RFA

I wanted a bike (a) that could handle hauling kids and cargo at the same time, (b) ride reliably in light of ‘a’, and (c) from a brand with a solid track record of support. This has easily met all three conditions. I’ve watched a lot of people spend less for a very popular brand of ebike, and I’ve seen the frustration with parts not working and the lack of customer support, plus the noticeable difference in build quality (< something a friend with the aforementioned "popular ebike" commented on when we swapped bikes for a day). When you're hauling a lot of stuff, including humans, you do not want parts failing. I rely on this bike to do most things within 10 miles—it needs to work. And it does. Everyone skeptical of the value only needs to ride it around the block, and then they understand. I also use the Everyday Pack, the SlingSet, and the Porter Rack, all of which work wonderfully well with the RFA, though I wish the SlingSet had an option to cinch strap on the sides and not just over the top (I had a grocery bag slide out the back once).

There are just a few things I would nitpick:
1) Installing the kickstand is annoying, and it's the thing most likely to need regular attention, primarily because it gets the most abuse if you're regularly hauling a lot of stuff with all that weight leveraged back and forth. The kickstand works really well; I just end up needing to tighten it or adjust it every few weeks, and because of where the bolts attach, it's relatively difficult to do so. I may also just need to re-do the bolts with additional thread-lock(?)

2) The top of the chain runs pretty close to the rear stay, so there's a lot of chain slap, at least compared to my other bikes. I wrapped tape around the closest contact points, but it would likely destroy the paint very quickly without tape or a guard. It would be nice to see some kind of more durable protection strip preinstalled on the frame. I also admit this is probably because I ride over bumps carrying heavy loads regularly (and I have the white frame), so more careful riders on smoother streets would probably see less of this.

3) The front fender has two very minor design flaws: [1] it's a little too big for the fork, so it ends up scratching the interior paint ever so slightly, and [2] the front light is fairly wonky and flimsy, so it's hard to get it to line up correctly. Part of this may just be particular to my bike, which took a little knock in shipping (Xtracycle was GREAT about helping deal with any shipping damage, btw).

This bike is a game changer. I have a 10-mile commute to work which includes going over a big hill and our family also has 2 kids. I wanted to be able to bike to work instead of drive, but the hill and the frequent need to stop for groceries or pick up the kids from dance class on the way home etc. was limiting the practical ability to commute by bike. I tried a RFA at a local bike shop and ordered it on the spot. We had originally thought that my husband and I would share it since he thought he’d only want to use it on the weekends, but he quickly realized how fun and useful it is and wanted to have one to ride all the time as well. He test rode a number of other brands and models before settling on another RFA, which we bought directly from Xtracycle.
I cannot say enough good things about this bike. I’ve had my bike for 3 months and it has 1000 miles on it. I take it every day to work, and arrive wearing work clothes without breaking a sweat. I pick up groceries and 12 packs of beer and kids at dance class. We take the kids and their friends to the town beach, or playgrounds. It makes going places a LOT more fun with the kids without the traffic and parking and car seats – it makes the ride to the place part of the trip. It has completely transformed my commute and had a huge positive effect on my mental health. Especially having test ridden several competitors’ cargo bikes with kid-carrying ability, I can say that this is the most powerful, stable bike (and we tried about 4 other bikes) that still fits in our normal sized shed we tried by a lot. I can get 40 miles on highest assist on a single charge when commuting.
Xtracycle was a joy to work with. Marie-Claire was fantastic to work with, our bike arrived ready to ride as advertised on a pallet, and the communication has been wonderful. The company mission to promote everyday transportation is totally delivered on. Go for it, you will not be disappointed.

This is a really fun ride. The motor excels at hills and carrying loads. I love it. Me, my wife, and daughter can all fit on it for family adventures. This purchase was well worth it, and I’m looking forward to years of good riding on it. Medium size package works for my wife (5’4″) and me (6’3″).

We wanted to avoid purchasing a second car. I wanted to introduce my daughter to biking safely. We live at the top of a huge series of hills so the option of biking our daughter or any significant groceries etc was not an option with my regular commuter. The price was comparable to alternative brands. The customer service is great and the online community really talks up the brand. I was also impressed with the test rides. The pickup couldn’t have gone better. It was ready to go and I enjoyed doing the local pickup as I got to ask any pending questions at that time.

This bike has done everything I could hope. My daughters love it, and so do I. It is way more fun to do dropoff/pickup and explore new areas around us. We have been able to eliminate short car rides around home in an enjoyable way. All this and we live up a long and steep hill.

Just a note to share with anyone considering the purchase of an RFA. I had deliberated over this considerable purchase for quite a while. I’ve had my RFA for about 3 weeks and have clocked 125 miles. I also took what some may see as an extreme step and sold my car. I did this to ensure that I only had one mode of transport. I’m enjoying the RFA tremendously. Using an eBike as my only transport has exposed me to an entirely different world. I look forward to my daily jaunts and find that I’m more focused in the present. I’m enjoying the ride to my destination, watching the world slowly drift by. On a bike, one notices the world around them much more and that makes me feel more connected to my surroundings. I’m using it for everything including groceries, gym, coffee shops\restaurants and even big box stores. I stopped by a local nursery and picked up several plants, carefully placed them in my panniers and off I went. I also have the Snackbars and Magic Carpet. My 13 y.o. says she feels comfortable and safe on the back. When we ride 2up, I do notice her weight but the bike is so stout it doesn’t affect how the bike handles remaining secure and sure footed. The ergonomics of the RFA are exemplary. It has a comfortable and upright seating position. Handlebars position and the grips in particular are very comfortable. The wide grip supports my palm so well, alleviating fatigue on longer rides. I’m in a very hilly area and the Gen2 motor is more than capable. I do use eMTB and Turbo the most due to the gradients but even on the steepest of hills I’m seated and pedaling away comfortably while the assist is making all of the difference. It’s the perfect combination of human effort and electric assist. I get my workout, my heart rate is elevated and my legs are getting their workout but the assist elevates what was previously a painful slog into a smile-inducing ride. I could never do this on a traditional bike. More generally, there are many subtle benefits which I never thought of. I roll right up to my destination and lock up by the entrance. That’s the most ViP parking you can get! During high traffic times I’m moving more quickly than cars. I also find that I’m in a better mood and I am insulated from the aggressiveness that comes with driving. Overall, I find the RFA to be very well-made with great attention to detail. The frame is stout and the bike is confidence-inspiring. The hydraulic brakes are outstanding enabling me to stop quickly. This is very important when loaded with gear, groceries and loved ones. Customer service has been exemplary. If you’re thinking of an eCargo bike give Xtracycle your consideration. I’m quite certain you will be very pleased.

This RFA is our third e-cargo bike and by far the stiffest and nicest ride. I love all the bags, especially the PorterPack. My kids love “Momma’s big bike” and my partner has a second seatpost and saddle so we can easily share the bike. Xtracycle customer service and home delivery were the best customer service experiences I have had in years! These bikes are worth every cent! Ditch your car and go sing, giggle, bird watch, and enjoy life on one!

I love my new RFA!! The quality and customer service experience is absolutely amazing.

I love my new RFA Utility! I have literally been researching cargo bikes for four years (ever since my first kid was born) but because they are a significant investment and since I was making do with my commuter-bike-turned-family-bike I put off purchasing one. But when my wife got pregnant with our second kid, we set a savings goal to purchase an electric cargo bike by the time he was 9 months old. The RFA Utility had all the features I was looking for to make the bike versatile and easy to use: ability to carry two kids + cargo, a front rack, at least 24″ wheels to better handle trails, a powerful mid-drive motor, ability to transport on a regular bike rack and a stable kickstand. The RFA provides all those features but with the awesome bonus of being able to reconfigure it someday with 26″ wheels when I’m no-longer carrying kids on the back. And the components already spec’d on the build are great and very high quality (I’m particularly impressed that the bike is spec’d with Ergon grips, which is an upgrade I usually have to make on a new bike). Once I got the bike, I was impressed by how effortlessly and quickly I hit the 20mph cap on assistance. That’s not to say I’m not still getting exercise. With and without cargo this bike handles great. The kickstand is so stable my 4 year old climbs on and off the bike over the hooptie rails all by herself without me needing to steady the bike. In the end, I don’t feel like I had to compromise on anything on my wishlist with this bike. I couldn’t be more thrilled with the performance of my RFA Utility and I think it represents an unbeatable performance to value ratio.

Great riding bikes with quality components and phenomenal customer service!

Perfectly named “Ready for anything” bike. Powerful motor reliably gets the bike to speed. Back deck/rack comfortably handles an adult passenger and/or groceries. Rides smoothly and is a joy to ride. So happy I purchased this bike!

Buying an Xtracycle RFA utility and sport has changed our family’s lives. Being able to go on family rides with both our kids and also carry gear or groceries is incredible. These bikes have enabled us to get outside and get exercise while our kids get to have a fun ride. Definitely made the right decision when purchasing the RFA. Especially love the packages and ability to customize on the Xtracycle website.