Riese and Muller Load 60: Specs
Weight: 83 kilos
Gross weight ranking: 441 kilos
Motor: Bosch Cargo Line Speed
Max help pace: 28mph
Battery: Bosch PowerPack 500 Performance, 36V, 13.4Ah/500Wh
Max vary: N/A
Charge time: 4.5 hours
Drivetrain: Enviolo with Gates Carbon Drive
Front suspension: 70mm
Rear suspension: 80mm
E-cargo bikes can operate as a complement to your automotive. Riese and Mūller’s Load 60 Vario HS is supposed to exchange your automotive altogether, and the worth tag displays that. At greater than $10,000 earlier than configuration, the Load 60 sits on the absolute prime of the worth spectrum for e-cargo bikes.
With that benchmark, the Load 60 must outperform all different e-cargo bikes within the class to justify its value. In order to do this, Riese and Mūller has made the Load 60 as versatile as potential — and as snug as potential.
The end result is likely one of the finest electrical bikes that’s finest for riders who really intend to exchange an vehicle with a cargo bike. It’s no discount, however the Load 60 has few, if any, true flaws.
Riese and Muller Load 60 Vario HS review: Price and availability
The Load 60 Vario HS begins at $10,449 earlier than you configure it with further equipment. The bike I examined prices $12,315 after added equipment and upgrades.
You can configure your Load 60, and select from numerous Load 60 fashions (which begin at $9,329 for the Load 60 Touring) on the Riese and Mūller web site. Once you’ve acquired your bike configured, you possibly can ship a purchase order request to the corporate. An area seller will then attain out to you to substantiate your construct and full the acquisition.
Riese and Mūller gives a seller locator on its web site so you will discover the seller closest to you.
Riese and Muller Load 60 Vario HS review: Design
The Load 60 Vario HS differs from most of its competitors by including each entrance and rear suspension. The suspension fork comes from SR Suntour and affords 70mm of journey, whereas the rear shock comes from X-Fusion and affords 80mm of journey.
Like most cargo bikes, the Load 60 Vario HS comes with two different-sized wheels. The rear wheel is 26 inches, whereas the entrance wheel is 20 inches. Both are wrapped in Schwalbe tires supposed for metropolis driving, although you possibly can improve to knobby tires in the event you intend to trip off-road steadily.
My take a look at bike got here constructed with a Bosch Cargo Line Speed motor and a Bosch PowerPack 500 battery. My take a look at bike additionally got here with a spare battery mounted simply behind the cargo field — an choice that added $1,166 to the general value.
The motor connects to an Enviolo internally geared rear hub by way of a Gates Carbon Drive belt relatively than a extra conventional chain. This makes the general operation very clean and quiet. You can management the internally geared hub utilizing the shifter mounted on the precise facet of the handlebar. It is just not listed shifting, which suggests the resistance modifications as you flip the shifter, relatively than clicking into place.
My Load 60 Vario HS got here with a Bosch Nyon head unit mounted simply above the stem. It’s full coloration and affords all the knowledge you want on the fly, like battery vary, pace, help degree, and extra.
Other nifty equipment embrace a rear rack, built-in entrance and back lights, and a startlingly loud horn that is useful whenever you’re driving in automotive visitors.
As the identify implies, the cargo field on the Load 60 Vario HS is 60cm (about 24 inches) lengthy. You can carry as much as a complete of 441 kilos on the bike (rider’s weight included). The cargo field could be configured in numerous methods to fit your wants; you’ll configure your setup on the web site. My take a look at bike got here with excessive sidewalls and a tough cowl, which locks on the rear of the field.
Riese and Muller Load 60 Vario HS review: Performance
I anticipated the Load 60 Vario HS to ship one thing of a bouncy trip, given the entrance and rear suspension. But that wasn’t the case in any respect. The suspension feels tuned to the load of the bike and rider, which suggests you’re left with a clean trip that doesn’t go away you with the bouncing-Cadillac really feel.
The Load 60 Vario HS is a pleasure to trip and handles in addition to bikes half its measurement.
Do I want suspension? Not actually, nevertheless it certain does make the trip tremendous snug. In truth, I’d go as far as to say the Load 60 is probably the most snug cargo bike I’ve ridden up to now. If you’ll be driving on tough roads, or off-road, the suspension would possibly very effectively be definitely worth the funding.
But additionally remember that extra shifting components means extra potential for repairs and upkeep. Since the body and fork each want to maneuver steadily, the bike itself contains a extra complicated design, with pivots and bushings. These can put on out over time, so that you’ll want to contemplate future upkeep prices right here.
The dealing with too feels finest in school. The turning radius is pretty tight for such an enormous bike, and your steering enter interprets to line modifications rapidly and simply. This could possibly be because of the very low heart of gravity. The Load 60 Vario HS is a pleasure to trip and handles in addition to bikes half its measurement.
The Bosch motor carried out precisely in addition to I’ve come to anticipate from all Bosch motors. It affords help speeds as much as 28mph, and it was not a wrestle in any respect to rise up to those speeds on flat terrain. I spent most of my time within the Tour mode, which supplied greater than sufficient energy to get me up some steep inclines. If I had been driving absolutely loaded, I’d have opted as a substitute for the Turbo mode to get me up the steeper pitches.
The bike operates remarkably quietly. That’s due largely to the Gates Carbon Drive belt system, and the internally-geared Enviolo shifting. The shifting means that you can tailor your cadence completely, for the reason that shifting is just not listed. Instead, the resistance modifications barely as you flip the shifter with no clunks into completely different gears.
The Load 60 Vario HS’s horn is tremendous loud and straightforward to activate utilizing the thumb button on the handlebars. It’s supreme in the event you’re driving totally on roads with automotive visitors. It will scare the daylights out of individuals in the event you’re on the bike path, although. This is a fairly clear indication the place Riese and Mūller thinks you’ll use this bike, and who you’ll encounter alongside the way in which. And the bike is certainly an ideal device for automotive alternative, notably in cities.
The Load 60 is probably the most snug cargo bike I’ve ridden up to now.
Riese and Mūller’s accent selections additionally hit an almost good be aware. The kickstand is mounted simply beneath the cargo space and is straightforward to entry, straightforward to deploy, and straightforward to stow. The built-in lights are brilliant and well-positioned, and an built-in lock across the rear wheel makes parking the bike safely a snap.
I would favor a bit extra cargo area, notably if I used to be working a enterprise and needed to do a variety of deliveries. Fortunately, Riese and Mūller affords the bigger Load 75, which extends the cargo space by 15cm.
My take a look at bike got here with a hardshell cargo cowl. It folds on itself so you possibly can entry the contents of the cargo field, and it locks on the rear of the field too. It’s a helpful improve that gave me some peace of thoughts once I left the bike parked out on the sidewalk.
Riese and Muller Load 60 Vario HS review: Battery life and vary
My take a look at bike got here with two batteries. The second is a spare mounted behind the cargo field. On my first trip, I went 14 miles on largely flat terrain, and I spent nearly all of time within the Tour mode.
According to the battery show, I began with about an 80% cost, and I ended round 76%. The show instructed me I may trip for one more 55 miles or so on this battery’s cost.
Riese and Mūller doesn’t give a selected most vary for the Load 60 Vario HS. Instead, you need to use the vary calculator on the web site to get a way of how a lot vary you possibly can anticipate given the particular terrain and how you intend to make use of the bike.
Riese and Muller Load 60 Vario HS review: Accessories
There are a number of purpose-built equipment for the Load 60 Vario HS. You will select one of the best ones for you throughout the configuration course of on the web site.
Accessories vary from further batteries, locks, and head unit upgrades, as much as bigger gadgets like youngster seats for the cargo space and hardshell covers. You can even select your sidewall choices; you possibly can go for low sidewalls and an open cargo space, or excessive sidewalls with a toddler rain cowl, or excessive sidewalls with a hardshell prime.
Accessory costs vary wherever from $59 for tire upgrades, as much as virtually $1,200 for added batteries.
Riese and Muller Load 60 Vario HS review: The competitors
Most of the Load 60 Vario HS’s competitors doesn’t characteristic any form of suspension. In that sense, the Load 60 stays fairly distinctive.
Its closest rivals embrace Yuba’s TremendousCargo, Urban Arrow’s Family, and Bunch Bikes The Original.
The Load 60 is vastly dearer than its competitors; the Yuba TremendousCargo, for instance, prices round $6,000, and is likely one of the finest e-cargo bikes on the market.
The Load 60 is extra snug, thanks largely to the entrance and rear suspension. And the Load 60’s dealing with is barely extra responsive and fairly a bit extra secure than the TremendousCargo. But the TremendousCargo affords loads of hauling capabilities for hundreds of {dollars} much less.
Riese and Muller Load 60 Vario HS review: Verdict
The Load 60 Vario HS makes a really robust case as one of the best e-cargo bike available on the market. The solely factor holding it again is its large price ticket. You can definitely get an equally succesful e-cargo bike for hundreds of {dollars} much less.
But the Load 60 Vario HS additionally affords an exceptionally snug trip, best-in-class dealing with, and super-quiet operation. It’s versatile, enjoyable to trip, and able to driving on tough terrain. This is really a car-replacement choice; in the event you’re after an e-cargo bike to enrich your automotive, you will discover a superb choice for much less cash. But if that is going to be your major mode of transportation, the Load 60 Vario HS is an distinctive alternative.