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Welcome to Flywheel, a weekly exploration of owned and used micromobility. Each newsletter will highlight an observation of trends emerging in the industry and feature five of the most interesting vehicles/hardware in micromobility.

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The observation of the week breaks down cargo bike adoption and usage in the US by region. This week’s featured vehicles are a belt-drive commuter, a bakfiet, a emoped/ebike hybrid, a gravel ebike, and a cruiser-style utility bike.

Observation of the Week

Breaking down cargo bike adoption and usage by region

Earlier this month, CargoB, founded by Dorothy Fennell, launched the country’s first bikeshare program for cargo bikes in the greater Boston area. It’s a momentous milestone in the movement to make micromobility more mainstream in the US, and it’s one that’s long overdue.

Bikeshare services like Lyft Bikes (SF - Bay Area) and Citi Bikes (NYC) have been instrumental in driving the adoption of micromobility, and they are often the first exposure to electrified bikes and scooters for many people. This model is highly convenient for new riders nervous about ebike ownership, but it often becomes too expensive for frequent riders who then eventually opt to buy their own vehicles.

That being said, the bikeshare model is a super compelling option for cargo bikes. In the same way not everyone needs a pickup truck or van all the time, many people don’t need a cargo bike all the time. Bikeshare for cargo bikes offers the same flexibility and convenience that U-Haul does for vans: get a bigger vehicle when you need to haul lots of cargo, and rely on your smaller commuter or utility vehicle for everything else in your day-to-day life.

To celebrate the launch of the nation’s first ever cargo bikeshare service and explore which cities such services should target next, this week’s Flywheel breaks down the adoption and usage of cargo bikes across the top 10 major US micromobility cities by digging into their secondary markets.

Cargo bikes currently make up a small (but growing) 2.21% of the total secondary micromobility market. A break down of used cargo bikes in the US by region:

The SF - Bay Area leads the way here, and approximately 34.4% of used cargo bikes across major US metros come from the Bay Area. Impressively, Denver is actually the second largest market for used cargo bikes despite having a smaller overall secondary ebike market than LA, Seattle, and NYC.

The US average resale price for used cargo bikes is $2,176.66. A break down of average resale price by region:

While the average resale price is relatively consistent across most regions, both Seattle and Miami are notable outliers. Seattle’s average resale price for used cargo bikes is almost $600 higher than the national average, while Miami’s average resale price for used cargo bikes is an astounding ~$1,850 less than the national average.

The average original retail price of cargo bikes currently in the secondary market is $3,358.88. A break down of these original MSRPs by region:

Riders in Seattle and Washington are buying the most expensive cargo bikes, which retail for ~$650 more than the national average MSRP. On the other hand, riders in Boston and Atlanta are buying markedly cheaper cargo bikes that cost almost $1,000 less than the national average MSRP.

A look at the average discounts off MSRP for used cargo bikes across the top 10 US micromobility regions:

Buyers in the Miami Area are getting the best deals, with the average used cargo bike there being listed for only 50% of its original MSRP. Buyers in Denver are getting the smallest discounts at ~18%.

The average mileage for a used cargo bike in the US is currently at 448.15mi. There’s a huge variance in the average mileage across different regions:

Cargo bikes in DC have an incredible average mileage that’s almost double the national average. Meanwhile, cargo bikes in Boston, LA, Atlanta, and Miami are all seeing far less usage than the national average.

And finally, the most popular cargo bike brands and models by region:

As expected, Rad Power and the RadWagon dominate the market. For the top 10 major US micromobility cities, the RadWagon is the most popular model in 4 of them. The most surprising brand on this list is Yuba, which is the most popular brand in 4 of the top 10 markets. Yuba is an underrated player in the cargo bike space. They make some of the highest quality cargo bikes in the market, and they use many of the same Bosch powertrains and other premium components as the more recognized dealer-network cargo brands like Riese & Müller or Tern.

It’s also worth noting that all of the most popular models above are longtail cargo bikes and not a single bakfiet (cargo bikes with a large front box) cracks the list. Longtails are a more common form factor here in the US, and they typically make more sense to own for the average rider because they’re cheaper, smaller, easier to maneuver, and a bit more approachable. However, bakfiets are the ultimate ebike for maximum cargo hauling, and any cargo bikeshare services should include them in their fleet. For instance, CargoB’s current fleet is made up of bakfiets from Urban Arrow.

For more observations and resources on owned and used micromobility, check out rideflywheel.com/resources.

Featured Vehicles of the Week

1. Rad Power RadKick | $1,399

Announced earlier this month, the Rad Power RadKick is a new budget class-2 commuter. Meant to be the affordable entry-level vehicle in Rad’s lineup, the RadKick seems to be the successor to the now discontinued RadMission. The RadKick is a single-speed belt drive ebike, and the first low-cost Rad that has a belt drive. It also comes in a 7-speed chain drive variant that costs $200 less, but the belt drive version is really the more interesting option as it’s one of the only ebikes in this price range to have a belt drive. The RadKick feels like a supercharged fixie, and, as Rad Power puts it, is “engineered to ride more like a standard bike while packed with the features and functionality Rad is known for.” Its powertrain features a 40Nm rear hub motor and a 360Wh battery pack, both of which are smaller than those found on other Rad Powers but help to bring the cost of the vehicle down. The battery is from Rad’s new SafeShield line of packs that have potted cells to reduce risk of thermal runaway, and the vehicle has been tested to both UL 2271 and UL 2849 certification standards. There’s even a torque sensor controlling the motor’s pedal assistance, which is another rare inclusion on a bike this cheap and combines with the belt drive to make it one of the smoothest riding budget bikes out there. Rounding out the RadKick are hydraulic disc brakes, a front suspension fork, a built-in rear rack, integrated lighting, and many more fan favorite Rad Power accessories. This model bucks the direction in which Rad Power has been trending over the past year or so. Many of their recently released models have been more expensive, higher-end ebikes, so the RadKick is a welcome callback to what made the brand so popular in the first place. The RadKick is available for pre-order online and is expected to begin shipping in September. Listing can be found here.

2. Riese & Müller Load 60 vario HS | $7,000 | Seattle

The Riese & Müller Load 60 is a high-end class-3 bakfiet cargo bike. Bakfiets aren’t a common form factor in the US, but they’re the most like-for-like replacement for a minivan or pickup truck and are perfectly suited for families given their large front cargo boxes. R&M’s Load 60 line is one of the most luxurious bakfiet options in the market and has all the most premium components you can imagine. The Load 60 line has 6 configurations, ranging from an “entry” level Load 60 touring with a chain drive to the ultra-premium Load 60 rohloff HS with a belt drive and 14-speed transmission. This listing is for a Load 60 vario HS, which is one of the middle options in the lineup that features the most powerful motor found on a Load 60. Its powertrain consists of an 85Nm Bosch Performance Line speed mid-drive motor and a 500Wh Bosch PowerPack, and is paired with an Enviolo 280 continuously variable transmission. This combination of drive parts makes the Load 60 vario HS both buttery smooth to ride and extremely low maintenance. Another notable highlight of the Load 60 is its full suspension system, which includes both a front fork and a rear shock. Particularly given this vehicle’s max payload of 440lbs, this suspension is an extremely useful addition that helps absorb bumps and keep the vehicle stable when riding. For those interested in similar options, check out the Urban Arrow Family lineup which features both comparable specs and pricing. This listing is a 2021 model and has less than 100 miles on its odometer. Listing can be found here.

3. Honda Cub e | $2,199 | SF - Bay Area

The Honda Cub e is a class-2 emoped that is really an ebike in disguise. Built off the famed Honda Cub motorcycle line (the best selling motorized vehicle of all time), the Cub e shares many visual similarities to its predecessors but doesn’t have nearly the same performance or oomph as the OG Cubs. It was designed as a vehicle for kids and younger customers riding in dense urban environments, and it’s currently only available for the Chinese market. Its powertrain features a limited 16Nm 400W Sundiro Honda hub motor but makes up for it with an impressive 960Wh long range battery pack. The Cub e is technically classified as an ebike. As such, its max speed is limited to 25km/h (15.5mph) and it has pedals which are functional but not very useful (as is the case with most vehicles of this form factor). The Cub e is heavy (~118lbs), but its plush 17” tires and front fork should make it easy to maneuver and comfortable to ride. This vehicle reminds me of the Segway C80, which is a similar underpowered ebike masquerading as an emoped. The C80 is quite a bit more expensive, but it does have a higher performance powertrain and better software/smart electronics features. This listing is brand new and was recently shipped to the US. Listing can be found here.

4. Ride1Up Gravel Roadster V2 | $1,000 | Boston

The Ride1Up Gravel Roadster V2 is a stealthy single-speed class-3 gravel bike. It only weighs 34lbs, which combined with its compact 40Nm hub motor and 252Wh battery pack (made of Samsung cells) that is sleekly integrated into the frame make the vehicle look and feel like it’s not even electrified. The Gravel Roadster V2 has a max speed of 24mph. While this is lower than the 28mph legal max of class-3 ebikes, most class-3 users report that they rarely go above ~24mph as that’s all that is necessary to keep up with cars in traffic on most urban streets. The Gravel Roadster V2 is a modified version of the Roadster V2, which became hugely popular because of its similarities with fixie pedal bikes and subtle electrical components. It’s built on much of the same platform as the Roadster V2, but features several more gravel-friendly components like upgraded disc brakes, a Gates belt drive, and gravel tires for only $200 more. The Gravel Roadster V2 doesn’t have many of the premium mid-drive motors, multi-speed transmissions, or fancy carbon fiber frames that many other gravel ebikes do. However, at an MSRP of $1,245, it retails for only a fraction of the cost of its competitors while still offering an admirably performant ride. The Gravel Roadster V2 is completely out of stock on Ride1Up’s website, so this listing for one that was bought last December with only 344mi on its odometer is a rare find. Listing can be found here.

5. Ariel Rider C-Class | $1,195 | Seattle

The Ariel Rider C-Class is a cruiser-inspired class-2/class-3 utility bike. Cruisers often struggle with significant frame flex given their step-thru form factor, so the cruiser shape is rarely found on cargo-minded ebikes. The C-Class addresses this issue with reinforcement tubing in the mid-section of the frame, which makes it impressively stable and minimizes flex even when it is fully loaded to its 400lbs max payload capacity. Its powertrain features a 75Nm Dapu mid-drive motor and a 604.8Wh LG battery pack. Pedal assistance is determined by a torque sensor, but there’s also a twist-throttle for class-2 operations. This is a rare but excellent combination to have on an ebike, particularly for one designed to carry heavy payloads. There’s even a walk mode so that you can easily move around the relatively heavy (66lbs) ebike. Rounding out the C-Class is a 7-speed Shimano transmission and hydraulic disc brakes. There’s no suspension, but the vehicle’s 26” X 2.35” ballon tires and cruiser finishings make it fairly comfortable to ride on regular roads. The C-Class was released back in 2018 and is no longer available new through Ariel Rider, so this listing for a C-Class with a mileage of 634.1mi and an upgraded suspension seat post is a great option for those looking for a comfortable and approachable cargo hauler. Listing can be found here.

That’s it for this edition. Thanks again for joining, see you next week!

- Puneeth Meruva