A cycling newb tries a cargo e-bike: The user-friendly Maven

The $2K bike is aimed at smaller riders who want a manageable cargo e-bike. It delivers.

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[adrianovaroli]

I'm taking a moment from the article because I got to

"One time, we were literally going down in the park and a jogger came by and grabbed the rack and pulled us back up."

and WHAT THE JESUS CINNAMON TOAST FUCK

Edit: hm. I read this as "a prankster came and dragged us for no reason". Was it "we were sliding downhill and somebody helped us back up?"

 

[Navalia Vigilate]

This is what caught my eye.

With a starting price of just under $2,000, the Maven is very competitively priced.

I was about to start converting a mountain bike to have power assist, add baskets, and convert a kid trailer to be about twice as long with less load capacity so I could use it to bike down to a sailing club with sails, foils, and gear. But at $2K starting, the Maven might make that conversion less cost effective than I hoped. I'll still need to convert the trailer but the bike is better than expected at that price.

 

[Qwertilot]

I'm taking a moment from the article because I got to


and WHAT THE JESUS CINNAMON TOAST FUCK

Edit: hm. I read this as "a prankster came and dragged us for no reason". Was it "we were sliding downhill and somebody helped us back up?"

Falling over I think, before someone righted them. Impressive effort from the jogger if so!

 

[malor]

That's a lot of battery power at that price level. The cadence sensor is a bit problematic (torque sensors are really nice, I have one and love it), but you'd have probably 50 miles of real range on that thing if you contributed work by doing some actual pedaling. Add panniers, a rack, and maybe front wheel baskets, and you could make Costco runs even if Costco was a long way away.

My cargo bike has somewhere around 750Wh, and I wish it was a little bigger. 1 KWh would have been more convenient.

20" wheels are pretty nice for cargo. Mine are 3.5" wide, and at the high-end 35psi, are still quite comfortable as long as the road is reasonably well maintained. The whole bike stays low and stable, even when it's fully loaded.

One thing worth talking about for cargo bikes, which I didn't see here, is the brakes. Brakes really matter on a 440-pound bike. They've spent so much on the battery that I'm a little worried that they cheaped out there. Mine has hydraulic disc brakes with outstanding braking power, which kinda saved my butt the other day when a car turned across my lane without seeing me. I avoided him, but if my brakes hadn't been so good, I might have hit the curb.

edit: oh, I see there are brake specs in the image. 180mm hydraulic disc brakes should be fine, I would imagine. I'll leave the comment as-is, though, because IMO brakes are one of the most important things for these superheavy bikes.

 

[close]

Falling over I think, before someone righted them. Impressive effort from the jogger if so!

I had to do this quite a few times actually, almost exclusively with short (mostly) women riding quite massive, top heavy bikes because of kids perched up on a bike seat. It's scary to think how precarious that balance is for many, especially given the stakes.

A friend who's not only short but also has some balance issues which don't go well with carrying kids on a bike has been looking since forever for a bike that's "fall proof" (so a trike basically) but also not super wide like 3-wheeled bakfiets. Does such a thing exist? A narrow trike?

P.S. With these companies I'm more concerned about how long they last on the market and how maintainable the bikes will be afterwards. I almost bit the bullet to buy a Van Moof at a sale literally weeks before they announced the bankruptcy. At these prices I'd like to know I'm covered for a decade of support, both HW and SW. Would be great if they used as many bog standard parts as possible, and open source the SW if they end the support.

 

[skome]

I love that more cargo bikes are at this price point. I have 2 Abounds and they are life changing. I hear good things about the Lectric. Torque sensors are nice for sure.

ETA for comparison, a Tern gets $6k. Out of my league.

 

[adamsc]

I had to do this quite a few times actually, almost exclusively with short (mostly) women riding quite massive, top heavy bikes because of kids perched up on a bike seat. It's scary to think how precarious that balance is for many, especially given the stakes.

A friend who's not only short but also has some balance issues which don't go well with carrying kids on a bike has been looking since forever for a bike that's "fall proof" (so a trike basically) but also not super wide like bakfiets. Does such a thing exist? A narrow trike?

Your friend should look at https://www.radpowerbikes.com/products/radtrike-electric-tricycle and https://lectricebikes.com/products/xp-trike-graphite. You can also find a bunch of e-bikes with lower centers of gravity now but if you want to carry cargo three wheels are hard to argue with.

 

[sbradford26]

So the specs say cassette but it is a 7 speed 14-34T which sounds like a freewheel. For a cargo bike where you are propelling a lot more weight I definitely would look for something with an actual cassette. I guess with rear hub motor you are not taxing it as much but it still feel like a weird cheeping out when the spent the money on an 8 speed capable shifter with the Altus over a Tourney.

 

[skome]

Nice for what it is, but nothing with two wheels is good for a family on the go lol

You do you. I cart around 4 grandkids and do all shopping by cargo bike, with a big smile because ebikes are fun. Hills and heat don't matter.

 

[malor]

A narrow trike?

If it's narrow, it won't be fallproof. Maybe a pull trailer might work? That means it'll be wide when the kids are going along, but can be skinny for normal usage.

 

[Albino_Boo]

So the specs say cassette but it is a 7 speed 14-34T which sounds like a freewheel. For a cargo bike where you are propelling a lot more weight I definitely would look for something with an actual cassette. I guess with rear hub motor you are not taxing it as much but it still feel like a weird cheeping out when the spent the money on an 8 speed capable shifter with the Altus over a Tourney.

Probably built to a price point, all they wanted was a granny gear anyway.

 

[malor]

So the specs say cassette but it is a 7 speed 14-34T which sounds like a freewheel. For a cargo bike where you are propelling a lot more weight I definitely would look for something with an actual cassette. I guess with rear hub motor you are not taxing it as much but it still feel like a weird cheeping out when the spent the money on an 8 speed capable shifter with the Altus over a Tourney.

With a rear wheel drive unit, you don't generally depend on the chain that much, or at least don't need to. The motor drives the wheel directly, and you're pitching in to help. With a mid-drive, all motive power goes through the chain, so you need good gearing.

On mine, I generally use the throttle to take off from standstill, and then pedal to accelerate faster once it's moving. The chain is taking some load, but probably less than a third of what it otherwise would.

I almost never change out of the top gear, I just don't need to. Even if I don't use the throttle, the torque sensor lets me pedal from a standing start. It's almost like I don't have gears at all. It's not much like the ten-speed I used forty years ago.

 

[Hopefully Smarter]

This looks like a great value proposition for its market

 

[david1024]

This is what caught my eye.

I was about to start converting a mountain bike to have a power assist, add baskets, and convert a kid trailer to be about twice as long with less load capacity so I could use it to bike down to a sailing club with sails, foils, and gear. But at $2K starting, the Maven might make that conversion less cost effective than I hoped. I'll still need to convert the trailer but the bike is better than expected at that price.

I converted my daughter's tricycle for under $400... And use Ryobi 40v batteries (that are also shared with the mower). So, all-in, I'm at about $650. However, I won't say that it was something my dad could have done.....

But I don't think cost is the main benefit here. This design checks all the boxes... Low cg, step through frame, lightweight (a dsb is nearly 60lbs these days... They did great on weight here!), And I also did not hear a complaint about the front wheel coming up from Beth... So, they got the weight distribution right too.

Just so many wins in the design... (Converting cx or mtb to touring duty can make that front wheel light and the handling spotty... The cargo frame fixes all that.). The pedal assist being jerky is a common/universal complaint, the algorithms are just not delivering torque like you expect. Like the cruise but the ui seems complicated. They did seem to skimp on the cogs... But TBH, that's really an aux system, and it makes parts for that subsystem cheap and easy to source. I like the battery pack certs, but I'm still wary of eBike packs... I think the reputable battery-pack tools makers have the safest packs and chargers, and a large user base to demonstrate the design quality too. (Which is why that's what I chose for my conversion--butvi had to design some custom ckts for that)

In short, looks like the best in a lot of ways. I wish them luck.

 

[sbradford26]

Probably built to a price point, all they wanted was a granny gear anyway.

Oh definitely. I assume the reason they went for an Altus derailleur is that the frame is mid drive compatible and they might plan to offer an upgraded version with mid drive and just swap out the rear wheel with a freehub and an 8 or 9 speed cassette.

I also assume the options for a rear hub motor with a freehub is pretty limited or significantly more expensive.

 

[yticolev]

So the specs say cassette but it is a 7 speed 14-34T which sounds like a freewheel. For a cargo bike where you are propelling a lot more weight I definitely would look for something with an actual cassette. I guess with rear hub motor you are not taxing it as much but it still feel like a weird cheeping out when the spent the money on an 8 speed capable shifter with the Altus over a Tourney.

A cassette is simply a name for a cluster of gears that fit on a freehub. The combination of those two replaced a "freewheel" on most bicycles decades ago. While technically better, they are indistinguishable in practice, and also hard to spot visually. And irrelevant for most consumers looking for an inexpensive bicycle.

You may be thinking about the difference between derailleur equipped bicycles and those with internally geared hubs. As this bicycle has a rear wheel hub motor, an internally geared hub is not an option. Torque restrictions on many internally geared hubs also limit their use on electric bicycles with mid mounted motors. That makes derailleur gears ubiquitous on electric bicycles and well, most bicycles.

 

[sbradford26]

Family friendly? Looks hilariously dangerous to me. Kids riding in a cargo rack with their feet directly beside wheel spokes and a chain on an electric motorcycle. That's before you get to the fact that there are nearly zero places to safely ride these things in the USA.

Hilariously dangerous? Kids have been next to wheel spokes and chains regularly when you know.... they ride bikes. I am not saying this is as safe as living in a bubble, but the risk definitely seems lower than a lot of other activities that kids regularly do.

 

[zeroidea]

Is this article missing a link to the product being reviewed?

Good to see a review by someone who isn't 6-ft tall!

 

[seitojack]

Nice, but keep those motorized vehicles off the sidewalks, please.

 

[einstein4pres]

I recently received my Larry vs Harry bakfiet e-bike. It has a big front box for kids and/or cargo. The motor is only nominally rated for 250w but it seems like plenty.

It’s in another price class, but I’m loving it so far.

 

[malor]

I'm sure the people who fit the demographic to purchase $2k electric cargo bikes for shopping either buy so much shopping this bike can't carry it or so little it's not worth the expense. People don't want to underestimate how heavy this bike actually is though, either in dead-weight or fully loaded and for this purpose I would always consider a trike a better option.

Mine is a little heavier than this unit, and I don't even notice the weight when the motor is engaged. It just feels like a bike.

And I can do full Costco and grocery runs on it, enough that I generally only need one trip each per month for two people, plus maybe a quick walk to buy milk at the corner store. The bike pictured here wouldn't carry that much as presently configured, but adding cargo capacity shouldn't be too expensive.

Generally, however, longtails can carry either cargo or passengers, not both at once. Box bikes are better for that, but those start around $5K, and you can nearly triple that much if you go high-end.

 

[chucklepie2]

That's a lot of money for a bike, but I guess the going rate (I bought my brand new 125cc learner motorbike for less).

But what security features do these have to at least help deter theft, e.g. key/keyless fob or smartphone, or can you literally jump on one and accelerate into the sunset while the owner watches you from the ice cream van as they pick up the magnum lollies for themselves and the kids while out on a jaunt to the beach?

 

[JanneM]

Panasonic, Yamaha and Bridgestone all have a range of e-bikes specifically for this use case: a japanese housewife with a kid (or two) and a basket full of groceries.

They're pretty good quality, no more expensive than this, and all use torque sensors (legally required in Japan). I wonder why none of them bring those bikes to US. There seems to be a real market for them.

 

[iby_huss]

Family friendly? Looks hilariously dangerous to me. Kids riding in a cargo rack with their feet directly beside wheel spokes and a chain on an electric motorcycle. That's before you get to the fact that there are nearly zero places to safely ride these things in the USA.

Form the first photo you can see there are acrylic sheets covering the area around the rear wheel.

Edit: there is also a close-up photo of the rear wheel.

 

[sbradford26]

A cassette is simply a name for a cluster of gears that fit on a freehub. The combination of those two replaced a "freewheel" on most bicycles decades ago. While technically better, they are indistinguishable in practice, and also hard to spot visually. And irrelevant for most consumers looking for an inexpensive bicycle.

You may be thinking about the difference between derailleur equipped bicycles and those with internally geared hubs. As this bicycle has a rear wheel hub motor, an internally geared hub is not an option. Torque restrictions on many internally geared hubs also limit their use on electric bicycles with mid mounted motors. That makes derailleur gears ubiquitous on electric bicycles and well, most bicycles.

I am aware of the difference between a cassette and freehub and a freewheel which is why I was pointing out that the specs incorrectly list a cassette. Also sure they are indistinguishable visually to the end user but their longevity is not. The longevity of a cassette under power is much better than even the best freewheels you can find. Sure you aren't loading the transmission as much since it is a rear hub motor, but it still seems like a weird cost savings when they up specced the derailleur to an altus.

Also even some walmart bikes are coming equipped with cassettes/freehubs so the cost difference is coming down.

 

[MontysGoat]

I have an Aventon Abound. It is the same style of cargo bike as this one, as the author mentioned. I love it! I take my 3 year old and 6 year old to school on it everyday and then I ride it to work. We were able to sell our second car because how useful it is! People are gawking at the price of this bike but it’s a helluva lot cheaper than owning a car. I will say I’m lucky enough to have decent bike infrastructure for our daily commute, but most American cities are lacking in this department. Push for more bike lanes, traffic calming, and transit. It’s important for so many reasons!

 

[RCook]

As a RadWagon 4 owner I can say with experience the 20" wheels and tires are not always a boon. There are only 2 or 3 companies that make tires: Kenda and Vee are the ones I know about. Be sure to purchase a spare tire immediately and then pray that they aren't a bad batch. RadPower had to issue a 'stop ride' warning due to tire sidewalls blowing out. Many RW4 riders, myself included, swapped over to Michelin City Pro moped tires (that's what this size wheel really is anyway) and while significantly heavier they provide much better grip in all situations. Bonus, because the Michelin's are spec'ed for a much heavier vehicle I'll literally never have to change them and flats, short of running over a nail, are likely to never happen.

Another thing, extra weight of the tires aside, the 180mm brakes are likely insufficient. I've upgraded to Magura MT5.e 4 piston calipers clamping onto 220mm rotors. Something many people that buy these bikes seem to fail to grasp is that a bike that weighs 85lb without rider, passengers and cargo will eat brake pads like candy, the additional weight turns the bike into meth fiend hooked into a fat line the rate it will eat pads.

 

[sbradford26]

I have an Aventon Abound. It is the same style of cargo bike as this one, as the author mentioned. I love it! I take my 3 year old and 6 year old to school on it everyday and then I ride it to work. We were able to sell our second car because how useful it is! People are gawking at the price of this bike but it’s a helluva lot cheaper than owning a car. I will say I’m lucky enough to have decent bike infrastructure for our daily commute, but most American cities are lacking in this department. Push for more bike lanes, traffic calming, and transit. It’s important for so many reasons!

The average person in the US has been convinced that a bike is a toy and so it should be priced in line with toys. But you are right if you view bikes as just a different form of transportation the price is very competitive.

I think the very low end of bikes available at walmart do more damage to biking than benefit. If your first experience with bikes is something that is poorly assembled and terrible quality you will not grow up to view bikes as viable transportation.

 

[snuggles]

Nice, but keep those motorized vehicles off the sidewalks, please.

I don’t know why you are being downvoted. This is an important issue that bikers (I am one—I use both normal and e-bikes) ignore at the risk of really poisoning the movement to get better and safer infrastructure for biking.

Pedestrians have a right to feel safe walking. Bikers have always been a bit idiotic and annoying (not keeping a safe distance when passing, particularly from behind, not stopping at intersections, riding too fast in crowded situations) E-bikes make the real and perceived risk -very significantly- higher.

E-bikes as deployed at this time are NOT bikes. They are motor vehicles. We need much more thoughtful implementation of e-bike features to permit them in pedestrian areas.

1. hard speed limit on boost at 12mph
2. boost only from a stop and up hill

Otherwise stick to the road.

 

[Maxer]

I do agree with some of the comments that 20MPH motorized vehicles on a pedestrian path is a bit concerning as a pedestrian. Especially with kids and strollers on the walking path.

I don't know what the solution is though??

Probably safer bike lanes on the street?

*Edit to add below:
I'm serious about the bike lanes needing to be safer. Right now they are just a painted line, ai won't let my kids ride in them because too many cars think they are a turning lane...

 

[l8gravely]

Family friendly? Looks hilariously dangerous to me. Kids riding in a cargo rack with their feet directly beside wheel spokes and a chain on an electric motorcycle. That's before you get to the fact that there are nearly zero places to safely ride these things in the USA.

You did see the floor/foot boards the kid has his feet resting on? And did you notice the clear plastic guards between the rear wheels/chain and the outside? Now you may quibble over how durrable that plastic (lexan?) could be over time, but the kid is just fine back there.

And there are plenty of places to ride, and alot of cities are adding in bike lanes, etc. It's not as friendly as Europe is for sure, but we're slowly getting there.

 

[Derecho Imminent]

Nice, but keep those motorized vehicles off the sidewalks, please.

Agree. And technically, normal bicycles arent supposed to be on sidewalks either.