The Wallke H6 e-bike range is garnering a ton of praise right now. Coming in three different specs (H6-MAX, H6S, and H6), this folding e-bike has been designed for commuters and off-roaders alike. If you’ve already decided you want a Wallke H6 or are at least teetering on the edge of getting one, then you’re in the right place. Here, you’re going to learn the difference between each of the e-bikes in the Wallke H6 range. You’ll know which one will be right for you.
Since we’ve got a load to cover, we’ll just jump right in.
Read Also: Wallke X3 Pro Folding Electric Bike Review
Model Breakdown
For the most part, the three e-bikes are pretty much the same. There are a few spec changes here and there (which we will go into shortly), but in most areas, they have the same specs. We reckon most people would be happy with either of them. We’re going to start by giving you an overview of the specs of the e-bikes in a rather handy chart (and you’ll see how similar they are). Later, we’re going to take a dive into the intricacies of each of the models and the differences between them on a more practical level.
Spec | Wallke H6 | Wallke H6S | Wallke H6 MAX |
Motor | 750W | 1000W | 1000W |
Battery | 48V, 32AH | 48V, 36AH | 48V, 40AH |
Top Speed | 28mph | 33mph | 33mph |
Wheels | Spoke Hub | Mag Wheel | Mag Wheel |
Brakes | 203mm Rotors, 4 Piston Hydraulic Brakes | 203mm Rotors, 4 Piston Hydraulic Brakes | 203mm Rotors, 4 Piston Hydraulic Brakes |
Display | LCD Display | LCD Display | Smarter Display with GPS Tracking |
Suspension | Full Suspension | Full Suspension | Full Suspension |
You’ll notice that we didn’t include the range for either of the e-bikes here, which is rare for us when we are discussing e-bikes. However, there is a very real reason for this, and we will go into that in the next section. However, for now, just have a look at those specs. You will notice that there isn’t much in the way of difference between the e-bikes at all, other than:
- Motor
- Battery
- Top speed
- Display
So, as we said, most people will be happy with either of these e-bikes. They are all great e-bikes. Just one will perform better than the other two, particularly on the longer, more strenuous commutes. We’ll come to that part, though.
Performance Insights
The Wallke H6 is the most basic of the three models. The specs for this one are wildly different from the other two, at least from a performance perspective. It has a 750W motor, while the other two have a 1000W motor. This impacts both the speed and the overall performance of the e-bikes.
The top speed for the Wallke H6 is 28mph, which is an acceptable number for an e-bike. However, the H6S and the H6 MAX offer a whopping 33mph top speed. While we doubt many people are going to be hitting the top speed (since we reckon most people will use these as commuter bikes), the higher motor power ensures that you can go from stopping to a reasonably decent speed faster, which is ideal when you are commuting since you are more likely to encounter a ton of traffic.
The extra motor power also impacts hill climbs. If you are traversing flat surfaces and minor hills, then the Wallke H6 will be fine. It is perfectly capable of climbing. It requires a bit more effort, but it will get you where you need to be. If you have a lot more hills, or you want that journey to be as smooth as possible (i.e. you don’t want to feel like your e-bike is just chugging along), then the 1000W motor offered by the H6S and the H6 MAX may be even better for you.
As we said before – we didn’t discuss the range for either of the e-bikes. This is because Wallke no longer discusses the range for their e-bikes other than stating they are ‘long-range’, which is somewhat annoying. In the past, they claimed a far higher range and most people struggled to reach it. Obviously, the range is going to depend on usage, as well as the e-bike that you choose. Some people may get 20-30 miles on a single charge, while others have claimed they have over 80 (although, we must stress that other 80 probably isn’t typical).
The battery capacity of the e-bike is what will impact the range the most. This is listed as AH in our little spec chart. As you’ll see – the H6 MAX has the highest capacity, and thus the highest range. The H6 has the lowest battery capacity, which means a far lower range. The difference is considerable too. You can probably squeak out 20-30 miles extra from the H6 MAX before it needs to be charged, which makes it ideal for the longer commutes. However, if you are only commuting a few miles into work (or doing some light off-roading), then the lower battery capacity of the Wallke H6 should be fine.
Other than this, the e-bikes are similar in controls. They have throttle speed control, plus 0-5 pedal assist settings. When you are sitting on the bikes, other than the slight difference in power and range, the overall performance is similar. They feel like good e-bikes to ride.
Practical Usage Scenarios
All three of these e-bikes are folding e-bikes, which means that they have been designed with commuters in mind. They are for those people who want to hop on a comfortable e-bike, ride into work, and then fold it up for storage or for getting onto public transport.
You can do a bit of light off-roading on them thanks to the inclusion of a suspension on the front and the rear of the e-bikes, but we wouldn’t do anything too strenuous with them. If you were doing a lot of off-roading, there’ll be other e-bikes on the market for you.
What we will say is that the H6 is probably best for the shorter commutes, particularly those that don’t have a lot of hills. The H6S for those medium-length commutes (which should cover most people), and the H6 MAX for those epic rides. In fact, with the inclusion of a GPS (more on that soon), the H6 MAX may be a great option for those who often find themselves traversing roads they are unfamiliar with. While folding bikes are rarely the most comfortable for long-distance cycling, we can see some people doing a quick weekend cycle on their H6 MAX without issues.
Component Analysis
Once again – the e-bikes are broadly the same. There are very few differences between them outside the battery, the motor, and the display. The only other major differences come in the display and the wheels.
The Wallke H6 has spoked wheels, which are the typical wheels that you get on a bike. The H6S and H6 MAX use mag wheels. Some people love mag wheels, others hate them. We love them. They are much sturdier than spokes, and it is easier to deal with any tire issues should you get a puncture. The only downside is that they do not have that much in the way of flexibility, which does make some off-roading a bit bumpier, and they may not offer the smoothest ride. However, this is rarely going to be a concern with the H6 series due to the quality suspension that both e-bikes have in place.
Both the H6 and the H6S have a simple LCD display. It is a display that will tell you the speed, your settings, battery capacity, etc. If you want something a bit more advanced, then the H6 MAX is going to be perfect for you. The epic display will not only give you all the same details, but it also has a GPS built into it. This makes navigating a breeze. While we know that most people probably don’t need a GPS on their bike, it can come in useful when you are doing some of the longer rides.
Other than this, the components are the same. Wallke makes some seriously well-built bikes for a decent price. They have a quality suspension that will smooth out the bumps on the road (and some off-road bumps too). They have a decent braking system and the bike will have absolutely no issues slowing you down when you need to brake quickly.
All in all – they are fantastic bikes. They are all well-built, and they all offer fantastic bang for your buck.
Value Proposition
At the time of writing, there is a $400 difference between the Wallke H6 and the Wallke H6 MAX, which is quite a hefty amount. It could, of course, change as time goes on.
In our opinion, while all bikes offer excellent value for money, it is the Wallke H6S that offers the best value. It comes at an affordable price, and the battery capacity should be enough to cover most commuter needs. We don’t think many people need to look beyond this, since it includes all the features of the top model, bar the longer range and the GPS.
However, if you are looking for a longer-range e-bike (i.e., one that can probably cover an extra 20-30 miles on a single charge), then it may be worth looking into the H6 MAX instead. The inclusion of the GPS does mean it is a dash more expensive ($200 more than the H6S), but it still offers a quality e-bike.
Of course, don’t let this put you off the Wallke H6 basic model. While we don’t think it has as much value as the other two models, when it stands alone, it is still superior to many of the other e-bikes that appear in the same price range.
Real-World Experiences
When we wrote this comparison guide on the Wallke H6 series, we did want to take a look at what other people were saying about the e-bikes (this way, we had a more complete view of how they work), and the overall idea was much the same as ours.
People have a huge amount of praise for the speed of the H6S and the H6 MAX models, with many people commenting on the overall range of the H6 MAX, with some people managing to hit an 80-mile range while sticking with some mild pedal assist (which is virtually unheard of on other e-bikes).
The praise for the standard model is just as good. While most people don’t believe the H6 offers the best value for money, they do report that it is a capable e-bike that is able to hit its max speed quite fast and offers a sturdy ride.
The only real complaints from people (other than the sporadic max range reporting) is the size of the bike. Anybody on the shorter side of things would probably have some issues on this bike (5-foot, 6” is where most people start to struggle), although since most e-bikes are the same, we can’t really hold this against the H6 Series.
Conclusion and Guidance
If you are looking for an affordable e-bike that offers good value for money and works as an excellent commuter bike then the basic H6 model is fine. It doesn’t really break new ground, but those riding a few miles each day will absolutely love it. However, as you start to get into the more strenuous, lengthy rides then you may want to look into one of the other two options. The H6S is a perfect middle-ground e-bike that will get you to where you need to be and fast. However, if you want the longest range and GPS, then check out the H6 MAX. While the price is considerably higher than the other two, we don’t think we have seen a better value e-bike at that price point.
Where to buy:
Buy Wallke H6 on Amazon
Buy Wallke H6S on Amazon
Buy Wallke H6 MAX on Amazon