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Urban Arrow Family Cargo Bike Tips and Tricks

Articles, Biking Tips, Cargo Bike Reviews, Cargo Biking, Reviews

Are you looking to buy an Urban Arrow Family cargo bike or did you recently buy one? In this video and article, I’m covering my top 10 tips that I review with all my customers to get them started when they are taking home their new Urban Arrow Family cargo bike.

Today we are doing an overview of my top 10 tips for getting started with the Urban Arrow Family cargo bike. We will dig deeper into many of these tips in future videos, but this video is perfect to get you started. Click here to read my general review.

Video of these Tips

1. Program Your Key and Phone Number

Before you leave the shop make sure your Urban Arrow dealer has programmed your battery and frame lock key code AND your phone number to the bosch motor. This is something only a Bosch Dealer can do and should be done before you leave the store. You can ensure this has been done by checking the print out of your diagnostics report, which your dealer should also provide you with your new bike.

2. Adjusting Your Seat Height

This seat height tip is for any cargo bike.

Starting off with a new cargo bike or testing riding, I recommend having your seat height slightly lower than normal so you can confidently touch the ground on both sides. The Urban Arrow Family is an electric assist bike so for your first test ride or few rides getting used to the bike it isn’t as critical that your seat height is perfect. As you get used to the bike, raise the seat but initially, I want you to feel confident to have both feet touching the ground to balance the bike when you stop and get started.

In the future, I’ll be doing a video dedicated to riding and steering a bakfiets or box bike.

3. Handlebar Fit

Adjust your handlebars to be comfortable AND confident.

Using a simple one bolt design you can raise and lower your handlebar, and adjust the tilt. Doing this with a friend is the easiest so you can keep your hands on the handlebars. Once the stem bolt is loose, adjust the handlebar so your arms are comfortably reaching out. Not too high so your shoulders wear out, and not so low that your weight is on your hands.

4. Grips and Brake Lever Fit

Now that your handlebars are in a good place, adjust your grips using a 4 or 3mm Allen to rotate them so your wrist is comfortable and in line with your arm. Once your grips are in place you want to do the same thing with your brakes making sure everything is in the same plane.

Finally, you can also adjust the distance your brake lever is to your finger or the reach so you can just reach out and comfortably pull on the brakes without stretching for them.

5. The Kickstand

My next tip is using and adjusting the kickstand. The Urban Arrow kickstand is amazing and steady if used properly. To engage, simply reach down with your foot and push it down while pulling back with your bike. When parking your bike, make sure you are on level ground and the bike is never pointed down a hill.

If the kickstand gets sticky to use over time, there are 4 bolts on either side of the kickstand clamps. Carefully, loosen and test the kickstand snap over and over again. I also take the clamps off and clean them after a hard winter of riding. I will say, it can be dangerous if you loosen these clamps too much as it can allow the bike to roll back over the kickstand.

6. Shifting

Most of the Urban Arrow Family line uses the enviolo continuously variable transmission. This is also used in some cars but the basic idea is that your gears are in the rear hub and the gears don’t have steps in between and just adjust infinitely from one end to the other. This allows you to fine-tune your shifting without looking for that next click, and you can shift if you are at a stop. You turn away from you to make it easier, and then you rotate towards you like a throttle on a motorcycle to make it harder and go faster. Finally, my biggest recommendation for proper shifting is to try not to shift under load going up that huge hill.

7. Basic Ebike Functions

I’ll have an in-depth video for the Intuvia Bosch controller but here are the core features to get started riding this bike.

First, turning on the bike. Make sure your head unit is clicked in all the way. Then you push the power button and now your bike is turned on but you don’t have assistance. To get the assistance you use the + and – to change between the different assistance levels. This starts at 50% assistance for eco, all the way up to 260% for the performance model or 300% assistance on the performance CX model. Remember, this is just amplifying your applied pressure to the pedals by that percentage.

The other key thing around the basic ebike functions I like to show customers on this bike is the head unit does come off. You can put a screw in the back but most people take this off when locking up somewhere but be warned that if the head unit isn’t engaged properly then your bike may not turn on or will turn on but not connect with the motor.

Click here to learn how to remove/install your Bosch Battery.

8. Bosch Walk Function

Most newer urban arrow bikes have a walk function. This is where you can press a combination of buttons and your bike will slowly propel itself forward without you pedaling. This is good for when you are needing to walk your heavy bike up a ramp, or into your garage. To engage this you hit the walk button on top of your controller when it says walk plus you hold the plus button down. Keep pressing the plus button until you are done needing the assistance. Always have your hands on your brake and if it goes too quick or you want it to stop just take your thumb off the plus button.

9. Bike Locking System

Your Urban Arrow comes with a frame lock that holds the key when the lock is open. This makes it so you ALWAYS have a lock but this key is also the key to your expensive battery so always take your key with you. This key has numbers on it which would allow you to order a new key if you lose yours. I personally program this key number on to each bike’s motor along with the customers’ phone number.

A freebie tip here, I add a little key tag with a label maker of the customers’ last name and phone number in case they lose their key someone can hopefully return it. I’m not going to get into the actual battery or battery hygiene, look for a complete video of Bosch ebike battery maintenance linked below.

10. PRACTICE!

If you plan on riding with a super-young child, please ride this bike or any cargo bike in various conditions so you are confident. My wife made me ride 100 miles with my first cargo bike before putting my 7-month-old baby in it. I personally can ride the urban arrow family with my 80-pound dog wiggling around in the front, with just my right hand and my left hand holding a coffee. It is a brilliantly steady bike once you know how to ride it but please practice!

Additional Cargo Bike Resources

The Cargo Bike Guide
All Cargo Bike Articles
Cargo Bike Chain Maintenance

Urban Arrow Family Cargo Bike Review

Articles, Cargo Bike Reviews, Cargo Biking, Reviews

The Urban Arrow Family is my favorite cargo bike to truly replace your car. Today, we are going to be going through my Urban Arrow Family review, and what makes this bike so unique to make it my personal daily cargo bike with small children.

Urban Arrow Family Cargo Bike Details

MSRP: $5000-7500 USD
Colors: Matte Black or Gloss White

The Urban Arrow Family is a front-loading electric-assist cargo bike or a bakfiets as you may hear in Europe. The capacity for this bike is 600 lbs including the rider and cargo. The bike is designed for a family, which includes fitting 3 kids in the front, and 1 child on the optional rear rack. It also works well to haul cargo and as your life changes the foam box and top metal frame can be removed.

Urban Arrow Family is an Ebike Only

The Urban Arrow Family is only available in electric assist, built around the solid Bosch Performance or Performance CX motor. Coming in the new Cargo Line motor for 2021 in the US. You must pedal and the motor will assist you at different levels that you select up to 20 miles per hour, we call this a class 1 electric-assist bicycle.

Urban Arrow Accessories

The family model comes stock with accessories designed for everyday biking like fenders, a rear frame lock, a large bell, and lights that work with the electric assist motor and battery. The foam box is included, with a forward-facing bench seat and 2 over the shoulder harnesses for kid containment. Finally, what makes or breaks a good cargo bike is the kickstand and the kickstand on the urban arrow family is sturdy and reliable. It is one of the few that I allow my children to climb in and out of when the bike is parked on stable ground.

Urban Arrow also has some of the best-designed kid hauling accessories for the Family model including a maxi cosi infant seat adapter which a maxi cosi infant seat snaps into like a stroller, it is suspended which helps with bumps and there is still enough room for two children to sit on the bench with it installed. (See a list of compatible infant seats here.) The optional rain cover is easy to use, with access for the kids to get in and out, it also fits over the infant seat placement. This specific design feature is honestly why I switched to this bike a few years ago. Finally, everyone orders the optional rear rack which is designed to match the lines of the bike and the integrated rear light can be moved to the back of the rear rack.

Conclusion

The Urban Arrow Family truly helps replace the family mini-van and gets you to leave the car at home and live a life of freedom by bicycle. Skip the parking, the traffic, and the stress of being in a car for errands and kid hauling.

Reimagine your life from the seat of a cargo bike.

More Urban Arrow Cargo Bike Resources

Urban Arrow Family Cargo Bike Details
Car Seats that fit the Maxi Cosi Adapter
Fix the Cargo Bike Speed Wobble

Meet the Tern Atlas Kickstand for the Tern GSD Cargo Bike

Articles, Cargo Bike Reviews, Cargo Biking, Reviews

Meet the Tern Atlas Kickstand

MSRP: $150
Upgrade Option: $50 plus labor for current GSD owners in the US!
A pulley is needed for the S00 and is provided from Tern.

Tern Atlas Details

A running list of things that are worth mentioning, in no particular order. I plan on adding to this list as I use the kickstand more and customers have their own feedback!

It really is one of the easiest cargo kickstands I have used
The kickstand is mounted further back on the bike, under the rear cargo area. This makes the bike feel more balanced and makes it easier to “roll” the kickstand on and off.
The feet are replaceable, no pricing or availability on those yet. I assume the spring will be too.
I have not tested this kickstand with studded tires, but the room available under the front tire when it is engaged makes me believe it will be fine.
It does not work on the Tern HSD!

Tern HSD P9 Electric Bike Review

Cargo Bike Reviews, Electric Bike Reviews, Reviews

Are you in the market for your first electric bike, maybe a small everyday capable bike or you have been looking at cargo bikes and they are just SO big? The Tern HSD electric bike may be for you. Read on to learn more!

At the time of writing this, I’ve worked around the bike industry for 20 years. It really takes a lot for me to be excited and impressed with a product. Sometimes I’m excited, sometimes I’m impressed, but very rarely both things. The new Tern HSD electric bike offering has me solidly feeling both. In this review, we are going to dig into the pros and cons of the HSD, who I think it is for, and what I hope to see from Tern in the future. You can read my initial thoughts on the Tern HSD here. Don’t want to read all the details? Scroll to the bottom for my conclusion and who I think the HSD is for.

Key Takeaways of the Tern HSD

Class 1 Electric-Assist Bike – This electric bike assists you when you are pedaling up to 20 miles per hour. After 20 mph you are on your own without assistance. This does not have a throttle.
One size fits most – This is a game-changer to be able to comfortably share that expensive electric bike with other people in your household or family.
Smaller wheels and lower battery placement – This makes this bike feel much more stable for riders as the weight isn’t so high (The P9 model is 56.5 pounds).
Everyday capable – Carry up to 374 pounds, and the bike is designed to carry stuff. Kids, groceries, your bags, pull a trailer, etc. Many other electric bikes look nice but can’t carry a kid or panniers very well (more on that in a second!)
Transportable – As long as you have a smallish SUV and can fold down 1/3 of your backseats, this bike will fit thanks to the folding handlepost and low seatpost design. This is huge for an electric bike as you often have to purchase a really expensive rear hitch rack to transport these heavier bikes. I would suggest to rig up some sort of ramp so you aren’t lifting the 50+ pound bike but with two people it is made very doable.
Rear Standing – For the last couple of years, Tern has been designing their bikes around a rear standing feature. Great for storage and servicing your bike. Watch a video on this feature here.
Accessories – Tern has a great ecosystem of accessories, and adapters to make other accessories work with their bikes with more options coming in the spring.
Bosch Only – Bosch makes arguably one of the most reliable and dependable systems but it comes for a price. This bike is not designed to compete with an internet direct bike.
The starting price of the HSD is $3200 for the Tern HSD P9

Comparing the HSD Models

Reviewing the similarities and differences between the HSD models can get a bit confusing. Here is what they all have in common:

20″ wheels, aluminum frame, Suntour suspension front fork
Bosch motors (motor type and battery size change with the S+)
Rear-wheel lock keyed alike to battery
All touchpoints (saddle, grips, pedals) seem to be the same from spec
The rear rack fits one Thule® Yepp Maxi, Yepp Nexxt Maxi, or Bobike® GO Maxi child seat—no adapters needed
Side-arm kickstand
Max vehicle weight capacity: 374 pounds
Max rider weight capacity: 264 pounds

Differences between models:

The HSD P9 uses a Shimano 1×9 Alivio drivetrain with an e-bike rated chain, a derailleur and Shimano disc brakes (180 front rotor, 160 rear rotor). Bosch Active Line Plus motor and 400Wh battery with Purion display.
The HSD P9 Performance is the same as the bike above but with a bigger motor (Bosch Performance) that gives great torque and assistance, this is found on their cargo bike line and a bigger battery at 500Wh.
The HSD S8i switches to a Gates Belt instead of a chain, Shimano internal 8 speed rear hub (the gears are inside the hub allowing you to shift when not pedaling or stopped), and Magura MT4 disc brakes (180 front rotor, 160 rear rotor). Same motor, battery, and controller as the P9.
The HSD S+ is a unique partnership with Enviolo to have the new AUTOMATIC shifting system. This required a new Bosch Performance line motor (more torque) and the Intuvia display. You also get the largest Bosch frame battery available at 500Wh, and a Cane Creek Thudbuster ST seat post. If you are in a hilly area or looking for truly hauling a kid I would look at a performance motor model.
New HSD S11 coming out in January 2021 (more info to come)

Overall Thoughts on the Tern HSD P9

The Tern HSD P9 is what I have had in and what this review is based on. Once my HSD S8i and S+ demo come in I’ll do a more detailed review on those specific models.

As I mentioned in my initial thoughts of the Tern HSD in this article, I named this the crossover electric bike and I really have high hopes for the HSD pushing the electric bike market into functionality. Electric bikes are wonderful but I’ve tried so many that the rear rack is subpar, and the bike is often designed around the sport rider instead of the “everyday” rider. The fact that Civia has put out a whole line of Bosch equipped bikes without lights and fenders designed for “everyday life” really annoys me as a retailer and daily rider. In contrast, I appreciate that Tern has been evolving as a company thinking about the buyer’s complete journey down to what they provide stock with the bike and the accessories they make in-house instead of relying on 3rd party options. For example, every single one of their electric bikes come with lights and fenders, and now the HSD comes with a rear-wheel lock that uses the same key as the battery. This is pretty standard for European bikes but pretty uncommon in the United States.

While I don’t believe the HSD will be for everyone, it has won over many customers. See all the way at the bottom for who I think the key owners of this bike will be.

Thoughts on the HSD P9 Specifically

The HSD P9 at $3200 has a good and reliable parts selection. Nothing too fancy that will cost a ton if you have to replace it due to wear, but also not too cheap that I would worry about the longevity of the bike. This specific build will be what I bring in for demos and rental use while the S8i will probably be my top seller.

As I mentioned, the HSD S8i will certainly be my goto bike in this line-up and already my top seller. For $600 more you get an internal hub, Gates belt drive, and much nicer brakes for carrying cargo. Depending on your attitude for maintenance, the S8i is pretty maintenance-free from month to month. You’ll need to pump up the tires, check your brake pad wear, and ride. The internal hub will need servicing but nothing I would be too worried about, I prefer the enviolo 380 for an internal hub but it would add money to the price.

Tern HSD vs Gazelle Medeo

There are many Bosch equipped bikes under $3,000 on the market. Last year I brought in the Gazelle line simply because they had a $2,500 Bosch equipped bike with fenders, lights, front suspension, and a rear rack. Simply put, that bike really let me down when it came to capability. It is a wonderful bike but the Magura rim brakes don’t do well if you are heavier than 200 pounds or want to tow something. The rear rack with battery mount is not Yepp seat compatible like Gazelle originally stated, and the battery up so high on 700c wheels make the bike very top-heavy. I will continue to keep the Gazelle Medeo on my floor for demo and if you are on a tight budget I still believe that it is a very good bike with a Bosch motor BUT I believe the Tern HSD checks more boxes, most of which I laid out in the “key takeaways” section above. Let me know if you want to see a Batch electric bike, Gazelle Medeo or EasyFlow reviews.

A quick recap of what makes me prefer the Tern HSD over the Gazelle Medeo: Yepp seat compatible, lower weight due to smaller wheels and lower battery placement, disc brakes, adjustability for multiple rider heights, built-in rear wheel lock that matches the battery key.

Tern HSD vs Tern Vektron

The Tern HSD is a much more comfortable ride compared to the Tern Vektron. In part this is due to the suspension fork but also the geometry of the bike. The seat tube angle is much more relaxed moving your weight further over the rear wheel instead of pitched over the handlebars. It is also worth mentioning the step-thru design is much lower at 18.5″ for the HSD vs 23.75″ for the Vektron. The Vektron is still a wonderful bike and a class leader for folding electric.

Kid Carrying on the HSD

I have tried a few different options for kid carrying (and very small adult carrying) which included the Sidekick handlebar and pad system, the Yepp Junior seat with EasyFit, the Yepp EasyFit, and pulling a Burley Trailer.

All options worked well, the larger the human the less I would like to do it all the time. I would say around 8-9 years old I would use it occasionally but it wouldn’t be my choice if I always had someone on the back of that size all the time. For example, if your main goal of this bike is to cart your 10-11 year old around, maybe this isn’t the bike for you.

For the Sidekick handlebar with a pad or Yepp Junior seat, I would require the Cargo Hold 37 bags so the person’s feet and legs are safe. The footrest design is pretty small, so unless you are carrying a child 8 or older I would use the bags still.

Future Passenger Kit and Double Kickstand?

Based on the bottom plate on the HSD and rumors of a new Passenger kit, I believe and hope the new Tern Atlas double kickstand will fit the HSD. This would be a requirement for me to regularly carry smallish children on the back, or if you plan on hauling a lot of cargo so you aren’t relying on a side-mounted kickstand. I’ll update this as I learn more.

Tern HSD with Luggage Truss and Tern Goto Bag

Speaking of Accessories

One of the reasons I really fell for this bike is the front bags and attachments. Specifically, the Go-To bag that attaches to the front using a Tern Luggage Truss™ adapter. Also, hidden on our demo bike is a “cache box” which isn’t released yet but I love that Tern is using this “dead” space for amazing new products.

Things I would change on the HSD

This is always a difficult section to write as these are very biased opinions. These are based on feedback from many test riders and my own experience from riding it in Colorado.

Bosch motor options

This bike needs a Performance motor option that isn’t tied to the automatic shifting price tag. For serious hills with a kid on board, I would want a higher torque/assist motor. June 2020 Update: They now have a P9 Performance option with a bigger motor!

The saddle is a bit wide

The saddle is wider than the Tern GSD, I assume to the more upright handlebar position. This was nice to some but many people found it too wide.

Pedals

I’m still not a fan of the Tern pedals for all-condition riding. They do just fine for fair weather riding but when it is wet I’ve had many customers complain about their feet slipping off.

Who I Think the Tern HSD is NOT For

I believe that just about anyone could find joy in the Tern HSD. It may be easiest to say who it is NOT for:

Someone looking to carry more than 1 human, or 140 pounds on the back
If you want a speed motor (new HSD S11 will help with that!)
If you want a throttle (Bosch doesn’t make throttle electric-assist motors)
If you need 2 batteries

Conclusion

No bike is absolutely perfect. As I finish writing this article, I picked up the phone to talk with Davey at G&O Family Cyclery in Seattle. His customer’s needs for the bike are completely different than what we experience in Denver, Colorado and it was fun to compare notes. I wish there was a more affordable Performance motor option, the kid hauling accessories were available now, and the handlepost was taller out of the box. Hopefully, all 3 of these things will fix themselves with time!

I can confidently say this bike is going to change the landscape of my bike shop due to the availability, pricing, and approachability of being able to go more car-light with the HSD. I no longer have to sacrifice “affordable electric bike” options on my floor that aren’t designed to carry a kid or daily life easily. The Tern HSD is designed for single occupancy use (one rider) just as much as it is for bringing the kid along, and due to the one size fits most a person could justify buying this bike and splitting the use between people of different height.

No longer do you need a dedicated cargo bike to haul one smaller sized child, and no longer do you need to sacrifice everyday errands of groceries or library books because they don’t fit in your standard size panniers.

I welcome this new crossover style of electric bike, and just like the Subaru Outback has changed peoples’ minds about how large of a car they need to be truly capable, I believe the HSD will change peoples’ minds about what they can do daily by bike.

Disclaimer: Since writing this article I have gone to work for Tern Bicycles. This article was written before this, and in no way biased. If anything – I went to work for them because they make such wonderful bikes!!

Surly Big Easy Electric Cargo Bike Review

Articles, Cargo Bike Reviews, Reviews

My, perhaps too candid, review of the Surly Big Easy ELECTRIC Cargo Bike. This is coming from riding it for over 200 miles, owning a cargo bike-focused shop, and servicing them for the last few months since they were released.

Earlier this year I brought in a Surly Big Easy as a demo bike, tried it in various conditions for 60 days, and then sold it to a wonderful friend and customer. I recently had the bike in for routine service and to add lights and do a general check over and I thought it would be a good time to do my full review. If video is your thing, scroll down to watch this review in video fashion!

Overview of the Surly Big Easy Electric Cargo Bike

$5,000
Longtail cargo bike for 2-3 kid hauling
Bosch Performance CX Electric Assist Motor
Class 1 – you must pedal and it assists you to 20mph
500Wh frame mount battery
26×2.5″ tires
1×11 drivetrain
Available in Small, Medium, Large
Full spec here

Video Review of the Surly Big Easy Cargo Bike

What Surly Got Right

Size-specific frames – This could be a big deal if you are taller! Surly makes the only size-specific cargo bike in the US market that I know of. Xtracycle used to make SM/MD and MD/LG but they now also make one size fits most.

Adventure-Ready Cargo Bike – If I was looking for an off-roading electric touring bike, this would probably be it. 26″ wheels and tires are readily available internationally, steel frame and fork with bosses everywhere and 4 piston brakes. If I was truly touring internationally I would switch to a more standard tire size than the 26″ x 2.5.

*Surly Big Easy with the Surly Trailer. Photo Credit: G&O Family Cyclery*

Dedicated Surly Trailer Hitch for Surly Cargo Bikes – What a cool thing Surly did where a cargo specific hitch for the Surly Ted and Surly Bill trailers slides into the lower side where lu-tubes normally mount. This makes the bike handle so much better and less jerky than the typical mounting style on the rear drop-outs.

Availability – Any bike shop in the United States that has a Quality Bicycle Products account (the parent brand of Surly and the largest bicycle parts supplier in the country) can get you this bike. If a shop or an employee or a friend of the shop wants a cargo bike, they can now order it pretty quickly from one of the 4 warehouses across the country. The bike shop doesn’t have to become a dealer of a large cargo bike brand. They don’t have to pay crazy shipping to get one bike to them. Once Surly (or other QBP brands) really dial in their cargo and electric bikes their availability could be game-changing for the movement!

High-Quality Build – This bike has a great build kit on it (see cons below on what I believe they left off). They gave you some of the best options available which has made the bike expensive but they are going the Tesla model, proof of concept with an exceptional product.

Surly Lovers Unite – If you love Surly, the ethos of the brand, and you want to leave your car at home more often, carry kids, carry a sofa, and want to go further, faster, with less sweat – there is a bike for you, my friend.

What Surly Missed Out on this Bike

$5,000 Price Tag – When Surly was a young brand, I remember that shop employees purchased their frames because it was affordable to build up a city fixie. This bike is the extreme opposite of those initial memories and brand building heroics of local bike shop employees across the world. I hope that they make an option with a Performance motor, 400Wh battery, and without bags. That could be close to $1,000 less.

Where are the Lights?! – Every single electric cargo bike I sell comes with lights. You turn on the bike and you have lights that run off your battery. You can even make it so the lights turn on when the bike turns on. The most affordable Bosch compatible lights are the Light & Motion Nip Tuck lights. $100 for the lights, extra for front and rear Bosch light plugs, labor for splicing and routing, extra if you want different mounting, and PLEASE NOTE – you must have a Bosch dealer turn on the light function in the motor hardware for the lights to work.

Dangerous 2nd Battery Mounting – I should mention that Surly includes a 2nd battery harness and y-cable with this bike. Typically it is $200+ extra from other brands (other than tern who includes it and installs it!) BUT I can’t because the placement of the 2nd battery is just simply dangerous. Mounting a $600-800 Li-ion battery under a bike isn’t new, Riese & Muller does it but that is on their city cargo bikes (which I’m not a fan of either). The Surly Big Easy is designed to be an off-road cargo bike. Even for daily city use, I wouldn’t ride a battery under my bike at the lowest point of the frame possible.

Single Arm Kickstand – Kickstands are a big deal in the world of cargo bikes. You want something that makes your bike rock solid as you load up bulky cargo or wiggly children. The stock kickstand honestly sucks and made me rather terrified when I was trying it with my 2 & 5-year-old. Unfortunately, we are very limited on options with this bike as the lower tube (the same that your 2nd battery would mount on) is oval and a bit more flat/wide than the Big Dummy so the Xtracycle Kickback won’t work and the Rolling Jackass (an uber-expensive kickstand) also won’t work. We have since installed a PDW Power Stance center mount kickstand (order here) with lock tight and it is working for my customer with his 8-year-old but this is still a huge fail for making this bike one I would readily recommend for my kid-hauling customers.

Other Things Worth Mentioning

Say No to Two Yepp Seats – Surly did not design the rear deck for mounting 2 Yepp seats, only one.

Say Yes to the Kid Corral – A great kid (or container) holding device. I like how it is modular but I wish it was modular without requiring unbolting on the deck.

Bags Scratch the Kids – I LOVE the Surly bags (full review on these later) but the velcro strips run inside of the bag if you have them folded on themselves as many people use them with kids. The velcro is the scratchy side of the velcro and I’ve heard from many kids about how it hurt them during test rides. I would personally just put some fabric on the velcro on the inside.

No Longer Xtracycle Compatible – The original Xtracycle Big Dummy non-electric bike was designed around the Xtracycle platform and accessories. The Big Easy is a big step away from that as you can see with their cargo deck and accessories. I don’t think it is necessarily bad as long as Surly keeps their accessories in stock. Some things will certainly work like bags, and pads.

They Forgot the Pedals – yep, this bike doesn’t come with pedals so budget $16-45 ($45 gets you my favorites!)

Who Should Try the Surly Big Easy?

Obviously anyone interested in a cargo bike should give this a chance but I’ve narrowed down who I think the ideal Surly Big Easy customer could be.

You want an electric, cargo, adventure making machine.

You are tall. The size large surly fits some of my 6’2-6’6 customers well (Depending on your leg to torso)

You want to use the Surly Trailer systems with a cargo bike.

You are a Surly diehard.

Conclusion

Surly, get a center-mounted dual kickstand that adjusts for the tire range people are going to use with this bike (make it an add on accessory for a reasonable price), design for 2 YEPP seats, move the 2nd battery mount, and add lights but keep the $5,000 price tag and you will have ringer!

This is a good first electric intro for the Surly brand. It’s not my recommendation for hauling 2-3 kids around for anyone under 5’8 (it sits up tall off the ground), if your kids can’t sit still (kickstand) or if you need a step-thru bike but if you are in the cargo bike market I would certainly give this one a try!