A great feel on the roads highlights the Alpha experience, while a few quirks leave room for improvement.
I’ve been testing and reviewing e-bikes for a long time, and since many products overlap, it can sometimes feel like there aren’t many surprises left. In all that time, though, I can’t say I’ve encountered a description like “lightweight, affordable, mid-drive, fat tire electric bike” very often.
But that’s exactly what HeyBike’s Alpha is, making it stand out from the norm. So, how does that unique mix of features and adjectives actually feel?
In many ways, the Alpha is one of the better HeyBike products I’ve tested to date. Both the floor and ceiling of any e-bike experience are determined by the quality of the motor, and the Alpha’s mid-drive is terrific, which makes for a nice starting point. It’s got great torque (105Nm, in fact!), an intuitive feel, and it can fly on the flats while making hills feel far easier than I first expected.
I’d grown so accustomed to fat bikes tipping the scales near or above 80 lbs that riding one that was “only” 70 lbs felt refreshing. The bike is easy to control, with a good handlebar and tire combo that offers mellow steering and solid control if you want to test the fat tires on varied terrain.
The riding sensation was positive, but the testing was oddly mixed. The range testing set high and low marks, as did the hill tests. It can climb hills exceptionally, but at the expense of battery when using a lot of high power, while those who are looking for a comfortable cruiser ride will love the range it produces at practical cruising speeds.
There are a few rough edges that need smoothing out. The throttle experience was underwhelming, and the display and app interface have some issues that were common years ago — issues I had hoped would be laid to rest by now.
Still, with enough positives across the board, the Alpha is a viable option for riders wanting the stability fat tire e-bikes bring, with a little versatility to tackle mild sand, dirt, and snow — all in a manageable weight that can confidently fit on most hitch racks. For all the details, check out how testing went down below.
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