Himiway D5 Zebra Review | A BIG E-Bike With BIG Test Results!

Brands can only estimate how their e-bikes’ will perform when it comes to range because there are just so many variables, but true insights come from actual real-world testing. That’s exactly what we conducted with the Himiway D5 Zebra, an e-bike that markets “up to 80 miles” range as it ships.

Kicking things off with the minimal pedal assist (PAS 1), the D5 Zebra gave us an impressive 69.96 miles on a single charge. This test included a climb of 1,253 feet in elevation and lasted 5 hours and 34 minutes, all while maintaining an average speed of 12.57 mph.

Shifting to maximum pedal assist (PAS 5), the D5 Zebra covered 54.24 miles at a higher average speed of 18.1 mph spanning 3 hours and climbing an elevation of 1,046 feet.

Let’s not bury the lead, that’s our second best max test result ever as of this writing. Going over 50 miles at an 18 mph pace is FANTASTIC!

Any way you slice it, these are impressive range results and they far exceeded our expectations for a bike this big.

The Himiway D5 Zebra, armed with a 750W rear hub motor and fairly significant torque output of 86 Nm, entered our ‘Hell Hole’ hill test with the expectation of solid climbing ability.

During the throttle-only test, the D5 Zebra ascended Hell Hole in 1 minute and 36 seconds, with an average speed of 11.3 mph. When we tossed some leg muscle into the equation along with the maximum pedal assist (PAS 5), it slightly improved, completing the climb in 1 minute and 31 seconds with an average speed of 11.9 mph. These results place the Himiway D5 Zebra just under average when compared to other fat-tire e-bikes equipped with similar 750W hub motors.

When we zoom out, we think several factors contributed to the D5 Zebra’s relatively modest hill performance. The bike’s 79 lb weight and large, knobby 26×4” tires likely didn’t help anything. Also, despite having a decent torque rating, it just didn’t do as well as we hoped. Again, this might be a scenario where a cadence sensor version may produce slightly better results just by the nature of the cadence sensor’s “all or nothing” power delivery.

Overall, while it may not have been a record-breaking result, it still proved to be able to tackle some of the meanest hills we have around here. If you live in an area where you find yourself surrounded by steep hills, you may want to opt for the cadence sensor version or a bike with a higher torque rating and lighter overall weight. But, for most folks with only a few hills here and there, the Himiway D5 Zebra should be a reliable steed.

The Himiway D5 Zebra comes outfitted with Tektro hydraulic disc brakes, paired with 180mm rotors and 2-piston calipers, and it’s a setup known for its dependable braking performance.

In our brake test, the Himiway D5 Zebra stopped at average stopping distance of 23’6″.

Once again, when we zoom out and compare that to other fat tire bikes with 750W hub motors, this result falls a bit below the pack which we think is largely due to the bike’s weight and big knobby tires. With that said, the Tektro hydraulic brakes on the D5 Zebra deliver more than just functional stopping power; they offered controlled and steady braking each time we asked for it.

Overall, while the D5 Zebra’s brakes are capable of handling the bike’s power and size, the test results suggest there is still some room for improvement. To be clear, they are safe, we just think there is a little room for improvement. We would like to see a 4-piston caliper moving forward but, as it ships the bike stops safely and reliably every time we ask it to.

First things first, we must discuss the elephant in the room, that big ol’ seat.

At first glance, this seat resembles more of a top-secret stealth bomber than it does a bicycle saddle. It’s longer, wider, and thicker than nearly any seat we have seen outside of beach cruisers and you could say, all of us here at the office already have a love/hate relationship with it. On one hand, the seat feels super-comfortable when you are cruising on throttle only. But, once you start pedaling, the wider front end of the seat edges start to rub your inner thighs and it’s not the best feeling, especially for a long ride. We think it’s one of those seats that folks will either love or hate depending on their personal riding style. And, on the bright side, contact points like seats, grips, and pedals are super easy (and inexpensive) to swap out for something that you like better.

Himiway offers the D5 Zebra in two frame options, a high step or a step though. The highstep is rated to fit riders ranging from 5’3″ ~ 6′ 5″ whereas the step-through version has a little more room as it fits riders ranging from 5 ‘1” to 6’ 5″.

Up in the cockpit, you have ergo faux leather grips, on the left you have the push throttle and PAS controls. In the center, you have a full-color display that we think is really nice looking and can even be seen well in direct sunlight. The handlebar has no adjustability in stem height or reach but at 5 ’11, it felt fine in all my riding and I never felt like it needed any adjustments.

The D5’s front suspension fork is a coil spring fork made by TRAMA and has 95mm of travel with a 9x135mm quick-release attachment. Overall the fork does a good job of eating up impacts on your ride and should do most folks pretty well.

Down below you have Kenda Krusade knobby tires that we have seen before in our testing and overall do a good job. Understandably, if you ride this bike on pavement, you will have road noise from the tires, but that’s to be expected.

The 750W motor is mounted in the rear wheel hub and overall is very quiet. As we have referenced a few times in areas like speed and range testing, we did find the torque sensor to be a bit picky on when it delivers power and generally has a hard time keeping up with our actual pedaling pressure with its power delivery. It’s certainly not a deal breaker for us as all torque sensors have a bit of their own ‘personality’ and that was just our thoughts on this one. Overall, if you put down the pressure, the motor kicks on and gives its pedaling assist, and if you need more, just bump up your effort.

For those of you who like to make your bike as versatile as your route, we think you will appreciate the added perks like front-to-back lighting and fenders as well as the rear rack. It just adds some practicality for folks who want to maximize the abilities of their ride.

However, no bike is without its flaws. The D5 Zebra’s torque sensor sometimes lagged, making pedaling more laborious. Additionally, while the large seat is comfortable for throttle use, it can rub against the thighs during long pedaling sessions. These areas could use improvement for a better overall experience.

For those looking to save a bit and possibly gain a more consistent power delivery, opting for the $1,499 cadence sensor version might be a wise choice. Cadence sensors typically offer a more binary, “all or nothing” power delivery, which could compensate for some of the torque sensor’s shortcomings.

Bottomline, the Himiway D5 Zebra, despite its shortcomings, remains a formidable player in the e-bike market. Its beefy build, hefty load capacity, and overall performance make it a solid choice for those who appreciate a bike that feels as substantial as it looks. Whether you’re cruising city streets or exploring rugged trails, the D5 Zebra offers a ride that’s as confident and commanding as its design suggests with a bit of American flair.

Happy Riding! Make sure to let us know if you have any questions or if you think we left anything out in this review of the Himiway D5 Zebra down in our comments section.