The Mundo has been a popular cargo bike for many years and Yuba is known for their wide range of accessories. They innovate quickly and get new products and features to market before competitors like Xtracycle but this has caused a few issues. The El Mundo stands for “electric” Mundo and this was the first ebike they put out. The first version used a proprietary front mounted hub motor and battery pack that I was not a big fan of but the latest version uses BionX drive systems that work a lot better. Make sure you’re not accidentally buying that one (unless you are getting a great price). The new elMundo works quite well with a stronger motor and battery, more speeds and regenerative braking.
Driving this ebike is a 350 watt gearless direct drive motor mounted to the rear wheel. That’s exactly where you want the power considering the large rack built for hauling cargo, kids and basically anything you can strap down! The motor is designed for high torque applications and climbs pretty well, while 350 watts doesn’t sound like a lot it gets the job done and if you join in using pedal assist mode it works even better. My favorite part about this motor being gearless is that it features regenerative braking and regen modes for sending electricity back to the battery pack when coasting down larger hills. If you’ve already got a Mundo and want to go electric, you can actually add this or other BionX kits yourself aftermarket and indeed, it’s one of my favorite conversion kits around.
The real powerhouse on this bike is the battery pack which offers 48 volts of power and 8.8 amp hours of capacity. Most ebikes these days use 36 volt packs so that extra 12 volts does quite a bit in the way of torque. The pack locks to the frame, is removable and can be charged on or off the bike. I have heard that BionX had some issues with their 48 volt packs in early 2013 but has worked to address them. Just keep this in mind when buying the bike (hold on the the receipt, boxes etc.) so you can get support if needed. The pack itself uses Lithium-ion technology which is light weight and good for over 1,000 charges before degrading substantially. You could easily get another pack for extended range or replacement and it will mount just the same as the original.
The ride quality of this bike is average, there aren’t any shocks but the curved handle bars and larger tires absorb some of the bumps. I like the two-tone brown and black color scheme on the grips and seat now. The trigger shifters are easy to reach and use, making it easier to get a solid grip when pedaling with a large load vs. a twist throttle design. The BionX LCD computer display is one of my favorites, showing four modes of assist, regen and lots of other stats such as speed, distance and battery capacity. It’s easy to learn and even includes a little break-out trigger for throttle mode. Keep in mind however, you have to be pedaling at least 2 miles per hour before the throttle will engage.
I like the fun style of this bike and the accessories are neat but it can really add up in terms of cost. Everything from the running boards, wood seat, leg guards, bars, pads and racks all cost extra. That makes sense and reduces waste but can get pretty expensive. I’ve heard the company is pretty responsive and they have actually reached out to me directly on several occasions so it’s nice to know you’ll get support if needed. I’m glad they have focused on working the kinks out of this system and it would be a solid choice for a family with kids or someone looking for more utility in a commuter bike. It’s a bit heavy for transporting on a car or bus (and obviously oversized) but easy enough to lock up at bike racks and again, the balance of the motor and battery pack keeps weight low to the ground and adds stability.
A sturdy, reliable, non-flexy, front loading electric cargo bike with plenty of accessories to transport kids or even other adults, rated to haul over 330lbs. Highly visible with reflective tires and integrated LED lights, great fenders and chain protector...
A powerful, well balanced and feature-rich electric cargo bike from Yuba, it offers a wide range of accessories and mounting points for hauling gear, passengers or children. Purpose built frame with internally routed cables, inset battery mount, high-clearance motor interface and smaller…...
A smooth but powerful electric-assist cargo bike with optional boost button to make starting from standstill easier. Compatible with a wide assortment of accessories including child seats, cargo racks, running boards and…...
Comfortable to ride with many options for child seats, racks and accessories. High end BionX motor, controller and battery system offers pedal assist, throttle and regenerative braking...
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