Manufacturers of electric bikes are competing with each other to see who can create a super powerful bike with the fat tire and be affordable at the same time. If we look at non-expensive e-bike brands that produce e-bikes with fat tires, the competition here is impressive.
A new interesting model from this category is the Himiway Zebra – a powerful hardtail with a 750W motor, 950Wh battery, and an attractive $2,000 price tag. Of course, such criteria could not make this e-bike a strong competitor because we must also consider other characteristics.
The new Zebra features 26 “x4” Kenda fat tires, a front suspension fork, and an upgraded frame. In the himiway zebra review, we will consider this flagship’s advantages and characteristics and draw conclusions about this bike.
- BIKE CATEGORY: FAT TIRE/HYBRID PATH
- BIKE CLASS: CLASS 3 – PAS UP TO 28 MPH / THROTTLE ASSIST, UP TO 20 MPH
- WEIGHT AND DIMENSIONS: -CLAIMED WEIGHT: 79 lbs; MAXIMUM RIDER WEIGHT:400 lbs;
Components and Accessories
- Brakes: Hydraulic disk brakes, 180mm rotors front and rear
- Fenders: N/A
- Frame: 6061 Aluminum
- Fork: Front suspension fork
- Grips: Faux leather ergonomic
- Saddle: Comfort saddle
- Handlebar: Alloy riser bar
- Kickstand: Included
- Pedals: Alloy
- Tires: Kenda Juggernaut 26” x 4”
Frame
The Himiway Zebra comes in two frame styles. It is a variant with and without a high footrest. The e-bike comes in gray and white.
The step-thru variant looks much cleaner. The bike’s battery is well hidden in the frame.
The e-bike weighs 88 pounds and has a frame capacity of 400 pounds. The recommended height is 5.1 to 6.2.
The rider’s position is forward facing, which makes the e-bike look quite brutal compared to this group’s other electric bikes.
Motor
The Himiway Zebra differs from the Himiway Cruiser predecessor through improvements to the motor and battery. The Zebra has 86 Nm of torque, which is 7.5 percent more than the previous model.
The auxiliary power for acceleration and hill riding is very noticeable when pedaling.
The power of this e-bike is also not without some drawbacks. Some cyclists note the unpredictability of the motor turns when pedaling. The manufacturer likely emphasized throttling rather than pedaling.
Depending on which method of rotation you prefer, this can be a plus or a minus.
Among other things, the Himiway Zebra is in the Class 3 category. This electric bike has a throttle that functions until you reach 20 mph and a pedal assist system that shuts off at 28 mph.
The manufacturer promises that a torque sensor will give the bike’s engine plenty of speed.
I did a speed test at different levels of pedal assist. Pedal assist level 1 allows me to reach 13 miles per hour, which is pretty good. There is no significant difference between the last Cruiser and the Zebra in this regard. My big surprise was that the Zebra’s top speed at pedal assists level 5 is 27 mph.
I now offer you an acceleration test. I performed this test at both the highest pedal assist level and on the throttle. The quality of the motor and the small performance of the controller do not allow for impressive results in terms of speed. I can get up to 25 mph on the Zebra, which takes only 17 seconds on the pedal amp and over 17 seconds on the throttle.
Overall, the Himiway Zebra has 9 levels of pedal assist, but they don’t make any sense because the motor doesn’t imply such a wide range of power. Personally, I think the best solution for this electric bike model would be 5 power levels since the 9 levels don’t make any particular difference.
Transmission
Frankly speaking, the transmission of this electric bike is not the best. This is not surprising, because the e-bike manufacturer had to go for some tricks at a low cost. They consist of the fact that the models of this price segment are not equipped with 12-speed transmission.
Accordingly, the 7-speed transmission, which comes with the electric bike Himiway Zebra, significantly limits its functionality.
When riding on steep climbs, this e-bike relies more on its motor.
It is also worth noting that the bike’s low gear is not enough. You have to pedal much harder in high gear to achieve max speed.
Battery
If we talk about the strengths of the Himiway Zebra model, it is worth noting the battery capacity. The manufacturer has staked on a fairly powerful battery. It is quite massive and it will be quite difficult to remove it independently.
Such a battery significantly affects the range of transport, and, if this is important to you, then this electric bike is definitely worth your attention. As the manufacturer says, the range of this battery is up to 80 miles. However, it should be noted that such data is very optimistic.
Nevertheless, the Himiway Zebra is the model that will give you the most range compared to other models with fat tires in this price segment.
With a large battery capacity, the bike takes about 7 hours to charge, which is long enough, but this drawback is compensated for by the longevity of the battery if you compare it with other electric bikes.
Brakes
The braking system of this model is tektro hydraulic disc brakes with powerful braking force. The hydraulic disk brakes function quite well when compared to mechanical disc brakes.
It includes a motor-off option that quickly shuts off power when the hydraulic disc brakes are depressed.
Tires
The Himiway Zebra bike is equipped with thick Kenda tires. They feature a knobby tread pattern and an impressive air volume. These characteristics make the fat tire easy to handle when riding off-road.
Comfort
The fact that the Himiway Zebra is capable of off-roading does not mean that it is purpose-built. In terms of its off-road ability and power, it is very similar to its predecessor, the Himiway Cruiser.
With the Zebra you will be able to overcome obstacles on the road without any problems, but there are nuances when it comes to handling. It is understeer. Nevertheless, many cyclists do not mind it, because they easily adapted to this feature.
The Himiway Zebra is equipped with ergonomic handles, a throttle, and an LCD display, which is quite satisfying for many riders.
Range test
I have tested the Himiway Zebra for range in an unconventional way. This is one of the cases that every cyclist encounters sooner or later. The characteristic of this electric bike makes it somewhat different from a traditional bike.
As for the Himiway Zebra, I was impressed by its extremely light gear.
The model is equipped with a 36t chain and a 14-28t cassette in the back, which guarantees a large peroxidation, which in reality is not that big. According to the test results, the Zebra bike is only comfortable pedaling in the highest gear at about 15 miles per hour. At faster speeds, the cadence would not be as comfortable.
Because of this, I used a throttle case to test for a high power range and a PAS 2 to test for a lower power range. Each case yielded good results.
The throttle range test the bike did 27.21 miles before it stalled, which is very justifiable given that this condition was achieved solely with the power of the motor. In PAS 2, the bike traveled 48.47 miles before stalling. Both of these values indicate that the Himiway is a powerful bike capable of long-distance travel and that the Himiway’s battery is larger than average.
In addition, I also conducted a hill-climb test. In doing so, I used pedal assist and throttle assist. For the test, I took a hill with a 10% grade and a range of 5 miles. Using pedal assist mode 5, the speed reached 13.1 miles and it took 137 seconds to get up the hill – about 3 minutes. I think that, while not the best, is a pretty good result
Bottom line: pros and cons of the Himiway Zebra
You must be wondering whether the Himiway Zebra bike is the best model of electric bike with a fat tire in the budget price segment or not.
The Himiway Zebra can’t be called the best model, but it is worthy of being at the top of the best electric bikes in the category under consideration.
What I love about the Himiway Zebra
Many details of this bike elevate it to the rank of the best models of budget e-bikes with thick tires.
For example, its obstacle handling and braking ability are among the best of all the e-bikes in this price range under consideration.
The big advantage of this model is its massive battery, which gives an impressive range of 60 to 80 miles.
Pros
- the design is a big upgrade over the Himiway Cruiser. The frame looks more brutal, the battery is upgraded, and the overall finish is much cleaner;
- the upgraded LCD display motor: 750 W brushless “Rabbit” is worth a look. It has tremendous performance and unbridled output, and it allows you to ride at tremendous speeds;
- hydraulic disk brakes are a major change from the old model, which was equipped with mechanical disc brakes;
- the Zebra shows great results when you have to ride a hill;
- its massive 960-watt battery gives the Zebra excellent range, the best in its class;
- the price is right and some great features like brakes and an upgraded engine make it a great value buy.
Cons
- the Himiway Zebra is not maneuverable enough. When turning, the front of the bike looks a little loose;
- the faux leather grips spin, because they are a little slippery, which can be uncomfortable for cyclists. That’s why it’s better to buy the grips separately and upgrade the handlebars a bit;
- the model is characterized by low gear, not enough for Class 3.
Final thoughts of himiway zebra review
The Himiway Zebra review is coming to an end and it’s time to summarize.
Factors such as a small stock gear ratio and understeer make the zebra electric bike not as unambiguous as it may seem at first glance. Nevertheless, the biggest disappointment we encountered in our Himiway Zebra review, the appendage number, can be corrected without a problem by purchasing a large chain ring and a new chain.
The Zebra is not the most maneuverable bike. In terms of handling, this model is very similar to the e-bikes such as Rad Power Bikes RadRover 6 Plus, or Aventon Aventure. If cornering is important to you, then it makes sense to purchase new gear in addition to this bike.
When reviewing e-bikes like the Zebra, we talk about whether this bike is actually suitable for off-road riding. If you are looking for a fast and powerful electric bike with a fat tire that can overcome any obstacle, the Himiway Zebra is just what you need.
This model is well-designed and is exactly the bike that will fully meet our expectations. The Himiway Zebra is a powerful, fast, and stylish bike that can tackle any hill without any problem.
In this Himiway Zebra review, we learned that among other things, the zebra e-bike is equipped with a massive battery, which will allow you to make a long cushy ride without the fear that your battery will run out.
And finally this zebra review, we would like to mention that the Himiway Zebra comes with a rear rack, headlights, and fenders. With all the advantages of the model, the price of the bike is only 2000 dollars, which makes it very attractive to buyers.
The motor of the Himiway electric bike has five levels of pedal assist. Its top speed is 27 mph. There is a throttle mode with a maximum speed of 20 mph and a walking mode for easy climbing up and down ramps.
Thus, we can conclude that the many parts of the himiway zebra e-bike have taken it to the top of the affordable electric fat bikes. For example, the bike’s climbing and braking abilities are beyond praise.
FAQ
What class is the Himiway zebra?
The Himiway Zebra is a Class 3 electric bike with thick tires. It has a throttle that’ll work until the cyclist reaches 20 mph and a pedal assist that stops working when the speed reaches 28 mph.
The bike is suitable for those who prefer to ride off-road. This bike is also suitable for riding on bike paths and performs well on dirt roads or railroad tracks.
Are Himiway e-bikes made in China?
Yes, Himiway brand e-bikes are made in Shanghai, China.
Does Himiway Zebra have a torque sensor?
Yes, according to the manufacturer, the Zebra bike is equipped with a torque sensor.
How do I make my Himiway Zebra faster?
The motor of the Himiway electric bike has five levels of pedal assist. Its top speed is 27 mph. There is a throttle mode with a maximum speed of 20 mph and a walking mode for easy climbing up and down ramps. Learn more about how to make an e-bike go faster here.