Surly now makes an e-bike. Are these the end times? Not so fast — the Big Easy offers big reasons to give up the car. Of course, it comes at a price.
This month, Surly Bikes released an amazing pedal-assist electric variant of the Big Dummy cargo bike into the world. Designed to easily carry cartons of cargo, groceries, or even a gaggle of kids, the Big Easy also expands the possibility of living a car-free lifestyle.
Is the Big Easy the family truckster for you? That may depend on your desire to haul big loads and your propensity to #RideLoaded. And it may also require a small-vehicle loan to overcome the $5,000 price tag.
I’ve been riding a preproduction Big Easy for the past month through one of the coldest and snow-choked Minneapolis winters of recent memory. Here’s my initial impression.
Surly Big Easy First Look Review
The Big Easy features the Bosch Performance CX mid-drive unit and utilizes the brand’s most powerful PowerPack 500 battery. This type of e-assist motor delivers a steady, smooth assist up to 20 mph. However, above 20 mph, the rider does all the work.
Depending on the weight of your cargo and how much assistance you desire, the Bosch has four modes — Eco, Tour, eMTB, and Turbo — each with ascending levels of powerful assistance.