2025 HeyBike Horizon Overview – webBikeWorld

The final ebike I reviewed was a HeyBike – the 1,000-watt Ranger S folder. By comparability, the Horizon is kind of comparable whereas additionally being very totally different. Rocking a 750-watt hub motor however with a full suspension body and 24” x 4” wheels, the Horizon is the slower, heavier, larger brother.

If you happen to’re searching for a full-suspension folding ebike and are contemplating the Horizon, these are the 5 most vital issues to remove from this overview

• You need to make liberal use of pedal help and throttle with the Horizon – Its cadence-sensing pedal help is fairly normal by way of responsiveness and really feel, however its entry-level groupset and middle-of-the-road using place imply that you simply’ll be counting on the motor so much.

• The Horizon has a real-world vary of about 28 miles / 45 kilometers – HeyBike claims a most vary of 55 miles / 88 km, however I doubt that’s achievable in any setting apart from flat, paved floor with a 120 lb rider. 

• It’s too large to suit into your trunk – I attempted with my 2017 Ford Fusion and couldn’t get it in comfortably. 24” wheels aren’t large, however contemplating most folders include 20” wheels, the additional 20% is fairly apparent while you’re attempting to hold, retailer, or transport the Horizon when it’s folded,

• It weighs practically 80 lbs however solely has a 14.4 Ah battery – Annnnd right here is the value of the total suspension body and “outsized” wheels. Whereas many ebikes are on this weight vary, these which are usually include 18 Ah or 20 Ah batteries.

• The match and end is simply okay – The core elements of the bike are fairly stable, however the equipment are the place they saved cash. Welds are okay, however a number of washers got here pre-rusted, one of many bolts for the show was lacking, and different odds and ends betray its inexpensive standing.

The underside line is that this can be a folding ebike made for individuals who aren’t involved about whether or not or not it’s compact. Excellent for RVers, folks with giant properties, or somebody who’s tight on storage however nonetheless needs a full suspension/fats tire/folding mixture. Folks involved about micromobility or with small storage areas can be higher served by different folders with smaller wheels.

Phrases & Images: Cameron Martel 

HeyBike equipped the Horizon at no cost. We don’t have a monetary relationship with HeyBike. All critiques are topic to our overview insurance policies. Merchandise are scored based mostly on our hands-on experiences with it. I’m an avid biking fanatic (each “acoustic” and electrical) and have hands-on reviewed greater than 30 ebikes thus far.

2025 HeyBike Horizon Specs

• MSRP: $1,999 USD / $2,299 CAD (on sale for $1,400 USD as of March 9, 2025)
• The place to Purchase: HeyBike web site (Canada)
• Guarantee: 30-day free trial, 2-year guarantee
• High Velocity: 32 mph / 55 kph (28 mph / 45 kph in Canada)
• eBike Class: Class 3 out of the field, lockable to class 2
• Vary: Claimed 55 miles / 88 km (wBW estimated 25 miles / 45 km)
• Bike Weight: 79 .4lbs / 36 kg (together with battery)
• Weight capability: 330 lbs (149.7 kg)
• Motor: Generic 750-watt hub motor 
• Torque: 80 Nm
• PAS: Cadence, 5 -levels (app adjustable)
• Brakes: RSX hydraulic brakes w/ 180 mm rotors
• Gearing: Shimano Tourney 7-speed
• Battery: 48V 14.4 Ah (692 Wh), UL licensed
• Wheels & Tires: 24” x 4” wheels with Chao Yang tires
• Different: Headlight, powered taillight, flip sign, electrical horn, entrance and rear fenders, rear rack

HeyBike Horizon Unboxing & Meeting

The Horizon is easy to place collectively, however I recommend reviewing the meeting video vs. counting on the knowledge from the handbook. Whereas the handbook isn’t incorrect, it doesn’t present among the nuance tied to constructing the bike (such because the order of washers on the axle, the downtube bearing, and many others.

Meeting is easy:

• Unpackage the bike
• Connect the entrance wheel
• Connect the handlebars
• Connect the rear rack
• Connect the pedals
• Connect the entrance fender and headlight
• Screw on the pedals (notice the stickers that inform you which path to show them)
• Tighten all the things up, and also you’re carried out!

Meeting Walkthrough Video

Notes

• The second bolt for the show was lacking (this was additionally the case once I unboxed the Ranger S). 
• Test all the things earlier than you assemble it in case you want spare components from HeyBike.
• If it’s your first time assembling a bike-in-a-box, plan for about an hour.

2025 HeyBike Horizon Aesthetics & Design

I’ll simply come out and say it: folding e-bikes look the worst of all. Their step-thru frames, diminutive handlebars, and upright posture don’t precisely make for clear strains.

Contemplating that, the Horizon isn’t all that bad-looking. The rear suspension setup and large tires give the body some visible heft, and so it doesn’t look as fragile as most different folders, nevertheless it’s nonetheless a folding ebike on the finish of the day.

I’ve obtained the black and blue colorway right here, however you can even get the Horizon in Cyan/Peal or All Gray/Black gradient. The Horizon additionally got here in a limited-run “Sundown” scheme, however these are lengthy offered out now.

Picture: HeyBike web site buyer overview

Of the three colours obtainable, the Cyan/Peal is my favourite. It’s the most fashionable and attention-grabbing, and it makes use of the clear break of the hinge in its fashion. Nonetheless, the black/blue mixture is not any slouch both.

Hope You’re Not Thirsty

With the rear horst-link suspension and the detachable battery from the highest of the downtube, there may be nowhere handy on the body to mount equipment, similar to a water bottle holder. Positive, you might get a handlebar-mounted model, however contemplating that the bars fold, this additionally turns into inconvenient for storage.

It’s a small – and odd – miss, contemplating that folding ebikes are supposed to be sensible and comfy at first.

What’s the 2025 HeyBike Horizon Prefer to Experience?

Whereas HeyBike has fitted the Horizon with a 750-watt rear hub motor, its “paltry” 80 Nm of torque pales compared to the different HeyBike in my storage. In comparison with the Ranger S’s 1,000 watts and 100+ Nm of torque, and contemplating the larger wheels and fatter tires, the Horizon crawls the place the Ranger flies.

The above 7 mile / 11 km loop isn’t the longest route, nevertheless it has a number of good sections to check the Horizon’s chops on hills, flat singletracks, gravel, and a few good (chilly) riverfront to trip beside. Nevertheless, within the Canadian prairies in late February/early March, it’s additionally chilly trip at 32 f / 0 c.

On throttle alone, the Horizon has repeatedly hauled me up a protracted and gradual 1-mile hill (highlighted in yellow above), although it isn’t transferring too quick by the point you attain the highest. Nonetheless, it’s transferring quick sufficient that I’ve no issues protecting the wheels straight. Contemplating its heft and hub, I’m shocked to see it conquer these hills.

Additionally stunning is how shortly the Horizon accelerates to its throttle-only restricted pace of 30 mph (42 kph). It’s not a rocket, nevertheless it has no issues hitting and staying at its prime pace.

Mild off-road efficiency is okay. The coil fork will maintain tempo with informal using, however aggressive riders will shortly discover their intentions past the bike’s potential. Then once more, in the event you’re an aggressive biker, this isn’t the suitable bike for you anyway. 

The place the Horizon has room to enhance is its brake really feel. The mushiness within the levers fails to encourage confidence, and when rolling alongside at 30 mph / 42 kph, it’s essential to belief these brakes! I had no failures, however I did expertise brake fade after aggressive braking. I count on a future improve to brand-name brakes would dramatically enhance general feeling.

Strengths

• The complete suspension body and fats tires make for a extremely comfy trip. Set the tires at 10 psi for sand/snow using and 16 – 20 psi for basic–goal using.
• Its headlight is kind of vibrant.
• The rear hub motor will get my 210 lb / 95 kg self up a hill with out fuss, albeit at a strolling tempo on longer/steeper inclines.
• The body is surprisingly inflexible for a folder (which doesn’t imply inflexible in comparison with your downhill bike).
• For the reason that HeyBike app means that you can customise PAS ranges, you’ll be able to dial within the precise efficiency you need from every setting (I set PAS 1 to five mph / 8 kph, for instance).
• The suspension can deal with some off-road using, so be happy to go off the overwhelmed path (inside cause)!

Alternatives for enchancment

• Give the Horizon a cassette that may deal with hills higher; positive, you’ve obtained the motor, however having a much bigger cassette will even enhance low-speed using in snow or sand.
• The kickstand doesn’t go away a lot floor clearance and hits twigs, shrubs, and many others,. throughout my rides
• The hydraulic brakes have an excessive amount of play within the levers to encourage confidence throughout a critical flogging
• You eat by means of your 14.4 Ah battery fairly shortly

HeyBike Horizon Construct High quality & Elements

As you’d count on at this worth level, the Horizon consists of brand-name and generic elements of blended high quality. Mainly, all the things different than the groupset is generic/OEM components, which retains prices down but additionally introduces issues concerning long-term reliability and the provision of substitute components.

I inspected each grommet, bolt, nut, and joint on the bike, and nearly all the things required some tightening or adjusting, so remember to plan for an additional 10-Quarter-hour earlier than your first trip and provides the bike a as soon as over: mine wanted it, and yours in all probability will too!

Brakes

The Horizon is provided with RSX-branded hydraulic brakes paired with 180 mm rotors. It is a frequent configuration, however I’d have most popular to see brand-name hydraulic brakes or a minimum of 200 mm rotors. 80 lbs is lots of mass to maneuver, and extra stopping energy isn’t dangerous.

Brake really feel will not be nice, although I’m not anxious about precise stopping energy. Braking confidence is worsened as a result of there may be lots of journey in each brake levers earlier than you get a stable chew. I count on that I might regulate this with a brake service, however I shouldn’t have to try this for a brand-new bike out of the field.

Fortunately, after quite a few 30 mph to 0 brake pulls, the Horizon solely exhibits a nominal quantity of fade.

I’ve ridden with RSX calipers on a number of events now – together with lots of the HeyBikes I’ve reviewed beforehand, such because the Brawn, Tyson, and Ranger S. The softness I really feel within the Horizon’s brakes is the primary time I’ve felt that from an RSX setup. Nevertheless, each RSX setup I’ve ridden with has felt and carried out worse than the also-common Tektro Auriga or Dorado fashions.

It’s additionally value noting that there have been a number of kilometers the place the pads rubbed barely throughout movement. After a number of brake stomps, the pads wore in, and the rubbing sound disappeared. This isn’t unusual when using your brand-new bike-in-a-box for the primary time, nevertheless it’s value mentioning in the event you haven’t encountered it earlier than.

Apparently, I’m not the one reviewer who isn’t in love with the brake really feel on the Horizon. The blokes over at eBike Escape reviewed the Horizon final yr and had a rear brake failure that required bleeding the brakes and changing the rear pads (although they in some way nonetheless scored the bike an 8/10?).

Drivetrain & Groupset

Like each different sub-$1,500 ebike, the Horizon is provided with the ever-present Shimano Tourney 7-speed groupset and a cassette for metropolis using. With out the motor, any hill or path with elevation selection is difficult. Take an 80 lb ebike, pair it with a sub-optimal using place, and end it off with a city-slicker cassette, and it’s a must to marvel what the rear suspension is supposed for…

Nonetheless, the above criticism is essentially irrelevant as soon as the motor kicks in, and assuming you’ve saved your battery charged, you’ll be capable of deal with straightforward trails and singletracks simply high-quality. 

On the subject of using trails, due to the cadence pedal help, I opted to change the PAS pace settings through the HeyBike app in order that PAS 1 and PAS 2 had been strolling tempo and quick strolling tempo, respectively. This retains the bike from lurching ahead when maneuvering on tight trails or round corners, which is a cadence curse that the inventory PAS settings additionally subscribe to.

Suspension

The HeyBike Horizon has a hydraulic-coil fork with 80 mm of journey (together with preload and lockout) and rear horst-link suspension. This setup on a folding bike is unusual, to say the least, and paired with the 24” x 4” tires, the Horizon is essentially the most comfy folding ebike I’ve ridden.

The coil fork isn’t dangerous, nevertheless it’s additionally not a devoted off-road fork, so don’t let HeyBike’s aggressive off-road advertising idiot you: the Horizon can deal with mild singletracks, nevertheless it can’t deal with downhill trails, technical using, and even actually gnarly terrain.

However the suspension and fats tire mixture will completely dominate grasslands, gravel trails, easy singletracks, and something paved. 

Sure, the “large” wheels and full suspension body take away lots of the compactness that usually attracts consumers to a folding ebike, however that trade-off means that you’ve a folding ebike that can be utilized in some fascinating locations. This unconventional alternative makes it simpler for the Horizon to trip in additional locations.

Wheels & Tires

24” x 4” tires on a folding ebike are a rarity. In some methods, these “outsized” fats tires are counterintuitive to the principle cause folks purchase folding ebikes: they aren’t compact or light-weight.

However… what you lose in compactness, you achieve in consolation. And, frankly, it’s a ache within the butt to shove 80 lb in your trunk anyway, so the tradeoff is greater than value it, given the advance in trip high quality in contrast with different folders.

Chao Yang will not be a premium tire model. The truth is, the one different occasions I’ve ridden with them have been on the opposite HeyBikes I’ve reviewed. They’re okay, however I’ll be glad to interchange them with studded tires when the time comes since this bike is begging to be ridden within the snow.

It’s value noting that this tire measurement mixture is considerably unusual, so replacements aren’t as worth aggressive as you’d count on and see in additional “regular” measurement configurations. Nonetheless, you’ll be able to substitute these tires for round $40/tire, which isn’t horrible.

Street noise on paved surfaces isn’t dangerous, and grip on grass and gravel is fairly good. The tires are knobby however not aggressive, in order that they carry out higher on grime and gravel than they might on snow and sand. 

I attempted to check them within the snow, however Alberta determined that we’d get blistering chilly for a number of weeks and that there could be virtually no snow in any respect this winter, in order that take a look at didn’t occur. Nevertheless, the tires aren’t set as much as be studded, in order that they aren’t a critical contender for winter using anyway.

Show & Settings

Like the opposite HeyBikes I’ve reviewed, the colour show is fairly good however has restricted performance with out connecting the bike to the HeyBike app. By way of the app you’ll be able to:

• Change between miles and kilometers
• Regulate PAS settings (0-5, 1-5, and many others.) and PAS pace limits for every degree (this can be a nice function that each ebike ought to have)
• Monitor rides through the built-in GPS
• Flip the bike on/off (if linked through Bluetooth)
• See the battery cost degree (although generally the app and the show disagree with one another)
• Rename the bike
• Regulate the show backlight
• Allow/disable the throttle PAS-sync pace limiter (the throttle might be restricted to the pace restrict of the present PAS degree, or set to limitless)

General, the Horizon is fairly customizable. Nevertheless, if the app ever stops working, otherwise you overlook to convey your telephone with you, the show turns into considerably limiting by way of customization. Importantly, on this state of affairs, you’d nonetheless be capable of activate and trip the bike (you simply wouldn’t be capable of dial within the above settings).

Hinge Mechanisms

After I reviewed the KBO Compact, I decidedly bear in mind pondering there was a non-zero probability of the central hinge loosening throughout aggressive using. Regardless of having the thought, the truth didn’t happen (fortunately), however the wimpy hinge was by no means one thing I felt superior about.

The Horizon has a beefy metallic hinge that securely snaps into place. With the protection lock enabled, you’ll be able to shake the shih tzu out of the bike and it’ll keep safe. The body has lots of wobble – as does each folding ebike body – nevertheless it by no means seems like a legal responsibility.

The folding handlebar stem is identical. It locks into place with a tactile and satisfying click on. 

Contemplating the Horizon’s potential to deal with some grime and singletrack using, I used to be curious to see how strong these two hinge mechanisms could be. All informed, whereas not as muscular because the hinge on the Floor 604 Twist I reviewed a few years in the past, the Horizon’s hinges are hefty sufficient for me.

Equipment

The powered entrance and hind lights are HeyBike branded and fairly seen in low mild. The HeyBike branding is backlit (after all), and the headlight is kind of purposeful at night time.

The lights are operated through a swap on the left handlebars. One factor I discover annoying is that the lights will keep on if the swap is activated, even when the bike is turned off. I can 100% see myself by chance leaving the headlight on for a number of hours and returning to a useless bike.

I’m much less enthused by the fenders, which appear to be the garden-variety plastic bits that almost all bike-in-a-box manufacturers embody. Nevertheless, seems might be deceiving: the plastic on these fenders could be very light-weight, and the QC isn’t superb. The rear fender was arrange off-center, and the entrance fender was a ache to regulate due to how flimsy it’s.

The rear fender, which got here pre-installed below the rack, additionally got here pre-scratched! Whereas actually not a giant deal, I can recognize that some folks gained’t be thrilled to see their brand-new-out-of-the-box ebike with some scratches and scuffs on it. It’s also possible to see within the picture above that there’s a small gap within the weld of the highest crossbar. Once more, it’s minor however notable (and never the one QC difficulty on the rack or bike).

One other petty criticism I’ve is the kickstand, which refuses to boost sufficient to really get out of the way in which. Get any critical lean, and the kickstand rubs on the bottom or hits trailside particles. The above picture exhibits the stand totally retracted, so you’ll be able to recognize how in the way in which it could get.

An Unconventional and Imperfect eBike Excellent for the Proper Type of Rider

After using the Horizon and getting a way of how I felt about it, I got here to the conclusion that it isn’t made for the house dweller who wants last-mile transport they will comfortably tuck right into a closet; the Horizon is made for the retiree with an RV, the household seaside home, or your cabin within the mountains.

It’s made to be as out of the way in which as potential when saved however enable you get pleasure from as a lot of the terrain as potential when using.

The Horizon is attempting to strike a fragile stability between purposeful/compact/transportable and off-road/snow/year-round succesful. A single bike can’t do all of it, and the gaps in its efficiency are most obvious when the Horizon is attempting to punch above its weight.

It has compromises inherent in each folding ebike: its folding body means it’ll by no means be a critical off-road rider, its parts-bin part record means it’ll by no means be a critical performer, and its portly poundage means it’ll by no means be a long-distance superhero, both. 

However it additionally has a potent 750-watt motor and a decent-sized battery. Tie these issues with a full-suspension body and large fats tires, and you’ve got a surprisingly succesful folder that may deal with some grime, gravel, sand, and snow approach higher than its skinny-tire, rigid-rear, underpowered friends merely can’t.

If the above use case resonates with you, the Horizon’s obtained your quantity.