The ElectroGlide 500 was one of the earlier models that Hebb produced and has since been replaced by the ElectroGlide 1000. If you see this bike at your local shop, you may be able to get a lower price and for the most part it’s the same design as the new bike only with less power. This bike is thoughtfully designed, incorporating all of standard ebike features well, and replacement parts are readily available through the company website. You can even upgrade the battery to 37 volts with 14 amp hours for increased range.
The motor driving this bike is a 350 watt geared hub located on the front wheel. Many other ebikes opt for rear-mounted motors because the frame is stronger back there and rider weight is distributed towards the back when riding, however, there are upsides to the front-mounted design! In this case, it allows Hebb to incorporate a 7 speed geared hub in the rear. This feature lets riders shift from standstill and keeps the chain shorter, tighter and less exposed to wear through shifting. It also makes changing front and rear tires easier because the complex systems are spread across two wheels instead of forcing it all to live on the back wheel.
Hebb has reinforced the front fork drop outs (where the motor mounts) with a torque plate and cable protector shown in the video. It gives me peace of mind that the bike can take the added forces of electric drive without fail but I have noticed that it makes the front shock “stickier” when powering forward. As the fork gets pulled forward by the motor, it adds friction to the up and down motion of the shock. All in all, I’m pleased with the design and have noticed other bikes, such as the EZ Pedalers, adopting a similar configuration.
The battery pack on this bike offers 37 volts of power with 10 amp hours of range. That’s pretty solid and should be enough for ~25 miles of riding. It could go further if the bike offered pedal assist, but that would add complexity to the design and probably cost more. I’m happy with the “throttle only” design they chose but I’m not thrilled with the throttle itself. Instead of using a half-grip sized twist throttle or a thumb trigger, Hebb has opted for a full length grip shift. I mention in the video review that this would be easier to slip off of when going over bumps or if a sudden motion occurred.
I love that the ElectroGlide bikes incorporate lights because that adds a lot of safety when riding in city environments. The front light does require a manual push button on the light itself but the rear light can be turned on with a switch mounted right to the handlebar. Both lights are powered from the battery pack which is great! Adding to the utility of this bike is the rear rack and fenders which both stay out of the way and perform well. The neck is adjustable for improved ergonomics and overall this bike rides very well.
This bike is well thought out, balanced and uses good components. You can just tell, when flipping up the seat to remove the battery pack or looking at the alignment of the rear rack, a lot of care went into the design. Given some of the other options out there, this bike feels less mass produced and support is easy to get ahold of. The shops that carry Hebb have communicated to me that the brand treats them well and as a customer I like that their website is up to date and offers good accessories. This is a solid choice for a first ebike or a commuter style setup.
Feature rich neighborhood or commuter style ebike with fenders, lights and rear rack. Weight is distributed well from front to rear and kept low to the ground for…...
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