MAX-Cargo

1 review for MAX-Cargo

1. 

   CC E-Cycles – July 6, 2023

   Video Review

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   Written Review

   To run the forums, host the website, and travel, I charge a universal service fee for my reviews. This review was sponsored by Eunorau. My goal is to be transparent and unbiased, this video and written review are not meant to be an endorsement of Eunorau.

   Eunorau is a new bike company for 2019 and is based out of China. Their primary business model is to have bikes drop shipped to the US via their website and they are also in affiliation with BTN of China which makes brandless ebikes for up and coming companies. Today, we get to review the Max Cargo, which is Eunorau’s long tail electric cargo bike. The has a powerful hub-drive system with a throttle and cadence based pedal assist. It also has this nice wooden cargo deck in the back complete with wooden foot decks at the bottom for passengers. The bike is value priced at $1,599, however, the one we tested here today had both the frame mounted front rack and frame mounted rear box added which I am told will retail for around $300 for the set. So far just this step-through frame, pearl white color, and 1 size are available, but they do have quite of bit of adjustability via the quick release adjustments on the seat post, handlebars, and stem. The bike includes these nice fenders in the front and back that are mounted to the fork and axle for stability. The fenders help keep you clean and dry, but these go an extra step further by adding mud flaps that can also help alleviate toe strikes to the fender if you are making a tight turn. There is also a wheel skirt over the back wheel which I really appreciate since it will help protect kids feet and other obtrusive elements away from the spokes. Those tires are a set of 24” x 2.3” Kenda Kiniption with this great tread pattern… really good surface and good grip for a cargo bike. There is a quick release for the front wheel, but none for the back as is common on hub drive cargo bikes. I love the battery integrated lights here, they have them both in the front and the rear. Safety has always been a priority for myself and other cyclists, so it’s nice to see that more and more companies are including these on ebikes. Sadly, there are no bottle cages bosses here, which is a shame because there is defiantly enough space to do so. Not only is there room on the top tube, but there is a large space behind the seat post that aside from the air cooled controller; is just plain empty. I do like that the quick release on the stem I spoke of allows the stem and handlebars to fold all the way down. When folded like this, it takes the overall height of the bike quite low. This is great for storage or transport, like if you had to put the bike in the back of a truck with a canopy for example. The optional front and rear racks here are very handy and I would recommend them if you were looking into this bike. However the rear rack placement gets in the way of the seat post adjustment as shown in the video; basically, you cannot bring the seat very far down with this box attached to the back. There is still a lot to love here, like the waterproof connectors, defloplilator to keep the front wheel steady when loading, aluminum platform pedals, and the plush gel Velo saddle.

   Driving the bike is a 750watt rear hub motor. This is a pretty powerful setup and it is really appreciated since that extra power will come in handy when towing a load. There is cadence based pedal assist here as well as a throttle getting you up to 20mph. This is what makes it a Class 2 electric bike. Mechanically, there is a 7 speed Shimano Altus system and this extra long chain. I do worry about the extra long chain bouncing around a bit as there is not full chain cover. You do get this nice plastic cover in the from though to help protect and keep your pants clear of the chain. Stopping the bike is a set of 180mm Tektro Aries mechanical disc brake rotors. Mechanical disc brakes are easy to maintain as well as adjust, however, they lack the immediate stopping power that hydraulic brakes offer. Mechanical brakes are still quite capable, but they take a little bit more hand actuation compared to hydraulic brakes. Thankfully, this bike includes motor inhibitors, a motor cut off switch built into the brakes making stopping easier.

   Powering this bike is a large 48v 11.6ah lithium ion battery. This makes for a total of about 500 watt hours, so the bike is both powerful and able to hit decent ranges. It is located on the downtube and can be charged both on and off the bike. Removal is done via lock and key, and overall is pretty easy. Charging the battery is done via the included 2amp charger. Not the fastest, but I am told charging it at lower amps can reduce wear on the charging cycles over time. To really care for this and other lithium-ion packs, I have heard that storing in a cool dry location vs. extreme heat or cold will extend the life and try to keep it about 50% full when not using for long periods so you won’t stress the cells. Try not to let it run down to zero, because that’s really hard on the cell chemistry.

   The display is both out of the way, and offers an easy read-out. Located on the left side of the handlebars, the display has two main buttons for controlling pedal assist that are easy to locate without having to glance down at the display. The buttons have a vibrating feedback (called haptic feedback) that will buzz a tiny bit when the button is pressed. This sort of feature provides a great way of understanding the control the rider has on the bike, and generally improves the ride with more peace of mind. The display, though small, utilizes a full color screen with a very recognizable automobile motif for the speedometer. This enables any rider (who drives a car) to easily recognize the display without having to learn a new system. The display works, and works immediately! It does lack some customization features, such as a heart rate monitor or cadence counter, but I personally stick to the basics when I’m riding. The front LED light on the bike is integrated to the main battery and is toggled easily by the main display. The backlight for the display has two setting, tied into the toggle for the head-light. The backlight feature is really great when riding in low-light conditions, and I really like the automotive styled display that is quick and easy to read.

   The Max Cargo is really a great cargo bike and it is a really solid attempt from a new company. As this is their first iteration, there is likely to be upgrades over the years…but seriously, the $1,599 price tag is amazing and rarely seen in the long tail cargo bike segment! There are some tradeoffs here though, so I should make mention of those. For example, the optional rear box basket is great, but the placement of the outer rim completely hinders your ability to adjust the seat to a lower position if you need it set there. I also felt there was some wasted space as there was plenty of room for bottle cage bosses, yet none were present. But if you are tempted by the low price point, these minor issues likely won’t bother you. It’s great to know that Eunorau also has a Las Vegas based headquarters for the US with a knowledgeable American staff to help you with any thing you might need. I have been impressed with Eunorau and I want to thank them for letting me get to know the company and the lineup this year.

   As always, we welcome feedback and comments below, we also just launched a EUNORAU forum section where you can connect directly with others and share your pictures, videos, and deeper questions 🙂

   Pros:

   • All of the Max Cargo bikes share a mounting interface on the head tube for adding a basket, it’s sturdy and won’t tip when you steer or park the bike, note that the optional baskets come in a set and you have to get both
   • Low price is one of the biggest differentiating features of the Max Cargo and I love that it comes standard with a wooden deck and sideboards, fenders, and an integrated headlight
   • I like that the large chainring has a plastic guard to keep your pants clear and clean, the plastic fenders on the bike are extra wide and have rubber flaps, there’s a clear plastic skirt guard to keep straps and clothes away from the drivetrain and rear wheel, and the pedals are large and grippy so you can ride in different types of weather securely and stay relatively dry
   • The frame is aluminum alloy and I love the pearl color, it still suffers from frame flex a bit (as do most cargo bikes) but performs well enough, the steel fork provides some vibration dampening
   • The deflopilator spring keeps your front wheel straight and stable when loading the cargo area and may also assist in steering heavy loads, it really keeps things easy and is a nice thoughtful touch
   • Even though this bike is only available in one frame size, it’s fairly adjustable to accommodate different sizes of riders
   • The kickstand is super stable and overbuilt, I like that it and the fork are designed with durability in mind since this is a cargo bike
   • Eunorau although a Chinese based drop shipping company, also has a US headquarters in Las Vegas, Nevada, as well as a support team to guide you through your purchase and support
   • The new battery design is sleek, it slides forward and fits nicely into the compact frame spot here enabling the lower stand-over height
   • I think it’s neat that the quick release on the stem allows it and handlebars to fold all the way down, when folded like this it takes the overall height of the bike quite low, this is great for storage or transport, like if you had to put the bike in the back of a truck with a canopy for example

   Cons:

   • This electric cargo bike isn’t as capable at climbing steep hills as the mid-drive options from Yuba, Riese & Müller, Felt, Butchers & Bicycles and some others… but none of them offer throttles or wider gearing options, just know that the gearless motor on the Max Cargo is more smooth and quiet but offers a lot less torque from standstill and for climbing
   • I’m mixed on the brakes for this bike, the 180mm rotors provide good leverage but you have to use more effort than with hydraulic disc brakes, for riders and those without as much hand strength, that could be a point of fatigue or difficulty, but at least they have motor inhibitors built in for safety and the bell are nice
   • The display panel is not removable and could take some weather-wear or get scratched at bike racks, something to keep in mind when not using the bike
   • I prefer the little trigger shifters vs. these large SIS Index thumb shifters because they don’t take up as much space and are easier to reach when holding the grips… but Eunorau told me that they chose these shifters to make room for the throttle cutoff switch on the right side and that makes sense, also, the big shifters can be easier to use with gloves… I just find that I have to take my hand off of the grip to shift sometimes and that’s slow and less safe feeling
   • The optional rear box basket is great, but the placement of the outer rim completely hinders your ability to adjust the seat to a lower position if you need it set there
   • Sadly, there are no bottle cages bosses here, which is a shame because there is defiantly enough space to do so, not only is there room on the top tube, but there is a large space behind the seat post that aside from the air cooled controller