Extra individuals are shifting from car-focused existence to a mixture of vehicles and bikes—and even going principally car-free. Whereas switching to a motorcycle or e-bike may appear limiting, the biking business presents a variety of classes to go well with varied wants.
Take cargo e-bikes, for instance. These are mainly the SUVs or pickup vehicles of the electrical bike world. And having spent many good miles on the Xtracycle Hopper cargo e-bike, the most recent providing from essentially the most well-known cargo bike maker within the US, I can let you know that this household truck in an e-bike kind is able to much more than many individuals would anticipate.
This isn’t Xtracycle’s first spin across the block. The corporate traces its roots again to 1998 when it pioneered the idea of longtail cargo e-bikes, which function a stretched rear finish. Till that point, the preferred model of cargo bikes had been Dutch-style bakfiets, typically known as “field bikes” on the time attributable to their massive wood field that sat on the stretched entrance finish.
Lengthy-tail cargo bikes had been lighter and rode extra like conventional bicycles, regardless of having an elongated design excellent for carrying extra cargo or passengers.
Through the years, Xtracycle has launched a number of high-end cargo e-bikes, although they’ve historically had lofty value tags within the $4k-$5k vary. Final yr, a revamp with a brand new mannequin noticed the model lately introduce the brand new Xtracycle Hopper, which attracts upon the identical high-end design and componentry influences from Xtracycle’s roots but drops the worth to a mere US $2,999 – a rarity within the premium cargo e-bike house.
To see what it’s prefer to get round on the Xtracycle Hopper, try my evaluation under. Or preserve studying for the total story!
Xtracycle Hopper Video Assessment
Xtracycle Hopper tech specs
- Motor: 750W hub motor with torque sensor
- High velocity: 28 mph (45 km/h) on pedal help or 20 mph (32 km/h) on throttle
- Vary: 20-50 miles (32-80 km)
- Battery: 720 Wh frame-integrated and detachable battery
- Weight: 38.5 kg (85 lb) with all cargo equipment put in
- Body: Aluminum alloy with cargo-rated suspension fork
- Tires: Kenda Kwick 20″ x 2.25/2.40″ entrance/rear (on triple-wall tubeless-ready rims)
- Brakes: 174 Hudson dual-piston hydraulic disc brakes with electrical cutoffs
- Extras: Shimano 8-speed shifter, KMC 8-speed chain, fenders, included entrance and rear racks, baby cage on rear rack, working boards, vivid LED show, entrance and rear LED lights, dropper seat submit (with twin telescoping latches for extra peak adjustment), and touch-up paint included
Slightly huge cargo bike
Regardless of Xtracycle being thought of considerably of the grandfather of longtail cargo bikes, the Hopper mannequin right here is arguably extra of a mid-tail mannequin than a real longtail. That’s as a result of it’s really considerably compact, a minimum of by cargo bike requirements. It’s nonetheless obtained an extended rear rack than you’ll discover on a standard bike, which suggests you’ll be able to simply match two children or a bunch of cargo, but it surely’s not the loopy lengthy cargo bikes we’ve seen previously.
That’s good for condominium dwellers like me, and I used to be in a position to match it pretty simply into my elevator, even when I nonetheless needed to rock it up on its tail for the elevator doorways to shut. Nonetheless, I’ve to do this for my regular-sized commuter e-bike additionally, so that ought to let you know how small the elevator is.
The Hopper could also be extra compact than a standard longtail cargo e-bike, but it surely nonetheless hauls a ton of stuff. It comes normal with that rear baby cage (known as the Hooptie), which is designed to supply a safer space for kids. It even has twin side-bars so the child can maintain onto the interior bar and never get their fingers pinched if the outer bar rubs on an impediment.
I took my two nephews on the bike with me, and based mostly on how a lot they appreciated to squirm round and dance on the again of the bike (as you most likely noticed within the video above), it’s factor that the bike comes with that Hooptie accent to carry the children in. For even youthful passengers, like my good friend’s toddler, we added a toddler security seat to the rack.
The entrance of the bike is adorned with one other rack, which can be nice for including extra cargo. In truth, the bike’s body is rated to 500 lb complete, the rear rack alone is rated to 242 lb, and the entrance rack is rated to 55 lb, so that you’ve obtained lots of cargo-carrying choices.
I let my good friend borrow the bike for per week in order that he may attempt bringing his child to daycare day by day with it. He discovered it to be a enjoyable strategy to spend extra high quality time together with his son in addition to get some contemporary air and train every day. He was even in a position to put his son’s stroller within the again behind the kid security seat in order that the babysitter may decide the child up on a day he needed to keep later at work.
I additionally examined out the Porterpack, a entrance bag for simply accessible cargo, and a set of CargoBay baggage, expandable pannier baggage that match on both facet of the rear rack. They’re rain-resistant, adjustable in measurement, and lined in reflective materials to make the bike stand out much more at evening.
With all these baggage, I discovered it simple to make use of the Hopper as my grocery-getter car, doing per week’s value of grocery procuring with simply the three baggage on the bike. Not solely was I utilizing a cargo e-bike to go get my groceries, however I used to be additionally getting a bit of train on the best way there and again.
That’s one other huge good thing about utilizing a cargo e-bike like this, is you could have the chance to sneak a bit of train into your day. The Hopper does have a standard thumb throttle, which means you received’t need to work very arduous should you don’t wish to. However it’s additionally obtained a torque sensor-based pedal help system that makes it a pleasure to really pedal the bike. The 750W rear hub motor is highly effective so you need to use a considerable amount of help for only a small exercise, or you’ll be able to depart the help in low energy and get extra of a exercise. The selection is yours, and yours alone!
With an enormous battery measuring 720 Wh, even should you use the upper energy settings, you’ll nonetheless have loads of power left for longer rides. You possibly can seemingly recover from 50 miles (80 km) should you follow decrease energy pedal help, however even cruising round on throttle will nonetheless seemingly web you a minimum of 25 miles (40 km).
The complete electrical system is licensed to UL2849, which means that the motor, controller, wiring, and different electrical elements have all been examined to soundly function collectively. The battery is licensed to UL2271, giving peace of thoughts and full compliance in places that require UL certification.
On the identical time, the bike isn’t fairly as premium because the $4k-5k fashions in Xtracycle’s lineup, as evidenced by the extra entry-level Shimano derailleur and the hub motor as a substitute of a mid-drive motor. However aside from these two elements, just about all the pieces else feels prefer it got here straight from a premium, bike shop-level cargo e-bike.
Actually properly designed and outfitted
The Xtracycle Hopper walks a pleasant line, balancing the model’s premium roots with the purpose of affordability for extra households. The bike is clearly premium-leaning, which you’ll see from a big selection of high quality elements. There are the 174 Hudson dual-piston hydraulic disc brakes, the broad and super-stable Y-kickstand, the mesh security masking over the rear wheel to guard youngsters’s ft, the properly designed working boards and rear rack, the built-in LED lighting, and the dropper seat submit to permit riders to drop right into a decrease place for mounting and dismounting the bike, then return the seat submit again as much as a greater pedaling place as soon as they’re up within the saddle, all with one finger.
In contrast to dropper posts you might be aware of from the mountain biking world, which normally have a button on the handlebars, this dropper submit is wi-fi and as a substitute has its button beneath the saddle. It’s a bit much less handy and likewise seems such as you’re attempting to get to second base with your self, however you get used to the button placement shortly. Plus, you deserve a bit of enjoyable. Deal with your self!
The cargo-rated Suntour Mobie suspension fork is a top quality piece of package that provides to the consolation with out compromising the bike’s energy or ruggedness.
The 20″ tires are broad sufficient to supply even a little bit of off-road means, although extra within the route of a clean nature path.
My buddy took the bike on a path together with his child in again, and the 2 had an exquisite time, so the Hopper actually appears able to excursions outdoors the standard bike lane commute.
With full UL compliance on {the electrical} system, a robust motor that gives a prime velocity of 28 mph (45 km/h) if unlocked from the usual 20 mph (32 km/h) velocity restrict, and nice cargo-carrying equipment that come normal, it’s frankly type of shocking that it’s priced at simply $2,999. This undercuts the extra premium cargo e-bike manufacturers in the marketplace whereas nonetheless providing a lot nicer construct high quality than the finances fashions.
Oh yeah, and it even comes with a bit of bottle of touch-up paint, which is a small element however only one extra differentiator in comparison with the extra budget-level cargo e-bikes on the market!
It received’t compete towards cargo e-bikes twice its value, but it surely presents a heck of quite a bit nicer construct high quality and higher elements than the finances cargo e-bikes we’re used to seeing.
What are the downsides?
Each e-bike is in the end a sequence of compromises. Extra vary means heavier. Extra velocity means chunkier motors. Increased-end elements imply increased value tags. Every part is a tradeoff, and the way these tradeoffs are balanced leads to how effectively the bike matches into the market.
On the Xtracycle Hopper, I feel the corporate did an excellent job discovering a snug stability to supply a extra premium bike that also carries an reasonably priced value. Besides, which means there are nonetheless a number of issues I can complain about.
The rear tail mild is properly built-in into the fender, which is nice for ruggedness and reliability since there aren’t any exterior wires to snag. However it additionally means the sunshine could be extra obscured when wanting from a rear side-angle as in comparison with straight from the rear, because the wheel guards barely disguise it at wider angles. You possibly can add a second tail mild onto the kid cage or the again of the rear rack, which might be a good suggestion for additional nighttime visibility.
The throttle requires the bike to be barely rolling earlier than it kicks in, which is healthier for part longevity however is a bit annoying if you wish to blast away from a standstill. It means you want to give 1 / 4 or half flip of the pedals earlier than you need to use the throttle.
And lastly, the bike is sort of heavy at 85 lb with all of the equipment put in. There’s not quite a bit that may be carried out about that although. It’s already obtained an aluminum body, and while you construct a motorcycle that may carry three folks for lengthy distances at excessive speeds, it’s simply going to get heavier.
So I can complain concerning the nitty gritty, however the main elements, options, and design of the bike are all extremely effectively carried out.
Sum all of it up
Principally, the Xtracycle hopper looks like an excellent in-between cargo e-bike, each within the sense of becoming in between the smaller and bigger sizes in the marketplace, in addition to becoming in between the worth manufacturers and the premium manufacturers.
It’s not going to rival the bang-for-your-buck of one thing like a Lectric XPedition at half the worth, but it surely’s going to offer a a lot nicer driving expertise and final quite a bit longer.
It’s not going to be as high-end as a top-shelf Tern or Riese & Müller, but it surely prices half as a lot as these extra premium fashions.
So mainly, it falls within the Goldilocks zone for lots of people. It’s premium sufficient to get these nicer elements, the larger battery, the dropper seat submit, and many others. However it’s not so fancy that it prices most individuals a number of paychecks. It’s the cargo bike for while you don’t wish to low cost out on the factor you’re carrying your children on, however you additionally don’t want the fanciest factor on the market, both. And that’s the candy spot for me!
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