The Best Cargo Ebike for the Money: Heybike Hauler Review

Video Review

Written Review

The Heybike Hauler is an extremely impressive addition to Heybike's lineup: a cargo e-bike packed with features and a massive battery, all for less than $1300. We were impressed with the fast stock charger, the cargo capacity, the hydraulic suspension, and the comfortable seat. Keep reading for a full list of things we liked and didn't like about the Heybike Hauler, as well as whether or not we think you should get this bike.

Current pricing of the Heybike Hauler: https://shrsl.com/4nc9c
Use coupon code: FreshlyCharged to save $100 on any Heybike.

Heybike Hauler - Specs

• Tires: 20" x 3" ChaoYang
• Battery: 48V 18Ah (864 Wh), UL-rated
• Charger: 4A (total charge time 4.5 hours)
• Motor: 750W (1400W peak)
• Max Speed: 28 mph* Freshly Charged Certified 31.8 mph
• Stated Range: 55 miles
• Weight: 88 lbs
• Max Load: 440 lbs
• Water Rating: IPX4

Heybike Hauler - Features

• 2-piston hydraulic brakes w/180mm discs
• Headlight
• Electric horn
• Turning signals
• Adjustable stem
• Option to add a front cargo basket
• Hydraulic suspension
• Plastic fenders
• Bluetooth-connected greyscale display
• Bluetooth app for controlling settings
• 7-speed Shimano thumb shifter
• Thumb throttle
• BMX-style handlebars
• Leather handlebar grips
• Removable battery with key lock + USB port for phone charging
• Hub-drive motor with cadence sensor
• Optional 2nd battery mount behind the seat post
• Ultra-soft seat
• Massive cargo rack compatible with dozens of accessories
• Footboards for passengers
• 2 kickstands

Things We Love

Number of Features: The Heybike Hauler has absolutely everything you could want on a cargo e-bike, plus some things we've never seen before, like featuring both the traditional side kickstand and a moped-style stand-up kickstand. It has turning signals, a horn, front and rear lights, attachments for front and rear cargo, footrests for a rear passenger, an independent throttle, a bluetooth app, and even an option for a second battery.

Seat: The Heybike Hauler has the most comfortable seat we've ever seen on an E-bike. It's huge, and extremely soft. While it doesn't have seat-post suspension, it does have springs in between the top of the seat post and the seat itself, which should give you some extra cushioning.

Paint Job: The paint job on the Hauler looks fantastic. It's a gorgeous yellow color, and it shines on every part of the bike.

Footpegs + Rear Metal Grate: Most e-bikes don't come with passenger footpegs included, they are typically a $100 add-on. The Heybike includes them standard on the Hauler, and also includes some aggressive looking metal along the side of the cargo rack.

USB Port: A lot of other e-bikes include a USB charging port on the battery, but you have to remove the battery to use it. The Heybike Hauler has a nice cutout on the side of the frame that allows you to access the USB port and the on/off switch without removing the battery.

Hydraulic Suspension: Most Heybike models of the past have featured coil suspension, but the Heybike Hauler has hydraulic suspension, which is measurably better and feels more comfortable, especially for heavier bikes and/or heavier riders.

App: The Heybike App allows you to track your rides, view battery life and speed, and adjust all sorts of different settings. One of the first settings Andrew changed was the "throttle limiter" - he disabled it so that the throttle will take you all the way up to 28mph in pedal assist level 1.

Things We Don't Like

Cadence Sensor: While cadence sensors aren't always bad, the Heybike Hauler's cadence sensor has a significant delay, both in onset and offset. When you start pedaling, you need to wait about a second or two before the motor will kick in. When you stop pedaling, the same effect happens and the motor will continue to power you forward for a moment. If you need to cut power to the motor immediately, you can always tap the brake levers.

Water Rating: Cargo bikes are meant to be extremely versatile, able to go anywhere with any amount of cargo. One thing that is important on a cargo bike is the water resistance rating, and while the Heybike Hauler does have an IPX4 rating, we wish it had IPX5 or IPX6 for full confidence that you won't ruin the bike's electrical components when riding in the rain.

Display: The display looks pretty cheap and basic, and we wish that they would upgrade to a color display with a more vibrant image.

Front Light: We like that the angle of the front light is adjustable, but overall the light is not really bright enough for night-time riding, especially not at 28mph.

Exposed Electrical Components: We love that there is an option to add a second battery, but if you aren't riding with a second battery, you are leaving the battery connectors exposed to the elements when riding or storing the bike. We would like to see some sort of cover attachment available for those who aren't using the second battery.

Setup Time: This bike took significantly longer to set up out of the box than most other E-bikes, even cargo E-bikes. While this is one of the main reasons why they are able to offer this bike at such a low price, it could cause many people to need external assistance to get their bike assembled for the first time.

The Freshly Charged Take

Who should get the Heybike Hauler? If you're not afraid of significant up front assembly, then choosing this bike will give you the most affordable e-bike out there with front suspension and a large battery. In fact, this is the largest battery we've ever seen on a cargo e-bike, and it doubles if you add a second battery.

Current pricing of the Heybike Hauler: https://shrsl.com/4nc9c
Use coupon code: FreshlyCharged to save $100 on any Heybike.

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