{"id":669974,"date":"2025-05-18T19:55:16","date_gmt":"2025-05-18T16:55:16","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/en.buradabiliyorum.com\/heybikes-alpha-step-through-e-bike-is-an-affordable-all-terrain-dreamboat\/"},"modified":"2025-05-18T19:55:16","modified_gmt":"2025-05-18T16:55:16","slug":"heybikes-alpha-step-through-e-bike-is-an-affordable-all-terrain-dreamboat","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/heybikes-alpha-step-through-e-bike-is-an-affordable-all-terrain-dreamboat\/","title":{"rendered":"Heybike\u2019s Alpha step-through e-bike is an affordable, all-terrain dreamboat"},"content":{"rendered":"<div id=\"ez-toc-container\" class=\"ez-toc-v2_0_85 counter-hierarchy ez-toc-counter ez-toc-custom ez-toc-container-direction\">\n<p class=\"ez-toc-title\" style=\"cursor:inherit\">Table of Contents<\/p>\n<label for=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6a38b90a09157\" class=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-label\"><span class=\"\"><span class=\"eztoc-hide\" style=\"display:none;\">Toggle<\/span><span class=\"ez-toc-icon-toggle-span\"><svg style=\"fill: #dd3333;color:#dd3333\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" class=\"list-377408\" width=\"20px\" height=\"20px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" fill=\"none\"><path d=\"M6 6H4v2h2V6zm14 0H8v2h12V6zM4 11h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2zM4 16h2v2H4v-2zm16 0H8v2h12v-2z\" fill=\"currentColor\"><\/path><\/svg><svg style=\"fill: #dd3333;color:#dd3333\" class=\"arrow-unsorted-368013\" xmlns=\"http:\/\/www.w3.org\/2000\/svg\" width=\"10px\" height=\"10px\" viewBox=\"0 0 24 24\" version=\"1.2\" baseProfile=\"tiny\"><path d=\"M18.2 9.3l-6.2-6.3-6.2 6.3c-.2.2-.3.4-.3.7s.1.5.3.7c.2.2.4.3.7.3h11c.3 0 .5-.1.7-.3.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7zM5.8 14.7l6.2 6.3 6.2-6.3c.2-.2.3-.5.3-.7s-.1-.5-.3-.7c-.2-.2-.4-.3-.7-.3h-11c-.3 0-.5.1-.7.3-.2.2-.3.5-.3.7s.1.5.3.7z\"\/><\/svg><\/span><\/span><\/label><input type=\"checkbox\"  id=\"ez-toc-cssicon-toggle-item-6a38b90a09157\" checked aria-label=\"Toggle\" \/><nav><ul class='ez-toc-list ez-toc-list-level-1 ' ><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-1\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/heybikes-alpha-step-through-e-bike-is-an-affordable-all-terrain-dreamboat\/#An_affordable_mid-drive_e-bike\" >An affordable mid-drive e-bike<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-2\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/heybikes-alpha-step-through-e-bike-is-an-affordable-all-terrain-dreamboat\/#Long_live_the_Alpha_battery\" >Long live the Alpha battery<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-3\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/heybikes-alpha-step-through-e-bike-is-an-affordable-all-terrain-dreamboat\/#More_notes_on_sturdiness\" >More notes on sturdiness<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-4\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/heybikes-alpha-step-through-e-bike-is-an-affordable-all-terrain-dreamboat\/#The_cons_set_up_quality_concerns_and_wow_what_a_horn\" >The cons: set up, quality concerns, and wow, what a horn<\/a><\/li><li class='ez-toc-page-1 ez-toc-heading-level-3'><a class=\"ez-toc-link ez-toc-heading-5\" href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/heybikes-alpha-step-through-e-bike-is-an-affordable-all-terrain-dreamboat\/#Heybike_Alpha_Best_if_youre_handy_still_good_if_not\" >Heybike Alpha: Best if you\u2019re handy, still good if not<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/nav><\/div>\n<div>\n<p id=\"speakable-summary\" class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I\u2019ve tested out a number of e-bikes in my time here at TechCrunch.  And I\u2019ve never been so tempted to hang onto one as I have with Heybike\u2019s new <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.heybike.com\/products\/alpha?srsltid=AfmBOopRtoRQBc2zl0TxhpE7hzENS9RwdxOgZSkCpa6sgqLGfQNwRtkc\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">Alpha<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">This sturdy, fat-tire, all-terrain e-bike is worth the $1,699 price tag. The Alpha ticked a whole lot of my boxes, including ones I didn\u2019t even know I had. For instance, I knew I\u2019d like an e-bike with pedal assist and a throttle, but I didn\u2019t know that I would love an e-bike with pedal assist, a throttle, <em>and<\/em> a manual shifter.\u00a0Perhaps the dreamiest part of riding the Alpha was the mid-drive motor with torque sensor, which led to a more natural riding feel. That, and the battery life that seemed to last forever.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It wasn\u2019t all roses and rainbows. I have a few complaints about the <a href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/category\/download-scripts-themes-apps\/\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"9\" title=\"Download Scripts &amp; Themes &amp; Apps\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">app<\/a>, setting up the bike, and the outsized horn. But <a href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/category\/general\/\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"3\" title=\"General\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">general<\/a>ly, this is an excellent all around e-bike,\u00a0 whether you want to take it on off-road adventures or use it in the city to do your weekly Trader Joe\u2019s shopping.<\/p>\n<p>And then there is the question of how long this bike will remain affordable. Heybike is Chinese manufacturer and its bikes are made in China. With tariffs, even at the recently lowered rate, these bikes are likely to get more expensive for U.S. consumers.<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-an-affordable-mid-drive-e-bike\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"An_affordable_mid-drive_e-bike\"><\/span><strong>An affordable mid-drive e-bike<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1440\" src=\"https:\/\/techcrunch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/heybike-alpha-galaxy.jpg?w=680\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-3005559\" srcset=\"https:\/\/techcrunch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/heybike-alpha-galaxy.jpg 1920w, https:\/\/techcrunch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/heybike-alpha-galaxy.jpg?resize=150,113 150w, https:\/\/techcrunch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/heybike-alpha-galaxy.jpg?resize=300,225 300w, https:\/\/techcrunch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/heybike-alpha-galaxy.jpg?resize=768,576 768w, https:\/\/techcrunch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/heybike-alpha-galaxy.jpg?resize=680,510 680w, https:\/\/techcrunch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/heybike-alpha-galaxy.jpg?resize=1200,900 1200w, https:\/\/techcrunch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/heybike-alpha-galaxy.jpg?resize=1280,960 1280w, https:\/\/techcrunch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/heybike-alpha-galaxy.jpg?resize=430,323 430w, https:\/\/techcrunch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/heybike-alpha-galaxy.jpg?resize=720,540 720w, https:\/\/techcrunch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/heybike-alpha-galaxy.jpg?resize=900,675 900w, https:\/\/techcrunch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/heybike-alpha-galaxy.jpg?resize=800,600 800w, https:\/\/techcrunch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/heybike-alpha-galaxy.jpg?resize=1536,1152 1536w, https:\/\/techcrunch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/heybike-alpha-galaxy.jpg?resize=668,501 668w, https:\/\/techcrunch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/heybike-alpha-galaxy.jpg?resize=500,375 500w, https:\/\/techcrunch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/heybike-alpha-galaxy.jpg?resize=823,617 823w, https:\/\/techcrunch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/heybike-alpha-galaxy.jpg?resize=708,531 708w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><span class=\"wp-element-caption__text\">The ALPHA is Heybike\u2019s first model to use its Galaxy eDrive system. <\/span><span class=\"wp-block-image__credits\"><strong>Image Credits:<\/strong>Rebecca Bellan<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Alpha is Heybike\u2019s first with its made-in-house Galaxy eDrive system, which uses a 500W Mivice mid-drive motor alongside a 680Wh battery, which provides a smooth ride.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Most other e-bikes I\u2019ve tried are built with motors mounted in the wheel hub, which makes for a simpler, more affordable design. A mid-drive motor is located near the pedals, and if you can get a bike like that at a decent price? Take it. Because not everyone wants to buy a Bafang conversion kit and build their own cheap mid-drive.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Even at the fifth and highest level of pedal assist, the Alpha is smooth and easy to control, making you feel like you\u2019re pedaling a traditional push bike. There\u2019s nothing jerky about the acceleration.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">There are downsides to the mid-drive, though. If you\u2019re the type of rider who likes to lean heavy on the throttle, then Heybike\u2019s Alpha is probably not for you. A company spokesperson told me Heybike doesn\u2019t encourage sole throttle use, especially at the start of a ride, because it could damage the motor and drive train.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">And with the Alpha, you actually can\u2019t start a ride with the throttle. You have to pedal first and build up to at least 5 miles per hour before the throttle will engage. When you do use the throttle, the speed adjusts based on what pedal assist level you\u2019re on. Though even at the highest level, the top speed while using the throttle only reaches 20 miles per hour. That said, you can push it up to 28 miles per hour while pedaling.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I didn\u2019t find the throttle constraints to be too much of a problem. Of course, there were those occasional moments while riding through the chaotic streets of New York City when I wanted the quick getaway that a sensitive throttle would provide. Still, I found the pedal assist was responsive enough.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">And with 105 N m of torque, it was also powerful. I rarely found myself needing to take it off the first level. The addition of the Shimano Altus 8-gear shifter helped augment that power. The shifter let me kick it up to a higher gear on flat terrain and bring it back down to a low gear when climbing hills; this meant I could keep the pedal assist at 1 to save on battery power.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">And while I\u2019m on the subject of hills, it\u2019s worth noting that the Alpha handled inclines like an absolute champ, once again due to the mid-drive motor.\u00a0<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-long-live-the-alpha-battery\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Long_live_the_Alpha_battery\"><\/span><strong>Long live the Alpha battery<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1440\" src=\"https:\/\/techcrunch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/heybike-alpha-handlebars.jpg?w=680\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-3005565\" srcset=\"https:\/\/techcrunch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/heybike-alpha-handlebars.jpg 1920w, https:\/\/techcrunch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/heybike-alpha-handlebars.jpg?resize=150,113 150w, https:\/\/techcrunch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/heybike-alpha-handlebars.jpg?resize=300,225 300w, https:\/\/techcrunch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/heybike-alpha-handlebars.jpg?resize=768,576 768w, https:\/\/techcrunch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/heybike-alpha-handlebars.jpg?resize=680,510 680w, https:\/\/techcrunch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/heybike-alpha-handlebars.jpg?resize=1200,900 1200w, https:\/\/techcrunch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/heybike-alpha-handlebars.jpg?resize=1280,960 1280w, https:\/\/techcrunch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/heybike-alpha-handlebars.jpg?resize=430,323 430w, https:\/\/techcrunch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/heybike-alpha-handlebars.jpg?resize=720,540 720w, https:\/\/techcrunch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/heybike-alpha-handlebars.jpg?resize=900,675 900w, https:\/\/techcrunch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/heybike-alpha-handlebars.jpg?resize=800,600 800w, https:\/\/techcrunch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/heybike-alpha-handlebars.jpg?resize=1536,1152 1536w, https:\/\/techcrunch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/heybike-alpha-handlebars.jpg?resize=668,501 668w, https:\/\/techcrunch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/heybike-alpha-handlebars.jpg?resize=500,375 500w, https:\/\/techcrunch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/heybike-alpha-handlebars.jpg?resize=823,617 823w, https:\/\/techcrunch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/heybike-alpha-handlebars.jpg?resize=708,531 708w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><span class=\"wp-block-image__credits\"><strong>Image Credits:<\/strong>Rebecca Bellan<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Alpha\u2019s UL certified batteries allow for up to 60 miles of range on a single charge, though I wouldn\u2019t be surprised if they surpassed that. After removing the battery to charge it once (which ended up being an ordeal that I\u2019ll describe below), I took the bike on several <a href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/category\/trip-and-travel\/\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"10\" title=\"Trip &amp; Travel\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">trip<\/a>s around the neighborhood and up various hills, probably riding for a total of 22 miles. The battery life on the LCD mid-mounted screen somehow didn\u2019t drop below 100%.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">That could have something to do with the Galaxy eDrive, which seemed to have a regenerative braking system that provided power back to the battery whenever I braked. Heybike says its Galaxy system provides more than 8% of additional range compared to batteries of the same capacity.<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-more-notes-on-sturdiness\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"More_notes_on_sturdiness\"><\/span><strong>More notes on sturdiness<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image size-large\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1920\" height=\"1440\" src=\"https:\/\/techcrunch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/heybike-alpha-lights.jpg?w=680\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-3005567\" srcset=\"https:\/\/techcrunch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/heybike-alpha-lights.jpg 1920w, https:\/\/techcrunch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/heybike-alpha-lights.jpg?resize=150,113 150w, https:\/\/techcrunch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/heybike-alpha-lights.jpg?resize=300,225 300w, https:\/\/techcrunch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/heybike-alpha-lights.jpg?resize=768,576 768w, https:\/\/techcrunch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/heybike-alpha-lights.jpg?resize=680,510 680w, https:\/\/techcrunch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/heybike-alpha-lights.jpg?resize=1200,900 1200w, https:\/\/techcrunch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/heybike-alpha-lights.jpg?resize=1280,960 1280w, https:\/\/techcrunch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/heybike-alpha-lights.jpg?resize=430,323 430w, https:\/\/techcrunch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/heybike-alpha-lights.jpg?resize=720,540 720w, https:\/\/techcrunch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/heybike-alpha-lights.jpg?resize=900,675 900w, https:\/\/techcrunch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/heybike-alpha-lights.jpg?resize=800,600 800w, https:\/\/techcrunch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/heybike-alpha-lights.jpg?resize=1536,1152 1536w, https:\/\/techcrunch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/heybike-alpha-lights.jpg?resize=668,501 668w, https:\/\/techcrunch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/heybike-alpha-lights.jpg?resize=500,375 500w, https:\/\/techcrunch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/heybike-alpha-lights.jpg?resize=823,617 823w, https:\/\/techcrunch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/heybike-alpha-lights.jpg?resize=708,531 708w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1920px) 100vw, 1920px\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><span class=\"wp-element-caption__text\">The ALPHA\u2019s front light was bright and its rear rack sturdy for picnic supplies. <\/span><span class=\"wp-block-image__credits\"><strong>Image Credits:<\/strong>Rebecca Bellan<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Alpha could probably double as a cargo bike for delivery riders. It comes with a rear rack that was more than sufficient to strap three packed bags of groceries, though I could have just as easily attached one of those large food delivery boxes.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">It also has a total payload of 400 pounds. That\u2019s the same amount as the Pedego cargo bike I tested last year, which is twice the price and also twice as heavy. Heybike\u2019s Alpha isn\u2019t exactly a small bike that can be tucked away easily in a NYC apartment, but with its aluminum alloy frame, it wasn\u2019t <em>too<\/em> heavy or clunky at 71 pounds.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">And while the 26 X 4 inch fat tires are great for traipsing over gravel and tree roots, they\u2019re just as good at handling the potholes and uneven road surfaces of NYC. Not only the tires, but the bouncy hydraulic front fork suspension took most of the blows from some of those roads and made it easy for me to hop on and off sidewalks.\u00a0<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-the-cons-set-up-quality-concerns-and-wow-what-a-horn\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"The_cons_set_up_quality_concerns_and_wow_what_a_horn\"><\/span><strong>The cons: set up, quality concerns, and wow, what a horn<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<figure class=\"wp-block-image alignleft size-large is-resized\"><img loading=\"lazy\" decoding=\"async\" width=\"1179\" height=\"2556\" src=\"https:\/\/techcrunch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/heybike-app-screenshot.png?w=314\" alt=\"\" class=\"wp-image-3005568\" style=\"width:208px;height:auto\" srcset=\"https:\/\/techcrunch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/heybike-app-screenshot.png 1179w, https:\/\/techcrunch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/heybike-app-screenshot.png?resize=69,150 69w, https:\/\/techcrunch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/heybike-app-screenshot.png?resize=138,300 138w, https:\/\/techcrunch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/heybike-app-screenshot.png?resize=768,1665 768w, https:\/\/techcrunch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/heybike-app-screenshot.png?resize=314,680 314w, https:\/\/techcrunch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/heybike-app-screenshot.png?resize=554,1200 554w, https:\/\/techcrunch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/heybike-app-screenshot.png?resize=590,1280 590w, https:\/\/techcrunch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/heybike-app-screenshot.png?resize=198,430 198w, https:\/\/techcrunch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/heybike-app-screenshot.png?resize=332,720 332w, https:\/\/techcrunch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/heybike-app-screenshot.png?resize=415,900 415w, https:\/\/techcrunch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/heybike-app-screenshot.png?resize=369,800 369w, https:\/\/techcrunch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/heybike-app-screenshot.png?resize=709,1536 709w, https:\/\/techcrunch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/heybike-app-screenshot.png?resize=945,2048 945w, https:\/\/techcrunch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/heybike-app-screenshot.png?resize=308,668 308w, https:\/\/techcrunch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/heybike-app-screenshot.png?resize=173,375 173w, https:\/\/techcrunch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/heybike-app-screenshot.png?resize=285,617 285w, https:\/\/techcrunch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/heybike-app-screenshot.png?resize=245,531 245w\" sizes=\"auto, (max-width: 1179px) 100vw, 1179px\"\/><figcaption class=\"wp-element-caption\"><span class=\"wp-block-image__credits\"><strong>Image Credits:<\/strong>Rebecca Bellan<\/span><\/figcaption><\/figure>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The Alpha was not without its challenges. For one, there was a decent amount of setup involved when the bike was delivered, which required careful squinting at a QR-code instruction manual. <\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">If you\u2019re not in the habit of putting bike parts together (which I am not), you\u2019re liable to get a few things wrong. I had the help of two lovely colleagues at my office, but when I hit the road something still felt off. I took it to a bike shop where the mechanic shook his head empathetically and made some tweaks, including to the handlebars which I hadn\u2019t installed in the correct position.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">I also struggled with removing the battery cover from the down tube. It just wouldn\u2019t come off! I tried looking up an instructional video on <a href=\"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/category\/social-mediaa\/\" data-internallinksmanager029f6b8e52c=\"1\" title=\"Social Media\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener\">YouTube<\/a>, but all I could find was an annoying <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.youtube.com\/watch?v=C4lBTLLF7i4\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">16-second remove and install battery ASMR video<\/a> from Heybike. In the end, I had to jimmy the cover open, and found that someone appeared to have screwed that latch the wrong way, hindering the release of the metal cover. I screwed it back on the right way so it could be clicked in properly.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">But then, more battery cover drama. After a few rides, the cover started popping off half-way mid-ride. I\u2019d clip it back in, hit a bump, and there it went again. Figuring that I likely messed something up while fiddling with the battery cover, I taped it in place and called it a day.<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">Another downvote for the Alpha was the horn. My god, it was loud. Imagine trying to annoy someone by yelling \u201cHOOOONNNKKK\u201d at them loudly. That\u2019s what the horn sounded like. It was so aggressive that I was embarrassed to use it to alert pedestrians or other riders when I was passing, lest I scare the crap out of them. It did come in handy when I wanted to symbolically flip off cars that entered the bike lane, though.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The app was also unimpressive. It could turn the bike off, but it couldn\u2019t turn it on, because the bike needed to be on already to connect to the app via bluetooth. The app could also turn on and off the front headlight (which was very bright, by the way), as well as record and share any trip data. Personally, I think e-bike apps are only worth using if they give you live tracking, anti-theft, and alarms.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">There aren\u2019t many colors to choose from. In fact, if you want a step-through, you\u2019re getting it in white. And if you want a step-over frame, you\u2019d better be happy with black. <\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">A final note on the addition of turn signals: they worked fine, but I almost never remembered to use them.\u00a0<\/p>\n<h3 class=\"wp-block-heading\" id=\"h-heybike-alpha-best-if-you-re-handy-still-good-if-not\"><span class=\"ez-toc-section\" id=\"Heybike_Alpha_Best_if_youre_handy_still_good_if_not\"><\/span><strong>Heybike Alpha: Best if you\u2019re handy, still good if not<\/strong><span class=\"ez-toc-section-end\"><\/span><\/h3>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">All in all, I thought the Heybike Alpha was a solid ride, particularly for the price point. Usually a bike with the Alpha\u2019s specs will run you anywhere from $2,000 to $4,500, so it\u2019s a pretty good deal. Though that issue with the battery cover did raise some red flags about quality issues, and if I had ridden it longer, I wonder what other issues might have arisen.\u00a0<\/p>\n<p class=\"wp-block-paragraph\">The affordable price tag could be based on poor customer service, based on <a rel=\"nofollow\" target=\"_blank\" href=\"https:\/\/www.reddit.com\/r\/ebikes\/comments\/1edpxg7\/heybike_any_honest_feedback\/\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noreferrer noopener nofollow\">reviews online<\/a>, though I couldn\u2019t personally speak to that. All I know is that it was one of the smoothest, easiest fat-tire e-bikes I\u2019ve had the pleasure of riding.\u00a0<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<blockquote><p><strong><span style=\"color: #ff6600;\">If you liked the article, do not forget to share it with your friends. Follow us on\u00a0<span style=\"color: #ff0000;\"><a style=\"color: #ff0000;\" href=\"https:\/\/news.google.com\/publications\/CAAqBwgKMN63nwsw68G3Aw\" target=\"_blank\" rel=\"nofollow noopener noreferrer\">Google News<\/a><\/span>\u00a0too, click on the star and choose us from your favorites.<\/span><\/strong><\/p><\/blockquote>\n<blockquote>\n<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>If you want to read more like this article, you can visit our <span style=\"color: #ff9900;\"><a style=\"color: #ff9900;\" href=\"https:\/\/en.buradabiliyorum.com\/category\/technology\/\" target=\"_blank\" >Technology<\/a><\/span> category.<\/strong><\/p>\n<\/blockquote>\n<p><span style=\"color: black;\"><a style=\"color: #ff9900;\" href=\"https:\/\/techcrunch.com\/2025\/05\/18\/heybikes-alpha-step-through-e-bike-is-an-affordable-all-terrain-dreamboat\/\" target=\"_blank\" >Source<\/a><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>I\u2019ve tested out a number of e-bikes in my time here at TechCrunch. And I\u2019ve never been so tempted to hang onto one as I have with Heybike\u2019s new Alpha. This sturdy, fat-tire, all-terrain e-bike is worth the $1,699 price tag. The Alpha ticked a whole lot of my boxes, including ones I didn\u2019t even&#8230;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":669975,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/techcrunch.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2025\/05\/heybike-alpha-.jpg?resize=1200,900","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[18],"tags":[119197,156454,156455,73295],"class_list":["post-669974","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-technology","tag-e-bikes","tag-heybike","tag-heybike-alpha","tag-transportation"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/669974","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=669974"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/669974\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/669975"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=669974"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=669974"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/buradabiliyorum.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=669974"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}