The Best Electric Cargo Bike? Himiway Big Dog Review
According to Himiway, despite more than 70% of riders today pursuing bikes that can go further, a large majority of bikes on the market can only reach 30-40 miles.
Since Himiway was established in 2017, they have been paying close attention to what 50,000 users have been saying and have been continuously improving the range of e-bikes. On average, the range of a Himiway bike is 43% greater than other e-bikes on the market, that’s up to 60-80 miles on a single charge.
Himiway is a global brand, with branches and customers in North America and Europe. Himiway is showing no signs of slowing down and being satisfied with the status quo, in the next phase Himiway plans on serving over 1 million cyclists in 30 countries all over the planet.
Himiways version of a slightly smaller but very capable cargo bike is their Big Dog Electric Cargo Bike. This electric cargo bike is smaller compared to most cargo/utility bikes but it is ideal for shorter riders and the step-through design makes for easy on-off access which is also ideal for people with mobility issues.
The Big Dog is equipped with a powerful 750W rear hub motor that has a specialized inner ring that reduces the motor magnets attenuation speed guaranteeing longer life expectancy for the motor and provides more than enough power to get up really steep hills with no problems at all.
We say this over and over, the motor on your bike isn’t much good without a superior battery. Fortunately, the Big Dog comes with the new 48V 20Ah Samsung/LG battery technology with a 5000mAh single-cell capacity in a smaller size but with more range. The battery will hold up to 80% capacity after 1000 charges and the integrated battery design helps maintain capacity and can reduce mechanical failures in all conditions by up to 95%.
This battery compared to cells made with cobalt, nickel, and manganese provides more range, stability, and safety and a single charge can last up to 60 miles on electric power only and 80 plus miles on pedal assist.
The Big Dog also features a multifunctional backlit LCD Display. This LCD Display lets you keep on top of battery capacity, basically a fuel gauge for electrons, an odometer so you will always know how far you have gone, pedal assist level, a speedometer that can be set to current speed, max speed, or average speed, a wattmeter that displays motor power output in real-time, and USB charging.
The rear cargo rack on the Big Dog is incredibly rugged. This multifunctional rear cargo rack with its lower center of gravity actually provides the rider with a more stable ride even if you decide to take advantage of its huge 400 lb payload capacity. You can strap on panniers, baskets, platforms, or any bulky items you want, you can even take the kids out for a cruise around town or load up at your favorite building supply store.
Some of the other features of this bike are the 20″ x 4″ Kenda Fat Tires. These tires are knobby and do provide a good amount of traction and shock absorption along with added safety in all types of terrain and weather conditions. The front fork coil suspension on this bike has a preload adjustment and lock-out lever and it has 80mm of travel which is plenty to help smooth out rough terrain. Another nice feature of this bike is the half-twist throttle that prevents accidental activation which in turn protects the rider from unnecessary injuries.
The double-leg kickstand is also a nice feature, it’s built from steel so it’s very durable and keeps your bike stable while it is parked. The only drawback to this kickstand is that when it’s retracted it does ride quite low to the ground and because it is close to the chain when you ride over bumpy terrain the chain tends to bounce up and down against the kickstand.
The Shimano Altus 7-speed gear shift system on the Big Dog gives you more choice when riding in a variety of conditions. Combined with the pedal assist system it’s easy to find whatever speed you need to suit any riding conditions. And when using this system the right way you can actually increase the range of a single charge. This 7-speed system is also easy to adjust and features a sturdy derailleur guard.
The Big Dog comes with the very well-known and effectiveTektro 180mm Hydraulic Brakes that provide lots of stopping power in all kinds of conditions, and a 48V Luminosity Front Spotlight, or headlight if you prefer. This is a good quality headlight that not unexpectedly doesn’t provide much extra light during daytime hours but works well and keeps you safe in low-light conditions.
Cargo e-Bike Comparison Chart
Cargo e-Bike Features Rating Price Himiway Big Dog Powerful 750W Motor Huge 400lb Payload Large Battery Capacity Addmotor Grandtan e-Trike Step-Thru Frame 40-85 Mile Range 450lb Load Capacity sixthreezero Cargo e-Bike Step-Thru Frame 750W Motor Rear Passenger Seat Addmotor Garootan Cargo 350lb Payload Capacity 20AH Samsung Battery Large Rear Rack
Bike Specs
• Range – 60-80 Miles
• Total Payload Capacity – 400 lbs
• Recommended Rider Heights – 5′ 5″ – 6′ 5″
• Charger – US Standard 3.0A Smart Charger
• Weight – 88 lbs
• Intelligent Pedal Assist – 0-5 Level Pedal Assist
• Frame – Upgraded 6061 Aluminum Frame
Get Ready To Start Riding
Himiway has done a nice job with this smaller but very capable cargo bike. The Big Dog isn’t as big as most cargo/utility bikes on the market but its ability to handle a huge 400 lb payload and the fact that its step-through design makes it ideal for shorter riders and people with mobility issues allows it to compete with its larger counterparts.
A really nice feature of this bike is the wheels, they are more of a mag wheel design which actually allows the bike to handle more weight compared to wheels that use spokes, in many cases, the spokes on a wheel might need to be adjusted under extra heavy loads whereas the mag wheel design doesn’t require that. Plus, we think the mag wheels just simply look good.
This is a really well-built bike but that extra ruggedness comes at a cost, the bike is heavy for its size weighing in at around 88 lbs but the Big Dog’s agility and rider comfort it provides doesn’t seem to be compromised at all.
The seat that comes with the Big Dog is of average quality and will work for most people and can be adjusted up or down. The battery, as we mentioned earlier is something that Himiway is becoming known for. Larger than-average batteries can be found on all Himiway bikes including the Big Dog, the rear rack is also bigger than you will find and comes with a beautifully finished wood platform.
Overall, the Himiway Big Dog Electric Cargo Bike is more than capable of handling just about anything you want it to. Even though Himiway puts this bike in the cargo category it is capable of so much more and has no trouble keeping up with the other Big Dogs on the market.
So, if you’re looking for a smaller, robust, and powerful little electric cargo bike then the Himiway Big Dog Electric Cargo Bike might just be the one.
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