Freesky Himalaya Review – Great Fat Tire Budget E-bike
Freesky Himalaya Review – Great Fat Tire Budget E-bike
Freesky Himalaya is a great budget e-bike that’s perfect for commuting and travel. In this review, we’ll talk about the features and pros of this bike, as well as give you our verdict on whether or not it’s the right e-bike for you.
Video Summary
Introduction
- Scott welcomes the viewers and mentions that he will be discussing the Freesky Himalaya e-bike.
- He also refers to his previous unboxing and assembly video and suggests checking it out.
- Scott expresses his love for e-bikes, especially fat tire ones.
“I love e-bikes, I love these Fat Tire e-bikes. There’s something unique about every single one of them. E-bikes are like snowflakes.”
Freesky Himalaya Specifications
- The Freesky Himalaya comes in one size and three colors: black, green, and gray.
- Freesky claims that the Himalaya can travel between 35 and 50 miles using the throttle only, and between 50 and 80 miles using pedal assist.
- The bike has large 26×4 inch puncture-resistant tires.
- The current retail price is $1349, with a sale until the end of January.
- The bike features a 750W 48V rear motor with 85Nm of torque.
- It has a Shimano 7-speed transmission with a Shimano Tourney derailleur.
- The Himalaya is equipped with a 720W 48V 15 amp-hour battery that has a double-locking system.
- The front forks are adjustable with 80mm of play.
- The bike has hydraulic brakes with 160mm rotors.
- The grips have wrist supports and the bike has a left-hand throttle.
“The Freesky Himalaya comes in one size and three different colors. It has a 750W 48V rear motor and a 720W 48V 15 amp-hour battery. The bike features adjustable front forks, hydraulic brakes, and a left-hand throttle.”
Detailed Features
- The battery can either be charged separately or while still connected to the bike.
- Charging time is between 4 to 6 hours.
- The bike’s adjustable suspension has a red knob to lock it in place and another knob to adjust play.
- The Himalaya has a display with features like 5 levels of pedal assist and 7 gears.
- It has a large headlight and an integrated tail light.
- The bike has externally run cables, making it easy to upgrade or change them.
- The seat appears to be comfortable and suitable, resembling a similar one Scott has used before.
“The Himalaya has a double-locking battery system and adjustable suspension. It also features a display with pedal assist levels and gears. The bike has an integrated headlight and externally run cables. The seat looks comfortable and suitable.”
Test Drive
- Scott takes the bike out for a ride without using any power to test its maneuverability.
- He notes that the bike doesn’t go very fast without power, but it can still be pedaled.
- He then tests the throttle, which allows the bike to reach a speed of 29 miles per hour.
- Scott also tests the pedal assist in different gears and notes the increase in speed and torque with higher levels.
- He reaches a top speed of 32 miles per hour using pedal assist level 5 and 7th gear.
- Scott tests the hydraulic brakes and finds them effective in stopping the bike.
“The bike can be ridden without any power, but it doesn’t go very fast. The throttle allows the bike to reach a speed of 29 miles per hour. The pedal assist provides increasing speed and torque with higher levels. The hydraulic brakes are effective in stopping the bike.”
Conclusion
- Scott expresses his positive opinions about the Freesky Himalaya, noting features like the headlight, hydraulic brakes, and adjustable suspension.
- He emphasizes that the bike offers good value for its price.
“I really do love this e-bike. It has great features like the headlight, hydraulic brakes, and adjustable suspension. It offers good value for the price.”
Brakes and Brake Test
- The reviewer’s concern is that the bike only has hydraulic brakes with 160-millimeter brake rotors.
- The reviewer tests the brakes at 28 miles per hour and notes that the bike stops quickly.
- The reviewer then does a second brake test at 30 miles per hour and the bike stops successfully.
“This thing stopped real quick.”
Forks and Steering Limitations
- The reviewer explains that the bike has a triple fork design, which limits the amount the rider can turn left or right.
- The steering limitations do not have much of an impact on regular streets, but the reviewer wonders if it will be an issue on a mountain bike track.
“When you’re limited on how much you can turn to the left or turn to the right, it’s going to reduce some of the amount that you’re able to turn.”
Gear Transmission
- The reviewer wishes that the bike had eight gears instead of seven because when using pedal assist five and moving in seventh gear, there is some ghost pedaling.
- Surprisingly, the reviewer notes that the issue is not as noticeable with this bike compared to others.
- Overall, the reviewer thinks it would have been nicer if the bike had an eight-speed transmission.
“I do wish this bike had eight gears instead of seven because when you’re in pedal assist five and you’re moving along in seventh gear you get that ghost pedal just a little bit.”
Initial Review and Summary
- The reviewer shares their overall view of the Free Sky Himalaya e-bike. They like the 85-Nm of torque, the big headlight, the straight handlebars, and the hydraulic brakes.
- However, they wish the bike had 180-millimeter rotors for better braking performance and an eight-speed transmission to minimize ghost pedaling at higher speeds.
- Despite these limitations, the bike offers good value for the price and is durable with few necessary improvements.
“If you have under 1400 bucks, this bike is a definite value because you’re going to get a solid bike for under the money and it’s going to last you a while without very many improvements that you need to it if any at all.”