W hy an e-assist cargo bike?

Several reasons! First, you might carry a lot of weight up in the box, or second, you commute longer distances or have to deal with hills. When buying a cargo bike we recommend not always thinking about the short-distance errands that constitute most urban life, but also its use for all-day weekend adventures.

Why a mid-drive versus a front or rear drive?

Great question! The e-assist market started with front wheel drives about a decade ago. They weren’t great. On a wet day as you slowed down into a corner the computer might sense (wrongly) that you need a boost and suddenly you’re slipping off the bike while executing a turn. The rear-drive is much better, but is dominated by many unknown players (except Bionx, which is terrific). But, the big problem with rear-drives is that you are forced to use a derailleur system whereas a mid-drive allows for a low maintenance internal gear hub.  

How does this compare to other two-wheeled cargo bikes?

The Urban Arrow is the most evolved two-wheeled cargo bike on wheels and represents an intelligent re-think when it comes to materials. The frame is aluminum, which is 30% lighter than steel (and noticeable stiffer). Instead of using a heavy wood box, Urban Arrow uses an EPS foam box – the same high-impact stuff a certified bicycle helmet is made of. The Bosch system is quieter and more powerful than Shimano systems, and while it doesn’t have the same torque as Yamaha, the bikes lighter weight offsets this concern. Finally, the Urban Arrow is modular. Kids all grown up? You can convert it the Shorty model. Starting a business? You can convert it to the flatbed pickup model. 

What is this “Enviolo” system?

Enviolo is an American company that makes a super wide-range internal gear hub that is ‘infinitely variable,’ meaning you can roll the shifter forwards and backwards and there are no ‘clicks’ for gears. That means you can find the perfect gear for any terrain by twisting the shifter to exactly where you want it. It’s low maintenance and it’s really quite awesome. 

Can I use this bike for a business?
Absolutely! The Urban Arrow is great for business, whether in the Family mode (the EPS foam is great for cold drinks) or the Flatbed cargo mode. An e-assist is especially great if time is money. Email aaron@curbsidecycle.com if you’re interested in discussing a business solution. 

Can I store it outside?

You bet! All Urban Arrow bikes are built for perpetual outdoor storage. The aluminum frames are non-ferrous and therefore can’t rust. Moreover, they are coated with a super-tough and chip-resistant powder-coat. The gears are sealed in the rear hub and the powerful disc brakes use hydraulic fluid that won’t freeze (like many cables do) in the winter. If that sounds like you, Urban Arrow is pretty perfect. 

What is the maintenance like?
Very low! Because the Urban Arrow uses internal gears and low maintenance disc brakes the intervals between tune-ups are few and far between. We recommend oil on the chain and air in the tires every three weeks. 

Can I put a car seat inside?

You sure can. We recommend the Maxi Cosi brand since Urban Arrow makes a very clever adaptor that bolts to the bottom of the box (which features suspension to reduce strain).

Urban Arrow also makes a clever adapter to fit a YEPP Mini childseat once the kid is 8 months and up.  

Can I add more seats?

You sure can! Urban Arrow makes an extra bench that installs easily, bringing the kid count from two to four!

Does the battery lock to the bike?
Yep. That’s one expensive chunk of Lithium Ion. It locks on to the rack and only you can remove it with the key provided. 

How long does it take to charge the battery?

It takes five hours to charge the battery from flat to full, and there is no problem if you only charge the battery a little bit, halfway, or whatever. You’ll get over 1000 complete charges with the battery which is typically 5+ years of use before a replacement is required.  

Is the unit serviceable?

You bet it is. For years the e-assist market was dominated by small fly-by-night companies with good ideas and no balance sheet. The consumer took all the risk and were often left with technical assistance phone numbers that no longer worked. Today’s systems are made by huge players like Bosch, Yamaha, and Shimano – and they are sophisticated, which means they are updateable, diagnosable, and if something does break, fundamentally repairable. 

What’s the rear wheel lock good for?

The rear-wheel lock is a clever design built for short in-and-out errands where finding a locking-pole may take longer than the errand. The rear-wheel lock lets you momentarily lock the bike to itself. It’s great if you need to quickly dash in and out to grab a coffee or at the park having a picnic.  

This is expensive! Will it get stolen?

Estimates are that over 90% of bicycle theft is tied to cash-for-drugs and this (unfortunately) makes every bike a target. Make sure you buy a good U-lock or a chain and your bike will be safe. You can read more about bike theft here. 

What’s the warranty?

Five year warranty for manufacturer defects on frame and fork, Two-year on Bosch e-assist, Two-year on partsDoes not include wear and tear