Xtracycle EdgeRunner 10E Review

Xtracycle is a neat company, they started making bicycle accessories around 1995 and found success with the “Free Radical”, a metal add-on that extends normal bike frames – transforming them into utilitarian cargo bikes. From there, they developed a complete cargo bike that didn’t require the add-on piece and ultimately expanded their accessories to include running board style foot rests, child seat bars, bags, seat pads and even a side-car platform thing. Fast forward to 2013 when they were experimenting with electric bike conversion options (using BionX or 8Fun motors) and then in late 2014 / 2015 they introduced a truly purpose built electric cargo bike leveraging the premium Bosch Centerdrive system. I saw this bike for the first time at Interbike, as shown in the video review above, and was truly impressed. I think this product was the highlight of the show for many ebike enthusiasts and I know several who plan on buying it for their own daily use. It’s just so practical (it could literally replace a car for daily use depending on your lifestyle) but also comfortable thanks to the chromoly steel frame, semi swept back handlebars, ergonomic grips and larger tires.

Note that you can still get the BionX powered Xtracycle 27D and the benefits there are variable speed throttle, quieter drive system, more gears (it’s a 27 vs. 10 speed) and regenerative braking with four levels of regen mode. The Bosch powered 10E really shines when riding extended distances and attacking hills but both have removable battery packs, excellent LCD panels (also removable) and a solid three year frame warranty with two year motor and battery. All of the same Xtracycle accessories can be shared between the two of them as well.

The motor on the Extracycle Edge Runner 10E is a second generation Bosch Centerdrive. It offers 350 watts of power with an impressive 60 Newton meters of torque output! In layman terms, that’s 50% more torque than most standard hub motor powered electric bikes. Some of the advantages of this mid-drive setup vs. a hub motor like the BionX edition mentioned earlier are front and rear quick release wheels (easier to repair flats), lower center of gravity on the bike vs. rear hub and improved operational efficiency. Since the motor basically helps you pull the chain and there’s a 10 speed cassette in the rear, climbing and maintaining higher speeds both become easier as and the motor as you shift gears. That’s why this bike is such a great climber or hauler and it’s also why the expected range is so high even though the battery pack is fairly standard sized. The motor activates and de-activates super fast as illustrated in the video review and that’s because it’s responding to how hard you push on the pedals, how fast you pedal and also how fast the bike is moving.

Powering this ebike is a removable, Lithium-ion battery pack that’s mounted low and center on the frame. One gripe is that there’s nowhere to easily mount a water bottle on the downtube due to the space being taken but given all of the other attachment points, that’s not a huge deal and you could always use a seat post mounting cage given the longer exposed surface required by the mid-step frame. So the battery offers 36 volts of power and 11 amp hours of capacity which is estimated to last for upwards of 60 miles on the lowest assist level given flat, paved surfaces. It’s an impressive claim and actually quiet accurate. Being removable, the pack is easier to store and charge inside and that’s good for two reasons: the bike frame is so large it might not fit inside your house as easily as a traditional frame and batteries wear out less quickly when you store them in neutral temperatures. They also benefit from being topped off every few months (I tend to top mine off after every couple of rides to stay above 50%).

The LCD display unit is also removable on this bike and experiences the same benefits as the batteries (except for being charged because it doesn’t require batteries and simply runs off the main system instead which is nice). I love how large the display itself is, showing your speed, battery capacity and current assist level at all times. It’s backlit for easy use at night and has four buttons that let you turn the system on, change display output, reset menus and activate lights. While the EdgeRunner 10E does not include lights as standard, you can upgrade to wired-in Busch & Müller Luxos LED units for a bit extra. Operating the main drive unit (changing assist levels) is very easy using the tactile button pad mounted near the base of the left grip. It’s simple, within reach (even without taking your hand off the grip) and has a nice click action that signals activation so you don’t have to look down while riding. I found myself riding in the two lowest assist levels during the demo but it’s nice to have a “turbo” setting for big hills or starting out when the bike is completely loaded with weight (perhaps kids).

The biggest benefits of any Xtracycle are all of the cool the accessories they offer and it’s great that they’re compatible across models. We showed off the sidecar and front porteur rack in the video review but there are also U-Tube foot supports, Hooptie child rails (that keep fingers safe), X1 cargo bags, foot stirrups, and a pad that can mount to the “flight deck” area in the rear for more comfortable sitting. Even though this bike doesn’t have a suspension fork or big padded saddle, the larger tires, longer wheelbase and steel frame provide a lot of comfort. I think I also tend to ride slower with a cargo bike so that might be part of what makes it feel comfortable. There are quite a few electric cargo bikes starting to come out but so far this is the only Bosch powered option I’ve seen. I think that says a lot about Xtracycle because Bosch is a very large, well respected company that will only partner with brands it has sort of “checked out” for quality. The Xtracycle EdgeRunner 10E may resemble the Yuba elMundo electric bike that costs a bit less, and in fact the founder of that company used to work at Xtracycle, but they only offer the rear drive design at this time and have different rack systems. At the end of the day you could probably save a few bucks by purchasing a more basic Bosch powered bicycle and adding the Free Radical from Xtracycle but that would take a lot of work, weigh more and be less rigid. Another option would be to add a Burly Trailer to any normal ebike for hauling kids or gear but those aren’t exactly free and they take space as well. Ultimately, there’s something beautiful about the EdgeRunner design and frankly, given the high quality components, excellent warranty and two frame sizes I think it can be well worth the extra cash depending on your needs.

Pros:

• Durable chromoly steel frame balances stiffness and strength (up to 350 pounds of carrying capacity) with vibration dampening qualities that smooth out the ride
• Lots of mounting points for racks and accessories (Xtracycle or generic third party), works great with Yepp child seats
• Standard 26″ front wheel steers well, has a high attack angle for overcoming cracks and bumps and smooths out the ride while rear 20″ wheel positions rack lower for loading and balance while creating mechanical advantage for climbing
• Bosch drive system provides excellent power, balance and range with 60+ miles using the lowest assist level on flat, paved terrain
• Removable battery pack is easy to charge and store safely off of bike (given the size of the bike, it might not fit inside like other ebikes), additional batteries could be carried along for increased range
• Two frame sizes for improved fit, mid-step design is easier to stand over when stopped and fits riders with shorter inseam
• Large sturdy kickstand keeps the bike stable for loading (probably the best cargo bike kickstand I’ve seen) and the front porteur rack connects directly to the head tube so it doesn’t turn when you steer the bike
• Optional X1 Cargo bags are super versatile with built in drains, over eight attachment points (so they don’t flap around), removable outer covers, optional stirrups for use as foot rests and a mesh inner for smaller items
• Ergonomic grips are nice, hydraulic disc brakes provide great stopping power and don’t tire your hands and fingers out

Cons:

• Longer chain has more travel and might benefit from an extra sprung gear to lift it up and avoid slapping the chain stay
• More expensive premium offering, there are other electric cargo bikes for less and you could get a normal Bosch powered ebike and pull a Burly Trailer, the Xtracycle accessories also add up but are very high quality
• No water bottle cage mounting point in front triangle due to battery pack mounting position, consider an add-on for the seat post or handle bars
• The 10E has 17 fewer speeds than the 27D that uses the BionX rear hub, this is because it only has one front ring, for regular use I found this to be a decent number

Resources:

• Official Site: http://www.xtracycle.com/
• More Pictures: https://goo.gl/photos/mgAj4N7b1CBvXWSs7