BIKE Magazine and Yahoo may earn commission from links in this article.Folding. Fat Tire. Full Suspension.These are three terms that don't often go together in the e-bike world. The Heybike Mars 3.0 is a conglomeration of features that may be impractical for most people, but is surprisingly fun in the right context.Heybike Mars 3.0 EbikeHeybike Mars 3.0 EbikeCheck PriceUnboxing & SetupUnboxing and setting up the Heybike Mars 3.0 was a pain for multiple reasons. Since it's a folding e-bike, I expected it would ship folded and mostly assembled, but instead it came in a massive box, not folded, and with a lot of assembly left to do.AdvertisementAdvertisementThe box had a QR code linking to the manual, but… the QR code led to a broken link. We did find Heybike's video instructions on Youtube, but it didn't show every detail, which is why I spent half an hour trying to figure out how to activate the battery to turn it on.Jakob Thygerson, Bike MagazineThey did at least include all the necessary tools in the box, but multiple steps of the assembly had parts different from normal bike standards, which made things more difficult. After some cursing, I managed to get the bike up and running.Difficulties with setting a bike up are admittedly not a big deal, but it's something to be aware of if you don't want to deal with difficult assembly.Build Detailse-Bike Class: Ships as Class 2 (Unlockable to Class 3 / 30+ MPH via app settings)Motor: Heybike Galaxy eDrive 750W rear hub motor (1400W peak power), 95Nm torqueBattery: Removable 48V, 13Ah (624Wh) lithium-ion battery (UL 2271 Certified)Controls: Color TFT Display with NFC card unlock & Bluetooth App integration | Right-side half-twist throttle | Integrated torque sensorFrame and Fork: Foldable 6061 Aluminum alloy full-suspension frame with rear Horst Link shock | Coil suspension fork (65mm travel)Drivetrain: 8-speed Shimano Altus drivetrain (11-32T cassette, 48T chainring)Wheels and Tires: 20″ x 4.0″ Chao Yang knobby fat tires | 20″ aluminum spoke rimsBrakes: Hydraulic disc brakes with motor cutoff switches | 180mm rotors (2.0mm thickened)Weight: 70 lbs (440 lbs total payload capacity)MSRP: $1,799 USD (typically discounted at $1,199.00)AdvertisementAdvertisementThe Mars 3.0 components are exactly what you'd expect from a decent budget bike. Everything is low-end and generic, but there are a few brand-name parts to keep things reliable.The 750W hub motor is nothing out of the ordinary. Most similar bikes in the $1000-$1300 price range have either 500W or 750W motors. The 624Wh battery is similarly middle of the pack. Heybike doesn't specify where their battery comes from, so you aren't getting the best-performing Samsung or LG cells.The 8-speed Shimano Altus drivetrain is simple and reliable, and I like that Heybike added a steel guard to protect the derailleur from impacts. This is the go-to drivetrain for budget ebikes. In fact, it's the exact drivetrain we found on the last three ebikes we reviewed: Lectric XP4, Aventon Level 4, and Lectric XPedition2. Jakob Thygerson, Bike MagazineThe fat tires on this bike are from a budget Chinese brand, so I don't expect them to be high quality. Unlike some other "fat" e-bikes, these are in real fat-tire territory at 4 inches, and they have deep tread for plenty of grip.AdvertisementAdvertisementHeybike advertises the front fork as a "hydraulic suspension fork," but all that really means is it is a standard coil-sprung fork with hydraulic lockout. The 65mm travel isn't much, but it does help smooth out rougher roads.Jakob Thygerson, Bike MagazineEven though most of the components are lackluster, Heybike didn't skimp on features. The Mars 3.0 has a torque sensor, hydraulic disc brakes, a security system that unlocks the bike with either a keychain NFC card or passcode, app connectivity for updates and setting changes, a cargo rack, turn signals, and even a horn.Our overall take on the Mars 3.0 build is this: lots of bells and whistles, plenty of power, low-quality components.Real-World Motor and Battery PerformanceHeybike says the hub motor on the Mars 3.0 is rated for 750W continuous power and 1400W peak power. That's on the higher end for cheaper hub drive motors, and it is plenty of power for this bike. We recently rode the 750W Lectric XP4, and the Mars 3.0 seems to have a bit more power.Jakob Thygerson, Bike MagazineThis was especially true when we tested the Mars 3.0 on a steep hill climb. It was able to maintain 17-20mph where the XP4 struggled to get up.AdvertisementAdvertisementThe Mars 3.0 accelerates quickly from a stop whether using pedal assist or the throttle. On flats, we were able to get up to about 32mph using the turbo pedal assist.With the 624Wh battery, Heybike advertises this bike can go up to 65 miles on a single charge. We found the real-world range to be significantly less. In our range test, we hit 36 miles before the battery died.Jakob Thygerson, Bike MagazineThis test did include some hills and off-road riding, so it would definitely be possible to extend the range farther. Just know that you will probably never reach the advertised 65 miles.Ride ImpressionsOn pavement, the bike was comfortable, upright, and easy to ride. The 4-inch knobby tires were noisy and made the handling feel a bit vague, but the powerful motor kept the bike from being sluggish.AdvertisementAdvertisementUnlike many e-bikes, which only give you the setting options of Class 1, 2, or 3, the Mars 3.0 simply lets you select the max speed (up to 100 kph, though it will never actually go that fast).Jakob Thygerson, Bike MagazineThe controls are basic and fairly easy to use. On the left hand side you have a small color display with three buttons and thumb controls for the turn signals and horn. The right side has the shimano trigger shifter and a half-twist throttle for the motor, which may be one of the worst things about this bike.Twist throttles on e-bikes are just not a good idea in my opinion. First off, to use the throttle you have to turn your whole wrist, which can affect your steering and control. Secondly, it is far too easy to accidentally engage the throttle when you don't mean to—while walking the bike on a sidewalk, for example. Multiple times I inadvertently hit the throttle and sent the bike spinning out of my grip.Heybike's firmware also has some issues. The most glaring problem was the battery percent indicator. At one point, I noticed that when I maxed the throttle, the battery percent would drop to 70%, only to jump back up to 100% once I let off. This is caused by normal voltage drop under heavy load, but most e-bikes have smart enough programming to compensate for it.Heybike Mars 3.0 EbikeHeybike Mars 3.0 EbikeCheck PriceOf course, this bike has big, fat, knobby tires and full suspension, so it isn't meant to just stay on pavement. I took it cruising along local dirt roads and ATV tracks to get a feel for how it handles off the road.AdvertisementAdvertisementTo be clear, this is NOT a mountain bike, or even a true all-terrain fat bike. The small wheels, cheap suspension components, and short, upright riding position limit the terrain it can handle comfortably.Jakob Thygerson, Bike MagazineThat said, once I dropped the tire pressure a bit, it handled the dirt roads just fine. The ample grip from those big tires gave me lots of confidence to pick up the speed, and the bike smoothed out chatter and small bumps (though I think that also has more to do with the tires than the suspension).On some washboard sections I felt pretty rattled. On a section littered with fist-sized rocks, I quickly lost confidence as the bike bounced around under me. On the more moderate sections though, it was a fun ride.Who It's ForThe Mars 3.0 is a weird bike, and it fills a pretty specific niche. For someone who needs a bike that folds up to fit in the back of a car and can handle dirt roads, there aren't many other options. No more mainstream manufacturers are selling folding, fat-tire, full-suspension e-bikes.Jakob Thygerson, Bike MagazineIf you just need a folding bike for mostly pavement riding with some gravel roads, the Lectric XP4 is a more refined and reliable option. If you want to be comfortable and confident off-road, a full-size fat-tire e-bike like the Aventon Aventure will perform far better.AdvertisementAdvertisementThe Mars 3.0 is only a good choice if you absolutely need foldability AND moderate off-road capability. It's not the best at either one, but it does give you both.Final ThoughtsThe Heybike Mars 3.0 is clunky, has some design issues, and lacks refinement, but it does do what it promises: it combines compact size and full suspension.For the large majority of people, I would recommend something different. Our team has tested many e-bikes that are better quality, more functional, better performing, and more reliable. But if you find yourself in the exact use case it's designed for, the Mars 3.0 is a decent bike with plenty of power.This story was originally published by BikeMag on Aug 12, 2026, where it first appeared in the E-Bikes section. Add BikeMag as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
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