Heybike is expanding into a rather different corner of the e-bike market with the launch of the new Heybike Titan, a full-suspension, moped-style electric bike that can be had with either one or two batteries. And perhaps just as importantly, Heybike is coming out swinging on price. The new Titan starts at $1,499 for the single-battery version, while the dual-battery model carries an MSRP of $1,799. Early-bird pricing knocks another $100 off each, bringing them down to $1,399 and $1,699, respectively. That’s some pretty aggressive pricing for this style of bike, especially once you get into the dual-battery version. Advertisement - scroll for more content But what do you get for that price? The Titan is powered by a 750W rear hub motor rated for a claimed 1,500W of peak power and 65 Nm of torque. It ships configured as a Class 2 e-bike with a 20 mph (32 km/h) top speed, though Heybike says riders can use the company’s app to adjust the bike up to 28 mph (45 km/h). The bike also carries UL 2849 certification, which covers the entire electrical system and is becoming increasingly important as more cities, retailers, landlords, and consumers pay attention to e-bike battery safety. But the more interesting part of the Titan is probably its battery setup. The single-battery model uses a 48V 15Ah battery, or 720 Wh, and Heybike claims up to 40 miles (64 km) of range. Opt for the dual-battery version and you’re effectively getting 1,440 Wh of capacity, with Heybike doubling its maximum range estimate to 80 miles (129 km). As always, take those maximum range figures with the usual grain of salt. Riding a heavy moped-style e-bike at higher speeds and relying heavily on the throttle is going to chew through batteries much more quickly. Going full balls to the wall could leave you with half of that range, but the point is that dual batteries are definitely going to take you further, and so having the dual-battery option is a nice feature here. There are plenty of moped-style e-bikes and plenty of dual-battery e-bikes, but the Venn diagram gets considerably smaller when you’re looking for a moped-style bike that combines dual batteries with actual front and rear suspension. The Titan gets an 80mm-travel hydraulic front fork and 55mm of rear suspension travel, with the rear comprised of dual coil-over shocks as compared to the more common bicycle-style mono-shock setup. Add in those chunky 20 x 4-inch tires, and you’ve got the basic recipe for the increasingly popular mini-moto style of e-bike that prioritizes comfort, cruising, and a motorcycle-inspired riding experience. Hydraulic brakes are included as well, and the bike has a 300 lb (136 kg) maximum payload rating. Heybike has even fitted rear footrests and describes the long saddle as “two-up ready,” though that same 300 lb payload limit is worth keeping in mind before inviting a friend aboard. At 85 lb (38.4 kg) for the single-battery version and 93 lb (42.1 kg) with two batteries, nobody is going to confuse the Titan for a lightweight commuter. But that’s increasingly beside the point with this category. These bikes are basically designed to bring a bit of small-motorcycle swagger to an e-bike platform. And that’s also what makes the Titan an interesting move for Heybike. The company has traditionally focused much more heavily on conventional fat-tire commuters, folders, step-through bikes, and other mainstream value-oriented e-bikes. The Titan is a pretty clear attempt to reach into the youth-oriented, moped-style segment that has exploded in popularity. In fact, Heybike isn’t exactly hiding that ambition. Its own marketing materials explicitly identify “trendsetters,” “teen cruisers,” and “parent buyers” among the Titan’s target audiences, while leaning heavily into the bike’s social, customizable and mini-moto image. There’s even a glow-in-the-dark sticker kit included for riders who want to personalize the bike. That helps explain the aggressive pricing, too. Heybike appears to be trying to go past just adding another variation of an existing commuter here; the company is looking to enter a new part of the market and appears ready to buy itself some market share. At $1,399 for an early single-battery Titan or $1,699 for the dual-battery version, Heybike is making a pretty compelling argument on the spec sheet. The latter in particular packs full suspension, hydraulic brakes, a 1,500W peak motor and nearly 1.5 kWh of battery into a price point where plenty of competing moped-style bikes still make you choose between range, suspension, or spending considerably more. That said, we’ll have to see how the Titan rides before knowing whether that aggressive value translates from the spec sheet to the street. Compared to other new entrants to this market, like the revamped Juiced Scrambler, which is marginally more expensive but offers higher-end components and is designed to actually be pedalable, the Titan is going to have to demonstrate that it can offer a good ride and not just a good price. But for Heybike’s first serious swing at this increasingly crowded moped-style e-bike market, the company certainly isn’t easing its way in. Stay up to date with the latest content by subscribing to Electrek on Google News. You’re reading Electrek— experts who break news about Tesla, electric vehicles, and green energy, day after day. Be sure to check out our homepage for all the latest news, and follow Electrek on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn to stay in the loop. Don’t know where to start? Check out our YouTube channel for the latest reviews.
Liked by Kayla Brown, Gabriel Lewis
Liked by Kayla Brown, Gabriel Lewis
Liked by Kayla Brown, Gabriel Lewis
