Thu. Apr 25th, 2024

As the name implies, cargo bikes are designed to, well, haul cargo. Whether you need space to load your kids or groceries, these utilitarian-minded bikes act like a second car to help you schlep around everything you need. With either a front- or rear-loading design, they can be easily configured to carry whatever you need up to the maximum payload listed, which includes rider and cargo. Some offer multiple battery options, either the ability to choose a larger battery or add a second battery to improve range. 

There are some with stretched-out back ends to attach seats, saddle bags kids’ seats and more. Others have a front bucket and have two or three wheels, and some of those buckets can carry multiple kids and/or a week’s worth of groceries. The two-wheeled models are easier to handle for a regular cyclist, as the three-wheeled bikes steer completely differently from a traditional two-wheeler. The trikes can be more stable for loading and unloading cargo, but thankfully most all cargo bikes have a center stand instead of a kickstand. 

Some cargo bikes use mid-drive motors while others have hub motors. Mid-drives are better if you ride in a hilly area, as hub motors can overheat and shut off on long, steep climbs. The prices listed reflect the base prices of the bikes, as they can be accessorized to push the price higher.

RAD POWER RADWAGON 4

Rad Power is a direct-to-consumer brand with a good history of customer service and providing great service to bike shops performing warranty service to their bikes. They’re a budget-priced brand that actually feels like a good-quality product, with nice fit and finish. They make a variety of e-bikes, and the RadWagon is their long-tail
cargo bike.

Price: $1199

Frame: Aluminum

Motor: 750W Shengyi brushless rear
hub motor

Battery: 672Wh

Display: Rad Power

Range: Up to 45 miles

Drivetrain: Shimano
Altus, 7-speed

Wheel size: 22”

Max load: 350 lb.

www.radpowerbikes.com

MAGNUM PAYLOAD

Magnum has options on this model for which class it falls under. It comes stock as either a Class 2 or Class 3, but the throttle on the Class 2 can be removed if preferred or required by law to be made into a Class 1. There are also choices of battery, either
a 624 Wh or an 864 Wh. 

Price: $2499–$2899

Frame: Aluminum,
step-through

Motor: Das-Kit rear hub motor, 500W

Battery: 48V, 624Wh or 864Wh

Display: Das-Kit C7, monochrome LCD

Range: 25–55 miles

Drivetrain: Shimano Acera 8-speed

Wheel size: 26”x1.75”

Max load: 350 lbs.

www.magnumbikes.com

YUBA KOMBI E5

The Yuba Kombi E5 is based on their non-electric Kombi compact long-tail cargo bike, but the E5 gets its name from the Shimano STePS E5000
mid-drive motor. The E5000 is smaller, lighter and less expensive than some of the other Shimano (Shimano
Total Electric Power
System) motors.

Price: $3299

Frame: 4130 chromoly

Motor:  Shimano STEPS E5000
mid-drive

Battery: Shimano STEPS 418Wh

Display:  Shimano STEPS

Range: 25-40 (claimed)

Drivetrain: Shimano Altus, 9-speed

Wheel size: 24×2.5”

Max load: 440 lb.

www.yubabikes.com

BENNO BOOST 10 D

Benno Baenziger is a German skate- and snowboard pioneer who moved to California to live the American dream. He co-founded Electra Bicycles, then left in 2010, founding Benno Bikes in 2015. His design philosophy is the make bikes that inspire people to ride more. Benno makes nothing but cargo bikes, the Boost being one of the most popular. It comes in one size, a variety of colors, and can be configured with several different Bosch mid-drives, from a Performance to Sport to CX to Speed (certain countries excluded from certain motors, all available in
the U.S.). 

Price: $4299

Frame: Aluminum

Motor: Bosch mid-drive, 4 choices

Battery: 400Wh or 500Wh Bosch PowerPack

Display: Bosch Purion

Range: 70 miles

Drivetrain: Shimano Deore

Wheel size: 24×2.6”

Max load: 440 lb.

www.bennobikes.com

TERN GSD S10 LX

Tern has been selling the GSD compact cargo bike for several years now. GSD stands for “Get Stuff Done,” and this bike is all about that. It has some interesting new flavors and a host of great features built in, including the ability to be stood upright on the rear rack for storage or elevators. It’s pre-made to use two Bosch PowerPack batteries, but you can buy it with only one to save a
few bucks. 

Price: $5799 (single battery, 500Wh), $6499 (dual battery, 1000Wh)

Frame: 6061 aluminum

Motor: Bosch Cargo Line

Battery: Bosch PowerPack, 500Wh

Display: Bosch Purion

Range: 32–62 miles 

Drivetrain: Shimano Deore, 10-speed

Wheel size: 20”

Max load: 440 lb.

www.ternbicycles.com

URBAN ARROW FAMILY

The Urban Arrow Family e-bike is a good example of a front bucket-style cargo bike with two wheels. The bucket can carry two kids, and since it’s in the front, there’s some clever engineering that uses linkages under the bucket to transfer rider inputs at the handlebar to the front wheel. This one also features an Enviolo CVT (continuously variable transmission) drivetrain for step-less gear changes throughout the range.

Price: $5995

Frame: Aluminum

Motor: Bosch Performance Line Cruise mid-drive

Battery: Bosch PowerPack 400Wh

Display: Bosch Intuvia

Range: 31 miles

Drivetrain:
Enviolo CVT

Wheel size: 20×2.15” front, 26×2.15” rear

Max load: 550 lb.

na.urbanarrow.com

BUNCH BIKES COUPE

The Coupe is a three-wheeler (two in front) engineered with some really useful features. First of all, the bucket has a front door that folds down so kids or dogs can get in easily, or you can more easily load in your groceries. There are two, 3-point seat belts for the kids. The fenders have finger protection so little ones don’t get hurt. It’s also engineered to fit through a standard door. It also has an Enviolo automatic CVT (continuously variable transmission) drivetrain that provided step-less shifts when desired.

Price: $6999

Frame: Aluminum

Motor: Bafang M400 mid-drive

Battery: 720 Wh

Display: Bafang 

Range: Up to 75 miles

Drivetrain: Enviolo automatic CVT

Wheel size: 24×2” front, 26×2.15” rear

Max load: 350 lb.

www.bunchbikes.com

BLIX PACKA GENIE

The Blix Packa is another budget-minded e-cargo bike. It has a 750-watt motor with 90 N/m of torque to move up to 450 pounds of rider, plus cargo (250-pound rider limit, 150-pound rear rack limit, 50-pound front rack limit), effortlessly through the streets. There’s a dual-battery option for $300 extra that we’d highly recommend opting for. 

Price: $1999 (single battery), $2299 (dual battery)

Frame: steel

Motor: Shengyi 750W rear hub drive

Battery: 614 Wh (single battery), 1228 Wh (dual battery)

Display: 6061 aluminum

Range: Up to 80 miles 

Drivetrain: Shimano Acera, 7-speed

Wheel size: 24×2.4”

Max load: 450 lb.

www.blixbike.com

SURLY BIG EASY

Surly makes some cool cargo bikes, on both the traditional and e-bike side. The Big Easy has a really long tail made to carry lots of stuff. In fact, Surly boasts it can carry up to 300 cans of beer! It comes with one battery, but has the needed wiring and harness to add a second battery. 

Price: $5249

Frame: 4130 chromoly

Motor: Bosch Performance Line CX

Battery: Bosch Powerpack 500Wh 

Display: Bosch Purion

Range: 50 miles

Drivetrain: SRAM NX 11-speed

Wheel size: 26×2.5”

Max load: 400 lb.

www.surlybikes.com

PEDEGO STRETCH

Pedego introduced the Stretch about five years ago, and it remains virtually unchanged. That’s part of Pedego’s philosophy; they keep bikes using similar, standard parts to make them easier to maintain and replace. The Stretch is one size fits most, and there are four frame colors to choose from and two wheel styles (spokes or mags). The back rest comes with the bike and can
be removed, as can the footrests. 

Price: $4295

Frame: 6061 aluminum

Motor: Dapu 500W hub drive

Battery: Samsung 624Wh (816Wh option)

Display: Backlit LCD

Range: 50 miles 

Drivetrain: Shimano Acera, 7-speed

Wheel size: 24×2.4”

Max load: 400 lb.

www.pedegoelectricbikes.com

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