Max assist speed: 20mph Ive hauled huge bags of dirt for our garden beds. Steering inputs almost seem to happen in slow motion which is usually a good thing for a bike like this and because the whole thing is so long, if one wheel slides out a little, rarely does it result in an actual change in direction. All rights reserved. So it seems reasonable that Urban Arrows claim of approximately 31 miles per charge makes sense. At the top, the box measures approximately 37 inches front to back. Riding it is a pleasure, and despite its nearly 9-foot length and stout 100-pound weight, it feels fairly lithe for a cargo bike. First, it means more protection from the higher sides. The front and rear fenders have flap extensions to minimize spray. Perhaps related to that linkage flex is the bikes well documented speed wobble issue. A set of four-piston Magura brakes will bring those heavy loads to a stop quickly, and are some of the most premium hydraulic disc brakes that you can find on an electric bicycle these days. Otherwise, the stand can drag when you ride around sharp corners. It isnt a common occurrence, according to Urban Arrow representatives. For you, these bars might be just the thing. Its absolutely as goofy as it sounds, but its far sketchier to run without it. The Magura brakes include an e-bike ABS system that reduces the chances of the rear wheel lifting up during quick front braking, allowing riders to lean harder on the front brake. Its even become a running joke. On bikes like this, there are two commonly accepted solutions for connecting the steering column to the front fork: a set of cables and housings (like what Yuba uses on its Electric Supermarch), or a rigid linkage. At about two full meters, the wheelbase is twice as long as a regular bike, which makes the Urban Arrow unflappably stable (with one exception, which Ill get to in a bit). The ones on newer Urban Arrows are thankfully brighter, but I appreciate theyre there, and its nice that theyre hardwired into the main Bosch battery (again, not something exclusive to Urban Arrow, but good to see regardless). I regularly shuttle my kid back and forth to school in it (and never have to deal with the chaotic melee of other parents in cars in the pick-up/drop-off lane). The Family Cargo is obviously aimed at accommodating families, and as such, the cargo area is tailored toward hauling the kiddos. The Urban Arrow is no rocket ship, but the e-assist motor is impressively torquey and responds instantly to pedaling inputs to help mask the substantial mass. I replaced the rear brake pads after about 18 months, and the rear tire made it about the same amount of time. On that note, it also helped me put off purchasing a car for more than two years, and by Caleys estimates, itll save about 2,400 km (1,500 miles) of fuel and wear-and-tear on his truck. darkerside Ive done multiple-family Costco runs covering 32 km (20 miles) and 240 m (800 ft) of climbing round-trip, with the cargo box and my Ortlieb panniers filled to the brim. Average range: 31 miles Whereas most bakfiets use boxes made of various hard-sided materials wood is particularly common or less structured arrangements like woven nylon over an internal frame, this one is sort of like a giant psuedo-rectangular bike helmet, which not only saves weight, but also makes for a softer environment for passengers. England and Wales company registration number 2008885. Its not cheap by any means, but its less expensive than some high-zoot competitors like Riese and Mullers Load 75, which starts at more than $9,000. arrow urban electric shifter bike cargo mid drive box The Shimano Deore hydraulic disc brakes dont have enough power to rein this thing in, especially when heavily loaded (something Urban Arrow has thankfully since rectified with a switch to more powerful four-piston brakes). Its a handy feature that makes it easy to leave the house without wrangling other external accessories. The EPP foam is susceptible to slight damage from dings and scratches. The lack of redundancy in the steering system gives me some pause, too. My first ride from Good Turn Cycles in Denver to my home in Arvada was 9 miles long and I used the second-to-highest assist setting the entire way. Often overlooked, the kickstand design is superb. This puts it most closely in competition with the also-excellent Yuba SuperCargo. The center stand is excellent and is rivaled in stability and usability only by the stand on Yubas SuperCargo. According to Urban Arrow, the seat within the cargo area positions your kiddos lower, which serves two purposes. Those were the words cheerily directed my way as I dropped my kiddo off at school one morning. A stout aluminum frame allows lots of carrying capacity up to 551 total pounds, passengers included. There was a problem. Proper cycling infrastructure like safe biking paths is sorely missing in many (most?) Built into the seatstays, its a cinch to just lock the rear wheel to keep someone from rolling the Urban Arrow if youre in a low-risk area or youre just popping in for a very quick errand. Component-wise, the utility-minded spec sheet is certainly very different from what you might be accustomed to seeing on a high-end road, gravel, or mountain bike. Yubas SuperCargo, by comparison, advertises up to 60 miles on a single charge. cargo As a result, a heavy load doesnt swing side to side as much as if it were mounted up high (like on a longtail cargo bike). 2023 Chevy Bolt EV is still the best value EV in the US, Fantic ISSIMO, a 28 mph Italian electric bike, Electric trucks to get $40k in incentives new bill, Youre reading Electrek experts who break news about, Electric Vehicle Price Guide best prices for dealers in the US. The range on e-bikes is notoriously variable, but Urban Arrows claim of 50 km of average range feels about right. The lights? After 9 miles I had used one bar of battery life out of five. You can of course haul groceries and other items in there, but the expanded polypropylene (EPP) foam sides meant to add protection for the kids does cut down on cargo space a bit. The Urban Arrow Family Cargo bike rises to the top of the crop in the e-cargo bike category. After approximately 15 miles of riding on this setting, I lost another bar. Life hasnt gotten much easier for the Urban Arrow in the 2+ years since then. Theres an optional dual-battery kit, too. If Europeans can do it, maybe Americans one day can too. Operating costs have been very low, too. Other improvements to the new Urban Arrow Family Line of cargo e-bikes include a redesigned steering tube to improve stability and control at high speeds with heavy loads in the front cargo box. Going along with the function-over-form theme is a basic aluminum handlebar with lots of backsweep, an adjustable stem, and a big, puffy Velo saddle mounted to a basic aluminum seatpost. Whether its an Urban Arrow or a much, much more affordable model, there are plenty of great cargo e-bikes out there that can get the kids to school without employing a 5,000-pound death machine to do it. published 2 February 22. Another feature on the commercial version of the Urban Arrow thats missing here is front suspension. They put your wrists in an awkward position, and consequently your upper body. As much as Ive come to rely on this bike, the Urban Arrow Family is not without fault. Supplying that motor is a Bosch 500Wh battery, which should offer some decent range considering the bike is pedal assist only. If youre in the market for a pure cargo bike instead of a kid hauler, you might look elsewhere. But while I understand this is a limitation of some European regulations, neither the front nor rear lights can operate in flashing mode to enhance daytime safety, so I still run with a supplemental Bontrager Flare R out back. The rider position is very upright and notably laid-back and the bike is offered in a single one-size-fits-most format. Few cycling disciplines are better suited to the self-repairing nature of tubeless than utility bikes, and the one flat Ive gotten on this bike was a small puncture that would have sealed itself with the benefit of some liquid latex sloshing around inside. Those stable manners and the optional rain cover even make the Urban Arrow quite the all-weather workhorse. Today's best Urban Arrow Family Cargo deals, Samsung Galaxy Z Flip 4 will come in a crazy number of colors, F1 live stream 2022 how to watch free online, Hungarian GP race, standings, schedule and more, F1 Hungarian Grand Prix live stream how to watch the race free and online, Amazon Prime just took a hit Amazon Drive is getting killed, HBO Max just canceled Gordita Chronicles after only one month, The best tech tutorials and in-depth reviews, Try a single issue or save on a subscription, Issues delivered straight to your door or device. ), and a padded floor mat, which inflated the grand total by nearly another US$1,000 (Australian and UK pricing is to be confirmed). Please refresh the page and try again. Urban Arrow offers several options, but my sample is outfitted with an Enviolo stepless internal rear hub transmission, Shimano Deore single-piston hydraulic front and rear disc brakes, and sturdy tube-type aluminum clincher wheels built with 40-hole Ryde Andra rims, a Shimano M525 front hub (with adjustable cup-and-cone bearings), and burly 13-gauge stainless steel spokes, all wrapped with 55 mm-wide Schwalbe Big Ben Plus tires. They take a bicycles narrow and convenient form factor and turn it into a heavy-hauling tool that can actually carry your family around or drag home a weeks worth of groceries. The e-bikes that make up Micahs current daily drivers are the $999 Lectric XP 2.0, the $1,095 Ride1Up Roadster V2, the $1,199 Rad Power Bikes RadMission, and the $3,299 Priority Current. cargo bike arrow urban momentummag douze cycles modular momentum mag trailer electric bikes bicycle arrow urban bike electric cargo mid drive box The base model costs $6,000 before you start adding accessories. There are rain covers, baby seat adapters, extra benches to accommodate more kid passengers, a rear rack, and more. Just as youd guess, this sucker is not only extremely long at about 2.5 m (about 8 2) from tip to tail, but also very heavy at about 50 kg (110 lb). As unusual as the Urban Arrow might look, its actually not that uncommon at all. More people than ever are switching from cars to electric bicycles, though we still often hear the tired argument that families with kids need an SUV in the garage. With bikes like the Urban Arrow Family Cargo line, such high-capacity and high-quality family-oriented cargo e-bikes can actually replace household vehicles used to carry multiple riders or plenty of cargo. Of course, it takes more than an effective electric bike to make that a possibility. Since September, Caley has tallied more than 930 km (580 miles) on his. Both Triobike options are less adept at stability and handling than the Urban Arrow and the Yuba SuperCargo. Micah Toll is a personal electric vehicle enthusiast, battery nerd, and author of the Amazon #1 bestselling books DIY Lithium Batteries, DIY Solar Power,The Ultimate DIY Ebike Guideand The Electric Bike Manifesto. Current retail price for the Urban Arrow is a substantial US$7,000 / 6,690 already, and the company offers a long list of available (and very useful) accessories that further hike up the final total. Despite the wide range of cargo sizes and weights, the Urban Arrow has taken it all in stride. The Bosch Cargo Line motor has a lot to do with that; it engages almost immediately upon pedaling input. arrow urban cargo box electric bike mid drive At an eye-opening $7,999, this isnt going to be the most affordable electric cargo e-bike on the block. It may not be as efficient as a conventional e-bike or my regular townie, but Ive also never worried that I wouldnt be able to get something home if I decided to spontaneously drop into a store for something. I use it for grocery store runs (six shopping bags, easy!). And it costs the same as one of its closest competitors in size and function, the Yuba SuperCargo, which also starts at $6,000. Dan Cavallari is the former technical editor for VeloNews Magazine. I eventually installed a Cane Creek Thudbuster suspension seatpost, and its been a godsend, particularly given how the laid-back seat tube angle and short chainstays practically put you directly over the rear wheel. Ive learned to think of the Urban Arrow as being akin to a two-wheeled pickup truck in terms of its capabilities and usefulness. Second, the handlebars sweep far too dramatically back toward the rider. Charge time from nearly zero is about 4 1/2 hours. But the fact of the matter is that around 80% of the US population lives in areas classified as urban, while only 20% of the population lives in rural areas. A proper garage or some other form of truly secure ground-level storage is strongly suggested since youre not getting this up even a handful of stairs, and it cant perform the neat trick of standing up on end like the Tern GSD. Read the rest of our Urban Arrow Family review to see if its one of the best electric bikes for you and your children. Nearly everywhere you look on the Urban Arrow, there are small touches indicating the brands long history in the category. The Family Cargo bike tends to offer a lot more compliance in the rear than other cargo bikes Ive tested. Regardless, the Urban Arrow has become my everyday mode of transportation in town. greenaer Its not bad in dry conditions, but it can be very sketchy when its slippery. 500wh ua4 perennial listnride bakfiets lastenrad verleih bicicleta dutchcargobike The Bosch Cargo Line motor provides ample power with up to 85Nm of torque, even when the bike is loaded down with kids or cargo. Motor: Bosch Cargo Line lastenfahrrad ebikes et21 merken The Urban Arrow Family Cargo is one of the best e-cargo bikes for families who will spend most of the time hauling the kids around town. In fact, once youre moving, it isnt even always obvious that youve got a lot of weight in the box. Im now running extra-thick butyl tubes. But if youll spend most of your time with your kids in the cargo area, the Family Cargo is tough to beat. Its not an indexed shifter, so there are no clicks or set positions to contend with. City dwellers are the best candidates for true car replacement e-bikes like these, or at least replacing a second car to turn a family into a one car and one e-bike household. I love how you can stand on the end of the kickstand leg to get it to engage, but Urban Arrow doesnt plug the tube before installing the rubber feet, and it doesnt take long before it punches through the end (Ive since replaced one foot with a new one, but installed a handlebar plug first). Ive comfortably packed four kids in the box for play dates at parks. Helping move this unwieldy monster is a Bosch Performance CX mid-drive motor with four assist levels and up to 75 Nm of torque. I contacted Urban Arrow to ask if there is a replacement in case the foam does get severely damaged. One of the very first rides I did on it was in a support capacity for former CyclingTips editor-in-chief Neal Rogers MAMIL battle with Jonathan Vaughters. More. Its easy to use, and the motor offers plenty of assist to get you going from a dead stop, even when loaded heavy. This of course comes down to personal preference; if it were my bike, I would swap out the bars. By the time we got home, Id covered more than 34 km (21 miles) and 850 m (2,800 ft) of elevation gain, and still had about 10% of battery life remaining. get home from a physical therapy appointment, Eurobike: Cargo bikes trust us, you're going to buy one, Tern updates 2021 GSD e-cargo bike: same compact package, now with more cargo, Yuba Electric Supermarche e-cargo bike review: The smile machine, Waving at strangers: The bike that changed how I see cycling. Which EVs still qualify for US federal tax credit? Battery: Bosch Powerpack 500 Tom's Guide is supported by its audience. FTC: We use income earning auto affiliate links. Theres 250 W of sustained power driving the 26 rear wheel (current Urban Arrow models now get updated Bosch motor units), all fed by a single 500 W-h lithium-ion Bosch PowerPack 500 battery. They fall into a class of cargo bikes called bakfiets, or box bike in Dutch. Give them a test ride before buying if you can. Thats not to say you cant carry just cargo in here, but if youll routinely be hauling cargo rather than kids, consider a different option. arrow urban drive mid performance electric Just, uh maybe dont try that on a turn. Prices for accessories range from around $10 up to $470, with most key accessories falling into the $230 range. For massive loads, the three-wheeled Tender would do the trick. Urban Arrow incorporates a small plastic pad that presses directly on to the front of the fork steerer tube to damp oscillations. Are you nice and warm in there? I always ask. I served as a taxi driver for associate editor Abby Mickey one day when she needed to get somewhere downtown, and for Beta contributor Kristin Butcher, whod broken her ankle and needed to get home from a physical therapy appointment. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Ive never worried much about range for everyday tasks, and only once did I run out of juice for real (and yes, it was a major bummer). Chinese motors that dont have to play by the same power-limiting rules. That said, the Family Cargo offers a comfortable, safe cargo space for hauling your kids, and the bike is stable and fun to ride. At the front, the box measures approximately 17 inches wide and 21 inches wide at the rear. More information can be found at www.urbanarrow.com. Ive gone on ice cream runs with my kiddo and then we used the box as our personal seating area. It offers a streamlined experience with a specific focus on safety and functionality for small passengers in the cargo area. And when the box is heavily loaded, you can stand on the end of the L-shaped leg and use your own body weight to set the kickstand into place. If anything, that weight helps the Urban Arrow feel a little more planted than when its empty, but this also highlights one of the bikes handling quirks. Despite the comical dimensions, the Urban Arrow has proven to be fun to ride, too. So far, Ive come close but not exceeded, I think the official maximum box capacity of 125 kg (276 lb). Granted, this is an Abus thing and not something exclusive to Urban Arrow, but its a smart design nonetheless and Im glad to see it featured as standard equipment here. You can of course also charge the battery while its mounted on the bike. A second linkage rod on the other side of the bike would obviously add some cost, but itd also provide some peace of mind. In other words, its not cheap. The motor is still listed as a 250W unit, though the company is winking so hard on that figure that its in danger of pulling an eyebrow muscle. Seriously? Ive lost count of how many conversations Ive had with other parents at school during drop-off/pick-up, other customers at the grocery store, when dropping off boxes, and so on. I should mention that it didnt take long for me to decide that this bike wasnt just going to be a long-term loaner. Bosch motor engages quickly and consistently, Backsweep on handlebars puts wrists at awkward angle, Bike weight: 110 pounds That said, everything else about the Family Cargo feels well-refined. The shifter turns smoothly too, offering a quick resistance adjustment on the fly. Its stable, comfortable, and packed with some key safety features for your kids. I installed a Cane Creek Viscoset headset damper a few months into this test, and while it has helped, it hasnt gotten rid of the problem entirely. The new 2022 Urban Arrow Family Cargo line includes a front loading cargo e-bike (the kind with the big bucket up front) that features a number of updates such as Boschs latest Kiox display and a new Gates Carbon Drive belt included as standard equipment that is designed to replace the chain with a quiet and maintenance-free drivetrain. arrow urban electric The EPP foam can get dinged up easily from hard or odd-shaped cargo, and the EPP foam shell also does cut down on usable space within the cargo box. Im not talking about from serious cyclists, either, but rather from everyday folks like the construction worker I mentioned at the beginning of this review. A post shared by James Huang (@angryasian). Total maximum weight capacity: 551 pounds At the rear of the box is a small bench with two sets of three-point seatbelts. Tom's Guide is part of Future plc, an international media group and leading digital publisher. Throughout it all, the Bosch motor provides more than enough oomph to get this thing up to its 32 km/h (19.8 mph) maximum assisted speed. I rode from home to the start of the climb at the base of Flagstaff Mountain here in Boulder, and escorted the crew all the way up to the top (the real top, mind you, not the halfway point that many locals consider to be the top). Need more juice? To further supplement the bikes inherent utility, I added a cargo box cover, a rain cover, a rear rack to mount panniers, a front bench (for even more passengers! The Bosch Performance 500 battery mounts in front of the rider. At $7,000 as tested, the Urban Arrow Family Cargo bike is priced on a par with other bikes of similar build quality and function. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Cargo bikes are one of the coolest inventions on two wheels. Without question, its a dramatically lopsided setup and what I imagine itd be like to drive a Top Fuel drag car. But then again, it features premium components from a European company and is built using a more complicated front-loading design than typical low-cost long tail electric cargo e-bikes. greenaer Aside from that, its been pennies in recharge costs, and of course, no other fees typically associated with automobiles like registration and insurance. Its easy to engage with your foot, though youll need to take some care when disengaging it before riding to make sure its tucked entirely up near the cargo area. bakfiets carga tortoise elettrica bicicletta eurobike pedelec lastenrad assistita pedalata bicicleta compartimento quer novo bikemagazine interchangeable components gizmag posto shorty However, the linkage rod itself is more prone to flex than Id prefer, especially when the bike is loaded. And can I remind you how much attention this thing draws? You can send Micah tips at Micah@electrek.co, or find him on Twitter, Instagram, or TikTok. The Yuba SuperCargo is also stable and handles well, and both of these bikes are similarly priced. Colorado has quite an arid climate, and while the rain cover isnt insulated, it still blocks cold air and windchill, and as Caley puts it, acts like a little greenhouse in the winter. Combined with the little down blanket we keep in the box, my kid has never been chilly on the way back and forth to school. Immensely useful, heaps of thoughtful details, and plenty of smart accessories make this my favorite bike Ive ever owned. And the bike itself is one of the more stable e-cargo bikes Ive tested, bested perhaps only by the Yuba SuperCargo. By my estimation, its that roughly 120 kink in the rod thats the source of the issue here, since the rest of the rod sections are straight and there are no other obvious flex points elsewhere in the system (notably, German cargo bike brand Riese & Mller adds a welded gusset to the steering linkage on its front-loader models). But a quick-release axle on a bike like this? Its only very recently that I finally had to replace the rear, which is impressive given how hard it has to work on this bike. And yes, I maybe had some help with the decision. When that happens on milder corners, theres just a bit of steering correction required.
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