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Ditch the minivan for a Riese & Muller Load full-suspension, dual battery e-cargo bike

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Wouldn’t it be great if it was possible to get rid of the family minivan and replace it with a bike? While that doesn’t really seem like a logical or rather balanced substitution for the vast majority of people, the rise of the e-cargo bike is starting to make it a bit more realistic. Riese & Muller’s new Load e-cargo bike is one of the latest and most serious for replacing the car for short everyday trips. The full-suspension Load combines the hauling capacity to safely transport everything from groceries to a couple of kids with a e-bike assist motor with extended battery range that means that it can handle just about any of your regular errands. This could be a solid option if you are looking to break out of the car culture and spend some more time in the saddle on the daily commute…

Riese & Muller have been building their Load e-cargo bike in Weiterstadt, Germany for several years, but this dual-suspension e-assist cargo bike is getting more range for a new season of riding with a new dual-battery setup to expand its range. The Load also continues to expand in its modularity, with five different 250W Bosch Performance motor powered models to fit with a range of users, from the standard 25km/h limited pedal assists up to the more fast 45km/h limit S-Pedelecs bleeding farther into the motorbike category.

But no matter how fast you feel the need to go, it is really the doubled range with up to 1000Wh or battery storage and the modular cargo platform setups that define the versatility.

The Load has a few cargo box wall options & a low-profile waterproof tarpaulin cover, a protected double child seat with seatbelts, and infant seat fastening system, a weather-proof canopy child cover, a similar closed cargo cover, or a lightweight folding lockable box.

The Load has said to be a full suspension cargo bike to make it easier and more stable to haul heavy loads over rough roads keeping the rider more in control. (Sadly, it doesn’t seem like it is built really for a plush ride or for taking it off any sick jumps.) It also build in theft-proof security with a Abus Protectus 5000 rear wheel/frame lock that essentially immobilizes the thing since it is heavy enough to not go walking away on its own.

The Load comes in four frame colors – white, lime, cyan and matte black, plus a bit of accessory color customization. Each of the models starts with a Bosch motor and a single 500Wh battery, but can be upgraded with a second battery in parallel for 1000Wh of energy storage and twice the e-assist range.

The Load Light model is the lowest cost of entry, starting at 5000€, with several options available to keep adding on more premium drivetrain and accessories until you get up close to the price for a late model minivan.

R-M.de

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Chase
Chase
6 years ago

Wouldn’t it be great if it was possible to get rid of the family minivan and replace it with a bike?

Answer: No.

Fritz
Fritz
6 years ago
Reply to  Chase

Yes of course, cars are coffins!

Robert Bowers
Robert Bowers
6 years ago

Ahh, this is a good application of adding a motor to a bicycle. But it is still a motorsickle.

mtb4me
mtb4me
6 years ago

Ok in a straight line, but on urban roads/traffic…with your bairns in the front…? No nimble or evasive action can happen with this tank…bike path only, thanks! As to $ as well… at 5k Euros I’d buy a used Chrysler Caravan and still have my next years fuel paid for… Thinking Benno Boost!

faraday tesla
faraday tesla
6 years ago

Already noticed my Vanmoof ebike is capable of replacing one of our two cars.

So an e-cargo bike replacing a mini-van seems possible as well. Some of my European friends with families have been doing this for years with regular cargo bikes.

Price is also reasonable considering full coverage car insurance is at least $600 a year, plus gas, registration, repairs, tires. Perhaps $1000-$1500 a year? Maybe more with months garage parking? That’s at least 4 years to break even possibly sooner?

Or you can look a price this way, $5k for a used mini-van, or $5k for a bike. With an ebike, you are then saving at least $1500 a year in car operating costs.

Bob Ross
Bob Ross
6 years ago

Or get a Yuba Supermarche for $2600.

Kernel Flickitov
Kernel Flickitov
6 years ago

Education is overrated, isn’t it…

Fritz
Fritz
6 years ago

True! A friend of mine has no car/drivers license, three kids and two Bullitt cargo bikes (one with e-motor), easily affordable if you don’t spend the money on cars.

Noah Behnke
6 years ago

How about a model for hobos to swiftly transport aluminum cans to the recycler?

Joenomad
Joenomad
6 years ago

It appears that wearing jeans is mandatory when piloting one of these bicycles.

wrymacdawg
wrymacdawg
6 years ago

Why is that dog not wearing a helmet, or doggles??

BalwmereEmo
BalwmereEmo
6 years ago

Maybe someday soon the average ebike customer market will wake up to the $5k polished turds they’re buying.

Granted, it ain’t much different than most every other aspect of the “Industry;” still crazy the amount of garbage coming out with a motor.

Swiss style lettering on a China-omer or the Made in Germany stamp after welding the frame in Taiwan… Ah, cycling 101.

But, hey, it’s a motor.

Bjornen B
Bjornen B
6 years ago

Americans… So negative to everything that don’t have a big petrol engine. This is quality bikes and many European use this in the city’s for everything. You get faster from a to b. Tou get a workout. You save the environment and lots of money. How can that be wrong?

I guess in a country where you eat donuts for breakfast. 70% of the people are overweight. Roads are only made for cars. And you don’t give a shit about environment. I get it. Not for you.

Marc Smith
Marc Smith
5 years ago
Reply to  Bjornen B

thank you so right.

Krusty
Krusty
6 years ago

I’ve road tested the Bullitt, Douze & R&M Packster. I bike commute 10 miles daily but then do a lot of local pick up/drop off after work with car. Just one of my pick up trips is 5 miles round trip but takes 45 to 60 mins with traffic. With traffic, gas & maintenance, and good year round weather in Bay Area, I might end up getting one of these.

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