Heybike Ranger S 2.0 Folding Fat Tire Ebike Review: A Comfortable Commuting Contender

With gas prices over $4.50 here in Washington, I wanted to start biking to work without breaking a sweat. We are no strangers to Heybike here at Gear Diary, so when they asked me to review the new Heybike Ranger S 2.0 folding fat-tire bike, I couldn’t say no. Heybike was kind enough to send me a rear and front basket, plus a cell phone holder, to try. Let’s see how the Heybike Ranger S 2.0 performs.

What’s in the Box and Specifications

The Heybike Ranger S 2.0 includes everything you need for assembly, plus a manual. A charger and two keys are included, and the Heybike Ranger S 2.0 comes with a two-year warranty.

• Max Range Pure Electric Mode: 31-40 Miles
• Pedal Assist Max Range: 33-55 Miles
• Max Load: 400 lbs
• Recommended Rider Height: 4’9” – 6’2”
• Lowest Seat Height: 31.5”
• Tallest Seat Height: 35.4”
• Weight: 72 lbs
• Top Speed: 28 MPH
• Motor Power: 750W Rated / 1400W Peak
• Torque: 80Nm
• Class: Class 3
• Pedal Assist: 5 Levels
• Pedal Assist Sensor: Cadence, 32 Pulse
• Rear Derailleur: Shimano Tourney 7 speed
• Rear Shifter: Shimano 7 Speed SIS
• Battery Capacity: 48V 14.4Ah (692Wh)
• Battery Type: Removable Lithium Battery
• Charging Time: About 7 Hours via a 2-amp charger
• Frame Design: Step-Through Frame
• Suspension: Front Suspension 65mm Travel with Lockout
• Tires: 20″ × 4″ Coolride Fat Tires
• Saddle: Padded Comfort Seat
• Brakes: 180mm Hydraulic Disc Brakes
• Lighting: Front & Rear Lights
• Certification: UL 2849 Certified
• Water Resistance: IPX4
• App Compatible: Yes
• Display: LCD Display
• Display Information: Speed / Battery / Distance
• Folded Dimensions: 40.15” H x 31.49” W x 20.47” D

Setup

The full instruction manual is available here, or you can watch the assembly video here. Neither mentions that there is a small power button on the right side of the battery that you can’t see unless you take it out. You have to flip that on before you can turn the Heybike Ranger S 2.0 on. You can charge the battery either installed or removed.

Heybike also has an app, so I downloaded and set that up. The app has a bunch of settings you can adjust, such as speed limiters for each PAS level, units, and top speed, which is maxed out at 28mph in PAS 5.

Performance

After I found the little red button and turned on the battery, I went for a shakedown ride. I started a ride in the Heybike app and on my Garmin watch. The app shows your ride data, but it covers most of the screen, so you can’t see where you are.

There’s no way that I could find to minimize the data so you can see more of the map. Your icon is centered, so you have to scroll up to see your location and trail. Not a big deal if you know where you are going and want to just keep track of your ride, but if you want to ride to a specific destination and enter it in the Heybike app, it just opens Google Maps, so you would just have to remember to go back to the Heybike app to stop the ride when you get there.

The Heybike app results were a little off on the ride data, which is weird if it is using my cell phone location. Every ride showed the app and bike display stats were a little off compared to my Garmin watch and even the Peloton app. Not a big deal for commuting duties, but I think it could be better.

My Garmin Forerunner 965 watch and the Peloton app using my cell location were pretty much the same, with a 0.01-mile difference in trip miles, but the Heybike app was about 0.05 miles off, or 264 feet. Not a huge number, but why is it that much different from another app using my cell location?

I went down a long hill to get some elevation data and test the Heybike Ranger S 2.0 on the way back up. It did fine but struggled on really steep hills, requiring me to shift up to gain some speed.

In the hidden settings (manual tells you how to get to it), the display shows that the wheel diameter is set to 23.3 inches, so a little less than the actual tire diameter. I asked Heybike if I could change that, and unfortunately, they said it is locked. So if you change tire size, you can’t adjust it, which doesn’t make sense to me since even old-school bike computers allowed tire-size adjustments. That is probably why the display shows the trip as a little longer and faster than it actually was.

But enough about the app and display inaccuracy. The Heybike Ranger S 2.0 itself is a pretty solid ride. The seat and handlebars were comfortable and easy to adjust with the quick-release skewers. The display is super bright (brightness is adjustable) and easy to see.

Along with your PAS level, you can switch between trip mileage, total mileage, battery voltage, power, average riding speed, and maximum speed. One note is that throttle-only riding is only available in PAS 1-5. If you try and use the throttle in PAS 0, nothing happens.

I have not seen an old-school Shimano SIS shifter in a while, but I can dig it, and it does the job. I was a little worried the 180mm 2-piston no-name hydraulic brakes would not be able to slow a combined 280 lbs going downhill fast, but they also got the job done. Smooth, powerful modulation, and I even locked them up briefly, but the Coolride 4” whitewall tires grip the pavement so well that it was tough to do, and I was always able to maintain control.

Heybike was kind enough to send front and rear baskets, and they are sturdy and easy to install. They are heavy-gauge steel, add another 10 lbs to the bike, and prevent it from folding all the way up. If you don’t foresee needing to fold it up, they are a great option for grocery runs or transporting furry creatures while riding. Their phone holder is also solid and attaches easily.

Every Ebike comes with either a cadence sensor or a torque sensor, and sometimes both. The Heybike Ranger S 2.0 uses a cadence sensor, and it is very aggressive. I prefer torque sensors on an Ebike and you can read about the differences between the two types of sensors here.

It only needs about a quarter-turn of the crank to activate, and pretty quickly you’re left spinning and not contributing much to the ride, especially in PAS 4 and 5. I ended up staying mainly in PAS 3 on gear 7 so I could pedal and comfortably maintain about 19/20 mph. Even when it got dark, I felt pretty seen with the super bright headlight and rear taillight.

The best sensor for you depends on what you want to get out of the ride. Cadence sensors are cheaper and give you a more relaxed ride because they do most of the work. Torque sensors are typically found on more expensive bikes and offer smoother power delivery, better speed control, longer battery life, and a more intense workout. For a commuter bike, I think a cadence sensor is fine. This just needs to get me to work with the least amount of effort. It can kick in abruptly, but you get used to it pretty quickly.

The Bottom Line

In the end, I found that the Heybike Ranger S 2.0 is a great commuter Ebike. With a bright front LED headlight and rear lights with turn signals, the 750W motor and cadence sensor are able to provide 80Nm of torque that can propel you to a top speed of 28mph.

Add front and rear baskets or a pannier kit, and you have a true cargo or furry-creature-carrying beast. The folding frame is easy to store (without baskets) or transport as long as you can lift 72 lbs. The front suspension fork and huge 20” x 4” tires smooth out any bumps along the way.

I could set it to PAS 4 and cruise to work at 24mph with almost no effort. On the way back with a long hill, I can set it to PAS 0 or 1 and get a nice leg burner going home. For an Ebike priced just under $1,000, it ticks all the boxes you want, so it is definitely worth a look if you are in the market for an Ebike.

The Heybike Ranger S 2.0 Folding Fat Tire Ebike retails for $1288 (currently on sale for $999); it is available directly from the manufacturer.

Source: Manufacturer-supplied review sample.

What I like: Quick power delivery; Grippy tires; Tons of available accessories; Clear display; Responsive customer service; Good brakes; Rolls over everything

What Needs Improvement: App riding tracker is inaccurate; Only available in black; Unlock wheel diameter setting; Heavy