru design with some interesting accents. There is a mid-drive motor option, but the model I'm reviewing is the 1,000W rear hub version. Despite that, there is a housing behind the pedals that makes it appear like a motor is there, despite it not being in this model.

The rear suspension is somewhat hidden by the fork design. It is an aesthetic choice, but the complex layout of the suspension may also contribute to the lack of a fender option.

The handlebars are high set and flat across, with a display in the center. Some models may have an integrated display in the handlebars, but my model may have been shipped before that final production model was ready.

The carbon fiber frame helps reduce the weight of the Heybike Hero. Sure, it's still a 75-pound bike, but if it were an aluminum frame, it would be closer to 100 pounds.

Heybike Hero is likely one of the more noticeable e-bikes I've reviewed. Sure, fat tire bikes have drawn eyes before, but I've had more people notice the Heybike while out and about and ask questions due to its loud design.

Assembly and maintenance

Like other e-bikes I've reviewed, the Heybike Hero arrived almost completely assembled. I needed only to attach the front tire, handlebars, seat, and pedals to get out of the door.

The battery compartment is interesting as it sits under the carriage and latches in place with a small switch. The keys release the battery, but the switch keeps the battery from falling out thanks to gravity.

Getting the battery in and out isn't always the easiest procedure. The front tire likes to get in the way at certain angles.

Despite not being a folding e-bike, the Heybike Hero is surprisingly transportable. The front wheel can be removed with a simple quick-release mechanism. With the front wheel detached and seats folded down, Heybike Hero can lie in my Honda CR-V for short-term travel.

Basic maintenance should be performed regularly. No matter how much experience I get with e-bikes, I still like to take mine to a professional twice a year for a tune-up.

Heybike Hero review - features

The Heybike Hero is built to take on rough paths and survive off-road environments. Its bright accents and 400-pound weight limit make it great for riding around town, too.

The 1,000W rear hub motor offers 100 Nm of torque and up to 1,800W peak. The 750W mid-drive version has 160 Nm of torque and a 1,400W peak.

The frame weighs 6.17 pounds alone, but the entire bike, wheels, motor, and all weighs 75 pounds. The tires are 26 inches around and 4 inches thick.

Unlike other Heybike models I've reviewed, the Heybike Hero doesn't include fenders and doesn't have turn signals or taillights either. It does offer torque-sensing for a more natural riding experience.

Torque sensing is my preferred method of determining how much the motor needs to output. It means the motor applies force as the user pushes with the pedals, a direct relationship to pedaling force and motor output.

Other systems will accelerate the e-bike at high torque and power output until a speed is reached for the given PAS level, which requires less pedaling but uses more energy. The torque sensor and large battery are what allow a 60-mile max range.

Charging from zero takes about 5 hours using the included charger.

Heybike app

The Heybike app continues to be a non-player. If you're an iPhone user with an Apple Watch, there's really no reason to rely on the Heybike app, even if the alternative is nothing.

The results of tracking a bike ride across town were dubious at best. It showed I rode 8.08 miles and burned 1,475 calories. The Fitness app reports 315 calories burned after 8 miles.

Given the general ease of the ride, I highly doubt I burned what Heybike estimated. It seems the number is derived using basic data like distance, time, and rider weight.

The only time a user needs to use the Heybike app is to set their preferences for how the pedal assist levels work, but those menus seem to be bugged out, too. I wanted level one to max at 8MPH, but it shot straight to the default 14MPH no matter what I tried.

It's not a deal breaker and likely a bug, but odd, nevertheless.

Riding the Heybike Hero

The best e-bikes I've tested have at least one standout feature. There are so many options and feature sets on the market that many feel overly similar and lack differentiation.

The Heybike Hero excels because of its front and rear suspension. The large tires combined with the front and rear springs make it one of the smoothest rides I've had on an e-bike.

Sure, one model I tested had a small spring in the seat to help take off some of the force of bumps, but it wasn't the same. Areas that positively jarred me while riding felt like inconvenient cracks by comparison.

I'm definitely biased toward fat tire e-bikes for their stability and general ability to work off-road. While I tend to stick to paved paths, there's never a guarantee that I won't have to hit some rough terrain from time to time.

As good as the suspension is, there is a trade-off. There isn't a place to attach fenders, period. So, any bit of mud or water on the ground is going to get slung up your back or into your face, so beware of entering such areas at speed.

Otherwise, riding the Heybike Hero was a positive experience. The 1,000W motor performed as expected on my usual test hills, leaving me winded but not exhausted at the steepest hills.

Now, as powerful as these motors have gotten in recent years, they still haven't achieved the holy grail and carried me up the steepest incline near my home. That's not a knock against this bike, but I'm hoping that one will eventually pull it off.

The 60-mile range appears accurate, given my experience riding with the Heybike Hero. The battery is rarely ever below 50% after a day out riding 30 miles plus. Of course, the range depends on what pedal assist level you're using, the number of hills you encounter, and reliance on the throttle.

As always, pedaling with torque sensing is great. I do wish the bug with limiting the pedal assist max speeds wasn't there.

One unique feature of the Heybike Hero is the throttle. You can cap it in settings, but by default, holding the throttle no matter the PAS level will take you all the way to max speed — about 30 MPH.

I tell people that e-bikes aren't motorcycles, but that's the closest I've seen one to acting like it. However, it isn't recommended to use the throttle that way because it will eat through the battery dramatically.

There is a headlight that can be turned on with a button. There isn't a taillight included either, but if you see a reflector in the images, that's an AirTag holder.

The one feature I missed the most from Ranger S, besides fenders, is the lack of turn signals. I loved having a mechanical switch to toggle signal lights, but there's nothing like that here.

I don't have much to complain about with Heybike Hero. I wish I had gotten to test the fancy integrated display shown on their purchase page because the external display that was included feels less premium than the price warrants.

I did notice that in some circumstances, like starting from a stop, the motor would chug a bit. It stops if you start pedaling, but from my experience, the throttle shouldn't struggle at takeoff like that.

Sleek and smooth riding

Heybike Hero is a well-made e-bike stuffed to the brim with heavy-duty tech. The carbon fiber frame is all that saves it from being an overweight and unwieldy beast.

The fat tires, torque sensor, and throttle work together to make riding Heybike Hero feel smooth and responsive. I feel stable and secure on this big, heavy e-bike.

If you're looking for an e-bike that can perform off the pavement and make it up most inclines, this is a good option. However, the price and weight may be prohibitive for some customers.

Heybike Hero review - Pros

• Lightweight frame allows for heavy-duty components
• Fat tires keep things stable, even off-road
• Torque sensing makes riding feel more natural.
• High peak power and torque makes climbing some hills a breeze
• Long range and fast charging

Heybike Hero review - cons

• Heavy bike is heavy
• Warranted premium price for the motor and construction, but missing features like turn signals at this price seems odd
• No option for fenders is a problem for rainy weather
• No taillight, brake light, or turn signals
• Buggy app wouldn't respect pedal assist settings
• High price and specific feature set might alienate some potential customers

Rating:4.0 out of 5

The Heybike Hero is an excellent high-end e-bike with a price tag to match. It is understandable why some features aren't here since they would have driven the price even higher, and the design may not have allowed it.

However, now that I've had e-bikes with turn signals, it feels like they need to be in them all for safety alone. This would easily be a 5 if the missing features we mentioned above were included.

No option for fenders is a big miss, but rear suspension almost makes up for it.

Where to buy the Heybike Hero

Buy the Heybike Hero with a 1,000W rear hub motor directly from Heybike's website for $2,599. The 750W mid drive option is $2,999. Heybike Hero is available in tangerine or lime yellow.