Heybike Mars

The Mars from Heybike is another budget folding e-bike. It looks similar to other folders we’ve tested, but there are a couple of notable differences. 

For example, it has an external battery, rather than the typical frame-integrated battery pack, and what looks to be a more slack head tube angle. 

Let’s find out how these differences impact the ride and user experience. 

What Is the Heybike Mars?

The Mars is a folding e-bike with a focus on comfort. It has a height-adjustable handlebar, suspension seatpost, and 4″ fat tires. It also features a 500W motor and 600Wh external battery pack that should be easier to remove than integrated batteries.  

There is a lot of competition in this segment, so the Mars will need something special to make an impression. Now, let’s see how it performs in our standardized testing. 

Pros

Adjustability

The Mars e-bike has a height-adjustable handlebar. This allows the rider to dial in the fit, which is especially useful for taller riders. Additionally, the handlebars have a quick-release attachment, so you can quickly remove them to fit the bike into a smaller space when folded.

Range and Gradual Power Tapering

The Mars impressed in our range test, covering almost 30 miles and 1,132 feet of elevation. By mile 12 of the range test, the battery was already at two bars (~40%). However, it lasted another 18 miles before dying.

This is likely because the controller begins to limit the max power output as the battery voltage drops. The wattmeter, which initially peaks at around 750W, shows a steady drop in peak power output as the battery discharges. The power output gradually tapers off, unlike a lot of cheaper bikes, which suddenly shut off when they drop to a specific voltage. The motor provides 50W when it’s almost dead, which was a pleasant surprise, as I was left with some assistance to get home.

Despite the range anxiety noted, I was impressed that the 12.5Ah battery returned almost 30 miles of range.

Rear Rack and Battery Placement

The Mars comes with a rear rack with a claimed weight capacity of 100lb. Heybike sells various cargo-carrying accessories, such as baskets and bags.

The battery’s position behind the seat makes removal very easy. The seat also flips down to facilitate removal. There’s no need to duck under the bike to insert the key in a difficult-to-reach slot on the underside of the frame, like other folders. The keyhole is easily accessible. 

The battery also has a USB port for charging devices, but this isn’t convenient to use while riding.

Cons

Loud Mechanical Disc Brakes

The included Filel mechanical disc brakes are a particularly low-end component. From the beginning, they were loud, and this got worse as they bed in. 

The 160mm rotors are also smaller than average and won’t dissipate heat as effectively as 180mm rotors, which can reduce stopping power on longer descents.

Despite these complaints, the Mars recorded an average stopping distance of 19.5 feet, placing the Heybike Mars in the middle of the pack of the e-bikes we’ve tested.

Underpowered 500W Motor

The Mars’ 500W motor is disappointing. The bike feels considerably less capable than other 500W models, with slower acceleration and less potent assistance on steep grades.

It was slower than similar bikes in the 0-20mph and hill-climbing tests. So, if you regularly ride steep hills or want quick acceleration, this won’t be the bike for you.

Suspension Seatpost

The Mars comes with a suspension seatpost that offers little added comfort. Just sitting on the seat uses up most of the travel, indicating that the spring isn’t firm enough. Any impacts quickly use up the remaining travel. 

What Does It Do Best?

Mars’ defining feature is its ability to fold, which it does well. Though the folded size is still considerable, like most folding e-bikes in this price range, it’s small enough to transport in a vehicle or save space at home.

Another noteworthy feature is the externally mounted battery and flip-down seat, making battery removal very easy. This also removes the need to stoop under the bike to reach the key; the keyhole placement is easy to access.

Finally, the consistent taper in power helps you avoid being stranded with an empty battery. The controller is programmed to reduce wattage gradually instead of dying suddenly when the battery reaches a specific voltage.

Reasons to Look Elsewhere?

Riders who don’t need a folding e-bike should be able to find better performance and features at a similar price. The folding design also compromises cornering ability and high-speed comfort. 

The Mars is also slightly more expensive than some competing models, so buyers should explore all options before deciding.

Conclusion

After testing several cheap folding e-bikes, I find they’re all relatively similar. However, the Mars stands out in a few ways, some positive and others negative.

The external battery is easy to remove, and the geometry is slightly better than competing models. However, the loud brakes, firm suspension seatpost, and underwhelming motor performance disappoint. 

Specs

Electric Bike Class: Class 2
Warranty: 2-year
Battery Weight: 9.35lb
Total Weight: Claimed: 66lb – Actual: 66.6lb
Motor Brand: Hey Bike branded
Motor Type: Geared rear hub
Motor Nominal Output: 500W
Max Torque: Unknown
Battery: 48V – 12.5Ah (600Wh)
Range Claimed: 48 Miles
Range Tested: 29.93mi – 1,132 feet – 1h47m – 16.7 mph
Speed: 20mph (unlockable to 25mph)
Throttle: Thumb-style
Pedal Assist: 3 levels
Charger: 54.6V – 2A output
Charge Time: 7 hours
Display: LCD, black and white
Frame: Aluminum
Fork: Coil suspension fork, 70mm travel
Brake Levers: Filel mechanical
Brake Calipers: Filel mechanical
Brake Rotors: 160mm
Chain: KMC
Crankset: 170mm aluminum
Derailleur: Shimano Tourney 7-speed
Shifter: Shimano Tourney TX-50
Freewheel: 14-28t
Rims: 20″ aluminum
Tires: 20″ x 4″ Chaoyang with 3mm puncture protection
Fenders: Hard plastic
Lights: Headlight + integrated rear light with braking indicator
Grips: Faux leather with ergonomic flare, lock-on
Saddle: Suspension seatpost + extra padded seat
Handlebar: 600mm with 25mm rise
Kickstand: Single-sided standard
Pedals: Plastic folding, platform-style
Rear Rack Capacity 100lb
Max. Total Capacity: 330lb

Frame and Geometry

The Mars frame is less chunky than other folders because the battery is externally mounted on the seat tube. The bike also has a slightly slacker head tube angle than similar bikes we’ve tested, improving how it handles in turns and when riding at high speeds. However, I still felt slightly too far forward. 

Another positive of the Mars is that the handlebar height can be quickly adjusted to fine-tune ride position. Finally, Heybike includes a 70mm suspension fork and a suspension seatpost, but the seatpost’s soft spring does little to absorb impacts to the rear. 

Seat Tube: 16″ (406mm)
Reach: 19″ (483mm)
Stack: 28″ (711mm)
Stand Over Height: 26″ (660mm)
Virtual Top Tube Length: 23″ (584mm)
Min Saddle Height: 33″ (838mm)
Max Saddle Height: 37.5″ (952mm)
Wheelbase: 45″ ( 1143mm)
Recommended Rider Height: 5’3” – 6’3”

Motor

The Mars uses a Heybike-branded 500W rear hub motor capable of 750W and 50Nm at peak output. The motor is adequate for general riding, but acceleration and hill-climbing performance are underwhelming. As a result, maintaining speed on climbs requires more effort from the rider.

Cockpit and Control

The Mars has 600mm-wide, height-adjustable handlebars with a slight rise. A monochrome display is mounted on the left with an integrated three-button control pad, with separate buttons for the lights and horn.

The display shows typical metrics, including trip and lifetime odometer, speed, real-time wattmeter, and multiple options menus that allow customization of assist levels. 

The bike also has a thumb-style throttle on the right bar under the TX-50 shifter.

Battery

The Mars has a 48V 12.5Ah battery mounted to the seat tube. The seat flips down for removal. The range provided is impressive, but this means weaker acceleration, as bikes with torque-heavy output have increased battery consumption. The controller also does a good job of tapering the power output as battery voltages decrease, extending range further by reducing assistance and top speed.

Battery Removal and Charging

The bike comes with a 54.6V 2A charger that takes roughly seven hours to charge from empty. The charger plugs into a port on the upper portion of the battery, which is easy to see and access. The battery is simple to remove by tilting the seat using the lever under the saddle.

Drivetrain

The Mars has a budget-level Shimano Tourney 7-speed drivetrain with a 14-28t cassette and TX-50 shifter. The chainring has a double-sided aluminum guard. At speeds over 20mph, you will experience ghost pedaling, but this is the motor’s max speed (Class 2), so this isn’t an issue.

Brakes

The Mars comes with cheap Filel mechanical disc brakes with 160mm rotors and a motor cut-off switch. We would like to see 180mm rotors because they dissipate heat better during extended braking and preserve braking performance. Nonetheless, the average stopping distance was 19.5 feet.  

These brakes require lots of a adjustment to ensure they did not rub the rotors, and they generate a lot noise when stopping.

Wheels, Tires, and Fenders

The Mars has 20″ x 4″ Chaoyang fat tires with a medium tread depth pattern suitable for a variety of surfaces. They include a 3mm “hippo skin” puncture protection layer. These tires provided good traction on a variety of surfaces throughout testing. 

The Mars also features plastic fenders with full coverage against road debris and splashes. The fenders rattle a bit but were pretty easy to install.

Safety

The Mars has integrated lights with a dedicated button on the left handlebar. The taillight also includes a brake indicator, a nice feature for city bikes.

The brakes have a motor inhibitor switch to cut motor power when braking and decrease stopping distance.

Kickstand

The single-sided kickstand did not cause any issues during testing.

Contact Points

Grips

The Mars has ergonomic, faux-leather lock-on grips. Although I find the faux leather slippery, I appreciate that they lock so they don’t slide on the bars.

Saddle

The saddle is plush and didn’t impact pedaling or become uncomfortable over the 30-mile range test.

Pedals

The Mars has a standard set of folding plastic platform pedals. I found them slippery, with only the small pegs for grip.

The Heybike company thought of almost everything you could expect from a folding bike of this price. 

The Mars is a surprisingly hefty e-bike with a curb weight of around 66 pounds.

If you don’t want to rely on pedal assist, you might struggle with this.

It’s like a mini monster truck that folds up.

I found the quality of this e-bike to be pretty good. It fits my 6’1″ frame pretty well. 

The Heybike Mars foldable e-bike is probably one of my favourite ones in this price range.