Heybike Comfort Ranger 3.0 Pro Electric Bike Review: Tough Little Cargo Ebike
It only comes in a few parts (saddle, handlebars, front wheel, pedals), which I have already assembled and adjusted on my analog bikes. I did ask two friends for help, which proved helpful since it’s somewhat difficult to get the heavy frame in place with everything lined up.
Unlike the other bike in this line, the Ranger S ($1,099), you don’t need the HeyBike app to use the Ranger Pro. The app lets you change bike settings, update firmware, and track rides, but there’s no need to activate the bike. It charged to 100% in just three hours out of the box and has since taken around seven hours to fully charge from an AC outlet after draining the battery, which is comparable to my full-size Radster Road.
Photography: Maggie Slepian
I tested this bike during a chaotic spring here in Montana, which meant muddy bike paths, drizzle, sleet, and lots of puddles. Unlike my full-size e-bike, the Ranger Pro has a fully enclosed battery and has an IP65 waterproof rating (meaning it can withstand direct hits from poured water but is not submersible). I’ve never been stressed about driving into town to run errands in the rain.
Aside from step-by-step access and cargo carrying, the main accessibility feature of this bike is its foldable design, which shrinks it to half its size. The two main break points are at the base of the handlebars and the center base of the frame. Pull the latches to disengage, then rotate the frame and handlebars, and the bike can be stored in the corner of a garage or placed in the back seat of a car. It weighs 65 pounds and is a difficult load to carry, but the storage convenience is excellent.
I was a little nervous riding at 20 miles an hour in traffic, knowing that two latches were the only barriers between the one-piece bike and the frame literally folded in half, but everything remained secure. I took this bike through some of the ugliest potholes Montana has to offer, and nothing came loose or opened.
Top-notch handling
Photography: Maggie Slepian
The bike has a whopping 440-pound load limit (you’ll need to purchase the baskets ($89) and panniers ($59) separately), but I had luck strapping my gym bag, yoga mat, and grocery carrier onto the rear rack. I’m used to full-size bikes with taller frames, so I wasn’t sure how a folding cargo e-bike would perform, but it did better than my full-size upright e-bike.
