Himiway Rambler

The Rambler Premium by Himiway is a commuter e-bike, and the most expensive of the three Rambler builds.

The step-through frame has a Bafang M600 mid-drive motor, Shimano Altus 9-speed gearing, 27.5″ x 2.4″ Innova tires, and commuter accessories like a rack, fenders, and lights.

In this review, we’ll put the Rambler Premium through our standardized testing to determine its strengths and weaknesses. Keep reading to find out how it performs!

What Is the Himiway Rambler?

The Rambler is one of Himiway’s four step-through commuters, alongside the A7, A3, and B3. As mentioned, it comes in three builds to suit different budgets and preferences.

The top-of-the-line Rambler Premium is the only one with a mid-drive motor. The standard Rambler and Rambler Upgraded have the same 500W, 62Nm hub motor. The base option has a 7-speed Tourney drivetrain and mechanical disk brakes; the other two have 9-speed gearing and hydraulic discs.

The Rambler looks the part and has a high-torque (120Nm) M600 mid-drive, but how do these components perform? Let’s dive into the pros and cons to learn more.

Pros

Responsive Mid-Drive Motor

The M600 Bafang mid-drive motor is a solid inclusion at this price, offering responsive assistance and a natural riding experience. With a torque sensor, the motor’s power output matches your effort when pedaling, making you feel like you have superhuman strength.

The M600 is quiet during operation, generating less noise than a rear hub motor. The inclusion of a throttle in this mid-drive system is a nice touch, as most mid-drives don’t have one. Throttles are particularly useful when starting from a stopped position if you forget to shift to a lower gear.

9-Speed Drivetrain

The Rambler Premium has an above-average 9-speed Shimano Altus drivetrain, which shifts better than lower-end alternatives.

The 13-32t cassette and 46t chainring provide ample gearing range. This is important for mid-drive e-bikes that rely more on rider pedaling input than hub-drive systems. With more gearing, riders can find a comfortable cadence at different speeds, get better performance from the motor, and use the battery more efficiently.

Bright Light With Automatic On/Off

The Rambler Premium’s 500-lumen headlight is large and bright. It can be turned on with the control pad or programmed to turn on and off automatically based on ambient light. This is a great feature for a commuter e-bike. The bike also includes a taillight with a steady setting and a braking indicator. The battery powers both lights.

Cons

Frame Flex

The Rambler frame flexes noticeably while riding despite having a reinforcing tube above the bottom bracket. The flex is felt when riding the bike over bumps and while turning. This flex doesn’t inspire confidence and may lead to long-term issues.

Small Low-Contrast Display

The Rambler’s display is small and can be challenging to read. The wattmeter, range, and odometer are shown as tiny numbers at the bottom of the screen, making the display almost impossible to see in bright light or rain. This is disappointing, especially given that other Himiway models have larger, higher-contrast displays.

Exaggerated Sizing

Himiway lists a height range of 5’2″ to 6’4″ for the Rambler, but I find this an exaggeration. At just 6’0″, I use the bike at its max saddle height and still cannot get full leg extension. I’d need another inch or two for the appropriate fit.

What Does It Do Best?

The Rambler Premium is a Class 3 e-bike with a top speed set at 25mph. The Bafang M600 mid-drive motor is noteworthy at this price, performing well and providing natural-feeling, responsive power output.

The bike also has an above-average Altus drivetrain with a 9-speed 12-32t cassette and 46t chainring. This combination works well with the mid-drive motor and offers crisp shifting performance.

Overall, I enjoyed the bike’s performance and found it easy to control and ride. It’s also fully equipped for city riding with a rear rack, bright lights, and fenders.

Reasons to Look Elsewhere?

A few issues arose while testing the Rambler Premium. Firstly, frame flex is notable when riding over bumpy terrain. While this doesn’t impact ride quality, it casts doubts on the long-term durability of the frame, especially for heavier riders or those regularly carrying cargo. Another consideration is that the bike and battery aren’t currently UL-certified.

The Rambler is a bit small for me at 6′, despite being rated for up to 6’4″. The 15.5″ seat tube prevented me from getting the full leg extension required for pedal efficiency and comfort.

The final issue was the significant decrease in power output below 20% battery. The max output drops to just 250W, so climbing hills is much slower, and more rider input is needed to maintain even moderate speeds.

Conclusion

The Rambler Premium has solid features and attributes, and I feel many riders would enjoy it. However, it’s not without its drawbacks. Riders over 6’0″ may feel cramped, and the decrease in power output at lower battery levels is frustrating.

That said, the mid-drive motor is a big positive, and the bike performs well in most circumstances. So, if you’re looking for a solid mid-drive commuter with a comfortable step-through frame, the Rambler Premium is worth considering.

Specs

Electric Bike Class: Class 3
Warranty: 2-year limited
UL Certification No – UL 2849 application in progress
IPX Rating IPX-4
Battery Weight: 8.8lb
Total Weight: Claimed: 61 lb – Actual: 67 lb
Motor Brand: Bafang M600
Motor Type: Mid-Drive
Motor Nominal Output: 500W
Max Torque: 120Nm
Battery: 48V – 15Ah (720Wh)
Range Claimed: 55 miles
Range Tested PAS 5: 31.28 mi – 1,549 feet – 15mph
*NEW – Range Tested PAS 3: 42.62 mi – 1,430 feet – 14.8mph
Speed: 25mph max
Throttle: Thumb-style
Pedal Assist: 5 levels
Charger: 54.6V – 3A
Charge Time: 6 hours
Display: Bafang DPC-240 LCD display 1.75″
Frame: 6061 Aluminum
Fork: Trama Air spring 80mm travel
Brake Levers: Tektro HD-E350 hydraulic
Brake Calipers: Tektro HD-E350 hydraulic 2-piston
Brake Rotors: 180mm
Chain: KMC E9-S EPT 122L
Crankset: 170mm aluminum – 46t
Derailleur: Altus 9-speed
Shifter: Altus 9-speed trigger style
Cassette: KDF一D958 13-32t
Rims: MD-239 – 27.5”
Hubs: FH908QR
Tires: Innova IA-1283 – 27.5” x 2.4”
Fenders: Included, aluminum
Lights: 48V 500-lumen headlight – 48V LED taillight with braking indicator
Grips: Faux leather ergonomic slip-on
Saddle: Selle Royal
Pedals: Aluminum platform
Handlebar: Swept-back – aluminum – 700mm – 22.2 * 31.8
Kickstand: Single-sided
Weight Capacity: 330lb

Frame and Geometry

The Himiway Rambler has a sleek step-through frame that’s easy to mount, even when loaded with cargo.

The frame flexes considerably during use despite the additional tubing reinforcing the lower section. This side-to-side flex is especially noticeable on bumpy terrain, raising doubts over the frame’s strength.

The Rambler Premium comes with a short-travel 80mm air suspension fork, a nice upgrade over the more common hydraulic coil suspension found at this price. The fork’s pressure wasn’t correctly tuned out of the box, sitting at 70 PSI, causing it to bottom out from small impacts. A shock pump is required to increase the air pressure. I adjusted the fork to 105 PSI, which improved its performance.

The Rambler’s one-size frame has a stated height range of 5’2″ to 6’4″, but this is exaggerated. As mentioned, at 6′, I can’t get full leg extension, so the bike certainly wouldn’t be comfortable for taller riders. A realistic height range would be 5’2″ to 5’10”, though some users up to 6′ tall may enjoy riding it.

Seat Tube: 15.5 “(394 mm)
Reach: 17″ (432 mm)
Stack: 19.2” (488 mm)
Stand Over Height: 18.1″ (460 mm)
Virtual Top Tube Length: 22.2″ (564 mm)
Min Saddle Height: 33″ (838 mm)
Max Saddle Height: 38.5″ (978 mm)
Wheelbase: 46.4″ (1178 mm)
Claimed Height Range: 5’2” – 6’4”
Measured Height Range 5’2” – 5’10”

Display and Control

The Rambler uses a 1.75″ black-and-white Bafang display controlled by a three-button pad on the left side. The display has a USB port for charging devices on the go. A key is not required for operation, and the bike doesn’t feature a lock to prevent it from being turned on. The lights are integrated with the bike’s electronics and have an automatic on/off setting.

Battery level is displayed as both a bar and a percentage. Pushing the power button cycles through the different metrics, including max speed, average speed, odometer, trip info, current power output (in watts), and a range estimate. These metrics are nice to have, but the small display is hard to read while riding.

The up and down buttons control the assist levels and allow you to access a walk mode by pressing down until you go past 0 and see a walk icon on the display.

Motor

The Rambler Premium has a 500W Bafang mid-drive motor that provides 120Nm of torque at max output. The motor has three sensors (one torque and two speed), resulting in an intuitive and natural riding experience.

As a mid-drive, it didn’t perform as well in our 0-20mph test as the hub-drive bikes we more frequently test.

When stopping with a mid-drive, it’s necessary to shift to a low gear. Then, to get started again, the rider moves up through the gearing, gradually increasing speed. It’s advisable not to shift the drivetrain while under load to avoid damage, slowing the initial acceleration further. However, when moving, the Rambler Premium accelerates quickly.

An annoying characteristic of the controller’s programming is the large reduction in power when the battery falls below 20% charge. This means that if you have a hill late in your ride, it will require a lot more rider input to maintain speed.

I also found that despite the motor’s high torque rating, it is a slower climber than most bikes we’ve tested. It completed the small and medium hill climbs at below-average speeds.

The final thing to be aware of with a mid-drive is to stop pedaling to shift gears. Doing so will reduce wear on the drivetrain and lower the chance of the chain dropping. Higher-end mid-drives usually have a shift sensor to cut motor power while shifting.

Battery and Charger

The 48V 15Ah (720Wh) internal battery combines well with the power-conscious mid-drive motor, providing solid range. This battery is not currently UL-certified, but Himiway has told us that the UL 2849 certification is in progress.

The bike comes with a 3A charger, providing a faster charge (around six hours) than the more typical 2A chargers seen at this price. The charge port is on the opposite side of the keyhole at the top of the down tube.

In our PAS 5 test on a hilly course, we covered 31.3 miles and 1,549 feet of elevation, averaging 15mph. This range is well above the commuter average.

For this and future reviews, we’ve added a PAS 3 range test to reflect a more typical real-world range. The Rambler Premium achieved great results here, covering 42.6 miles and 1,430 feet of elevation at 14.8mph.

Drivetrain

The Rambler has a 9-speed Shimano Altus drivetrain with a 46t chainring and 13-32t cassette. This gearing is adequate for pedaling at speeds up to 25mph speed limit and on moderate inclines. As mentioned, maintaining a steady, high cadence is key to getting the most from mid-drive motors.

Unfortunately, this bike doesn’t have a shift sensor to cut power to the motor when you shift. Given that, riders must be careful to stop pedaling before they shift.

Brakes

The Rambler Premium has two-piston Tektro HD-E350 hydraulic brakes with 180mm rotors, a powerful set of brakes that offer reliable performance. These are a big upgrade over the mechanical discs on the base Rambler build.

The brakes were quiet throughout testing, unlike many cheaper brake setups. This brakeset has a motor inhibitor to aid with stopping, and the levers are reach-adjustable.

The average braking distance when stopping from 20mph is 18.5 feet, a better result than most e-bikes we’ve tested.

Wheels, Tires

The Rambler rolls on a set of 27.5″ x 2.4″ tires from Innova, an urban tire with a light tread pattern and a reflective halo on the sidewall. These tires don’t have puncture protection.

During testing, the tires performed well on pavement and hard-packed gravel, but they don’t offer much traction on looser surfaces.

Accessories

The Rambler Premium has a bright headlight, rear light, aluminum fenders, and a rack. It also has mounting points on the headtube for a front rack.

The included rack is well-designed and has a weight capacity of 33lb. The taillight is attached to it and has a braking indicator. Both lights can be operated using the control pad or set to turn on and off automatically.

The aluminum fenders offer good coverage and do not move or make noise while riding. Finally, the Rambler has a typical single-sided kickstand, which is stable.

Touchpoints

The Rambler Premium has ergonomic faux leather grips. These are slip-on grips that can move on the bars. I would prefer a lock-on version, but they were comfortable throughout testing.

The saddle is by Selle Royal. It has a wider base than sport-style saddles and is comfortable and well-suited to the bike’s commuter designation. I found it comfortable even on the 42-mile range test.

Himiway chose standard aluminum platform pedals for this bike. These offer fine traction for most shoe types, and the small metal pegs are better than the plastic pedals on similar bikes.

We enjoyed its comfort level, its motor power and responsiveness, and its leisurely feel; the Rambler Premium proved to be a capable commuter and just a fun e-bike to ride in general.

This is a commuter-friendly bike. It’s not exhilarating, but it has decent range, decent power, it can bring us up some decent hills, it’s easy to get on; all around a decent bike if you do like this bike and the price.

Ideal e-bike for those who want comfort, not speed. One of the most comfortable handlebar setups I’ve had to date, and I’ve tested about 50 of them.

I like them… because they’re like a moped and you really don’t have to pedal unless you are going up a hill or exercising.

If you are on the hunt for an enhanced pedaling experience without the hefty price tag often associated with mid-drive bikes, then the Rambler is certainly worth taking a look at.

… what’s not to like. So yeah, I would give it a high recommendation…