Xtracycle has been within the cargo bike enterprise for over 25 years, so its protected to say the corporate is aware of its method round long-tail bikes. Because it started previous to the e-bike period, early designs didn’t have motors or e-assist options of any type, simply pure pedal energy. It now presents three completely different fashions, two of which use mid-drive motor methods, in addition to the Hopper, which is positioned as a barely smaller, extra inexpensive, rear-hub powered various. Xtracycle sells the Hopper with a number of included equipment that permit it to be able to experience out the door. For this check, the corporate additionally included some further cargo baggage, which have been extraordinarily useful and made it straightforward to seize groceries on the best way residence or carry alongside further provides whereas testing out the bike on household adventures.
Design and Development
(Picture credit score: Tyler Boucher)
The Hopper’s record of options is huge: it features a Suntour suspension fork, a dropper publish (making it easy to swap between riders of various heights), a quick-start throttle and each a entrance cargo rack and a rear passenger rail system. Like many long-tail cargo bikes, the Hopper is offered in just one measurement, designed to suit a variety of riders from roughly 5’ to six’5” (152 cm to 196 cm). The body is manufactured from aluminium and is designed round an built-in battery, a pedal-based torque sensor, and a Shimano eight-speed drivetrain. The bike has a complete carrying capability of 500 lbs/226kg (together with the rider), with a 750W rear hub motor and a 720Wh battery.
The Hopper has a comparatively quick wheelbase for a long-tail bike at 1225mm, which helps with manoeuvrability. It may be saved vertically if wanted, although I discovered it just a little bit cumbersome to truly achieve this. Hydraulic disc brakes and built-in lighting deal with stopping and visibility, and the 20” wheels are specced with Kenda tyres, which measure about 2.35” within the entrance and a pair of.45” within the rear. The bike additionally has full-coverage fenders/mudguards, which is tremendous useful. The cargo space, which is designed primarily for youths, has sufficient house for 2 kids, both each sitting and holding on or one sitting and one secured in a rack-mounted toddler seat with a 5-point harness.
The bike is designated as a Class II e-bike (capped at 20 mph), and the body and fork have a five-year guarantee. Xtracycle works with a community of motorbike outlets for distribution and meeting, in order that prospects don’t must assemble the bike themselves, which may pose points for an inexperienced mechanic.
Xtracycle additionally presents a wide range of add-on equipment, together with entrance and rear baggage accessible for buy individually.
(Picture credit score: Tyler Boucher)
Specs:
- Body materials: Aluminium
- Sizes: One measurement, suits riders 5’ to six’5”
- Worth: $2499.00
- Motor: 750W rear hub motor with torque sensor
- Weight: 85 lbs
- Color: Blue Grass
- Vary: as much as 60 miles
- Certification: UL 2271 licensed by SGS
The Journey
(Picture credit score: Tyler Boucher)
Early on throughout testing, we skilled the last word bike check: a crash. We (myself and our two kids and I) have been en route to high school within the morning, driving partway round a site visitors circle when a driver turned abruptly in entrance of us, travelling the fallacious path across the circle. I yelled, skidded, and laid the bike all the way down to keep away from colliding with the automobile at pace. We have been fortunate to flee the state of affairs with solely scrapes and bruises and made it to high school a bit shaken, however in any other case OK.
This expertise illuminated just a few issues: one, the passenger rail system Xtracycle calls the Hooptie (that is the handholding space/perimeter cage securing children on the again seat) and cargo footrails do an excellent job defending passengers and preserving them in place, even once you slide alongside the tarmac. And, two: there’s no such factor as going overboard relating to being seen on the roads. Even with lights and reflective clothes, a careless driver can miss you, and there’s not a lot you are able to do about it.
Since then, I’ve been much more cautious round vehicles whereas driving, prioritising the most secure potential routes and assuming each driver is incompetent and/or taking a look at their telephone whereas driving. It’s too unhealthy, however that’s the present actuality in North America, even in “bike-friendly” cities like Seattle.
It wouldn’t have helped on this explicit state of affairs, however implementing rear radar methods into cargo bikes looks like a no brainer. After this incident, I took a extra crucial have a look at the lights on the Hopper, and whereas they’re sufficient, they might be higher. The handlebar-mounted entrance gentle has restricted output and will be obscured by management strains or entrance cargo, and the rear gentle is tucked into the again of the bike on the fender, so it may possibly solely be seen from immediately behind the bike. It is also not very vivid. I added some further lighting, each entrance and rear, to extend visibility for the remainder of the check interval.
For normal upright driving, the bike carried out very effectively. At round 6 foot/181 cm, I’m close to the higher center of the sizing vary, and felt just like the bike was proportioned appropriately for me. For riders nearer to five’, the bike could also be harder to manoeuvre. The shorter wheelbase makes it really feel responsive and acquainted, and the Shimano one-by drivetrain labored flawlessly.
(Picture credit score: Tyler Boucher)
The rear hub motor has plenty of juice, a lot in order that I most popular to maintain it off the best e-assist degree with children on the again. However having a throttle is vastly useful for getting began from stops. One quirk of the battery and motor setup is that the Hopper has a battery-saving, or sleep, mode that engages after 72 hours of inactivity. This helps keep the cost however prevents it from restarting as traditional. Restarting requires urgent a particular button positioned on the downtube, which isn’t a giant deal so long as about this step forward of time.
My major criticism concerning the Hopper is the design of its entrance finish. The body makes use of an ordinary 1 ⅛” steerer tube paired with a threadless stem and BMX-style upright bars. This setup permits for very straightforward adjustment and a snug driving place; nevertheless, the bars and stem will not be strong sufficient to comfortably manoeuvre the loaded weight of the remainder of the bike. The flex within the handlebars creates some instability within the entrance finish. Even at a driving weight of 150 lbs (68kg), with roughly 110 lbs of cargo (two elementary-age children), the front-end flex is instantly noticeable, disconcerting, and even alarming at pace. Our mixed weight is nowhere close to the supposed higher restrict of 500 lbs that Xtracycle has listed. That is one thing Xtracycle must treatment, both with a stronger bar-and-stem combo, or, even higher, an extended head tube and a larger-diameter steerer tube, along with a distinct bar and stem.
In the identical vein, the kickstand might be wider to assist help the bike as small passengers clamber out and in. It’s uncommon we park on a superbly flat, degree floor, so leverage right here makes a giant distinction. I recognize that the Xtracycle saved us protected when it mattered, and we had a enjoyable time exploring as a household, however there are some things that might enhance the bike’s efficiency.
Worth and Conclusion
(Picture credit score: Tyler Boucher)
It appears obvious that Xtracycle designed the Hopper as a direct competitor to a number of the newer direct-to-consumer bike manufacturers at the moment providing kid-friendly cargo bikes. Manufacturers like Lectric and Aventon provide equally feature-heavy bikes with hub-based motors that attraction to folks on the lookout for an inexpensive car-replacement bike choice. The Aventon Abound (beforehand examined right here) is listed at $1,899 and the Lectric XPedition2 listed at $2,543 are each good comparables to the Hopper with an analogous record of elements and capabilities.
I feel maybe Xtracycle may need been higher served by streamlining this bike considerably—the cargo-hauling and child equipment are wonderful, however the cockpit, suspension fork and dropper seatpost might be eradicated or improved to satisfy an analogous or probably lower cost level with out shedding efficiency.
Xtracycle did job selecting efficiency the place it issues, specifically within the drivetrain and braking methods, in addition to wheel and tyre spec, however is let down by the weak entrance finish’s efficiency traits.
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