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At times it can feel like the urban e-bike market is growing ever more expensive. One brand that’s sticking to affordability and accessibility is Heybike, founded in the United States, but now launching in the UK after establishing a European HQ in Germany.

Even though it was only founded in 2021, the brand has gone from strength to strength across the pond and now offers a wide selection of e-bikes. From folders to fat tyre e-bikes, Heybike's chief aim is to help people commute more easily and switch from fossil fuel powered transportation to electric bikes.

The brand has now arrived in the UK with its first two e-bikes: the Heybike e-bike EC 1 and the Heybike e-bike EC 1-ST. Let’s take a quick look at them to see what makes them stand out from the crowd.

EC 1

The Heybike e-bike EC 1 is its step-over electric commuter. The EC actually stands for e-commuter, so it’s pretty clear what its purpose is.

It features a sleek aluminium frame, with aesthetics that suggest a far more expensive offering. You can buy this one for just £1,499, which gets you up to 62 miles of range from the removable 360Wh battery with a rear hub motor offering up to 37Nm of torque.

The motor provides three levels of assistance, with a pure electric mode and an intelligent three-level pedal assist mode, which adapts to your riding. The levels are controlled through the LCD screen, and you can even pair your bike to the HEYBIKE app and view all your riding stats on your phone.

The components are also decent for the price, with hydraulic disc brakes and a 7-speed Shimano drivetrain. Interestingly, the EC 1 comes with 27.5” wheels, and 40mm anti-puncture tyres, which will likely improve the comfort of the ride. At a very respectable 19.2kg, it should prove agile as well, allowing you to tackle the city streets with confidence.

What makes it a commuter’s dream, however, is the inclusion of full length mudguards, lights, and a bell. You can also get your hands on compatible rear racks and bottle cages.

The EC 1 is available in two sizes, M (18” frame) which fits riders between 5ft 2in and 6ft 2in, and L (20” frame) which suits riders between 5ft 2in and 6ft 5in. Customers can choose from three colours: black, teal blue and a buttery white.

The Heybike e-bike EC 1 is currently available for £1,499 compared to a usual RRP of £1,699.

EC 1-ST

The Heybike e-bike EC 1-ST is the step-through sibling to the EC 1 and should prove ideal for those who prefer a more accessible frame design. It uses the same aluminium composition as the EC 1, and weighs the same at 19.2kg.

Strikingly, you can add on a rear rack for the EC 1-ST with a weight limit of 45kg - which is far more than most urban e-bikes can carry. The overall max payload - rider and cargo - is 150kg. This makes it more versatile than your average commuter, as you aren’t as restricted by weight allowing you to carry more than just a laptop and a change of clothes.

It’s powered by the same 250W rear hub motor and 360Wh battery. Again, the battery is removable, which is ideal if you don’t have space to bring the bike inside to charge. It’s also a good way to deter would-be thieves as you're able to remove the most valuable part of the e-bike.

The maximum range is claimed to be 62 miles, and to fully charge it takes 4-5 hours.

The EC 1-ST uses the same componentry as the EC 1, with a Shimano 7-speed drivetrain and hydraulic disc brakes. The wheels are 27.5” size, and the bike comes with 40mm puncture resistant tyres - ideal for avoiding flats when riding in the city.

Heybike has considered style as well with hidden cables leaving a clean cockpit. This makes room for the included headlight which is mounted to the front of the bike, below the LCD screen.

There is just the one size to choose from, but three colours: buttery white, teal blue and light pink. The Heybike e-bike EC 1-ST is currently on offer for £1,499 with an RRP of £1,699.

Heybike is currently in the process of establishing a UK dealer network and says there will also be online and telephone support available for any pre- or post-sales issues.

For more information on their UK e-bikes, visit heybike.co.uk. The firm is currently running a promotion where customers can get a £400 discount coupon by subscribing to their email list.