Heybike is well-known as an entry-level electrical bike model, so what is that this firm doing constructing a mid-drive e-bike that’s leaps and bounds above something they’ve produced earlier than? That’s precisely what I needed to search out out – and why I made a decision to change into the primary to journey this newly launched e-bike.
The ALPHA was unveiled at present on the Shopper Electronics Present (CES), however I acquired a sneak peek on the bike final month, the place I had the possibility to spend a couple of hours driving it in each metropolis and off-road environments.
However let’s begin with a spec overview, which you’ll discover just under the video of my journey beneath.
Heybike ALPHA Testing Video
Heybike ALPHA Tech Specs
- Motor: 500W mid-drive Galaxy motor (MiVice X700)
- Prime pace: 28 mph (45 km/h) on pedal help or 20 mph (32 km/h) on throttle
- Vary: As much as 60 miles (96 km)
- Battery: 680 Wh frame-integrated and detachable battery
- Weight: 32 kg (71 lb)
- Body: 6061 aluminum alloy
- Tires: 26x.4.0″ fats tires
- Brakes: Twin-piston hydraulic disc brakes
- Extras: Shimano Altus 8-speed shifter, torque sensor in mid-drive motor, included fenders, included rear rack, LCD show, entrance and rear LED lights, out there in white or black colorways
Heybike ALPHA first journey
Getting the possibility to check this e-bike out a month earlier than its launch meant that not each resolution had been finalized. The throttle appears to be totally different (now it’s a half-twist), the precise brakes look barely totally different, however the main design choices are all there.
Meaning it’s nonetheless acquired the primary mid-drive in Heybike’s new line of Galaxy motors, together with that torque sensor for pedal help. It’s additionally nonetheless acquired the opposite main gamers, just like the included rear rack and fenders, the sunshine package deal with flip alerts, the good shade show, the choice of a step-over and step-thru body, and so forth.
Principally, the bones are there, and so off I went to check this factor out on a mixture of off-road adventuring and metropolis cruising. The previous is what the bike is supposed for, whereas the latter is what most individuals will truly use it for.
The very first thing I seen on the ALPHA was that regardless of a 500W sticker on that motor, it’s surprisingly highly effective. The 105 Nm of torque tells a fuller image, and I used to be in a position to simply climb steep hills, even ranging from relaxation.
You may see within the video above how properly it climbs in a variety of conditions, together with proper up a set of stairs.
After all, one of many main advantages of a mid-drive motor is that you could downshift for further torquey begins and hill climbs, then upshift for extra pace on the high finish. And with the included torque sensor, the pedaling feels fairly good. There’s none of that ‘throw you again within the saddle’ feeling such as you get from a less expensive cadence sensor that triggers the entire energy supply directly. The torque sensor within the motor supplies a a lot smoother and extra pure feeling expertise.
This Galaxy motor is the primary in Heybike’s upcoming line of motors that each one bear the Galaxy identify. The precise producer of the motor is MiVice, which is an e-bike element maker whose manufacturing unit I’ve visited and whose high quality and precision I’ve witnessed firsthand. I’m glad to see Heybike went with such a superb motormaker, versus one of many lesser-known manufacturers on the market.
The MiVice X700 here’s a reliable, torquey motor that places out extra energy than you’d count on after studying its spec sheet.
I don’t personally know the way lengthy that 680 Wh battery can final as I didn’t get the possibility to completely deplete it by myself take a look at driving expertise, however I’m going to name bull hooey on the 60 miles (96 km) declare for real-world driving. Sure, I’m certain in case you put it within the lowest pedal help mode and pedal your coronary heart out, you may get someplace close to there. However only a few folks will journey a motorbike like this within the lowest energy mode, so the real-world vary probably gained’t be near 60 miles.
The truth is, the inclusion of a throttle does imply many individuals (if not most) will probably spend a superb chunk of their saddle time not pedaling, and as a substitute cruising round that 20 mph (32 km/h) throttle-enabled high pace. To go sooner, as much as 28 mph (45 km/h), pedaling shall be required, however 20 mph remains to be going to really feel quick on any fats tire e-bike.
If you’re going throttle-only, you’re lacking out on the fantastic thing about that torque sensor that permits such good pedal help response, and also you’re additionally going to desire a crash course in how you can journey a mid-drive e-bike. Extra particularly, you’ll wish to educate your self on how you can shift a mid-drive e-bike. I made a complete video on the topic that I’d suggest. However the abstract is to let off energy briefly whereas shifting and don’t spend your complete time in your smallest (quickest) gear.
In contrast to some nicer e-bikes, the Heybike ALPHA doesn’t have a sensor to chop energy robotically when it feels you shifting gears. Meaning you’ve acquired to watch out shifting below energy as a result of the bike shall be derailing its chain whereas the motor nonetheless pulls it throughout the sprockets. At low energy, that’s not horrible. However in case you’re pedaling (or throttling) tougher, the motor shall be yanking that chain prefer it’s beginning a mower. You’ll know you tousled since you’ll hear horrible chain-grinding noises because the sprocket tooth protest. So be sure to loosen up on the throttle or pedaling energy for a cut up second earlier than you provoke a shift.
The truth is, due to how torquey the motor is, Heybike has programmed the motor to disallow throttle begins from relaxation. There’s simply a lot torque that it could put a whole lot of stress on the drivetrain – particularly from the riders who ignore correct practices and go away their bike in high gear on a regular basis. So that you’ll have to show the pedal 1 / 4 or half a rotation earlier than that throttle kicks in. That’s the draw back of a robust and high-torque mid-drive motor, particularly at a time when bicycle drivetrain parts like chains and sprockets are nonetheless catching as much as the quantity of energy that motor makers are actually placing in e-bikes.
It’s truthful to say that mid-drives aren’t for many who need the best and best driving expertise – that’s the place hub motors shine. However mid-drives have many different bigger advantages that make them useful. They provide higher torque for hill climbing in low gear, they make the bike higher balanced for driving and carrying, larger effectivity driving, simpler tire modifications, and normally simply really feel extra pure.
So if it seems like I’m speaking down mid-drives, please know that that’s not the case. The truth is, I favor them more often than not. It’s simply that you must journey a mid-drive e-bike a bit in a different way – you’ll be able to’t try fully.
A extra luxurious driving expertise
Heybike is pushing the concept that the ALPHA offers a extra luxurious driving expertise over their hub motor e-bikes, and I’m inclined to agree. This isn’t a luxurious e-bike, nevertheless it feels a lot nicer to pedal and journey like a typical bike, even in case you’re counting on a higher-power mode to do many of the arduous be just right for you.
The torque sensor nonetheless makes you’re feeling such as you’re in command of the bike whereas pedaling, and that it’s not only a bike beneath you.
On the identical time, you’ll be able to completely go locations you wouldn’t have the ability to journey a fats tire e-bike on pedal energy alone. That torquey motor makes fast work of hills and the entrance suspension mixed with the fats tires assist the bike traverse terrain that many individuals would keep away from on their typical hybrid or commuter e-bike.
This isn’t a extremely optimized mountain bike, so don’t suppose you’re going to hit the native downhill trails, nevertheless it’s nonetheless going to take most riders to some attention-grabbing locations they won’t have thought-about earlier than. That’s, in the event that they select to journey it off-road. Like we’ve seen prior to now, many “journey” bikes like these finally change into pavement prowlers, spending most of their lives within the bike lanes or cruising the native suburban streets.
And that’s advantageous! A significant benefit of a fats tire e-bike is that it’s merely extra comfy to journey over any terrain, whether or not that’s roots in your native nature path or potholes in your native espresso store commute.
How a lot does it value?
Right here’s the kicker – we simply don’t know but. Heybike has stated the ALPHA shall be “competitively priced”, and Heybike is thought for aggressively reasonably priced pricing, having produced many e-bikes within the $1,000 to $1,400 vary. Clearly, this one goes to wish to value much more because of the nicer powertrain, however Heybike has at all times achieved a superb job of retaining costs reasonably priced for the widest variety of riders.
Hopefully, we’ll hear pricing info from Heybike quickly so we are able to see the place the ALPHA matches into the market.
Till then, I can solely inform you that I used to be impressed with the journey. It labored nice for each rolling by grass and dirt-filled trails, in addition to for cruising across the metropolis on streets and bike lanes.
However sufficient of my ideas, now let’s hear what you consider the just-announced Heybike ALPHA. Pontificate within the remark part beneath!
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