The ElectroGlide 1000 picks up where the earlier ElectroGlide 500 left off, adding several useful features and enhancing the quality of the frame and components. The most notable upgrades are the 500 watt motor (up from 350), upgraded 14 amp hour battery (up from 10) and the addition of pedal assist. Frame upgrades include improved rear rack with the addition of bungee cords and improved controller placement and protection. This is one of the best commuter style electric bikes out there and the unique layout of drive systems offers a stable, smooth ride.
Hebb has mounted a 500 watt geared hub motor to the front wheel of the ElectroGlide 1000 which is very unique in the ebike space. To have such a powerful motor mounted to the front fork and include a shock absorber, they really had to reinforce the drop outs. By doing this however, they freed up the rear wheel and hub to use a seven speed Shimano hub gear. This is awesome because it allows you to shift at standstill and keeps the chain tighter and out of the way vs. if they used a standard cassette on the rear. Hub gears replace the function of a cassette and internalize the system of gear shifting thus protecting the moving parts from dirt and water.
This bike does a great job of integrating and protecting the motor, gears and battery but also protects the rider. The fenders work very well and are high quality. They don’t rattle around or hit your feet when pedaling because the wheel size is 26″ vs. 29″ which many mountain bikes and road bikes use. This is a big benefit that I think many people overlook with the new wider wheel standard. The front and rear light also protect the rider and are especially useful and important on a commuter style bike. Both are powered by the main battery pack but the front light requires you to press a button on the light to turn it on. It’s a minor annoyance compared with some fancier systems that integrate lights, power and control feedback into a fancy LCD system.
The controller system and computer on the ElectroGlide 1000 are quite basic, but they get the job done. Instead of integrating everything they have chosen to include an after market Cateye Velo 5 computer. The power setting box is a little chunky and takes up a lot of space on the handlebars. I’m not sure how valuable all of the settings are here but it works well enough for riding. Once you turn the bike on, pick a power level and begin pedaling the bike just goes. The neat part is you can actually use the twist throttle at any time to override pedal assist.
There are a few downsides to the this bike, including the full width twist throttle vs. partial twist. I’ve just grown accustomed to the half twist throttle and feel like it might be safer in bumpy conditions or with sudden movement. I also don’t love the plastic pedals but those are easy and inexpensive to replace. My final complaint is the shock absorber performance which is basic and doesn’t include lock out. I’ve also noticed that when powering the bike with the motor, the shock kind of sticks due to the forces being applied on the fork.
All things considered, this bike is well though out and delivers a balanced ride. If you compared it with the Pedego City Commuter or Cruiser bikes you’d notice that the weight is spread out better while offering the same power. I love that this bike has an adjustable neck, fenders and lights and that the battery is well protected and low to the ground. It’s also removable for charging and the seat has a flip-up tab that makes this action very easy. Whether you’re a larger person who wants the extra power of a 500 watt motor or someone who just needs a commuter bike, the ElectroGlide 1000 is a great option.
A solid performing commuter style ebike with fenders, lights and rear rack. Weight is distributed well from front to rear and kept low to the ground...
George Sears
11 years agoCourt,
I’ve been reading a lot of reviews on your site, and this bike really seems interesting. So often the bikes seem a little marginal if you want to carry some weight on the back. To me, carrying something is what would make an e-bike really useful.
This is an interesting package. The website for Hebb is pretty good. Your videos do a great job of showing how the components are put together, especially a bike like this that is front drive.
Thanks!
ReplyCourt Rye
11 years agoHey George! I’m glad the review helped you. The founder of Hebb really built a unique bike here and has been refining it over the years. The price is pretty good and I’m excited about the 500 watt motor size as the power and torque go a long way for a bike like this. Keep your eye out as I’ll be reviewing a TON more ebikes in the next couple of weeks, I’m doing a road trip in California right now visiting all of the West Coast shops :)
ReplyJohn
10 years agoHebb bikes are actually rebadged eZee bikes, not that there is anything wrong with that, they are the best electric bikes Made in China. You can see the complete range of eZee bikes here http://ezeebike.com/
ReplyCourt Rye
10 years agoThanks for the insights John, it’s interesting to dig into this space and realize that even some of the mainstream ebikes can be found direct from China or listed under alternative brands in different countries. I usually balance the support and warranty offered by one brand with the lower cost and higher risk, perhaps even last gen build, that can be found for less going direct. Not that this is the case here, just interesting.
ReplyJohn
10 years agoHi Court, If you click on the following link you will see that that there are several dealers in the US selling eZee bikes without rebranding http://ezeebike.com/distributors/
ReplyCourt Rye
10 years agoThanks John, I’ll keep an eye out for these shops and try to get some reviews when I visit California next month.
ReplyChuck
9 years agoDear Court, Really enjoyed you video on the HEBB bike. My wife was given one of these bikes from her sister. It’s in perfect condition. The only problem we can’t charge the battery because the bike hasen’t been ridden or charge for over a year. We were told by the bike shop were it was Purchased that there is a safety feature in the battery that will not let you charge the battery if the battery has not been charge for some time. I called Mr. Bill Hebb and he told me to contact a electric bike shop in Portland Oregon were I might get a battery for around $700 normally around $850. The person at the shop was very knowledgeable about this bike and said there was a 35% chance that he could induce a trickle charge and fool the batter in to thinking it had a charge on it and that it would allow the battery to take a full charge. Have you any experience with bring back a battery that has not been charge for sometime and wil not accept a charge. If not can you recommend a source were I can purchase a battery possibly less expensive than retail? I live in the Seattle, WA area. Thank You, Chuck
ReplyCourt Rye
9 years agoInteresting, thanks for the context Chuck! I have heard of people “fixing” old batteries like this by trickle charging or even reversing the charge but I have never tried it myself and have definitely also heard of fires from damaged batteries and using incorrect chargers (specifically for older Lithium-ion batteries). I would approach with caution here… I do know a person who used to run a bike shop and might have some tips or even know where and how to get you a cheaper battery. Head over to the forums, copy and past your question in the Q&A section and add @Ann M. anywhere in the body of your message to alert the person I’m talking about. Maybe she will have some advice :)
ReplyJohn
6 years agoThe front fork on my Hebb ElectroGlide bike snapped while I was getting on it. I went down fast and hard, landed on my chin, and spent 12 days in the hospital with a subdural hematoma. I left the hospital in a wheelchair. People can discuss the fork all they want but in my personal experience I would NOT ride this bike — and if you own one, stop riding it. If I had been moving fast I would likely have died.
ReplyCourt
6 years agoOh man! I’m so sorry to hear about the hardware failure and your resulting injury John. Thanks for sharing here… I don’t think Hebb is in business anymore and I haven’t been reviewing as many cheap ebikes these days, especially with the higher speeds that some of them can go. Get well <3
ReplyJohn Mosley
6 years agoI have for sale from my broken Hebb e-bike a 15 AH battery with few hours on it and the front motor, recently refurbished and in fine condition. Please contact me if interested.
ReplyCourt
6 years agoThanks John! You are also welcome to post in the EBR for sale section in the forums here. I hope you are able to find a buyer and appreciate that you’re trying to keep the battery in use vs. just throwing it away :)
ReplyJoey Thatcher
4 years agoLooking for a Hebb Front Hub Motor 36 watts /350 watts
ReplyCourt
4 years agoHi Joey! I’m not sure if Hebb is still in business, but perhaps you could ask for help with that part in the Hebb ebike forums. The next best option might be to order from a company like Electric Bike Outfitters who sell a range of motors, batteries, and displays that could be a replacement. I hope this helps!
ReplyJoey Thatcher
4 years agoThank you so much!