Riding a bike was something I did occasionally as a teenager, and then a couple of decades went by without ever encountering a bike or even thinking about them for more than a fleeting moment.
Back in February 2021, I got the HIMO C26 Electric Bike and since then have accumulated more than 500kms of riding on it. While this won’t seem like much for regular riders, it is certainly 500 kilometres more than I would have ridden with a traditional bike.
While you can read my original review here, I think it’s time to reflect on the ownership experience after 500km and a little over 2 years of riding.
This bike is an electric-assisted bike, rather than a fully electric bike, which means you still need to do the work to pedal, but with the help of the battery and in-wheel motor, you can ride further and faster than you otherwise would.
Like many of you, I spend a lot of time each week on a computer and the weekends provide a great opportunity to take a break, and get outside and the eBike is the perfect escape.
Thankfully I live in an amazing regional location that offers many bike paths to explore and keep rides interesting, on top of the obvious challenge of riding further than you have before.
The first thing that impressed me about the Himo C26 was its battery life. The e-bike comes with a 10Ah battery that is integrated into the front tube of the frame, giving it a sleek and elegant look. The battery can be easily removed and charged, although I never have after the first day. Day-to-day charging is done from the dock on the side and the bike in a spare room. The battery is powerful enough to supply a range of up to 60km.
The second thing that I liked about the Himo C26 was its motor and gears. The e-bike features a 250W high-speed motor in the rear wheel, that delivers strong power output and reduced idling resistance. It also has a Shimano 7-speed transmission system that allows you to adjust the gears according to your speed and terrain. The motor and gears work together to provide smooth and responsive acceleration, as well as ample torque, speed and climbing performance.
The third thing that I appreciated about the Himo C26 was its suspension and brakes. The e-bike has a front fork suspension that can be adjusted to suit different road conditions and rider preferences. The suspension helps to absorb shocks and vibrations, making the ride more comfortable and stable. The bike also features front and rear disc brakes that offer quick and efficient braking power.
The eBike allows for 3 modes of assistance, ECO, MID and HIGH and for the most part I’ve leveraged the top mode of assistance to allow me to travel at speeds between 25km/hr and 40km/hr when pushing hard. The assistance provided by the eBike, means encountering hills is no problem at all and you can feel the motor spring into action to help you.
In terms of range, I’ve always been impressed, and have never struggled to get as far as I wanted, before returning home with plenty of charging remaining. The most I’ve ridden in a single session is around 20km and have always charged before setting off. What you see in terms of battery life are 5 solid bars at the right of the display, as the battery is used, you see these go to 4, 3, 2, and then 1.
While I have never run this to zero, what’s great about a bike like this is that it will still function as a standard bike, should the battery ever be fully depleted.
The tyres are large 26″ that still have plenty of grip remaining and have proven to be very capable, allowing for great traction through off-road riding and corning at speed on potentially slippery surfaces like dirt and gravel.
The riding experience is generally really great, the only main criticism is that the seat can feel firm after spending a lot of time on it, so I find it is a good idea to take breaks.
Having an eBike has encouraged me to travel to locations I would never normally visit. There’s a nice bike path that takes you out to the Hume Weir, offering great water views and a touch of history as you ride past old train stops like the one at Bonegilla.
I’ve also taken a ride to get Coffee, a nice mid-point, breaking up the exercise. Occasionally I’ve taken rides after work and the built-in lights on the front and rear are handy to ensure I’m seen by other road users, namely pedestrians, riders and drivers.
There are times when I wish this was fully electric and internationally, the bike is, throttle has been locked in order to comply with Australian Regulations. My main reason for wanting this is to transit even further, I would travel to a starting destination, and then explore from there.
Being a mountain bike, it’s fairly large in size and decently heavy (25 Kg), so while it probably fits in the boot of my Model 3, putting it in and out is likely more hassle than it’s worth. Overall I’m really happy with what I have been able to explore so far and will continue to venture further in the future.
When it comes to maintenance, I really haven’t done a lot, occasionally put air in the tyres and clean the surfaces after riding through dirt and mud.
I hadn’t explored it until writing this post, but Himo actually offers accessories for the bike, including a rear Rack and waterproof basket for the front. The most I’ve done is mounted a water bottle holder on the bike, which is essential.
These accessories would come in handy as I’ve definitely needed to take backpacks riding at times, mostly to carry a drone, but those who use the bike for communicating could definitely carry the charger with it, just in case.
If you are looking for a versatile and reliable electric bike that can handle both urban and off-road riding, you might want to consider the Himo C26.
Himo now offers a C30R model that features an upgraded coloured display.
Overall, I think the Himo C26 is an excellent electric bike that can suit different riders and scenarios. It has a long battery life, a powerful motor, an adjustable suspension, reliable brakes, a sleek design and a reasonable price. It is easy to ride, comfortable to use and fun to explore with. After riding it for 500km, I can say that I am very satisfied with it and I would recommend it to anyone who is looking for a versatile and reliable electric bike.
No brainer if you live in metro melbourne. With an ebike you can literally get rid of your car. You can effortlessly get to work and wherever you need to go on the plethora of available bike paths and lanes, avoid peak hour traffic. Throw a crate on the back and front for grocery runs. No need to pay rego and insurance but still covered under TAC (in most cases). Maintenance costs and effort is also piss in the ocean compared to a car.