Cargo Bikes
We have a very large range of cargo ebikes to test ride and purchase.
We offer consultations that allow families to become familiar with how they work, best practises to carry the extra weight and a chance to compare motors. It is the only way to make the right decision as the power and weight distribution is different for all models. Just like people, different strokes for different folks!
You will need about an hour to test ride a good range. We have been busy editing a definitive guide to cargo ebikes. Our extended video covers all the main things to consider when buying a cargo bike and a summary of all our brands. We sell the largest range of cargo electric by a city mile. Check it out.
Which motor?
Rear Hub or Mid Drive? Which bike is best for me?
We offer both flavours of motor rather than just a mid drive option. We have found a lot of our customers prefer the power vs pedal effort of a hub motor snd the ability to use a throttle for easy take off. Don’t rent or buy a cargo bike unless you have sampled both options.
Rear hub motors need less effort by rider to generate the same amount of output as a mid drive motor. Especially more power on hill climbs from the takeoff.
The is no need for changing ones pedal stroke to minimise chain and cassette wear. Rider can pedal through the stroke in the same way as a normal bike.
Mid drive motors offer a much nicer weight distribution with the motor low and centred to the frame. Bike will feel more like a standard bike.
More efficient use of the your contribution as the motor is designed to leverage the gears like a motorbike. A mid drive bike will get further range than a hub motor especially on big ascents.
Chain and cassette wear can be worse than a hub motor unless the rider is able to slow the pedal stroke to accomodate the heavy loads on the chain and cassette. On some mid drive motors like Bosch and Impulse the motor will power off when the rider shifts gears but the motor is still engaged while it spins down so the rider should slow the stroke before shifting to minimise clunky and intrusive gear shifting. This is imperative as there is no sensor to turn off the motor when shifting gears so the chance of snapping a chain or hangar is high especially on full power and on steep offroad hill climbs.
It's very hard to know what is right for your experience and budget until you actually ride the bikes so please don't form an opinion until you have actually ridden a good range of ebikes at a real ebike shop - like us. :)
