Heybike Hybrid Review: Meet Ruby, My Long-Range E-Bike

Apparently, having a favorite e-bike doesn’t prevent you from finding another e-bike you also need in your life. Meet Ruby, my Heybike Hybrid. Yes, we’re already on a first-name basis. 😂

If you’ve read my Heybike Venus review, you know how much I appreciate a bike that feels approachable. Ruby brings something different to our little fleet: a heavier, more substantial feel that I especially enjoy when riding along roads. And after a 49-mile hilly ride with battery to spare, I have quite a bit to be excited about.

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My 49-mile ride: mostly PAS 4, with 40% battery remaining

Here’s the real-world ride I want you to know about. I rode Ruby 49 miles on a hilly Route 5 outing from Erie to the White Turkey restaurant in Ohio, using mostly pedal-assist level 4. I finished with 40% of the battery remaining.

That is my own ride experience, and it’s much more useful to me than staring at a big range number on a product page. We’re talking about a hilly route, plenty of assistance, and a destination worth making a day of. You know I love a bike ride with a food stop!

It doesn’t tell us exactly how far Ruby would have gone before the battery ran out. I didn’t ride her to empty, and I’m not going to turn that remaining percentage into a promised mileage number. Wind, hills, rider and cargo weight, assistance level, and riding conditions all affect what you get from a charge. But for the kind of longer outings I want to do, that ride was encouraging.

How that compares with Heybike’s advertised range

Heybike advertises the Hybrid with up to 100 miles of range and describes it as its longest-range commuter. That is the manufacturer’s maximum claim, not a distance I’ve personally tested. My result so far is the 49-mile outing above.

The appeal for me is having room for a longer day out. I want to enjoy where we’re going, take a detour when it makes sense, and still plan a sensible route home. A bigger adventure is a lot more fun when the whole afternoon isn’t spent worrying about whether the bike can finish it.

Ruby’s seat is shockingly comfortable

We need to talk about the seat because this was a very pleasant surprise: Ruby’s seat is shockingly comfy. I know, a bicycle review could spend this entire section discussing components, but the part I’m actually sitting on deserves some attention!

Comfort is personal, so I can’t promise your experience will match mine. For me, though, the seat is one of the things I’m happiest to call out. When you’re excited about longer rides, enjoying the bike underneath you matters just as much as getting excited about the battery.

Yes, she’s heavier—and I like the substantial road feel

Ruby is a heavier bike, and I don’t want to gloss over that. She feels more substantial than Venus, especially when I’m riding along roads. That solid feel is part of what I enjoy about her.

The tradeoff comes when you’re moving the bike around or loading it for a trip. Loving how a bike feels while riding doesn’t magically make it light when it’s time to lift it. Think about your storage space, your loading setup, and whether you’ll need help before deciding that a heavier bike fits your life.

For road riding, I still want the basics handled: a helmet, working lights and brakes, visibility, and a route I’m comfortable with. A substantial-feeling bike is a preference, not a substitute for riding skills or paying attention to traffic.

Heybike Hybrid vs. Venus: why I enjoy owning both

Venus is still the bike I love introducing to women who are curious about e-biking and want something that feels manageable. Ruby is the one I’m especially excited about for longer outings and that substantial road feel. They give me different things to appreciate.

If you’re choosing between them, start with the rides you actually want to take. Then consider fit, handling at a stop, storage, and transport. A woman over 40 who rides regularly may want something different from a friend returning to biking after years away. We don’t all need the same bike just because we’re in the same age group.

You can read more about why I recommend Venus for getting back into riding, or see the Heybike Hybrid’s current options here.

Next up: pannier bags and wine-country miles

My next planned outing with Ruby is a 50-plus-mile ride through wine country outside Erie, with my new orange ROCKBROS pannier bags to bring home bottles from the wineries we stop at along the way. Practical bicycle storage meets one of my favorite reasons to explore. This is my kind of accessory testing.

I’ll add the finished ride’s mileage, battery results, and photos afterward. For now, that trip is a plan, and the bags still have their wine-hauling debut ahead of them.

Between the comfortable seat, the substantial feel on the road, and my experience on that 49-mile ride, Ruby has given me plenty of reasons to keep planning the next outing. If that sounds like the kind of riding you love, take a look at the Heybike Hybrid here. I’ll be over here deciding where we should stop for lunch.

Explore more of our bikes, gear, and riding stories in my e-biking hub.