High-power e-bike review: The 1,000W Himiway Cobra Pro full-suspension powerhouse
When it comes to powerful mid-drive electric bicycles, there’s basically one motor that rules them all. It’s the Bafang M620, and that’s precisely the motor that gives the Himiway Cobra Pro such impressive performance. But as usual, there’s so much more to an e-bike than just the drivetrain. So let’s dig in to see what makes the Himiway Cobra Pro such a capable machine.
As a full-suspension fat tire electric bike, the Himiway Cobra Pro is designed to handle some of the roughest and toughest terrain out there.
Many fat tire e-bikes rely on their massive wheels and large air volume to soak up the rocks, ruts, and other obstacles in their way. But Himiway adds in full suspension to make the ride as smooth as possible, even on rough surfaces.
When combined with everything else that the company included in this over-the-top electric bike, it’s easy to see why the Cobra Pro is intended to pick up right where the beaten path ends.
Check out my test riding in the video review below, or keep reading for the full details. Or both!
Himiway Cobra Pro Video Review
Himiway Cobra Pro tech specs
- Motor: 1,000 W continuous-rated Bafang M620 mid-drive motor
- Top speed: 31 mph (50 km/h) on pedal assist
- Range: Claimed 60-80 mi (96-130 km)
- Battery: 48V 20Ah (960Wh) frame-integrated, removable
- Max load: 400 lb. (181 kg)
- Frame: 6061 aluminum
- Tires: 26″ x 4.8″ extra fat tires
- Weight: 88 lb. (40 kg)
- Brakes: Tektro hydraulic disc brakes, 180 mm rotors
- Extras: Color LCD display with speedometer, wattmeter, battery gauge, PAS level indicator, odometer, tripmeter, left side thumb throttle, front LED light, 10-speed Shimano Deore drivetrain, torque sensor, kickstand
- Price: $1,899
Power, so much power!
The Bafang M620 motor isn’t just a powerhouse, it’s a fairly refined powerhouse. The integrated torque sensor means that those who want to pedal this e-bike can actually have an enjoyable experience doing it. The bike won’t just rocket up to whatever pedal assist speed setting you’ve chosen, but instead will respond intuitively to your pedaling force.
But let’s be real, most people are going to hop on this thing and gun the throttle, which the M620 is happy to oblige. Keep in mind that if that’s how you plan to ride, then you should be careful about not always being in top gear, which puts a lot of extra load on that chain and tiny sprocket. Ride responsibly and your drivetrain will thank you.
But whether you add some of your own leg power with pedal assist or just enjoy throttling around, the Himiway Cobra Pro’s excessively powerful motor will be happy to propel you up and over pretty much any hill you can find.
In fact, the bike is so powerful that it would be questionably legal in many places for on-road use. It doesn’t only surpass the 750W limit, but also the 28 mph (45 km/h) top speed requirement for Class 3 e-bikes. You can use the color display to set legal-friendly power and speed limits, but there’s legitimate debate about whether or not that really makes a bike like this road legal.
Considering that the Himiway Cobra Pro is optimized for trail use — or even overlanding where trails don’t even exist — the issue of road legality might be moot for mostly off-road riders.
And it’s when you take the bike off the manicured asphalt trails that you really begin to appreciate the design.
Between the soft suspension and the extra fat 4.80-inch wide tires, you’ll be able to hit anything you want without much concern. Rocks, tree roots, washed-out trails, and anything in between will feel like barely a bump with this setup.
Battery for a good time, but not necessarily a long time
The 48V 20Ah battery is admittedly on the larger size for e-bikes these days, but that doesn’t mean it’s going to last you forever.
I don’t doubt that you could actually achieve the 60 miles (96 km) that Himiway claims if you keep it in level 1 pedal assist and crawl along at 6 mph (10 km/h).
But since most people will ride faster and at higher power levels, that battery will drain much quicker. It wouldn’t be crazy to see your range reduce to just 25 miles (40 km) with hard throttle-only riding, though you could easily double it with easier pedal assist riding.
Just don’t be fooled by the Himiway Cobra Pro’s massive range rating. It’s possible, but not probable.
Hefty, but manageable
This is not a lightweight bike by any stretch of the imagination. At 88 lb. (40 kg), it’s downright portly. All of those heavy components like the big motor and battery, the big tires, and the dual suspension really add up. Don’t let the faux carbon fiber paint job fool you, this isn’t a lightweight machine.
But despite the heavy weight, I was surprised how manageable the bike felt. It’s rare that I’m on an e-bike that weighs over half of my own weight, but it didn’t feel nearly as big or bulky while riding.
I can only imagine that loading it onto a vehicle’s bike rack will betray its real weight, but while in motion the bike feels much more reasonable. The massive motor is about as low as it can be, and the battery is also quite southernly mounted. Together, they keep the center of gravity low and make the bike handle well for what is obviously such a massive ride.
That doesn’t mean the Himiway Cobra Pro is nimble. It’s far from it. Those 4.8-inch tires are some of the widest I’ve ever ridden, and they certainly feel like it. Dropping the air pressure for better traction only compounds the sluggish steering. But it’s rare that you’ll be doing switchbacks and super tight turns while beating your own path through the wilderness. So for recreational riding, the bike is easy enough to handle. Just don’t try any overly technical single track trails and you should be fine.
A nice set of components
Himiway put some good components on this bike, though they basically had to in order to justify the lofty $3,999 price.
We’re looking at good adjustable suspension with an inverted front fork up front and four-bar linkage rear suspension. We’ve got grippy hydraulic disc brakes, though I would have liked to see four-piston brakes up front instead of dual-piston on such a heavy bike. We’ve got a 10-speed transmission including torque sensor. And of course there’s that massive Bafang M620 mid-drive motor and big 960Wh battery.
Fenders would have been nice, but they’re tough to do properly on a full-suspension fat tire e-bike.
Sure, it’s expensive. But you get a lot of bike as well as a two-year warranty (which is one more year than most direct-to-consumer electric bike manufacturers will offer you).
This isn’t some overpowered RadRover off-road e-bike. This thing would eat a RadRover for breakfast when it comes to performance. Speed, power, range, suspension, and just about everything else is over the top. That motor could take a finger off, and I bet it’d do it too, so that’s a not-so-gentle reminder to turn the bike off when you’re fiddling with your chain one day.
Most people won’t ever need an e-bike like the Himiway Cobra Pro. It’s just more than what should be necessary for everyday riding. But if you’re the type of person that likes to get out in open fields, explore rocky landscapes, or sling sand across the beach, then a powerful fat tire e-bike like this will do it. And having all of that suspension under you will make it comfortable in the process.
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Massachusetts is launching a first-of-its-kind statewide vehicle-to-everything (V2X) pilot program. This two-year initiative, backed by the Massachusetts Clean Energy Center (MassCEC), aims to deploy 100 bidirectional chargers to homes, school buses, municipal, and commercial fleet participants across the state.
These bidirectional chargers will enable EVs to serve as mobile energy storage units, collectively providing an estimated 1.5 MW of new storage capacity. That means EVs won’t just be getting power – they’ll be giving it back to the grid, helping to balance demand and support renewable energy use. The program is also focused on ensuring that low-income and disadvantaged communities have access to this cutting-edge tech.
The Massachusetts pilot is one of the largest state-led V2X initiatives in the US and is designed to tackle key challenges in deploying bidirectional charging technology. By strategically placing these chargers in a variety of settings, the program aims to identify and resolve barriers to wider adoption of V2X technology.
Massachusetts EV owners and fleet operators enrolled in the program will get bidirectional chargers capable of both vehicle-to-grid (V2G) and backup power operations at no cost. Here’s what they stand to gain:
- No-cost charging infrastructure: Bidirectional charging stations and installation are fully covered for participants.
- Grid resilience: With an estimated 1.5 MW of new flexible and distributed storage assets, the program strengthens Massachusetts’ energy infrastructure.
- Clean energy integration: V2G technology allows EVs to charge when renewable energy is available and discharge stored energy when it’s not, supporting the state’s clean energy goals.
- Backup power: EV batteries can be used as backup power sources during outages.
- Revenue opportunities: Some participants can earn money by sending stored energy back to the grid.
Clean energy solutions firm Resource Innovations and vehicle-grid integration tech company The Mobility House are leading the program’s implementation. “With the charging infrastructure provided through this program, we’re eliminating financial barriers and enabling school districts, homeowners, and fleets to access reliable backup power,” said Kelly Helfrich of Resource Innovations. “We aim to create a scalable blueprint for V2X programs nationwide.”
“Bidirectional charging benefits vehicle owners by providing backup power and revenue opportunities while strengthening the grid for the entire community,” added Russell Vare of The Mobility House North America.
The program is open for enrollment now through June 2025. For more details, visit the MassCEC V2X Program webpage. A list of eligible bidirectional vehicles can be found on that page.
Read more: Cambridge’s new solar VPPA is the largest ever by any US city
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Compton, California, has unveiled 25 new electric school buses – the school district’s first – and 25 Tellus 180 kW DC fast chargers.
Compton Unified School District (CUSD) in southern Los Angeles County is putting 17 Thomas Built Type A and eight Thomas Built Type C electric school buses on the road this spring. In addition to working with Thomas Built, CUSD also collaborated with electrification-as-a-service provider Highland Electric Fleet, utility Southern California Edison, and school transportation provider Durham School Services.
Environmental Protection Agency’s (EPA) Clean School Bus Program awarded funds for the vehicles in the program’s first round. EPA also awarded CUSD funds for the third round of the program and anticipates introducing an additional 25 EV school buses in the future.
“I can’t stress enough how vital grants like these are and the need for continued support from our partners in government at the state and federal level to fund additional grants for school districts and their transportation partners that are ready to deliver and operate zero-emission buses,” said Tim Wertner, CEO of Durham School Services.
CUSD, which serves Compton and parts of the cities of Carson and Los Angeles, currently serves more than 17,000 students at 36 sites. The district has a high school graduation rate of 93% and an 88% college acceptance rate. One in 11 children in Los Angeles County have asthma, which makes the need for emissions-free school transportation that much more pressing.
Read more: Thomas Built Buses debuts its next-gen electric school bus
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After cutting lease prices by $200 this month, the Rivian R1S is now surprisingly affordable. It may even be a better deal than the new Tesla Model Y.
Rivian cuts R1S lease prices by $200 per month
Rivian’s R1S is one of the hottest electric SUVs on the market. If you haven’t checked it out yet, you’re missing out.
With some of the best deals to date, now may be the time. Rivian lowered R1S lease prices earlier this month to just $599 for 36 months, with $8,493 due at signing (30,000 miles). The offer is for the new 2025 R1S Adventure Dual Standard, which starts at $75,900.
Before the price cut, the R1S was listed at $799 per month, with $8,694 due at signing. The electric SUV now has the same lease price as the R1T, despite costing $6,000 more.
The 2025 R1T Dual Motor starts at $69,900, essentially making it a free $6,000 upgrade. At that price, you may even want to consider it over the new Tesla Model Y.
Tesla’s new Model Y Launch Series arrived with lease prices of $699 for 36 months. With $4,393 due at signing, the effective rate is $821 per month, or just $13 less than the R1S at $834. However, the 2025 R1S costs nearly $15,000 more, with the Model Y Launch Series price at $59,990.
Rivian is also offering an “All-Electric Upgrade Offer” of up to $6,000 for those looking to trade-in their gas-powered car, but base models are not included.
| Starting Price | Range (EPA-est.) |
|
| 2025 Rivian R1S Dual Standard | $75,900 | 270 miles |
| 2026 Tesla Model Y Launch Series | $59,990 | 327 miles |
To take advantage of the Rivian R1S lease deal, you must order it before March 15 and take delivery on or before March 31, 2025.
The 2025 Rivian R1S Dual Standard Motor has an EPA-estimated range of up to 270 miles. Tesla’s new Model Y Launch Series gets up to 327 miles.
Which electric SUV would you choose? Rivian’s R1S or the new Tesla Model Y? If you’re ready to check them out for yourself, you can use our links below to find deals on the Rivian R1S and Tesla Model Y in your area.
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