With the Hitway BK6S, another street-legal folding electric bike is now on the market that aims to score points with good features, solid driving characteristics and an attractive price. With its slim frame and padded luggage rack available in various colors, it immediately stands out visually. But it’s not just the design, but above all the good equipment and high driving characteristics that make you eager for more. Whether the low price of the bus 799 euros It’s worth it on Amazon, we explain in this test report.
Highlights
- Simple and quick construction
- Attractive design with slim frame in various colors
- luggage rack with padding
- Good driving characteristics due to 3-inch tyres, saddle and front damping
- Bright, height-adjustable front light
- Large, easily removable 432 Wh battery for a range of around 35 km
- Attractive price of 799 euros On Amazon
Construction
Setting up the Hitway BK6S is incredibly easy and can be done quicker than most other e-bikes. In fact, all you have to do is insert the handlebars, screw on the pedals and fix the front mudguard. Finally, tighten all the screws, fill the tyres with air – and your first ride can begin. For safety reasons, we always recommend wearing a helmet. We show suitable models in our best list of smart bicycle helmets.
Practical: Hitway includes reflectors for the tires, a combination lock, and a simple air pump with the BK6S. This makes getting started easy.
Optics and Workmanship
Visually, the Hitway BK6S is quite impressive. This is mainly due to the stylish painted aluminum frame, which is available in matte turquoise, black, silver or red. The slim frame fits very well on a compact folding e-bike, even if it doesn’t look as elegant as urban e-bikes like the Utopia Carbon 1 (test report).
The luggage rack with its padding is actually more like a seat, however, it is not approved for transporting a second person. A classic luggage rack would have been more practical here. At least there is an option for attachment for a bicycle basket on the steering head.
Typical for e-folding bikes are cables and cables laid outside the frame. They are firmly attached and do not get in the way. The same applies to the mudguards: they do not wobble and offer adequate protection in rain and mud – but the padded saddle absorbs water when wet. The display also fogs up after rainfall. Based on these experiences and the lack of IPxx certification, buyers should not leave the Hitway BK6S in the rain for long periods of time.
In general, you should keep in mind that an e-bike in this price range mainly uses cheaper components. These are less durable than higher quality parts.
Folding mechanism
The folding system of the Hitway BK6S works perfectly: the central safety lever on the frame opens and closes easily. The pedals (unfortunately made of plastic) can also be folded, the handlebars can be folded thanks to the quick release and the height can be adjusted. The e-bike can be folded compactly and fits even in a small trunk. With dimensions of 96 cm x 38 cm x 75 cm when folded, you can even take it with you on most public transport without any additional tickets.
The overall length of the e-bike is 168 cm, the handlebar height is adjustable from 115 cm to 128 cm. Hitway specifies a possible driver height of 165 to 195 cm. Our 186 cm tall tester felt comfortable while driving – so the BK6S is also suitable for tall people. The maximum payload is a decent 120 kg. The e-bike weighs just under 26 kg.
Handlebars, Display, and Lights
The 58 cm wide handlebar of the Hitway BK6S could be a bit long. However, small dimensions are quite normal for folding bikes. On the right is Shimano’s solid 7-speed gearshift, which worked perfectly in our test. Ergonomically shaped handlebars enable fatigue-free driving even on long journeys.
The backlit display is located on the left side of the handlebar, which is easy to read even in direct sunlight. It clearly displays all the important data such as speed, support mode, battery capacity, total kilometers and daily kilometers. In the settings (long press of the plus and minus buttons) you can also increase the maximum speed – without any impact. A good thing, because at 25 km/h it stops according to StVZO. Otherwise the road clearance would be lost.
Practical details such as the bell integrated into the brake lever, the bright, height-adjustable front light and the clearly visible rear light round out the solid features of the BK6S.
To drive
Driving with the Hitway BK6S is surprisingly pleasant. On the one hand, this is due to the good ergonomics with the height-adjustable saddle and handlebars, which can be ergonomically adapted to the rider.
On the other hand, the 20-inch wide tires on 3-inch rims, combined with the simple but effective saddle and front suspension fork, absorb many bumps with ease. Curbs? Cobblestones? No problem for the BK6S!
The 250-watt rear motor with 45 Nm torque works without a sensitive torque sensor, but it starts up easily and quickly after about one turn of the pedal. The power development is pleasantly uniform, which ensures a comfortable start.
The gear ratio is not optimal at high speeds: to reach 25 km/h in the highest gear, a brisk 80 crank revolutions per minute are needed. A slightly longer final translation would not hurt here. Indeed, many folding e-bikes struggle with this problem.
The mechanical disc brakes are impressive, as they grip flawlessly and quickly from the start without any readjustment in our test. This means the Hitway BK6S can be safely slowed and stopped at any time.
battery pack
According to the manufacturer, with its 432 Wh battery, the Hitway BK6S promises a range of between 35 and 90 kilometers. In the test, we were able to easily confirm a range of 35 kilometers in everyday life – a decent value for an inexpensive folding bike.
The theoretically possible 90 km only apply under ideal conditions, i.e. with a minimum payload, low gradients, optimum weather and defensive driving style. In practice they would be almost impossible to achieve.
Practical: The battery can be easily removed from the frame with the key. This means you can charge it in your apartment while the bike stays in the basement.
price
Price is one of the biggest strengths of the Hitway BK6S: only with 799 euros This is a real bargain among e-folding bikes on Amazon. In return, you get a solidly equipped bike with a well-thought-out folding mechanism, good range and good ride comfort.
optional
Here are some good folding e-bike bikes with a good price-performance ratio:
conclusion
The Hitway BK6S is a successful folding electric bike that impresses with no major weaknesses but with many strengths. Above all, we like the lightweight structure, comfortable equipment with a spring-loaded saddle, disc brakes and 7-speed gears as well as the powerful rear motor that accelerates you quickly.
Easy handling through an easy-to-read display, bright lighting and a good range of 35 kilometers also speak volumes about the Hitway. Only the gear shift, which has a relatively short gear ratio, can be a bit long at high speeds. The apparent lack of water resistance is also a negative point. In addition, with very inexpensive folding e-bikes like the BK6S, you have to be aware that simpler components are used that break down more quickly.
For 799 euros However, with the BK6S you get a completely harmonious overall package. If you want to spend only a little money on your folding e-bike and are willing to compromise, you can buy the Hitway BK6S.
But no e-folding bike? Then one of our other best lists will help:
As part of this article, we tested the e-bike in various scenarios such as paved bike paths, gravel field paths and steep climbs. This way, we cannot detect long-term problems that may arise after months or years of everyday use. If we find an error after our test report is published or something is pointed out by our readers, we will report it.