There is nothing worse than a weak cargo e-bike that struggles on hills and under heavy loads. That's why Heybike made sure the deck was stacked in the rider's favor when they built the Heybike Hauler electric cargo bike. With a 1,400W motor with a high rating and a speed of 28 mph, it sounded perfect for rock n' roll. And now that I've been testing one for a while, here are my thoughts on the latest budget-oriented but high-powered family bike.
Want to see what it's like to ride one of these e-bikes yourself? I have a video review below. Or read on for the full written review.
Heybike Hauler video review
Heybike Hauler Tech Specs
- Car: 750W continuous (1,400W peak) rear mounted hub motor
- Top speed: 45 km/h (28 mph)
- Distance: Claimed up to 136 km (85 mi) on a second battery
- Battery: 48V 18Ah (864Wh) battery in the down tube and 48V 12.5Ah external battery for 1,464Wh
- Brakes: FastAce hydraulic two-piston disc brakes on 180 mm rotors
- Maximum load: 200 kg (440 lb)
- The weight of the bike: 40-44 kg (88-97 lb) with single or dual battery option
- Additional: LCD display, LED head and tail lights with turn signals, right-hand throttle, double kickstand (Y), suspension fork, 3″ semi-fat tires, smartphone app connectivity , three color options (yellow, white, and blue), and included fenders & rear rack
Power and speed, whether you want it or not
As an e-bike that aspires to Class 3, the Heybike Hauler can reach speeds of up to 45 km/h (28 mph), though oddly enough it can be done with both throttle and pedal assist. Generally, Class 3 bikes will have their throttles cut off at 20 mph, so this is outside the scope of the three-class e-bike system's definition of freedom. However, many people like the ability to ride fast on the throttle alone, so I'm sure this will make many people happy to hear.
The 1,400W motor also ensures that riders accelerate quickly and climb hills like a champ, both important for cargo bikes that are often loaded with extra weight.
Heybike claims a maximum load capacity of 440 lb (200 kg), which is a large amount of weight and probably more than most people will ever need to carry. The bike itself already weighs between 88 to 97 lb (40-44 kg) depending on the variant, so we're talking about a serious mark here.
Two battery options for long distance riding
I love dual battery electric bikes, and even more, I love ee bikes that let you decide if you want that second battery.
The Heybike Hauler can come with a single 864Wh battery, which is already a big package, or you can get a second battery for a total of 1,464Wh of capacity.
That's a ton of battery, and the company claims a range of up to 85 miles (136 km), though it only helps pedaling. Even with just the throttle, you'll probably get more than half of that, which is a lot of range for a big e-bike.
The Hauler comes loaded with many great features, including foldup foot rails in the back and built-in side guards to keep children's feet from wandering around the rear wheel. I wish the rear frames were a little more exposed even though there were more options for dropping the material, but at least the guards look very nice and go with the style of the bike.
The paint is also surprisingly high quality, especially for an e-bike that starts at a budget-friendly price of only US $1,399. The blue paint looks like metal-flake car paint and is really eye-catching!
There are also other good features, such as a clearly visible LCD display, head and tail lights with turn signals (although I still wonder how well such signals work), a double wide kickstand for stable parking and child loading, the second side. quick parking on low, and punchy hydraulic disc brakes.
What's not so good?
There's a lot to like here, but I also have some quibbles. The front fork feels cheap and doesn't offer the kind of quality suspension you get with even better forks.
Not bad, but not good either. It is what it is is something. It checks the box for a suspension fork and means you won't feel like your wrists are going to break after jumping off a curb, but I have to wonder about longevity there.
Next, the bike doesn't track well without hands on the bars. That won't be a problem for most people, but it's an indication that the bike's geometry, namely the rake angle and front end routing, isn't right. I can't ride many of my bikes for miles, but the Hauler wants to sink me as soon as I loosen the bars.
Still good value
This is by no means the best cargo bike out there, but at an entry price of US $1,399, it wasn't trying to be. What Haulers plans to do is provide cargo handling capabilities at a price that many families can easily afford.
This is a solid entry into the market, offers a high-speed throttle-only ride, and has great metal-flake paint options. There are other cargo bikes out there with wider market penetration that give the hauler a run for their money, but the Hauler's unique features, like its folding running boards, smartphone app, and doubt-legal 28 mph throttle, could be the saving grace that saves it. able to compete in a crowded market.
Compared to expensive and high-end cargo bikes, it has something to offer anyone shopping on a tight budget who can't afford a $3,000+ cargo bike.
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