Heybike Hero

This is a review of Heybike’s Hero, a carbon-framed e-bike packing a 1,000W motor, full suspension, and fat tires.

Heybike makes several bold claims about this bike, including that it’s “destined to shatter boundaries, spearhead the group and turn the impossible into reality.”

In this BikeRide review, we’ll test Heybike’s claims to see if this really is “the ultimate all-terrain bike.”

About Heybike

Heybike is a Chinese e-bike brand founded in 2021. The company headquarters is listed as being in San Francisco, but Heybike also sells e-bikes in Canada and several European countries.

Heybike currently offers eight models, including fat-tire e-bikes for on and off-road, electric folders, a commuter, and a cargo bike. BikeRide has review pages for every model in the HeyBike lineup, and we’ve previously tested the Heybike Mars.

What Is the Heybike Hero?

Heybike calls the Hero the “Ultimate electric all-terrain bike.” At first glance, it looks like it could be up to the task. The Hero has beefy 26” x 4” tires, a 120mm hydraulic coil suspension fork, and a rear air shock. Heybike offers buyers the choice of an unrestricted 1,000W rear hub motor or a 750W mid-drive motor.

The Hero has a thumb throttle with a speed limit that can be adjusted up to 35mph. Both versions of the Hero use a 48V system with an 864Wh battery housed within the frame. This combination of a throttle, powerful motor, and high top speed means the bike cannot be ridden legally on public roads or trails in most places.

Heybike states on its website that the Hero’s battery is certified for compliance with UL 2849. However, UL 2849 applies to an e-bike’s entire electrical system, not the battery. Batteries are typically certified for UL 2271.

When queried, Heybike said the UL 2849 certification is in progress, not complete, and they couldn’t provide a timeline for completion. Given the Hero was launched over a year ago and Heybike states that the bike is UL 2849-certified, this raises serious doubts over the reliability of Heybike and the Hero.

The Hero has IPX4 weather protection, which means it’s protected against water splashes from any direction, but this is insufficient for heavy rainfall, which isn’t what one would expect from the “Ultimate electric all-terrain bike.”

Pros

Power and Speed

The Hero is powerful and fast on pavement and light gravel or dirt paths. In these terrains, the bike lives up to Heybike’s claims of exhilarating motor power, whether using PAS or the throttle.

Adjustable Speed Limits

The Hero allows users to customize the speed limits for both throttle and PAS in each assist level or keep one speed limit for PAS and throttle. These settings are easily changed via the Heybike app. It’s also nice to be able to adjust the sensitivity of the torque sensor.

Full-Suspension Comfort

On less aggressive off-road terrain, the Hero‘s suspension gives a more comfortable ride than the hardtail adventure e-bikes we’ve tested. The rear shock can be tuned by changing the air pressure, giving it a level of adjustability not found in many cheap mechanical shocks. The smooth ride over gravel and dirt roads makes it possible to enjoy the bike’s high top speed without being knocked around. However, the limits of the suspension’s capabilities are easy to find.

Cons

Off-Road Ability vs. Heybike’s Claims

Our test bike’s unrestricted 1,000W motor means it can only be ridden on private land without license and registration.

Heybike heavily promotes the bike’s off-road capability, going so far as to call it an “EMTB.” However, several design flaws prevented the Hero from being ridden safely on rough off-road trails.

The Hero’s unbranded hydraulic coil suspension fork lacks the adjustability of an air fork and offers no rebound adjustment. The air pressure in the rear air shock can be adjusted using a shock pump, but it also lacks rebound adjustment. Being able to adjust suspension rebound is critical when riding challenging terrains.

Standard obstacles such as rocky double-track or heavy washboarding on forestry roads required riding very slowly and caused me to bounce violently. When tested on local dirt bike trails, the Hero failed to rise to the challenge.

Another issue is the carbon frame suffers from significant lateral flex around the bottom bracket and rear suspension linkage. This flex is abundantly obvious when shaking the bike side to side, especially when pedaling hard and moving at high speeds.

The bike shakes at high speeds, as well as on descents, as the rear wheel and frame shudder and move around over loose terrain and rocks. This extreme flex raises serious doubts over the frame’s durability.

When asked about this lateral flex, Heybike said it was due to the “innovative” carbon frame design and that it’s normal for the frame to exhibit some deformation, especially at higher speeds. Well, I haven’t experienced this kind of “deformation” on high-end carbon mountain bikes, even at high speeds, through corners and over jumps.

The combination of a cheap suspension fork and flexible frame caused the bike to feel loose and squirmy on descents. Climbs are no better, as the harsh, non-adjustable suspension rebound at both ends results in a bumpy ride. The lack of suspension compliance causes the rear tire to easily break traction and spin out, resulting in a loss of momentum.

Anyone considering the Hero in hopes of it performing like an e-MTB or dirt bike will be sorely disappointed.

Lack of Quality Control

Quality control appears to be a significant issue for Heybike, with components and other aspects of the Hero failing to perform as they should.

Firstly, our test bike arrived with a bent derailleur hanger. Heybike was unable to supply a replacement and suggested finding a local bike shop to straighten the hanger.

The second issue was a loud clunking sound from inside the frame when the bike was bumped or shaken. It sounded like some internal component, such as the motor controller, wasn’t properly secured.

When asked about this noise, Heybike claimed it was down to their “innovative carbon fibre frame”. A laughable response.

The next problem was the out-of-spec rear brake rotor. The rotor thickness varied from 1.6mm to 1.8mm around its circumference. This resulted in pulsing pressure at the brake lever, making it impossible to modulate the rear brake properly and causing the rear tire to lock up too easily.

Heybike stated they would replace this if a customer contacted them within 30 days of purchase, but better attention to quality control would prevent problems like this in the first place.

Finally, the frame flex mentioned earlier causes a worrying speed shimmy. It could also be felt on descents, in climbs, and during heavy pedaling or high-speed riding, as the rear wheel caused the frame to sway back and forth. This is not what I want from any e-bike, let alone one that costs as much as the Hero. Again, Heybike claims this is totally normal. Personally, we prefer an e-MTB not to feel like a wet noodle.

Legality

The Hero’s design and motor output restrict it from being ridden on public roads or even being bought in many regions.

The bike’s power and speed mean it can only be ridden on private land without a license and registration. And, with its beefy appearance, high motor power, and high speed, the Hero is likely to attract unwanted attention from law enforcement.

The Heybike Hero in Detail

Clearly, the Hero is intended to be an off-road bike, and Heybike makes some bold claims about its capabilities, most of which have been contradicted by our testing.

Frame and Fit

The Hero has a step-through frame and comes in only one size, but it is available in two colors: the Tangerine of our test bike or Lime Yellow. Heybike claims the Hero fits riders from 5’3 “to 6’6”, which is undoubtedly exaggerated. The riding position will vary from slightly bent and athletic to straight-backed, depending on your height. I was fairly straight-backed at 6′ tall.

Suspension

The Hero is a full-suspension bike with a 120mm hydraulic coil fork and a Horst-link rear suspension with an air shock. The fork has adjustable preload and lockout, and the shock’s air pressure can be tuned, but it doesn’t have rebound adjustment.

The shock arrived set to 99.5 PSI. I reduced it to 92.5 PSI to achieve an approximate 30% sag with my 175lb weight.

E-Bike System and Classification

The 1,000W motor on our test bike pairs with a torque sensor to detect rider input, and the Heybike app provides the option to adjust its sensitivity along a four-step sliding scale. The bike also has a thumb-style throttle, which can be unlocked to power the bike up to its 35mph limit. The throttle’s max speed and speed limits in each PAS level can be adjusted in the app.

Both motor options are powered by an 864Wh battery that sits in the down tube and is secured with a keyed lock. The battery can be charged on or off the bike using the same charge port and the supplied 4A charger, which provides a full charge in about five hours.

Wheelset

The Hero rolls on spoked 26” aluminum rims and 4” Chaoyang tires with a knobby tread and puncture protection. The bike has nutted axles at both ends.

Drivetrain and Brakes

The drivetrain has a 48t chainring with a single-sided aluminum guard, 9-speed 11-32t cassette, and Shimano Alivio derailleur. The trigger shifter is located on the right side of the bars and features a gear indicator.

Braking is handled by aluminum brake levers with reach adjustment, RSX four-piston calipers, and 180mm rotors. The Alivio derailleur lacks a clutch, which is a fundamental omission on a bike allegedly designed to go off-road, and means the bike suffers from heavy chain slap.

Cockpit and Touchpoints

The cockpit is fairly streamlined, with an integrated color display in the middle of the 700mm flat bars. The bars are adorned with lock-on faux-leather grips, a thumb-style throttle on the left next to the three-button control pad, and an underslung trigger shifter.

The final touch points are the QBP KNUS cruiser saddle and aluminum platform pedals.

Accessories

The Hero’s headlight is integrated into the bars and offers high and low beams. The rear light is integrated into the seatpost. It can be set to steady or flashing but has braking function. Using a different seatpost will require purchasing a new taillight.

Testing the Heybike Hero

Hill Climb Tests

The Hero can reach 35mph, but since many other e-bikes are limited to 20mph, our tests were done with the Hero’s top speed limited to 20mph.

Restricted to 20mph, the Hero powered up the small hill in an impressive 2:49. This was close to the fasted time recorded, with only the Vtuvia SN100 beating it by two seconds. The Vtuvia has no option to adjust its top speed and can hit 28mph in its stock setting. With the Hero’s top speed unlocked, it climbed the small hill in just 2:06, reaching over 30mph.

The Hero again showcased its powerful 1,000W motor in the medium-elevation hill climb, ascending the hill in just 2:12. This puts the Hero ahead of all of the comparison bikes and backs up Heybike’s claims that the Hero is powerful and fast, at least on smooth pavement where it doesn’t lose traction.

Acceleration Tests

In the 0-20mph test, the Hero again proved dominant, needing just six seconds to hit 20mph using PAS and nine seconds using throttle. The Hero’s six-second PAS time puts it among the fastest-accelerating e-bikes we’ve tested.

Range Tests

After the Hero’s strong results in our other tests, the range tests were slightly disappointing. However, to be fair, these tests were carried off-road, with lots of loose dirt, climbs, and descents.

This is in sharp contrast to my standard range test route, which only includes pavement, with some steep hills but also lots of mellow inclines and flat ground. Because the Hero isn’t legal on the road, I had no choice but to test it off-road. For this reason, it doesn’t make sense to compare the range to previously tested models.

In the PAS 5 test, the Hero covered 28.42 miles and 1,207 feet of elevation at an average speed of 14.9mph.

Using PAS 3, the Hero traveled 39.68 miles and 1,446 feet of elevation at an average speed of 13.8mph.

Braking Tests

In the braking test, the Hero stopped from 20mph in 19 feet, which is acceptable from a safety perspective but falls short of most of our comparison bikes. The best result was achieved with the Nomad 1 Plus, which stopped in 16 feet. The other bikes needed 18 to 19 feet.

Riding the Heybike Hero

Our experience with the Heybike Hero was filled with ups and downs. Initially, the bike’s acceleration, speed, and comfort impressed over some bumpy pavement and dirt roads. Over these light off-road terrains, the full-suspension ride is comfortable and exciting.

It’s also nice to have the option to set different top speeds for the throttle in each assist level and adjust the sensitivity of the torque sensor. The most sensitive setting was my favorite for responsive motor output.

Pedaling up to 20mph on smoother terrain, the bike didn’t exhibit any significant issues, but at speeds around 28mph, the problems became apparent. The first was the bike’s inability to reach its claimed top speed. In most conditions, it tops out around 28 to 32mph. However, pedaling hard at high speeds causes the rear end to sway back and forth with each pedal stroke, and this gets worse when pedaling out of the saddle.

After discovering the flex in the Hero’s frame, I found that shaking the bike while riding caused a significant speed shimmy. The frame flex also occurred in corners, on descents, and whenever the rear tire hit an obstacle like a rock or root. As a result, the rear end felt squirmy, reducing my confidence in the bike.

When braking at high speeds, I noticed an inconsistent feel from the rear brake. It was nearly impossible to brake smoothly, and the rear wheel would alternately lock up and release as the wheel rotated. As mentioned before, that’s when I measured the rotor as out of spec. This produced erratic braking at the rear, further compromising the bike’s capacity for descending.

Further exploration of aggressive trails only produced more frustration in the form of a loud clunking noise coming from inside the frame and woeful chain slap, making for an annoyingly noisy ride over bumpy terrain.

The suspension is also disappointing on rougher trails. Over washboarding, the basic suspension fork sent the impacts straight to my arms. The rear shock, when adjusted for rider weight, is significantly more plush than the fork, but its harsh, non-adjustable rebound causes the bike to buck and lose traction. After one mile on a rocky, double-track trail, I’d had enough.

Steep climbs over loose rocky terrain produced yet more disappointment. I expected the motor’s 1000W of power and 100Nm of torque to make climbs easy, but thanks to the clumsy suspension, the rear wheel couldn’t maintain traction over the rocks and roots. The bike’s loss of traction killed momentum, and the motor soon cut out as it reached the limits of its torque.

Some aspects of the Hero’s performance are enjoyable. On shallower inclines where the terrain isn’t loose and rocky, the bike does just fine. It also handles rougher terrain better than the hardtail e-bikes I’ve ridden in the past, but it falls far short of Heybike’s lofty claims. Riders who only tackle less-aggressive terrain and want the comfort a full suspension provides over light bumps and dips may find the Hero adequate, but it’s not truly all-terrain-capable.

Conclusion

While I had some fun testing the Hero, the quality-control problems, suspect engineering, and poor off-road performance were disappointing.

This is a powerful e-bike with a higher top speed than many others we’ve tested at BikeRide. The acceleration and speed are thrilling on the appropriate terrain, and the full-suspension ride is smooth and comfortable on light off-road terrain and pavement. Unfortunately, the bike is not street-legal, so it can only be used on private land.

On rougher off-road terrains, the Hero’s performance fell far short of Heybike’s claims. Considering its price tag, I would be frustrated if I had been expecting this bike to replace my mountain bike.

Some simple upgrades, such as an air fork and a derailleur with a clutch, would make the bike more effective and enjoyable to ride, but issues like the horrible clunk from inside the frame and significant lateral flex have no place on a bike intended for high speeds and aggressive off-road terrain.

Some buyers will indeed find it adequate for their needs, but the issues with quality control are worrying, and Heybike’s responses to my questions were disappointing. Overall, the Heybike Hero gets two solid thumbs down.

Score Breakdown

• Build quality: 50
• Performance / Innovation: 60
• Design: 60
• Ride quality: 60
• Price / Value: 40

Overall: 54

Detailed Specs

Electric Bike Class: Unrestricted
Warranty: 2-year limited warranty
UL Certification: None (in progress)
IP Rating: IPX4
Total Weight: Claimed: 75lb – Actual: 77.4lb
Motor Brand: Heybike-branded
Motor Type: Rear hub
Motor Nominal Output: 1,000W
Max Torque: 100Nm
Battery: 48V 18Ah (864Wh)
Range Claimed: Up to 60 miles
Range Tested (PAS 3): 39.68 mi – 1,446 ft. – 13.8mph avg.
Range Tested (PAS 5): 28.42 mi – 1,207 ft. – 14.9mph avg.
Top Speed: 35mph
Throttle: Thumb-style
Pedal Assist: 5 levels
Charger: 54.6V 4A
Charge Time: 5 hours
Display: Integrated LCD
Frame: T800 Carbon Fiber
Fork: Unbranded hydraulic coil, 120mm travel
Brake Levers: RSX aluminum lever
Brake Calipers: RSX 4-piston
Brake Rotors: 180mm
Chain: KMC
Crankset: 170mm Aluminum 48t
Derailleur: Shimano Alivio
Shifter: Shimano Alivio
Freewheel: 9-speed 11-32t
Rims: 26” Spoked Aluminum
Tires: 26” x 4” Chaoyang, puncture protection
Fenders: Not included
Lights: Headlight with high/low beam, external rear light with steady/flashing function
Grips: Flared faux-leather lock-on grips
Saddle: QBP KNUS cruiser saddle
Pedals: Aluminum platform
Handlebar: 700mm flat
Kickstand: Single-sided
Payload Capacity: 400lb

Geometry Details

Seat Tube: 18.3“ (465mm)
Reach: 20” (508mm)
Stack: 26” (660mm)
Standover Height: 21”-27” (533mm – 685mm)
Virtual Top Tube Length: 24.8” (630mm)
Min. Saddle Height: 33.8” (860mm)
Max Saddle Height: 41.7” (1060mm)
Wheelbase: 51.77” (1315mm)

The Heybike Hero is an excellent high-end e-bike with a price tag to match… This would easily be a 5 if the missing features we mentioned above were included.

The Heybike Hero is a good choice for a large, dual-purpose e-bike. If you are primarily riding off-road, especially on particularly rough terrain, also consider the Lectric XPeak.

… [I’ve] been very, very impressed with it. Like I said, I’ve put it through the paces… we’re 3 months in on it… [and] so far it has held up well.

While it’s not the best choice for serious off-road exploration, it can still make its way down a muddy trail, forest road or non-paved byway with good grip and suspension, provided you mind your speed.