Heybike ALPHA

Heybike builds the ALPHA around a Mivice mid-drive motor, so the power runs through the chain and the gears instead of sitting in a wheel hub. Add 26 x 4.0 in fat tires, a hydraulic front fork and a choice of step-over or step-through frame, and you get a fat-tire bike built around natural pedalling feel.

Highlights

• Mid-drive motor: Mivice X700, rated 500 W with a 1000 W peak and 105 N·m of torque, working through Shimano Altus 8-speed gearing.
• 680 Wh removable battery: certified to UL 2271 and rated by the brand for up to 97 km on a charge.
• Fat tires and front suspension: 26 x 4.0 in puncture-protection tires, a hydraulic suspension fork and hydraulic disc brakes.
• Two frame styles: step-over in Galaxy Black or step-through in Pearl White, both in 6061 aluminum alloy.
• Sensor and throttle: a combined torque and cadence sensor matches assist to your pedal effort, and a half-twist throttle adds power once you are rolling.
• Speed and load: top speed of 45 km/h by the brand's figure, a 181 kg maximum total load and a bike weight of 32.5 kg.

Who it suits

Riders who want mid-drive climbing on a fat-tire bike for hills, gravel, sand and snowy streets, including those who prefer to step through the frame (see hub motor vs mid-drive).

Good to know

• Range is the brand's figure; speed, hills, rider weight, tire pressure and cold all change it. How to estimate your range.
• Ships free anywhere in Canada (no P.O. boxes).
• The throttle only works after you start pedalling; Heybike calls this Natural Pedal Start.