The one-piece EPP shell can be replaced and would most likely be a warranty issue. Ive lugged full-size bike boxes to UPS and FedEx. It isnt a common occurrence, according to Urban Arrow representatives. (adsbygoogle = window.adsbygoogle || []).push({}); Cargo bikes are one of the coolest inventions on two wheels. 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. 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 shifter turns smoothly too, offering a quick resistance adjustment on the fly. Throttle lovers will need to skip this one, though thats par for the course with European electric bikes. 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. Even with my 7-year-old daughter riding up front, the ride quality and ease of use didnt seem to change much from an unloaded configuration. In my head, flex in a structural system goes hand in hand with fatigue, and while Im accustomed to periodically inspecting all of my bikes from head to toe, that wont be the case for most Urban Arrow owners. I contacted Urban Arrow to ask if there is a replacement in case the foam does get severely damaged. American communities. 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).
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. Otherwise, you can also plug in a heavy-duty chain for more security. 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. They fall into a class of cargo bikes called bakfiets, or box bike in Dutch. Dan Cavallari You will sacrifice some cargo space to the EPP foam that comprises the cargo box, and that same EPP foam can get damaged easily from hard objects and sharp corners you might be toting. Short, sharp inclines were easy to tackle too. Perfect for maneuvering this thing fully loaded up my modestly sloped driveway .
Its assist tops out at 20 mph; after that, youre on your own. 
Its clear that the Family Cargo is designed specifically for hauling kids rather than cargo. As tricky as those cable-operated steering systems can be on some other box bikes, one major advantage they have over linkage designs is steering angle, which is so poor on the Urban Arrow that even many American residential streets arent wide enough for a U-turn (and let me tell you, we Americans like really wide streets). 
Often overlooked, the kickstand design is superb. Last, but not least, the sheer size of the Urban Arrow presents some interesting challenges in terms of storage (its 2.74 m / 9 ft long!). Ive learned to think of the Urban Arrow as being akin to a two-wheeled pickup truck in terms of its capabilities and usefulness. By pushing that front wheel so far out front, the load floor of the cargo box can be situated just barely above the ground to keep the center of gravity nice and low. But if youll spend most of your time with your kids in the cargo area, the Family Cargo is tough to beat.
At an eye-opening $7,999, this isnt going to be the most affordable electric cargo e-bike on the block. Max rider weight: 275 pounds In other words, it basically pushes itself so you dont have to. At the front, the box measures approximately 17 inches wide and 21 inches wide at the rear. Subscribe to Electrek on YouTube for exclusive videos and subscribe to the podcast. Fear not though, because electric cargo bikes solve that issue beautifully. 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. Bike length: 108 inches If Europeans can do it, maybe Americans one day can too. The stock Schwalbe tires have been great: theyre smooth-rolling, theyve got good grip, and theyre remarkably puncture-resistant. Prices for accessories range from around $10 up to $470, with most key accessories falling into the $230 range. [Theyre] incredibly common [here], Ray Maker (of DC Rainmaker fame) told me. 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). As general manager of Gazelle North America and distributor for Urban Arrow North America Ewoud van Leeuwen explained in a statement provided to Electrek: Micromobility and alternate forms of personal transportation in the United States are continuing to gain traction at an accelerating rate as gas prices skyrocket and urban commuters look for a better way to move through daily life. When you park the Family Cargo bike, be sure to use the integrated wheel lock. Just, uh maybe dont try that on a turn. Max number of passengers: 4 And yes, I maybe had some help with the decision. 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). Most of them are, unsurprisingly, oriented toward family riding. Urban Arrow has opted for the latter, and its generally well done with smooth operation and minimal slop thanks in part to the beefy industrial-strength ball-ends.
All rights reserved. Motor: Bosch Cargo Line Sorry, apartment dwellers, but this probably isnt the cargo bike for you. The lack of redundancy in the steering system gives me some pause, too. The Family Cargo features all the adjustability youd expect at the seatpost and cockpit; the former can be adjusted using a quick-release lever, and the latter adjusts by loosening some bolts. More information can be found at www.urbanarrow.com. There is no retail option for this, but replacement units do exist. So it seems reasonable that Urban Arrows claim of approximately 31 miles per charge makes sense. In other words, its not cheap. Regardless, the Urban Arrow has become my everyday mode of transportation in town. 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. 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. Average range: 31 miles Wheel size: 26-inch rear; 20-inch front. But its also a legitimate game-changer in terms of what it allows you to do by bike, and without question, its the best bike Ive ever owned in terms of how its affected my day-to-day life. Give them a test ride before buying if you can.
You will receive a verification email shortly. This puts it most closely in competition with the also-excellent Yuba SuperCargo. When its not in use, the key locks into place so you dont lose it. Perhaps related to that linkage flex is the bikes well documented speed wobble issue. In fact, once youre moving, it isnt even always obvious that youve got a lot of weight in the box. Basically, this just means the cargo portion of the bike is situated in front of the rider instead of behind. However, the twist shifters dual cable arrangement feels vague, and if youre running the Bosch motor at one of the higher assist settings, its very difficult to shift gears while pedaling unless you really back off the power. At a lower setting, it seems entirely plausible to get far more miles out of a single charge. 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. And second, it lowers the center of gravity, which translates into more stability and better handling. Need more juice? Ive gone on ice cream runs with my kiddo and then we used the box as our personal seating area. I should mention that it didnt take long for me to decide that this bike wasnt just going to be a long-term loaner.
The Family Cargo bike tends to offer a lot more compliance in the rear than other cargo bikes Ive tested. First, it means more protection from the higher sides. You can buy the Urban Arrow Family Cargo at select bike shops. They get you all the cargo space you need, but make the pedaling much more manageable and even fun! The Urban Arrow Family Cargo bike fits into a category that includes the Yuba SuperCargo, Riese and Mller Load 75, Triobike Mono, and Triobike Cargo. Its a good thing this step-through frame has such a low standover height, because I guarantee any Urban Arrow owner spends a decent amount of time straddling this thing as they slowly roll it back and forth in a multi-point turn. And there will always be that but what about my 30-mile commute on an 84 mph highway at a 37% grade with cantaloup-size hail person who says the whole idea of e-bikes as car replacers is cockamamie. The true wattage is almost certainly higher. That said, everything else about the Family Cargo feels well-refined. Heaven forbid something fails in that linkage rod or the bell crank arm on the underside of the steerer tube, or the little tab thats welded to the fork blade as itd undoubtedly result in a nasty crash. 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. Its a top choice for parents in need of a transportation solution for the kids. There are rain covers, baby seat adapters, extra benches to accommodate more kid passengers, a rear rack, and more. 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. Ive ridden a lot of incredible high-end bikes over the years, and here in Boulder, Colorado, not a lot of fancy hardware goes unnoticed. Otherwise, the stand can drag when you ride around sharp corners. They put your wrists in an awkward position, and consequently your upper body. Without anything in the box, the front end is light and chattery, bouncing over road imperfections and skittering through bumpy corners. But when you consider that the Urban Arrow can potentially replace an automobile for many buyers, those figures become a touch easier to swallow.
This of course comes down to personal preference; if it were my bike, I would swap out the bars. I love good cup-and-cone hubs, and the old mechanic in me appreciates the Shimano front hub specified here. BA1 1UA. First, the Family Cargo bike is easy to get started from a dead stop. 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. I love that I can shift the Enviolo continuously variable rear hub transmission at a standstill since its not always practical to downshift before coming to a stop. The wide-legged stance is so stable that I no longer worry about kids when they climb into the box, and the rectangular footprint even works well on modest slopes. When you want to park, just press the lever down, turn the key, pull it out, and stow it in your pocket. The Bosch Performance 500 battery mounts in front of the rider. It offers a streamlined experience with a specific focus on safety and functionality for small passengers in the cargo area. In addition to VeloNews, his work has appeared in Triathlete Magazine, Rouleur Magazine, CyclingTips.com, Road Bike Action, Mountain Bike Action, CycleVolta.com, Tomsguide.com, and much more.
That motor puts out 85 Nm of torque, making it one of the most powerful European mid-drive motors (even if it cant hold a candle to the Chinese motors that dont have to play by the same power-limiting rules). Despite the comical dimensions, the Urban Arrow has proven to be fun to ride, too. Life hasnt gotten much easier for the Urban Arrow in the 2+ years since then.
Those stable manners and the optional rain cover even make the Urban Arrow quite the all-weather workhorse. Urban Arrows line of Family e-cargo bikes are an inspiring, forward-looking, and award-winning alternative to automobiles for individuals and families looking for a singular, sophisticated solution, and these new updates make the choice even clearer. Almost without fail, the usual reaction is that they couldnt believe the things Im doing by bike but now theyve seen it being done, and heard face-to-face how feasible it is.
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. 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. Heres why you can trust us.