Winther Cargoo E-Assist Bike - Nexus 5
Winther
SKU: CARGOO-BK-DS-DS
If the Danes are known for their clever product design, they are also known for their remarkable engineering. The Winther Cargoo embodies this perfectly with clever plug-and-play seating that grows with your family. The Cargoo is designed by none other than Lars Malmborg, the "Larry" of Denmark's Larry versus Harry Bullitt Bike fame, and the engineering has the same flawless fit as Lego - also Danish!
When talking about cargo bikes, it's important to discuss safety first. The Winther Cargoo is a trike, meaning that it is on three wheels rather than two, and that makes it very very stable, especially in cities where bike lanes are mere paint on the road. This stability is critical, but then again: so is handling. Like the Babboe trikes, the Winther steers using a pivot under the box, meaning the wheels are part of the box, and it's the box itself that steers. But unlike Babboe - who employ heavy marine-grade wood - the Winther uses lightweight ABS plastic, meaning you can handle highly contingent traffic situations with highly reactive handling.
Why ABS plastic? Again, the reason is safety. All the European bikes we import are subject to extensive impact testing, so that the box isn't something that just stores cargo, but can sustain huge impacts that will keep your cargo safe. But, there's much more to say about the box. This is where the Lego-like engineering and ergonomics show some clever modularity. Have a baby? You can insert a Weber baby seat, or a Maxi Cosi adaptor that fits most car seats. Have two babies? No problem! Have a baby and one child, or two children, or even four children? The Winther Cargoo can shape-shift the inside of its impact-resistant box to safely transport your growing family.
Different cargo options - kids, groceries, babies, dogs - mean that the weight of a cargo bike is constantly changing. That's why an electric assist is critical. The Winther Cargoo uses the Shimano E6100 motor, which is amazing for quality and rapid after-sales assistance. The motor is a variable assist, which means it increases power up hills and fades to the background when you're doing OK on your own. The Shimano motor is paired to Shimano's Nexus 5 internal gear hub - the only hub on the market built to sustain the torque of an electric assist - and this is furthermore paired to "Di2" electronic shifting; which means no more frozen cables in winter!
Like all of the cargo bikes we sell, the Winther is made for all-season riding. The internal gears are sealed from snow, slush and salt. The hydraulic discs also can't freeze in winter, and the aluminum frame is naturally rust-resistant. So, whether you store it in the snow or ride it in the snow, the Winther is your all-season, do-it-all cargo bike. Perfect as a 'second car' or your 'only car'!
- Questions? Book a consultation with one of our Cargo Bike experts
- Lightweight ABS box that absorbs impacts
- Tons of plug-and-play seating options that grow with your family
- Shimano E6100 motor with 250w continuous output and 60nm of torque
- Shimano 418W Lithium-Ion Battery will take you up to 80km on a single charge
- Shimano Nexus 5 hub is sealed from weather, low maintenance, and made for e-assist systems!
- Shimano Di2 Electric Shifting is exact, accurate and works all winter
- Powerful hydraulic disc brakes for all weather confident braking
-
Tough rust-resistant aluminum frame with chip-resistant powder-coated finish
-
Integrated powerful LED lighting system
- Fully enclosed chain guard to keep clothing looking fresh
- Maximum Capacity: 200kg (Box=100kg, Rider=100kg)
| WINTHER CARGOO |
|
|---|---|
| FRAME | 6061 Aircraft Grade Aluminum Main Frame, Steel Front Frame |
| BOX | Impact-resistant ABS plastic |
| DRIVE UNIT | Shimano E6100 with 65nm of torque |
| BATTERY | Shimano 418W - 36v |
| COMPUTER | Shimano E6100 |
| COMPUTER MODES | Speed, Battery capacity (%), Average speed, Maximum speed, Trip meter, Odometer, Range, Cadence, Clock |
| MAX ASSISTED SPEED | 32kmh |
| RANGE ESTIMATE | 35 - 80 km |
| CHARGE TIME |
0-80% - 2 Hours 0-100% - 4 Hours |
| HEADSET | Sealed |
| STEM | N/A |
| HANDLEBAR | Alloy |
| GRIPS | Foam |
| SEATPOST | Alloy |
| SEAT | Selle Royale |
| BRAKES | Tektro Hydraulic disc (2xFront, 1xRear) |
| BRAKE LEVERS | Tektro Hydraulic |
| SHIFTER | Shimano Di2 electric shifting |
| FRONT HUB(S) | Sealed alloy, disc |
| REAR HUB | Shimano Nexus 5 |
| SPOKES | Stainless steel, 36H, 13G |
| RIMS | Double Walled - Alloy |
| TIRES | Schwalbe Marathon Plus 26x2.00 (rear), Marathon Plus 20x2.00(front) |
| BOTTOM BRACKET | Shimano Sealed |
| CRANKS | Shimano Forged, 42T, 165mm |
| COGSET | Shimano 22T |
| PEDALS | Steel axle, resin top |
| RACK | Shimano Battery Rack |
| FENDERS | Lightweight Chromoplastics |
| LOCK | Abus Cafe Lock |
| LIGHTING | Integrated LED lighting |
| KIDS STEP | Multiple Step Ups & Mouse Holes |
| SEAT BELTS | Dual Three Point Harnesses |
| BENCHES | Many plug-and-play options |
| BIKE DIMENSIONS | 216cm L x 85cm W x 110cm H |
| BOX DIMENSIONS | +/- 86 x 70 x 45 (steering side) / 39 (front) cm |
| RIDER CAPACITY | 100kg |
| BOX CAPACITY | 100kg |
| WEIGHT |
| WINTHER CARGOO | FROM | TO |
|---|---|---|
| 5' 4" | 6' 4" |
Will this take up a lot of space on the road?
Not really, most bike lanes are 1.5 – 2 meters wide and the Winther is only 86cm wide, leaving plenty of room for other transport users to pass.
Two-wheeled or three-wheeled?
It really comes down to how much of a learning curve you’re OK with. Trikes like the Winther have the lowest learning curve since they are remarkably stable and feature highly intuitive steering. Two-wheeled bikes don’t have the stability of the third wheel so they build stability through a long wheelbase (Bullitt bikes are the exception here). This requires a bit of a learning curve, especially when riding at slow speeds since the bike can feel a bit wobbly. But, the advantage of a two-wheeled is that it’s terrific for longer rides (less drag) and it feels the most like a regular bike (if that matters).
Why 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. 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.
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 update-able, diagnosable, and if something does break, fundamentally repairable.
How does this compare to other three wheeled cargo bikes?
It really comes down to steering. There are three types of steering for trikes: pivot steering, independent steering, and tilt steering. Tilt steering can be found on performance bikes like the Butchers and Bicycles MK1E and is designed for high speed cornering. Independent steering is found on bikes like Nihola. This is designed for highly reactive handling in cities, but isn't designed for high speed cornering because Nihola would view high-speed cornering in the city as fundamentally unsafe (they have a point). Winther uses pivot steering. This isn't quite as reactive as Nihola steering, but in the case of Winther, it's pretty darn close. Pivot steering means that the whole box steers rather than just the wheels. Most Dutch bikes use pivot steering but also use heavy wood boxes, making the handling feel quite heavy. The lightweight ABS plastic box on the Winther makes for handling very much on par with Nihola models and many of our customers have said they can't tell the difference.
So, why wouldn't I buy a Nihola e-assist?
Excellent question! If Nihola built an electric-assist that used mid-drive motors from blue chip companies like Shimano, Yamaha or Bosch then it would arguably be the better of the two bikes for handling (but only by a very small margin). But, Nihola chooses to use aftermarket kits on their bikes, which can't compete for quality or for after-sales service. When buying an e-assist bike it is important to remember that one day, something will go wrong, and that quick access to diagnostics and replacement parts is critical. So, while it is arguable that Winther doesn't have quite the handling as Nihola - again, by a small margin - the Shimano motor on the Winther is very attractive, as is the highly modular box, as is the lighter aluminum frame.
Can I store it outside?
You bet! All Winther bikes are built for perpetual outdoor storage. The aluminum frames are naturally rust-resistant and yet are still coated with a super-tough and chip-resistant powder-coat. And, all the mechanical parts are sealed inside the hubs.
What is the maintenance like?
Very low! Because the Winther uses internal gears and hydraulic 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 Winther makes a very clever adaptor that bolts to the bottom of the box (which features suspension to reduce strain). The other option is the Weber Baby Seat which is good for kids from 2-8 months (and takes up far less space).
Can I add more seats?
You sure can! You can get four kids on this bike!
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 years on Yamaha e-assist and one year on parts (including wood box). Does not include wear and tear
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