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 turn into the primary to trip this newly launched e-bike.
The ALPHA was unveiled right this moment on the Client Electronics Present (CES), however I received a sneak peek on the bike final month, the place I had the possibility to spend just a few hours using it in each metropolis and off-road environments.
However let’s begin with a spec overview, which you’ll discover slightly below the video of my trip 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, obtainable in white or black colorways
Heybike ALPHA first trip
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.
Which means it’s nonetheless received the primary mid-drive in Heybike’s new line of Galaxy motors, together with that torque sensor for pedal help. It’s additionally nonetheless received the opposite main gamers, just like the included rear rack and fenders, the sunshine bundle with flip alerts, the good shade show, the choice of a step-over and step-thru body, and many others.
Mainly, 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 observed 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 capable of simply climb steep hills, even ranging from relaxation.
You possibly can see within the video above how effectively it climbs in a lot of conditions, together with proper up a set of stairs.
In fact, one of many main advantages of a mid-drive motor is that you may downshift for additional torquey begins and hill climbs, then upshift for extra pace on the prime 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 all the energy supply directly. The torque sensor within the motor gives 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 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 anticipate after studying its spec sheet.
I don’t personally understand how lengthy that 680 Wh battery can final as I didn’t get the possibility to completely deplete it by myself check using expertise, however I’m going to name bull hooey on the 60 miles (96 km) declare for real-world using. Sure, I’m certain should 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 individuals will trip a motorbike like this within the lowest energy mode, so the real-world vary doubtless gained’t be near 60 miles.
In reality, the inclusion of a throttle does imply many individuals (if not most) will doubtless spend chunk of their saddle time not pedaling, and as a substitute cruising round that 20 mph (32 km/h) throttle-enabled prime pace. To go quicker, as much as 28 mph (45 km/h), pedaling shall be required, however 20 mph continues to be going to really feel quick on any fats tire e-bike.
In case you are going throttle-only, you’re lacking out on the fantastic thing about that torque sensor that allows such good pedal help response, and also you’re additionally going to need a crash course in find out how to trip a mid-drive e-bike. Extra particularly, you’ll need to educate your self on find out how to shift a mid-drive e-bike. I made an entire video on the topic that I’d suggest. However the abstract is to let off energy briefly whereas shifting and don’t spend the whole time in your smallest (quickest) gear.
Not like some nicer e-bikes, the Heybike ALPHA doesn’t have a sensor to chop energy mechanically when it feels you shifting gears. Which means you’ve received to watch out shifting beneath 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 should you’re pedaling (or throttling) more durable, 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 enamel protest. So ensure you loosen up on the throttle or pedaling energy for a break up second earlier than you provoke a shift.
In reality, 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 quite a lot of stress on the drivetrain – particularly from the riders who ignore correct practices and depart their bike in prime 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 at the moment are placing in e-bikes.
It’s honest to say that mid-drives aren’t for individuals who need the best and best using expertise – that’s the place hub motors shine. However mid-drives have many different bigger advantages that make them invaluable. They provide higher torque for hill climbing in low gear, they make the bike higher balanced for using and carrying, larger effectivity using, simpler tire modifications, and often simply really feel extra pure.
So if it appears like I’m speaking down mid-drives, please know that that’s not the case. In reality, I choose them more often than not. It’s simply that you need to trip a mid-drive e-bike a bit in a different way – you may’t try utterly.
A extra luxurious using expertise
Heybike is pushing the concept that the ALPHA offers a extra luxurious using expertise over their hub motor e-bikes, and I’m inclined to agree. This isn’t a luxurious e-bike, however it feels a lot nicer to pedal and trip like a typical bike, even should you’re counting on a higher-power mode to do a lot 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 motorbike beneath you.
On the identical time, you may completely go locations you wouldn’t have the ability to trip 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, however 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 trip it off-road. Like we’ve seen up to now, many “journey” bikes like these in the end turn into pavement prowlers, spending most of their lives within the bike lanes or cruising the native suburban streets.
And that’s wonderful! A serious benefit of a fats tire e-bike is that it’s merely extra comfy to trip 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 price?
Right here’s the kicker – we simply don’t know but. Heybike has mentioned the ALPHA shall be “competitively priced”, and Heybike is thought for aggressively inexpensive pricing, having produced many e-bikes within the $1,000 to $1,400 vary. Clearly, this one goes to wish to price much more because of the nicer powertrain, however Heybike has all the time carried out job of holding costs inexpensive for the widest variety of riders.
Optimistically, we’ll hear pricing info from Heybike quickly so we are able to see the place the ALPHA suits into the market.
Till then, I can solely let you know that I used to be impressed with the trip. 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. Hold forth within the remark part beneath!
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