Heybike launches 40 MPH electric moped for an insanely low $999, but at what cost?

The moped-style electric bike market continues to grow, and now Heybike is throwing its hat further into the ring with the launch of its new Saturn e-bike. And the company is coming out swinging with specs that jump right off the page and a price tag that will make you say, “wait, whaaat?”

The new Heybike Saturn leans heavily into the increasingly popular retro-moped aesthetic that has become one of the hottest trends in the US e-bike market over the last several years. Featuring a long bench seat, fat tires, full suspension, and motorcycle-inspired styling, the Saturn looks designed to appeal to the same younger riders and urban commuters who have flocked to bikes like Super73, Ride1Up Revv1, Juiced Scrambler, and others.

Underneath the styling, the Saturn packs fairly serious performance specs. The bike uses a 1,000W rear hub motor rated for up to 1,800W peak output, paired with a 52V electrical system and producing up to 95 Nm of torque.

Like many modern moped-style e-bikes, the Saturn is marketed as a Class 3 e-bike with a 28 mph (45 km/h) top speed out of the box. However, Heybike says riders can unlock higher speeds of up to 40 mph (64 km/h) for off-road or private property use.