Heybike’s New Carbon-Fiber Hero Fat Tire E-Bike Is A Comfy Cruiser

The Heybike Hero can wander off the pavement, to a point.

Popular e-bike maker Heybike offers a wide range of electrified options, including folding models, cargo haulers and commuter bikes, most (but not all) fitted with 4-inch wide fat tires that can tame most urban infrastructure.

Just recently, Heybike debuted a new model, the Hero, which featured a first for the company: a unique carbon-fiber monocoque frame. It also features full suspension. The Hero is available in two drivetrain options, a $3,099 version with a mid-mount 750-Watt motor and a somewhat different frame design, and a $2,499 version with a 1,000-Watt hub motor in the back wheel and a step-through frame. My review bike had the 1,000-Watt hub motor and arrived in a grey and orange - er, tangerine - paint scheme.

The Heybike Hero's frame allows for a wide range of riders on what is essentially a large bicycle.

Even with the carbon fiber frame, which holds a generous and user-removable 864 Watt-hour battery, the Heybike Hero weighs in at a not-exactly lightweight 75 pounds. If the frame were aluminum, it would likely be another 10 or 15 pounds heavier, so the weight savings is appreciated. That said, this is also a large bicycle, but the unique frame is a step-through design, so it’s easy for a wide variety of riders to enjoy. My wife, at 5 foot 4 inches, was able to ride it just fine but found it “large.” At 6 foot-1, I felt it was just right. Befitting its size, Heybike says the load limit for the Hero is 400 pounds.

Along with the composite frame, the Heybike Hero features suspension front and rear with preload adjustability, a bright dual-LED headlight integrated into the handlebar and braced by two cool blue LED stripes. Single-piston RSX hydraulic disc brakes slow things down, and a colorful display is integrated into the top of the handlebar/stem casting.

An integrated color LCD display is easy to read day or night.

Pedaling is possible on the Heybike Hero via a Shimano 9-speed rear derailleur. A torque sensor guides the pedal assist power system. The Heybike Hero arrives as a Class 3 ebike with a top pedal assist speed of 28 mph, but it also has a throttle for freewheeling, making it technically an out-of-class bike, but in general, it fulfills both Class 2 and 3 requirements. Heybike notes on its website that the hero is capable of going 35 mph when set to maximum power via the small speed controller on the left bar. Heybike says a full charge is good for 60 miles of range, but likely not at 35 mph.

Fat tires can surmount most any obstacle, but leave steering feel a bit vague.

Heybike initially told me the Hero was targeted as a mountain bike, and the company’s video for the bike shows it being ridden aggressively on Moab-like slickrock and in off-road environments, so for my first ride, I headed for a local butte with some decent mountain biking trails.

Heading up the trail, the powerful 1,000-Watt rear hub motor easily propels the Hero up most any incline with or without some assist from the pedals, and the motor can pop up to 1,800 Watts for brief sprints or steep sections. The knobbied fat tires make steering feel somewhat imprecise, which I expected, but on the plus side, they also roll over just about any obstacle with confidence. The nine-speed Shimano Altus gearset lacks a true granny gear for serious climbing, but overall performed well both off the road and on it.

The nine-speed Shimano Altus gear set covers most situations except extremely steep ascents.

Heading down the trail, the generic front suspension fork quickly runs out of damping and travel if speeds rise above a fairly deliberate pace. At 230 pounds, I am a Size XL ‘Merican rider to be sure, but even with the fork preload set to maximum, it still banged against the compression limit if I got aggressive over rough ground.

Conversely, lofting the front wheel over an obstacle had the fork smacking loudly into the extension limit. So while you can go mountain biking with the Hero, you’ll be best served keeping the pace reasonable. The fork will let you know if you get too aggressive. That said, the rear shock performed well and features preload via a suspension air pump. The RSX disc brakes are a bit undersized for fat-tire mountain biking demands and had some fade on steep descents, so again, off-road riding should be approached knowing the Hero’s limits.

On the pavement, the Hero is much more at home - and fabulously comfortable. The low-pressure fat tires, even aired up to near their maximum, compliment the full suspension when street riding for a smooth, plush and rapid ebike experience. The fork still bottomed on occasion during antics like riding off a tall curb, but overall, the Hero was much happier on pavement than off of it. I keyed the assist to maximum on several occasions and was able to hit 33 mph in the flat while pedaling hard, which is plenty fast for this or any ebike. Most of the time, my speed varied between 10 and 25 mph. On one steep paved downhill, I was able to just top 40 mph while coasting, and the Hero was calm and controlled at speed. While step-through ebikes can suffer from frame flex, the unique carbon-fiber monocoque design of the rear-drive Hero displayed no discernible flex while riding.

At night, the dual LED headlights fitted into the handlebar cast a bright, broad sweep of light but are not adjustable, so adding an aftermarket light might help with after dark commuting on very dark streets. As noted, no tail light is on the bike or included.

The Hero can play in the dirt, provided riders watch their pace.

It’s good to see Heybike release a bike like the Hero, with a novel frame and a unique look. 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. I’d like to see Heybike either re-work the front fork’s damping and limit bumpers or replace it with something a bit more sophisticated for more off-road prowess. Otherwise, no real complaints.

On the pavement and around town, it’s a superb city bike that can get going seriously fast. The step-through frame design allows for a wide range of riders, and if riders need to get up some hills, the powerful rear motor has the literal horsepower to do it. Again, I had the rear hub motor version, a mid-motor variant is also available for a premium. Adding racks and fenders would make it a formidable commuter. Just be sure to add a tail light for safety.

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