Looking for a cargo e-bike to replace my last remaining local car trips

[Fru-Gal]

REI has this one on sale for $800: https://www.rei.com/product/189967/co-op-cycles-generation-e11-electric-bike

Pedal assist, class 1 no throttle. Heavy.
Can carry 59 lbs on rear rack

I would like to be able to carry 50lb animal feed, or train my dogs to ride in it (each is 50lbs, total bike weight limit is 300 lbs), or tote other gear that I usually put in a car like inflatables. Would also need it to be good at carrying cargo up hills.

Or should I just make my own?

Thoughts?

[La Bibliotecaria Feroz]

What's your budget?

I'm not sure what you mean by should you make your own? Your own what?

I just got my first ebike. I do NOT have gears and personally don't find them important, although the bike you linked has a 500w motor and I have 750w so maybe that makes a difference. I do like the throttle and often use it to get across an intersection faster (eg, while making a left turn across traffic). I don't need the throttle for going up hills but I don't haul much cargo (so far just me and my baby, who weighs much less than your dog :-). ) We cruise right on up using the highest level pedal assist.

If you are looking for a lower price point this might be another one to consider: https://lectricebikes.com/collections/xp-3-0-series/products/xp-step-thru-white. It has a higher weight cargo capacity. You could also try a a trailer if you want to tow a lot without throwing your balance off- I didn't go that route because I don't have room in my garage!

I have a RadRunner2, so a higher price point but I've been really happy with it. It weighs 65 pounds but I don't routinely lift it. If I did need to pick it up I would remove the battery first- that is several pounds of the weight!

[FINate]

I love my cargo e-bike, it's my primary means of getting around these days and have put over 5000 miles on it. Most grocery trips can be done no problem, up to about 6 bags worth before I run out of room. I load it up with chairs, a cooler, and assorted gear and we bike down to the local swimming hole. The kids ride on the back, or sometimes DW rides on dates.

Cargo e-bikes are great... but only really worth the price if you use them a lot, and a big part of this is bikeability of your area. If you have calm roads and bike lanes or paths going to lots of destinations within about 2 miles then it probably makes sense.

However, I wouldn't really consider the bike you linked a cargo bike. I mean, it has a built in rack on the back that can carry 50#, but in the cargo bike world that's pretty low. My bike is an electrified Yubba Mundo with a total max capacity of 550#, which includes a stout front basket that can carry 50# plus a long tail with running boards that can hold hundreds of pounds. And the long tail format provides a large area for strapping loads and/or a large saddle bag.

[Sanitary Stache]

I have the rad runner 2 and the rad wagon e cargo bike. I think the rad wagon says up to 300 or 350. I regularly have over 300 pounds on it and sometimes more when I use the trailer with it.

With three kids and the trailer on I call it the train.

I have over 2000 miles on the rad wagon and 1000 on the rad runner, a step through with room for a riser or cargo on the back board. I put baskets (milk crates) on the front of them and have had close to 50 pounds in those.

Grocery shopping is a breeze and we regularly buy 50 pounds bags of flour or animal feed.

After a winter of riding, I need to replace the chain and cassette on the rad wagon. It’s a long chain and stretched and I don’t maintain it as often as I should.

The bikes do require regular maintenance and I haven’t gotten it through my laziness to do all that needs to be done when I ought to be done. We ride them everyday multiple times a day in a hilly area with low traffic. For the e cargo bike with hills and big loads, gears are a must. The fearless rad runner 2 is alright for me but DW has trouble on the hills with cargo and a kid.

[Fru-Gal]

Thx for the replies, will look into those though I am not attracted to the bigger ones since we already have a lot of regular bikes in the garage, plus I’d want to take it on transit, so size/weight are important.

The dogs thing is a bit wishful thinking, it would require training them.

Max I am willing to pay is $1500. A lot of people build their own ebike, hence my comment of “make my own”.

Theft is also an issue I’d worry about with an ebike. I don’t really worry about it with my regular bike as she’s 16 years old and I don’t leave her anywhere unsafe.

[FINate]

So yeah, I would not take a cargo bike on transit. While I have a bike rack that can accommodate my monstrosity of a bike, I've really only used it several times to move. Just too big and bulky to deal with on a regular basis.

You don't need a cargo bike unless hauling a lot of weight or volume. A regular e-bike with some panniers and/or a rear basket is sufficient for most trips to the store.

RE theft: Weight is less of a concern with an e-bike so it's not a big deal to carry a heavy lock/chain.

[La Bibliotecaria Feroz]

I agree that cargo-type ebikes, even if they are not longtail, would be too chunky for transit. My RadRunner is tricky to maneuver into the work stairwell. I think the suggestion to get a "regular" size one (like the lectric XP Lite) and then add a rack and panniers and/or baskets would meet most needs! You could remove the battery and put it in a backpack to make it easier to lift the bike.

As far as theft, I got a Kryptonite U lock and paid extra for the guarantee. I actually got the Manhattan one (fahgeddaboutit) but that one is REALLY heavy and I kind of wish I had gone with the smaller one.

[314159]

 OP, I think your goal of having a cargo bike that you can bring on transit is a self-contradictory goal. Cargo bikes are big and bulky. Transit bikes should be smaller and light.

I agree with FINate, the linked bike is not a cargo bike:



This is cargo bike:



The box makes it easy to carry bulky stuff or a lot of groceries. Here's a video for your viewing pleasure.

Can I ask why you want to bring a (pedal-assist) cargo bike on transit anyway?

Do you already have a full set of panniers? Have you used them? If you don't think you need the big box in front then I would think you'd be fine with just a set of panniers and maybe some bungee cords on a bike you already own. Let me know what I'm missing.

Also, how were you planning on getting your dogs to ride the bike you linked? Maybe you already own a Burley-type bike trailer? If you are bringing that on transit I'll be very impressed XD

[Dee_the_third]

OP- some terminology might help here. People use “cargo bike” to mean a lot of things- usually they mean a front-loading bucket bike or a bike with an extended rack and a beefed up frame to carry heavy loads. The extended racks come in midtail and long tail- they’re not super precise terms but long tails are longer than a midtail and you can usually fit two kid seats or double panniers (four total bags) easily, plus a front load. Even a midtail can carry quite a load- with the right setup,50 lbs of feed should be no issue.

For your budget, for electric you are limited to extended racks and even then your budget is very tight. You could get a radwagon or an Aventon- I’ve been eyeing them myself as a light duty cargo. But they will run you a minimum of 2k. The really premium long tails (Tern etc) will run you 4-5k, which gets you a higher quality build and components.

Another option might be to buy a plain Jane e-bike and add a trailer for groceries and dogs, it’ll be a lot easier to fit in your budget.

[Fru-Gal]

Thx everyone!

Whelp, I got the REI bike I linked above, which, FWIW, REI calls a cargo e-bike. Rode it about 13 miles yesterday and blasted up a few hills. Loved it. Comfortable, just enough power. The family loves it too so far. Not too heavy to lift. I do like that I get 2 years of free tuneups and I have 1 year return privilege if I don’t like it.

The desire was to replace my occasional use of our one car for local trips for groceries, animal feed sacks, and some types of activities that I do that require bulky gear transport and also require some form of public transport to get to. Technically I could tow these things with my road bike, and there is a little voice in my head saying I’m being weak by getting a new toy like this. Also I know everyone in the family is gonna want to use it and again, that will replace a few car trips.

[Fru-Gal]

Oh yeah no dogs on transit/train. But yeah if I could train them to stay in a trailer so I could get them to wilderness areas nearby that would be cool.

As I said in my first post, one of the things I do is watersports and that gear is a overly bulky for my road bike. But yeah everyone makes fun of me anyway for overloading my road bike with panniers etc. (I have some really nice Ortlieb ones.)

Also my husband does a major bike commute daily and I’m hoping on his longer work days he might want to use this bike too to make the return commute a bit easier.

[La Bibliotecaria Feroz]

Congratulations on the new bike! They're so fun! I've definitely dropped car trips with mine. Like, my way to work is bikeable but maybe it's 98 degrees or I already worked out or something.

FWIW I think your bike would also be considered a cargo e-bike for the purposes of Denver's rebate program - mine was!

[Fru-Gal]

Ooh nice I will check to see if it qualifies for a rebate!

[La Bibliotecaria Feroz]

Ooh nice I will check to see if it qualifies for a rebate!

You have to get the rebate before you buy. I just wanted to validate your definition of cargo e-bike because I thought some of the responses were gate keeping the word cargo 😆

[Just Joe]

I've built a few few ebikes.

One was a Bafang 1500W mid-drive I added to my old entry level Trek mtn bike to make a commuter. You'll never get 1500W out of the battery for very long. Nice when you need a blip of power in an awkward moment. Any sustained high power usage will leave you pedal home with a flat battery. That kit was $1200 all by itself. Middrive is very nice but potentially hard on chains, derailleurs, cassettes and tires. And brakes too depending on how you ride. Not expensive maintenance if you can do it yourself. Shop repair rates might change the calculus of that. If the chain breaks you can't go. ~3750 miles so far.

I've also built a 750W Bafang rear drive hub motor kit. Easier to build, easier to maintain. If the chain breaks you can motor until the battery goes flat.

Also have a Jueshai chinese RWD 500W hub motor bike. Same as the food delivery bikes seen in NYC. Good bike overall. There are a couple of quality concerns but nothing has been a show stopper. It was ~$1200 in total too. $1500 with a couple of upgrades b/c the factory parts were low spec.  ~1500 miles so far.

I'll second (third? fourth?) the trailer idea if you are carrying heavy things or a proper cargo bike with proper cargo bike wheels. Consider whether you think your dogs would get hurt in a crash.

[Fru-Gal]

Well, we’ve had the bike for about a week and we all absolutely love it. As I suspected it is a hit with every member of the family. I think my concern now is going to be having three 200 pound men riding it may reduce its life expectancy since they are all hard on bikes. For example, my teenager already told me it’s great for doing wheelies. 🙄

The cargo aspect is going well as well but I haven’t carried anything close to 59 pounds which is the rated weight limit for the back rack. I am looking into dog trailers but I know that will take some training. Total weight limit for riding/towing is 300 pounds.

One thing I love about this bike is the small size and the handling. It feels very bike-like and since we are all bike riders we all agree on that. Also, it’s pretty cool that such a huge range in size adults can easily share a single bike. Brakes are excellent and I am able to do 20 miles roundtrip at power level one easily, which barely use the battery. Yesterday was riding it at power level zero and it wasn’t bad at all. But man riding this bike in the wind is so great; that’s one of my least favorite conditions to ride my road bike in.

[Fru-Gal]

Also, I don’t know what it is about E bikes, but it does seem to bring out some weirdness among people. And I see it in this thread as well. First, there was the issue of what is or is not a cargo bike despite its marketing (the maker being Bafang, and REI, a well-known quality outdoor outfitter), and then an implication that I would carelessly put my dogs at risk. FYI pet bike trailers are not a new invention.

[La Bibliotecaria Feroz]

Also, I don’t know what it is about E bikes, but it does seem to bring out some weirdness among people. And I see it in this thread as well. First, there was the issue of what is or is not a cargo bike despite its marketing (the maker being Bafang, and REI, a well-known quality outdoor outfitter), and then an implication that I would carelessly put my dogs at risk. FYI pet bike trailers are not a new invention.

Ha, you are not wrong!

I'm so glad everyone is loving the new ebike! I went with one that is definitely on the bulkier side (fat tires, robust frame) and that does have downsides for my daily commute. It will probably be nice in winter weather that is borderline for biking in! And for carrying my toddler when she becomes a big person.

My husband is not a strong bike rider and didn't want to try it out but I think my preteens will love it when they are old enough to try it out.

[Just Joe]

Also, I don’t know what it is about E bikes, but it does seem to bring out some weirdness among people. And I see it in this thread as well. First, there was the issue of what is or is not a cargo bike despite its marketing (the maker being Bafang, and REI, a well-known quality outdoor outfitter), and then an implication that I would carelessly put my dogs at risk. FYI pet bike trailers are not a new invention.

I think everyone is just trying to be helpful. I'm glad you found a solution that you like. I wish you many, many happy miles.

If you were referring to any comments I made - there are bikes which are more specialized towards cargo with heavy duty wheels. The wheels probably being the most important part of a durable bike, brakes being a close second.

We have a spare pedal bike that would not last long being used as a cargo bike b/c the wheels are light duty wheels. It would not be a good conversion foundation for an ebike kit. More a big box retailer toy than a tool. If you shopped at REI I'm sure you bought something nice and durable.

I mentioned the bike trailer b/c if I tried hauling my dog in an open trailer she would be at risk of being hurt in a crash b/c she is old and has limited mobility. Its hard to know what anyone in forum discussions knows or doesn't know IRL.

For example IRL this morning I helped a friend with their car. Turns out they knew nothing about how to check the fluids so I demonstrated that for them. One little question in passing turned into a half hour car maintenance 101. Just trying to be helpful.

[FINate]

Also, I don’t know what it is about E bikes, but it does seem to bring out some weirdness among people. And I see it in this thread as well. First, there was the issue of what is or is not a cargo bike despite its marketing (the maker being Bafang, and REI, a well-known quality outdoor outfitter), and then an implication that I would carelessly put my dogs at risk. FYI pet bike trailers are not a new invention.

I think everyone is just trying to be helpful. I'm glad you found a solution that you like. I wish you many, many happy miles.

If you were referring to any comments I made - there are bikes which are more specialized towards cargo with heavy duty wheels. The wheels probably being the most important part of a durable bike, brakes being a close second.

We have a spare pedal bike that would not last long being used as a cargo bike b/c the wheels are light duty wheels. It would not be a good conversion foundation for an ebike kit. More a big box retailer toy than a tool. If you shopped at REI I'm sure you bought something nice and durable.

I mentioned the bike trailer b/c if I tried hauling my dog in an open trailer she would be at risk of being hurt in a crash b/c she is old and has limited mobility. Its hard to know what anyone in forum discussions knows or doesn't know IRL.

For example IRL this morning I helped a friend with their car. Turns out they knew nothing about how to check the fluids so I demonstrated that for them. One little question in passing turned into a half hour car maintenance 101. Just trying to be helpful.

Yes, I was also just trying to be helpful. I've always understood the term cargo bike to mean a bike designed to carry heavy and/or bulky cargo. Putting a rack on a bike doesn't make it a cargo bike. I don't really care what companies are marketing these things as these days, and of course you're free to call it whatever you want. I just find it terribly confusing.

Congrats on the new [cargo] e-bike. I hope you have fun using the crap out of it.

[314159]

Regardless of the label, I'm glad you love your new bike and you're getting a lot of use out of it! Enjoy!

[Adventine]

Well, for anyone still on the fence, REI's cargo bikes are on sale right now! https://www.rei.com/c/cargo-bikes


I'm tempted to get one myself.

[FINate]

Well, for anyone still on the fence, REI's cargo bikes are on sale right now! https://www.rei.com/c/cargo-bikes


I'm tempted to get one myself.

That's a great price for the Yuba FastRack. Yes, $3k for a bike seems steep, but Yuba build and quality is great. And the configurable Dual Rack System is really nice.

[lhamo]

Wow -- those are great prices!  We paid more than that for our Co-op road bikes a few years ago.  Tempted but gonna wait until I buy my next house, which will hopefully have solar to charge it and a garage or walk in basement to store it in.

FWIW we have really liked our pedal powered co-op bikes.