Himiway’s new Rhino Pro is one of the most powerful e-bikes around. With two batteries and a 1,000-watt mid-drive motor that delivers an incredible 160 Newton meters of torque, it’s got everything it needs to conquer the wilderness.
What the Rhino Pro Does
Before we dive too deeply into the specifics behind the Rhino Pro, let’s take a moment to examine the bike holistically. While the Rhino Pro is fantastically powerful, it isn’t a bike for everyone or every use case.
First, the Rhino Pro is very heavy. It’s a 97-pound bike, meaning that you’ll have trouble carrying it up stairs or lifting it onto an elevated bike rack. It’s also not going to feel like a normal bicycle when you ride it. The motor is more than capable of making the bike go fast, but it’ll still feel massive.
As far as power goes, the Rhino Pro has plenty. Not only does this bike have a 1,000 watt motor, but the motor is located at your crank. This means that it can take full advantage of the bike’s 10-speed drivetrain and multiply its output via an optimal gear ratio. It doesn’t need this, of course, since it’s got a raw torque output that’s four times higher than some hub motor bikes, but it’s still a nice multiplier to have.
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With two batteries and a 1,000-watt mid-drive motor that delivers an incredible 160 Newton meters of torque, it’s got everything it needs to conquer the wilderness.
The Rhino Pro’s double batteries give it more than enough range for adventuring. They’re also responsible for a good bit of the bike’s weight. Himiway tends to inflate its range estimates somewhat, but we expect that the Rhino Pro should get between 40 and 60 miles per charge without pedaling at all. Adding human power only increases that number.
So what does this mean? The Rhino Pro is an incredible bike for adventuring. It’s got the power to shoot up mountain hills at full speed and the range to go exploring far away from your base camp. Knobby fat tires ensure you’ll stay comfortable, while the motor will really be able to unwind and send you zooming through the wilderness.
The Rhino Pro isn’t bad on pavement, either. While there is a big caveat here, this is one of the more interesting commuter options around. It’s super powerful, very fast, and doesn’t need to be charged very often. The inclusion of a rack and fenders makes it a great all-purpose option.
The caveat here is that many states limit e-bikes to a maximum power output of 750 watts. In most of these states you can do whatever you want on private land, but bikes over 750 watts aren’t legal to ride on bike lanes, multi-use public trails, or in other public areas. As a California resident, I can’t legally ride the Rhino Pro to work.
E-bike laws are evolving and differ in different states. Please research your local e-bike laws and figure out if the Rhino is legal to ride in your area before making an informed purchasing decision.
What makes the Rhino Pro different?
If you’re comparing the Rhino Pro with other e-bikes, here are the three biggest factors that are likely to separate the Rhino from the rest of the pack.
The Motor
Mid-drive motors normally punch above their weight class. The fact that the Rhino Pro’s mid-drive motor is bigger than most hub motors means that this bike is one of the most powerful e-bikes around. Expect to shoot up hills that challenge even the torquiest other e-bikes while maintaining class-3 speeds.
The Batteries
It’s tough to find space for a single 30-amp-hour battery, so Himiway has done something even better and split the Rhino Pro’s battery in two. Not only can you remove the batteries and charge them separately, but you also get the full benefit of 30 amp-hours of range. This means you’ll get more than 40 miles out of each charge.
The Gears
The Rhino Pro’s motor is multiplied by its drivetrain, and Himiway has not skimped on this important component. Rather than a standard budget-friendly 7-speed system, they’ve included a Shimano 10-speed drivetrain that gives you a huge range of gears. This keeps the bike feeling smooth at all speeds and ensures that you’ll be able to find a gear ratio that works for both you and the motor.
With two batteries and a 1,000-watt mid-drive motor that delivers an incredible 160 Newton meters of torque, it’s got everything it needs to conquer the wilderness.
In-Depth: Design and Components
The Rhino Pro has a fairly thick frame. Its fenders, wide tires, and lights set it apart from standard bikes, meaning that it’ll immediately grab your attention, but the batteries and motor are tough to spot from a distance.
When writing this article I did a substantial amount of research to verify that the California legal limit is 750 watts. I found several law firm blogs that quoted the law as 1000, but I could not find a single official government source or news article that backed up that claim. Instead, I found many .gov websites that echoed the 750-watt limit.
The frame is only available in step-over. As far as riding style goes, expect something upright and casual, with a wide seat and high handlebars.
Components
The Rhino Pro has a number of small improvements over its standard Rhino counterpart. Many of the features are similar, however, including the tires, brakes, and suspension fork. All of these are the same fare that you see on fat-tire e-bikes from most manufacturers, right down to the brand name.
When comparing the Rhino Pro to the Rhino, the big differences are the display, motor, and drivetrain. The Rhino Pro has a very nice color display that does a great job of keeping you up to date about your bike’s performance and metrics. It’s a nice touch, but it’s arguably not something you need when you could buy a mount to stick your phone to your handlebars.
As far as the motor goes, the Rhino Pro offers a very concrete improvement in performance over the Rhino. The mid-drive motor can deliver nearly twice as much torque.
It can leverage the bike’s 1×10 drivetrain to tackle the steep hills and abrupt starts that electric motors traditionally struggle with. The normal Rhino feels like a powerful beast. The Rhino Pro feels even more powerful than that.
Finally, when it comes to the drivetrain, the extra gear range afforded by the Shimano 10-speed system on the Rhino Pro helps the motor out even more. I’m a big fan of e-bike manufacturers putting wider gear ranges on e-bikes in general, since the bikes need the most help at very low and very high speeds.
A budget 1×7 drivetrain really struggles to meet the demands of your typical e-bike rider. The Rhino Pro’s expanded gearing makes it a lot smoother to ride.
It’s worth noting quickly that the Rhino Pro’s tires are a bit fatter than the fat tires you’ll find on some e-bikes. This means it’s a bit heavier and harder to pedal, but it also means it’s got incredible traction and is very comfortable to ride on rough terrain. The motor can easily overcome these downsides, so the extra fat tires are a big plus overall.
Performance
There isn’t a lot of real-world data from the Rhino or Rhino Pro available, but I am very skeptical of Himiway’s “100 miles per charge” number.
My guess is that you should see between 40 and 60 miles per charge on the throttle, with the number increasing to between 50 and 75 miles per charge if you’re willing to pedal the bike and help it out.
Athletic riders who stick to low pedal assist levels may be able to push this to 100 under ideal circumstances, but I don’t see myself putting in that much work on a 97-pound bike.
Cost
The Rhino Pro is pretty expensive. It’s easy to see where this cost comes from, however, between the second battery, the upgraded drivetrain, the fancy display, and the massive mid-drive motor. When you take a look at the price of these components, it’s not hard to justify the Rhino Pro’s high MSRP.
When comparing the Rhino Pro to other bikes, be sure to factor in motor location. It’s all too easy to get sucked into the idea that a 750-watt e-bike is a 750-watt e-bike.
In general, mid-drive motorbikes are much more expensive than their hub-motor counterparts due to their fancier, more robust drivetrains, torquier motors, and overall complexity. Again, the Rhino Pro isn’t cheap, but it’s priced pretty affordably when you consider what it is.
With two batteries and a 1,000-watt mid-drive motor that delivers an incredible 160 Newton meters of torque, it’s got everything it needs to conquer the wilderness.
Verdict
If you want an absolute titan of an e-bike to conquer the outdoors, the Rhino Pro is a great option. Heck, it’s so powerful it’s not street-legal in many states.
It’s got one of the highest torque motors around and it’s set up for relaxed, comfortable riding over rough pavement, dirt roads, and untamed lands.
This means that it’s perfect for anyone looking for a bike for hunting, camping, or just cruising around in the desert. Its included accessories, long-range, and high speed also make it a great city option, although you might not want to advertise that it’s got a 1000-watt motor.
While it’s a bit on the pricey end, this is definitely a situation where you get what you pay for. In addition to the extra battery and colossal motor, you get an upgraded 10-speed drivetrain, a full-color display, hydraulic disc brakes, and more.
The Rhino Pro gives you the full package, right out of the box. If you’re after a bike that’s built for raw power and range, the Rhino Pro is going to be hard to beat.
