Connect with us

Published

on

Heybike has just announced the launch of its new X-Series, with the Mars 3.0 and Ranger S 3.0 Pro comprising the first two big new models. Or maybe not so “big”, as they’re actually kinda compact-sized, at least for full-suspension e-bikes. They’re both 20″ wheel folding e-bikes, and they pack in a lot of performance into comfortable rides. I’ve been testing both, and today we’re jumping in with both feet to check out how well the Mars 3.0 rides.

First of all, as usual, it’s fun to start with a video review. So check out my riding experience below, then keep reading for the nitty gritty details.

Heybike Mars 3.0 Video Review

Heybike Mars 3.0 Tech specs

  • Motor: 750W continuous (1,400W peak) rear geared hub motor
  • Top speed: 45 km/h (28 mph), though it can technically be unlocked to go around 48 km/h or 30 mph
  • Range: Claimed up to 104 km (65 mi)
  • Battery: 48V 13Ah (624 Wh) battery in down tube
  • Brakes: Hydraulic two-piston disc brakes on 180×2.0 mm rotors
  • Transmission: 8-speed Shimano Altus
  • Extras: Color LCD display, LED head & tail lights with turn signals, full-suspension, 4″ fat tires, smartphone app connectivity, passcode and NFC chip theft protection, and included fenders & rear rack
  • Price: $1,299 (on sale at launch for $1,199)

More is more

Heybike has been on a roll lately with its growing lineup of electric bikes, and the new Mars 3.0 looks like it might just be the brand’s most exciting release yet. While it hasn’t yet been available to the public, I got a chance to check it out ahead of time, and based on everything we’ve seen and experienced so far, this full-suspension fat tire folder is a serious upgrade over the previous Mars. In fact, it gives nearly every other 20″ folding e-bike a serious run for its money.

The Mars 3.0, part of Heybike’s new X Series, is all about power, speed, and rider experience. It brings a beefed-up motor system, smoother folding, and suspension that actually works, plus a host of smart tech features that elevate it above your average budget folder. Here’s everything you need to know about Heybike’s newest electric mini-beast.

Advertisement – scroll for more content

Powerhouse performance: the Galaxy Perform eDrive

Let’s start with what matters most to a lot of riders: power. The Mars 3.0 is built around Heybike’s proprietary “Galaxy Perform eDrive” system, and it delivers serious muscle. With a 750W nominal motor (peaking at 1,400W) and an eyebrow-raising 95Nm of torque, this thing jumps off the line harder than almost anything in its class.

Heybike claims a 0–20 mph time of just 6 seconds, and from what we’ve seen, that figure just about checks out. It’s quick, it’s punchy, and it’s powerful. That’s thanks to a nicely tuned torque sensor, which gives you more immediate and natural-feeling pedal assist than the old-school cadence systems we still see on far too many folders.

For anyone looking for more thrill, the speed limiter that comes programmed out of the box to 20 mph can be bumped to 28 mph through the Heybike App or the display. And for those who really want to live dangerously (or ride on private property), the display lets you push just a bit past 30 mph when fully unlocked. That turns the Mars 3.0 into a sort of moped-lite, ideal for riders who want motorcycle vibes without the licensing hassle, though it may push into actual moped laws in some states.

Real suspension, real comfort

It’s hard to overstate how rare it is to see real full suspension on a folding e-bike that doesn’t cost several thousand dollars. But the Mars 3.0 doesn’t just slap a spring on the back and call it a day, it uses a legitimate Horst link suspension setup in the rear and a hydraulic fork up front.

The result? A bike that actually absorbs bumps and trail chatter, instead of pogoing around or bottoming out. That makes a huge difference whether you’re tackling dirt trails or just dealing with broken city pavement.

Combine that suspension with the wide fat tires, and you’ve got a genuinely cushy ride, even at higher speeds. It’s not a downhill mountain bike, but for commuting, cruising, and exploring, it’s leagues ahead of other folders in this category.

Smart features that don’t feel gimmicky

Heybike’s recent bikes have been leaning more into tech, and in the Mars 3.0, those features actually add value.

The NFC card startup is one of those little touches that will make the bike feel more premium to some, though I find it to be a hassle. Maybe that’s because I’m usually parking somewhere safe and not worrying about e-bike theft as much, but the hassle of swiping the card or entering the PIN code is just an added step at startup for me.

That said, I’m sure a lot of people will like it, and so here is how it works. Tap the included NFC card to start, just like unlocking a Tesla. Don’t have your card handy? You can also unlock the bike via a PIN code or the Heybike app, which also gives you control over various ride settings like throttle mode, assist levels, and max speed.

The bright, full-color TFT display is easy to read and gives you all the basics: speed, battery, distance, assist level, and more, with a layout that actually feels well designed instead of thrown together.

And speaking of throttle: riders can choose whether they want it to follow the pedal assist level or always run at full power. It’s adjustable in the app and gives you more control over how you want to ride, something more e-bikes should offer. And you can even adjust how extreme you want the throttle or pedal assist ramping to feel. Want gentle starts? Set it at level 1. Want to fly off the line? Choose level 5. It’s a nice little customization feature that lets riders tune their ride instead of being stuck with whatever the company programmed.

Stops as well as it goes

Going fast is fun, but stopping fast is important too. Heybike didn’t skimp here either. The Mars 3.0 gets an upgraded hydraulic disc brake system with thick 2.0 mm rotors. Not only do they provide more bite and better heat management, but they also feel more confidence-inspiring when braking from 30+ mph.

That extra thickness means it can handle more heat and longer braking, which is important when stopping heavy bikes or descending hills, or both.

Braking is smooth, controlled, and powerful, which is crucial for a bike that accelerates this quickly and invites you to push its limits.

Drivetrain and gear shifting

The Mars 3.0 uses a Shimano Altus 8-speed setup, which isn’t top-tier, and frankly is closer to the bottom of the Shimano tier structure, but is fine for a bike at this price point. Shifting is fine and predictable, and the integration with the motor assist system is solid, gear changes are reflected in the pedal response in a way that feels natural and intuitive thanks to the torque sensor.

It’s the kind of drivetrain setup you’d normally expect on a bike like this. It’s not going to change your world, but it gets the job done.

Utility meets design

This thing is both fun and practical. The rear rack is upgraded and sturdier than the previous generation Mars e-bike, and the bike has a high weight capacity (up to 440 lbs total payload for the bike). Whether you’re hauling groceries, gear, or even a kid seat, the Mars 3.0 looks like it can handle it.

The new folding system is fast and easy, with better pivot points and a more ergonomic latch. Heybike says it takes 10 seconds to fold, and that’s not an exaggeration. It actually feels smooth and simple, which isn’t always the case with fat tire folders. Of course, the bike is heavy as hell at 70 lb (32 kg), and so sometimes the tricky part isn’t merely folding it, but manipulating it while folding it. As long as you’re relatively strong, it should be fine. Small women or others with less upper body strength may still have trouble. I can’t really imagine my wife folding this e-bike. She’s a strong woman, but there’s no amount of fortitude that can make up for the back muscles it takes to lift a 70 lb e-bike, even folded in half.

Final thoughts

The Mars 3.0 isn’t more than just a modest upgrade over the previous version. I’d call this a whole new beast. With real power, actual suspension, and smart features that make it more refined and useful, this is a folding e-bike that doesn’t ride like a compromise.

It’s not trying to be ultra-lightweight or minimalist. It’s a chunky, techy, high-speed, full-featured ride that’s more about fun and performance than portability. But hey, it still folds, which checks the box on portability… mostly.

For an incredibly reasonable $1,299 (or promotional price of $1,199) , the Mars 3.0 could end up being one of the best bang-for-your-buck full-suspension e-bikes of the year. It’s perfect for anyone who wants a powerful, full-suspension ride that doesn’t take up a ton of garage space, and who doesn’t mind the occasional speed-induced grin.

If you’re in the market for a go-anywhere, do-anything, rip-through-the-city-and-still-fold-it-up kind of e-bike that sports full suspension, the Heybike Mars 3.0 is absolutely one to watch.

FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.

Continue Reading

Environment

Fresh TSLA lawsuits, V2X options, and the USAF is blowing up Cybertrucks

Published

on

By

Fresh TSLA lawsuits, V2X options, and the USAF is blowing up Cybertrucks

Elon wants the US military to start buying Tesla Cybertrucks – and now they are! The Air Force has ordered two Cybertruck testers for target practice to determine how easy they are to blow up, while Jo makes up a whole new conspiracy theory on today’s explosive episode of Quick Charge!

Today’s episode is brought to you by retrospec—makers of sleek, powerful e-bikes and outdoor gear built for everyday adventure. Electrek listeners can get 10% off their next ride until August 14 with the exclusive code ELECTREK10 only at retrospec.com.

An it doesn’t stop there. We’ve also got exciting new home battery backup and V2X options for Tesla owners, and one Texas EV driver that decided to conquer the Texas floodwaters by harnessing the awesome combined powers of electrons and stupidity (it’s pretty awesome).

Prefer listening to your podcasts? Audio-only versions of Quick Charge are now available on Apple PodcastsSpotifyTuneIn, and our RSS feed for Overcast and other podcast players.

Advertisement – scroll for more content

New episodes of Quick Charge are recorded, usually, Monday through Thursday (most weeks, anyway). We’ll be posting bonus audio content from time to time as well, so be sure to follow and subscribe so you don’t miss a minute of Electrek’s high-voltage daily news.

Got news? Let us know!
Drop us a line at tips@electrek.co. You can also rate us on Apple Podcasts and Spotify, or recommend us in Overcast to help more people discover the show.


If you’re considering going solar, it’s always a good idea to get quotes from a few installers. To make sure you find a trusted, reliable solar installer near you that offers competitive pricing, check out EnergySage, a free service that makes it easy for you to go solar. It has hundreds of pre-vetted solar installers competing for your business, ensuring you get high-quality solutions and save 20-30% compared to going it alone. Plus, it’s free to use, and you won’t get sales calls until you select an installer and share your phone number with them. 

Your personalized solar quotes are easy to compare online and you’ll get access to unbiased Energy Advisors to help you every step of the way. Get started here.

FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.

Continue Reading

Environment

Tesla’s Dojo supercomputer looks dead as more execs leave for competing startup

Published

on

By

Tesla’s Dojo supercomputer project is reportedly over. Bloomberg reports that CEO Elon Musk is killing the project after a mass exodus of talent from the Dojo team to a competing startup.

Dojo was the name of Tesla’s in-house AI chip development to create supercomputers to train its AI models for self-driving.

Tesla hired a bunch of top chip architects and tried to develop better AI accelerator chips to rely less on companies like NVIDIA, AMD, and others.

It has been running into delays for years.

Advertisement – scroll for more content

We previously reported on significant setbacks. In 2018, Jim Keller, the famed chip architect who was first hired to lead Tesla’s chip-making effort, left the company.

Ganesh Venkataramanan succeeded him, but he left Tesla in 2023.

For the last few years, Peter Bannon, who worked with Keller for years, has been leading Tesla’s chip-making programs, but he is now reportedly also leaving the automaker.

Bloomberg reports that Musk has “ordered the effort to be shut down.”:

Peter Bannon, who was heading up Dojo, is leaving and Chief Executive Officer Elon Musk has ordered the effort to be shut down, according to the people, who asked not to be identified discussing internal matters. The team has lost about 20 workers recently to newly formed DensityAI, and remaining Dojo workers are being reassigned to other data center and compute projects within Tesla, the people said.

DensityAI is a new startup currently in stealth mode, founded by several former Tesla employees, including Venkataramanan.

It reportedly plans to build chips for AI data centers and robots, much like the Dojo program.

The company recently hired 20 former Tesla employees who worked on Dojo.

While the program appeared to be lagging behind for years as Tesla increasingly bought more compute power from NVIDIA, Musk has been claiming progress.

The CEO said in June:

Tesla Dojo AI training computer making progress. We start bringing Dojo 2 online later this year. It takes three major iterations for a new technology to be great. Dojo 2 is good, but Dojo 3 will be great.

During Tesla’s quarterly conference call in late July, the CEO claimed that Dojo 2 will be “operating at scale sometime next year.”

Electrek’s Take

It’s unclear whether the report is accurate or if it’s an extrapolation from the talent exodus to Elon killing Dojo, or if Elon was lying just a few weeks ago.

Alternatively, this development may be so recent that Elon went from being confident in Dojo a few weeks ago to disbanding the team working on it now.

Either way, I think it’s clear that the project has been lagging, and Tesla has been extremely dependent on chip suppliers rather than making its own.

I think Dojo being likely dead is not a big loss for Tesla.

When it comes to chip making, developing its own inference compute for onboard “AI computers” was always the more important project.

TSMC is set to produce Tesla’s new AI5 chip, which is coming soon, and we have recently learned that Samsung will be manufacturing its AI6 chip.

I think the bigger concern from this report is that it’s the latest example of an ongoing exodus of talent at Tesla.

FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. More.

Continue Reading

Environment

Block shares pop 11% on full-year guidance boost

Published

on

By

Block shares pop 11% on full-year guidance boost

Jack Dorsey, co-founder and chief executive officer of Twitter Inc. and Square Inc., listens during the Bitcoin 2021 conference in Miami, Florida, on Friday, June 4, 2021.

Eva Marie Uzcategui | Bloomberg | Getty Images

Block shares jumped in extended trading on Thursday after the fintech company increased its forecast for the year.

Here is how the company did, compared to analysts’ consensus estimates from LSEG.

  • Earnings per share: 62 cents adjusted vs. 69 cents expected

Block doesn’t report a revenue figure, but said gross profit rose 14% from a year earlier to $2.54 billion, beating analysts’ estimates of $2.46 billion for the quarter. Gross payment volume increased 10% to $64.25 billion.

Block raised its guidance for full-year gross profit to $10.17 billion, representing 14% growth from a year earlier. In its prior earnings report, Block said gross profit for the year would come in at $9.96 billion.

The company expects full-year adjusted operating income of $2.03 billion, or a 20% margin. For the third quarter, the company expects gross profit to grow 16% from a year ago to $2.6 billion, with an operating margin of 18%.

Square payment volume in the quarter grew 10% from a year earlier.

Block faces growing competition from rivals such as Toast and Fiserv‘s Clover, though its Square business still gained share during the quarter in areas such as retail and food and beverage.

Block shares were down 10% this year as of Thursday’s close, while the Nasdaq is up 10%. Last month, Block was added to the S&P 500.

CNBC’s Robert Hum contributed to this report.

Don’t miss these insights from CNBC PRO

This was actually one of Block's better quarters, says Mizuho's Dan Dolev as stock climbs on Q2 miss

Continue Reading

Trending