Review: A look at the surprising new Ranger S e-bike from Heybike

One morning, as I fiddled with the controls of the Heybike Ranger S, I pressed a button by accident and heard a loud buzzer sound, like a long “EEEEEEE!”

I jumped back, thinking I’d triggered some sort of alarm. Then I examined the button, just below the left hand-grip, and saw the graphic of a horn – the same horn you might see on a car’s steering wheel.

“Huh,” I said aloud. “Well that’s handy.”

The horn emits an ear-splitting, mechanical noise, far less pleasant than a bicycle bell. But unlike a bell, the horn has serious volume; distracted drivers might actually hear it, even inside their walls of safety glass. The horn is smartly positioned near your thumb, making it easy to press in an emergency. Plus, it’s built right into the bike. You don’t have to worry about it getting loose or pilfered by some random passerby.

Over and over, the Ranger S surprised me with these thoughtful, low-tech features. Heybike has produced a fast, dexterous, ride-anywhere machine with no gimmicks, just a lot of really smart ideas. It’s versatile and easy to use, and the battery boasts a security solution so simple and effective, it’s a wonder I’ve never encountered it before. In short, the Ranger S is a high-quality starter for any prospective ebike consumer; and many riders may ponder, years down the line, whether there’s any reason to upgrade.

Tell Your Friends

The Heybike Ranger S has fat tires and a folding frame. Already, this is a magical combination for any ebike, ensuring that you can handle almost any road surface and drive the bike home if you run into trouble. For e-bike riders without access to large cars and sturdy racks, I can’t recommend folding models enough.

The black-and-white interface takes about one minute to learn. You can customize the bike and use Bluetooth to connect to your device, but at its heart, the Ranger S is a simple, intuitive machine with five levels of pedal assist. You also have a generous seven-speed cassette to smooth your transitions, and the throttle can accelerate you to 20 mph (35 kph) without a single pump of the pedals.

Aside from a formidable horn, the Ranger S has a pre-installed luggage rack, a powerful headlight, and turn signals that are easy to operate. The battery isn’t quite as cumbersome as in similar ebikes, and it clicks right into the frame.

As for security, the svelte geometry of the Ranger S lends itself to U-locks, which isn’t always the case for thicker-bodied e-bikes. The battery also has a kill switch, which means you can’t activate the bike without taking out the battery and flipping it on (and you can’t remove the battery without a key). This isn’t a failsafe security measure, but it’s a clever deterrent on well-trafficked streets.

The 750w motor promises a range of about 55 miles (80 km) per charge. Many companies claim astonishing mileage, with unspoken caveats like “only with minimal pedal assist” and “the rider is a pre-teen gymnast.” But in this case, I believe the average owner could squeeze out such a distance without too much compromise. I rode about 15 miles (25 km) one night, all through my home city at Level 4, and the screen indicated near-full battery life. Assuming its readings are accurate, the Ranger S offers some of the best range of any e-bike I’ve ever ridden.

Wish List

Don’t let the sleek design deceive you: This bike is heavy. Seventy-two lbs. (33 kg) is fairly standard for an e-bike, of course, but the step-through frame may make it seem lighter than it is, especially when you’ve folded it in half and are trying to lift it into the trunk of your SUV.

If you’re brand new to ebikes, the folding design may also seem a little bulky; this isn’t a Dahon that you can store discreetly under your desk or toss in the back of a Yaris. Again, the size and weight are typical for electric machines; despite the folding mechanism, you may still have to park the bike outside and charge the battery separately.

Ideal Heybike User

The Heybike Ranger S lends itself to a wide range of terrains and situations, and the ideal user could be practically anyone. If you want a speedy commuter for zipping down urban streets, this bike will nimbly slice through traffic and roll over rough pavement. Conversely, if you live on gravel roads and want to venture onto rocky paths, the Ranger S has the tread and suspension to make that possible.

Customers also benefit from a competitive price tag. $1,500US is a very reasonable sum for a high-quality chameleon like the Ranger S. Expect it to take you far.

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