[leadin]It costs as much as a used car. But the electric-powered Yuba Spicy Curry can indeed replace your car for commuting, errands, and other urban tasks that require hauling large items.[/leadin]
![cargo-ebike](https://s3.amazonaws.com/images.gearjunkie.com/uploads/2015/11/cargo-ebike.jpg)
Yuba’s Spicy Curry is a pedal-assist electric “cargo bike” that can haul as much as you can fit in the trunk of a small car. It has a powerful pedal-assist motor that can propel you to 20mph or more. Add to that a “truck bed” area on back, and the cargo bike is a utilitarian dream for those who live in cities and don’t need or want to own a car.
I reviewed this bike for the past few weeks, riding in the city and all kinds of weather. I hauled groceries, gear, extra bikes, and even humans on the back of the bike. Through it all the Yuba Spicy Curry was solid and indeed proved its place as a stand in for a small car.
If you can get past the sticker shock — this bike retails at $4,500 — read on to decide if the e-cargo bike option is right for you.
Electric-Assist Cargo Bike
Cargo bikes are not new. But Yuba upgrades the concept by adding a motor. The company teamed up with Currie Technologies for the Spicy Curry’s 350W Centerdrive motor.
The centrally-mounted motor is lighter weight than hub-driven systems and relies on the rider’s pedal input. The Spicy Curry has four assist levels; you must be pedaling to gain any assistance, and the harder you pedal, the more it goes.
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Yuba Spicy Curry
- Currie Center Drive 350W motor
- 48 V 8.7A/h, 417Wh
- Low battery placement for better balance
- Hydraulic disc brakes,
- Big Apple Schwalbe tires
- Full-coverage fenders
- LED lights
- Integrated lock tab + Yepp Child Seat Adapters
- Plug-In cargo system with optional truck bed
- LCD multi-function display with four-levels of power adjustment
- Low step-over
- 1.5″ reinforced headtube
- Lifetime warranty on the frame, two year warranty on motor, one year on the battery