50 Words or Less
The HeyBike Ranger S E-Bike is an extremely fun way to get around the course and your town. Very quick and capable of handling any terrain. Plenty of range for 18 holes and errands on the way home.
Introduction
A couple months ago, I was approached by HeyBike to review their Ranger S E-Bike. While I was familiar with the Finn Scooter [review HERE], I didn’t immediately make the connection that E-Bikes are becoming a popular way for golfers to move around the course. Once that puzzle piece fell into place, I was all-in, and this became one of my most anticipated products of the year.
Assembly & Set Up
Unfortunately for me, assembling the HeyBike Ranger S E-Bike turned into another episode of, “Don’t Do What Matt Did.” First, I’ll tell you what I did, then I’ll tell you what you should do instead.
Mistake #1 happened right out the gate: trying to assemble the bike at 11PM after completing a road trip (10 hours of driving that day) and coaching two hours of softball. The wiser half of my brain knew I should be fresh when I attacked this project, but it lost the fight to my enthusiasm. I cut open the box and found the HeyBike Ranger S largely assembled but wrapped in foam and plastic, as you see above.
Above, you can see the unwrapped bike with the large un-assembled parts: the front wheel and the seat post. The handlebars are attached by wires, but not bolted into place.
I did have some discipline in this process; I sat down and read the instruction manual carefully before getting started. What I didn’t do was watch the assembly video [find it HERE] until I was knee deep in the swamp of loud, frustrated cursing.
On paper, assembling the HeyBike Ranger S E-Bike is not complex. First, the front wheel needs to be bolted on. Next, you bolt in the handlebars. Installing the seat is very easy, as is the front fender/headlight installation. Finally, you screw on the pedals.
The problem is that the Ranger S is heavy (72 pounds), and the front wheel needs to be installed before the handlebars. Trying to align the disc brake into the caliper while holding the bike by the frame, then keeping it all together while you secure the bolt is not easy. Once the front wheel was on and the bike stood on its kickstand, everything was fairly smooth, but that first step was a bear.
If you want to do this the smart way, watch the instructional videos carefully a couple times before you unbox the bike. And keep a tablet handy so you can re-watch it for the finer points. Most importantly, get a friend to help you. With a partner, you can have this together in thirty minutes or less.
Charging & the HeyBike App
Powering the HeyBike Ranger S E-Bike is done with the included charger. You can charge the battery while it’s installed in the bike (above). If you prefer to keep your charger in your house, you can remove the battery to charge it (below). Charging the battery from empty to full takes 3-4 hours.
Removing the battery from the HeyBike Ranger S requires the included key (below). I like to remove the battery rather than locking the bike when I take it to run errands. The battery is quite heavy, but I prefer to carry that than tote around a lock and chain and look for something to secure the bike to.
The HeyBike Ranger S also works with the HeyBike App. The app (available on Android and iOS) allows you to track your rides, customize the bike’s performance, and let you know if your bike is experiencing problems. Connecting your app to your bike is done over Bluetooth, and the connection can be spotty. Thankfully, the app is in no way necessary for enjoying the bike.
Off-Course Performance
Let’s start with the basic stats on the HeyBike Ranger S. This E-Bike weighs 72 pounds, is recommended for riders between 4’11” and 6’3″, and carries a maximum load of 400 pounds. It has a 750W motor, a listed top speed of 28 MPH, and a range of 55 miles. However, to paraphrase Mitch Hedberg’s joke about escalators, an E-Bike can never be out of service, it can only become a bike.
Next, let’s run through your controls. Your left hand has access to the power button, the buttons for shifting up and down electric gears, the turn signal, the horn, and a brake. Your right hand has the gear shifter, a brake, and the throttle. The large display shows your battery life, distance traveled, speed, and elapsed time.
The biggest question for most of you will be: what’s the learning curve like? I would say that if you’ve ever ridden a bike, it’s almost nonexistent. The Ranger S balances well despite its weight, and the low step through makes it easy to get on and off. Riding it like a normal bike takes no effort.
It does take a minute to figure out the PAS – Pedal Assist System – which is what HeyBike calls the powered portion of the ride. There are six settings, numbered 0-5. Set at 0, there is no assist, you’re just pedaling. Turn it up to 1, and you can access the boost in one of two ways. First, you can pedal, and the PAS will boost your speed to approximately 7 MPH. Alternately, you can use the throttle switch and not pedal at all.
Each level has its own max speed. For me, setting the PAS to 4 or 5 resulted in a top speed of 21 MPH. This is below the reported maximum, but it was more than fast enough for me.
Finally, the HeyBike Ranger S has a hydraulic suspension and disc brakes. This makes for a very pleasant ride, regardless of the terrain, and quick stopping. Overall, riding the Ranger S is intuitive and – based on the level you choose – anywhere from relaxing to thrilling.
On-Course Performance
One thing needs to be mentioned at the start: the HeyBike Ranger S is not ready for the course out of the box. There is a rack on the back, but it’s not suitable for carrying clubs without substantial jerry-rigging. Never one to risk the safety of my clubs, I opted for the DivnickGolf E-Bike Golf Bag Carrier [review HERE] as recommended by my contact at HeyBike.
With the Golf Bag Carrier attached, the Ranger S becomes an amazing on-course transport. I set the PAS to 5 and was flying past traditional golf carts. The suspension and fat tires handled all types of terrain easily. The Golf Bag Carrier acts as a super-charged kickstand (see below), so I felt confident parking the Ranger S on all types of slopes.
The only thing I had to adjust to was the low step through. I’m used to swinging my leg high over the back of the bike, and that doesn’t work with the golf bag attached.
Lastly, the Ranger S’s range is really impressive. I was able to ride to the course at full speed (almost 3 miles), play a round, then ride home without nearing an empty battery.
HeyBike Ranger S Value
The HeyBike Ranger S E-Bike retails for $1,499 through their website HERE. Purchasing through this link helps support Plugged In Golf as we do earn a small commission.
It should go without saying that buying an E-Bike is not exclusively about saving money. Yes, you will save cart fees, but it will take a while before that adds up to the price of the Ranger S. I think that owning a E-Bike is about A) having fun but also B) changing your transportation habits. Since it arrived, I’ve run my errands almost exclusively on my Ranger S. The savings in gas combined with cart fees can make this a sensible (and fun) purchase.
HeyBike offers the Ranger S in four colors: Stone Blue, Merlot, Sand, and Shark Gray. Additionally, HeyBike offers baskets and bags for the Ranger S that can be purchased with the bike for between $50 and $110.
Check out an affordable e-bike, the Oraimo Trcker 100 HERE
Conclusion
If you want to move around the course more quickly, or are looking for an alternative to the traditional golf cart, consider the HeyBike Ranger S. This E-Bike has the capability to get around any terrain and the speed and range to last through 36 holes or more.
Visit HeyBike HERE
He founded Plugged In Golf in 2013 with the goal of helping all golfers play better and enjoy the game more.
Matt lives in the northwest suburbs of Chicago with his wife and two daughters.
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15 Comments
I’m left wondering, how portable is it if you’re playing a course significantly away from your house that requires freeway driving or the like. Doesn’t look like it folds up easily to put in the trunk of a car.
Jeff,
The Ranger S does fold, but it’s heavy and, even folded, requires a good amount of space to transport. I think it’s best for local courses.
-Matt
Neat idea, although I’d argue the market opportunity isn’t another E-bike but a modular bracket for carrying a bag on any rear rack equipped bike. Maybe this exists? Also, I image the width of the tires will be a concern for the grounds crew.
Devin,
It seems you missed the link to the Divnick Golf E-Bike Golf Bag Carrier review: /divnickgolf-e-bike-golf-bag-carrier-review/
Best,
Matt
That I did, was hoping you were going to spare me the embarrassment by moderating the post. Ha! Good to know I was on the right track…
Hey Matt, I’m from Seattle where e-bikes are very popular and I’ve thought about doing the same thing, but figured course management would probably hassle me or prohibit this type of use. Did you run into any of these issues? Thanks
Paul,
It’s hit or miss. I talked to a number of people involved in golf and e-bikes, and they say about half the courses are ok with it, half are not. The DivnickGolf website has some tips for talking to courses about e-bikes.
Best,
Matt
How do I order a Hey Bike Electric Bike for golf? I have tried to buy one plus 2 golf bag carriers but the website says it doesn’t ship to my address or another address in Newcastle, NSW. Australia?
John,
I can’t speak to their delivery areas, but you would need to order the HeyBike and the Divnick bag carrier separately, as they are different companies.
Best,
Matt
Matt, how did you find this to work for exercise? I like to walk/jog the course with my robot push-follow-cart (Foresight Forecaddy) following me. I find it to be really great for getting in healthy exercise while enjoying my favorite hobby. If you use this as a pedal bike for 9 or 18 holes, how would that compare to walking/jogging that same amount? (Like heartrate, muscle use, tiredness, etc)
Jonathan,
I only used the power feature on the course, so I’m hypothesizing here: I think biking is more efficient than walking, so I expect that even without power, I would get a bit less exercise from the bike than walking.
Best,
Matt
Stay away from Hey Bike! I bought a Hey Bike Brawn. It lasted about 9 months before the PAS and accelerator started glitching. I found that the only thing worse than the shoddy quality of this ebike is the customer service.
Not my experience. They respond quickly and sent out a new head unit for mine. Instead of complaining here you should contact Heybike. Of course you could have spent a lot more money on another brand that may or may not be any better.
Do you have a list of courses that have allowed you to play in Illinois?
Unfortunately there seems to be a lack of quality control and customer support is overwhelmed.
The speedometer stopped working after less than 20 km and the motir cuts out when on throttle. After 3 hors on hold on the phone I gave up and sent an email. COnsiering returning the bike as I haved had it for 3 days.