Court, thanks for the great in-depth review on this one. While conversing over car displacers with a friend whom I was helping just a couple weeks ago I said "hmm, wonder what Yuba has been up to, haven't paid attention to them in awhile" and I was pleasantly surprised to see this beast when I looked at their website. I think it's an excellent first go for them at a bakfiets, let alone it being an ebike. So great to see another front loader box bike designed and made in the US. I think Cetma up till now has been the only one and no ebikery there so this has me excited as I've been a long time cargo bike geek! I've got a Benno boost on the way [ you did another great review on that one too ] and feel a bit like a kid waiting for christmas! It seems to me that between 2018-2019 there's been quite the bump in ebike evolution and it's now leaning well towards practical bikes like commuters and cargo bikes and that too excites me as I'm totally into the commuter/work bike segment. Not so much on the MTB side for ebikes. I still like my trail exploits all human powered but that's just me. Thoughts? And to those that say $6K or more is too much for a bike like this then yes, probably for you and many others you're right! There are many solid performing options that will work better for your needs and budget. My first ebike was a used Raleigh Misceo for $500 bucks and now it's my wife's faithful commuter. (she stole it from me!) A nice solid reliable ride with room for two big panniers it's good to go. When she needs to go farther or do more she takes the car. And Radpower for example, well, they're just rad! I'd have one if it fit my needs. Very well thought out and built. I've tried them. Their cargo bikes are pretty sweet! However, something like the Yuba here is intended to displace that $40K SUV or minivan for a family that needs to move a couple of kids and a lot of goods around within a 10-20-ish mile radius of their home and can do most of what a car can do. This is a new thing for some of us here in the States. Let that sink in a bit. Little or no payment. No insurance payment. No gas. Far less maintenance. No smog and safety and registration hassles and payments and it may just do everything your car does. $40K vs. $6K. And it's FUN! My point is this. Please don't nay say a bike like this when you consider that respect. One less underutilized tank on the road, displaced by a bike like the Yuba can be a good thing and that is what a bike like this is meant for. Horses for courses, right? Don't get me wrong, please. Cars are awesome tools. I just think some of us tend to use them unnecessarily and that the second or third car in a family can be replaced by a bike. I've been doing just that for years myself and all I can say honestly is yes, it works and works very well. Honestly it's not all puppies and rainbows but the sacrifices are small while some unexpected benefits may be experienced. So $1k, $4K, $10K? Size up what car you need or want to replace and buy appropriately. And most importantly, have fun!
Charles Swank One big difference between buying a car vs the e-bike is when you buy a car you make payments over time. Some of these e-bikes require thousands at one time. We need subsidies for these bikes to make them more financially accessible. We could use the subsidies we currently use for Teslas for e-bikes.
Unfortunately we (N. America) are a car-centric culture. These cargo bikes (front loaders) are everywhere in the Scandinavian countries, Netherlands and Denmark where efforts to make room for bicycles started back in the 1970s, thus bikes like the Yuba are everywhere because many families don’t have cars or use them as needed. It would be great to see our cities (and towns) make more and safer bike paths. At that point you’d see more kids being transported to schools in what the Dutch call bakfiet (box bicycles). Safe riding.
Thanks, Rubin! This was a fun one, it's neat to see custom bikes. Have you found one to buy or are you still looking and considering all of the options :)
how's the reliability on that cable pulley steering system? R&M recently recalled the Packster 70 because of their pulley system. I'm interested how it is holding up for the Yuba, I can only imagine it needs to be maintained regularly since it's under the bike.
Ours has been flawless after over 2k miles. Cables stretch a little initially and then once you take that slack out (takes 45 seconds) it’s pretty much dialed. And much better turning radius compared to any other bakfiets.
Living in Portland, I do see these front loaders from time to time and often wonder about their practicality. Someone parks one at the work bike rack and it extends half way across the bike room. Just finding a place to put one once reaching the destination would be a challenge and going store-to-store when shopping is also tricky as what to do with packages, etc (theft)? Suppose they would be OK for toting kids, though I'd be uncomfortable putting the kids at risk in city traffic. As a life-long rider, I've had a few impacts with cars, near misses and see what happens to others all too regularly.
Well they are designed with kids in mind. The risk of car accidents and near misses is there, but its never going to change unless we get more bikes on the road and less cars
I've seen people add flags and lights to their cargo bikes to be more visible, I think the larger surface area of the bike also helps people notice it more :)
Yeah, cargo bikes can be a bit troublesome in the parking department. I go the trailer route when I have to haul a lot (Good ol' BOB or Surly Ted FTW!). My secret sauce with a bigger rig is to avoid the standard bike parking, look for a secure alternate lockup and carry some extra locking implements. It's a bit fiddly but then it's also very heavy and well, fiddly. Thieves move on when they see an [e]bike with a frame lock through the rear wheel with the chain plugged in, wrapped around a sturdy metal something and the trailer chained to the bike, maybe a stout ulock in the mix, leave off trinkets like easily removable lights and 'puters, etc. Takes me maybe a minute to do all of that? Maybe someone clever will come up with some car-easy key-fob idea someday ;-) As for traffic interactions it is what it is. I have no clever reply there other than get in it, drive like a car [ don't be afraid to take that lane and OWN it if and when you need it. BE SEEN!] and REALLY observe the other road users and think about what the're up to (or not up to while pecking that phone, peck, peck...). When out on two wheels you can see a lot more around you than when in a car of what drivers are doing so look around a lot. Shoulder checks, etc. I'm a long-time commuter [way more time on meat powered bikes than ebikes] and a moto rider too. It's a learnt skill and an accepted risk. It requires confidence and some wits. I can say that for me, taking an MSF course was a HUGE benefit to me and that cycling and moto skills have complemented each other for me. FWIW I ride in SoCal and doing so here can range from wonderful to we're treated like vermin. Point being, always be on your toes and ride with the flow. Obey the traffic rules. Don't salmon, don't run lights, don't be silly. Ride predictably and in view. Always plan ahead and keep an eye out for an escape. Own your relative piece of the road. That's always much safer.
15:39 can someone explain to me what body flex he's talking about? The guy is shaking unloaded bike to detect flex and talk about other bike flexing. That's not how you look for body flex.
I do not understand the explanation of the Bosch display's with every bicycle you so kind to show us. Why not put a link under the nice vlogs you make. Those links will get you to the explanation of every display. The Intuvia for example is the same on every bicycle (You could handle the updates even on one place) and it is not nice to have the explanation on every bicycle you show us. I like the vlogs, like I already mentioned you make, thanks!
6 grand for an electric is just to much. I will stay with my Radpower mini at $1,500 and has a 750 watt hub geared motor and 7 speeds , to bad they do not come with the racks anymore like the first year I have and also have a Honda Helix cn250 for those long trips. Everywhere I need to go like the store is under 2 miles so the electric wins there. By the way I am 75 years of age and older people would really benefit from a electric.
@@Bigolg1975 oh yeah, the bafang bolt on motors can come in ridiculous amounts of power. That's why I would get a non powered cargo bike and fit it with a bafang 1500 or 2000 watt.
Nice! A couple of things come to mind... I used this inflation calculator to find out that $500 in 94' would cost you $826.99 in today's money www.in2013dollars.com/1994-dollars-in-2017?amount=500 The other thing is that a car costs much more money to fuel, service, and insure than an electric bike. You can ride 100+ miles for less than $0.20 (depending on your electricity source and type of bike) and you won't need to pay for parking. I chose to get into electric bicycles because I lived in Austin, Texas and the traffic was getting pretty bad and parking at work was $20! It was crazy... The ebike actually saved me a lot of money, even over an electric motorcycle, and I got to ride in more peaceful areas off of main streets :)
@@ElectricBikeReview That is a long way from $6,000 dollars. No need to justify electric bikes over cars anyway. By the way, after your first review of the Radpower mini I bought one and have been very happy with this bike. And the first year came with a front and rear rack which they do not have anymore.
Well, it doesn't have to be a zero sum game... I see a world where bicycles and scooters can co-exist :) what's your favorite scooter? Are we talking Vespa style or kick scooters?
I don't know about that. I've never seen a scooter with that much cargo room. Besides, with a scooter you have to get out there with traffic, pay the extra cost of insurance and gas not to mention no added benefit of exercise.
I disagree. The added cost of gas and insurance would push the price well past this. And again, scooters have nowhere near the cargo room or the ability to carry kids.
Court, thanks for the great in-depth review on this one. While conversing over car displacers with a friend whom I was helping just a couple weeks ago I said "hmm, wonder what Yuba has been up to, haven't paid attention to them in awhile" and I was pleasantly surprised to see this beast when I looked at their website. I think it's an excellent first go for them at a bakfiets, let alone it being an ebike. So great to see another front loader box bike designed and made in the US. I think Cetma up till now has been the only one and no ebikery there so this has me excited as I've been a long time cargo bike geek! I've got a Benno boost on the way [ you did another great review on that one too ] and feel a bit like a kid waiting for christmas!
It seems to me that between 2018-2019 there's been quite the bump in ebike evolution and it's now leaning well towards practical bikes like commuters and cargo bikes and that too excites me as I'm totally into the commuter/work bike segment. Not so much on the MTB side for ebikes. I still like my trail exploits all human powered but that's just me. Thoughts?
And to those that say $6K or more is too much for a bike like this then yes, probably for you and many others you're right! There are many solid performing options that will work better for your needs and budget. My first ebike was a used Raleigh Misceo for $500 bucks and now it's my wife's faithful commuter. (she stole it from me!) A nice solid reliable ride with room for two big panniers it's good to go. When she needs to go farther or do more she takes the car. And Radpower for example, well, they're just rad! I'd have one if it fit my needs. Very well thought out and built. I've tried them. Their cargo bikes are pretty sweet! However, something like the Yuba here is intended to displace that $40K SUV or minivan for a family that needs to move a couple of kids and a lot of goods around within a 10-20-ish mile radius of their home and can do most of what a car can do. This is a new thing for some of us here in the States. Let that sink in a bit. Little or no payment. No insurance payment. No gas. Far less maintenance. No smog and safety and registration hassles and payments and it may just do everything your car does. $40K vs. $6K. And it's FUN!
My point is this. Please don't nay say a bike like this when you consider that respect. One less underutilized tank on the road, displaced by a bike like the Yuba can be a good thing and that is what a bike like this is meant for. Horses for courses, right? Don't get me wrong, please. Cars are awesome tools. I just think some of us tend to use them unnecessarily and that the second or third car in a family can be replaced by a bike. I've been doing just that for years myself and all I can say honestly is yes, it works and works very well. Honestly it's not all puppies and rainbows but the sacrifices are small while some unexpected benefits may be experienced. So $1k, $4K, $10K? Size up what car you need or want to replace and buy appropriately. And most importantly, have fun!
Charles Swank One big difference between buying a car vs the e-bike is when you buy a car you make payments over time. Some of these e-bikes require thousands at one time. We need subsidies for these bikes to make them more financially accessible. We could use the subsidies we currently use for Teslas for e-bikes.
Unfortunately we (N. America) are a car-centric culture. These cargo bikes (front loaders) are everywhere in the Scandinavian countries, Netherlands and Denmark where efforts to make room for bicycles started back in the 1970s, thus bikes like the Yuba are everywhere because many families don’t have cars or use them as needed. It would be great to see our cities (and towns) make more and safer bike paths. At that point you’d see more kids being transported to schools in what the Dutch call bakfiet (box bicycles). Safe riding.
Great review Court!! You always have great insight into what consumers want! Thank you for all you do for the E bike community!
Cable actuated steering allows for a higher angle compared to a system with a rod. Which is especially important for a long bike.
Another awsome video! I've been following your channel since you made the video of a indiegogo that electricfied citibikes & kick scooters. 😁
Thanks, Rubin! This was a fun one, it's neat to see custom bikes. Have you found one to buy or are you still looking and considering all of the options :)
how's the reliability on that cable pulley steering system? R&M recently recalled the Packster 70 because of their pulley system. I'm interested how it is holding up for the Yuba, I can only imagine it needs to be maintained regularly since it's under the bike.
Ours has been flawless after over 2k miles. Cables stretch a little initially and then once you take that slack out (takes 45 seconds) it’s pretty much dialed. And much better turning radius compared to any other bakfiets.
Does anyone know when the first Supermarché (non electric) first came out in the US market?
Living in Portland, I do see these front loaders from time to time and often wonder about their practicality. Someone parks one at the work bike rack and it extends half way across the bike room. Just finding a place to put one once reaching the destination would be a challenge and going store-to-store when shopping is also tricky as what to do with packages, etc (theft)? Suppose they would be OK for toting kids, though I'd be uncomfortable putting the kids at risk in city traffic. As a life-long rider, I've had a few impacts with cars, near misses and see what happens to others all too regularly.
Well they are designed with kids in mind. The risk of car accidents and near misses is there, but its never going to change unless we get more bikes on the road and less cars
I've seen people add flags and lights to their cargo bikes to be more visible, I think the larger surface area of the bike also helps people notice it more :)
Yeah, cargo bikes can be a bit troublesome in the parking department. I go the trailer route when I have to haul a lot (Good ol' BOB or Surly Ted FTW!). My secret sauce with a bigger rig is to avoid the standard bike parking, look for a secure alternate lockup and carry some extra locking implements. It's a bit fiddly but then it's also very heavy and well, fiddly. Thieves move on when they see an [e]bike with a frame lock through the rear wheel with the chain plugged in, wrapped around a sturdy metal something and the trailer chained to the bike, maybe a stout ulock in the mix, leave off trinkets like easily removable lights and 'puters, etc. Takes me maybe a minute to do all of that? Maybe someone clever will come up with some car-easy key-fob idea someday ;-)
As for traffic interactions it is what it is. I have no clever reply there other than get in it, drive like a car [ don't be afraid to take that lane and OWN it if and when you need it. BE SEEN!] and REALLY observe the other road users and think about what the're up to (or not up to while pecking that phone, peck, peck...). When out on two wheels you can see a lot more around you than when in a car of what drivers are doing so look around a lot. Shoulder checks, etc. I'm a long-time commuter [way more time on meat powered bikes than ebikes] and a moto rider too. It's a learnt skill and an accepted risk. It requires confidence and some wits. I can say that for me, taking an MSF course was a HUGE benefit to me and that cycling and moto skills have complemented each other for me. FWIW I ride in SoCal and doing so here can range from wonderful to we're treated like vermin. Point being, always be on your toes and ride with the flow. Obey the traffic rules. Don't salmon, don't run lights, don't be silly. Ride predictably and in view. Always plan ahead and keep an eye out for an escape. Own your relative piece of the road. That's always much safer.
The bikes are useful for 'Last Mile Delivery'. They can get into the tight areas that truck drivers hate to deal with.
15:39 can someone explain to me what body flex he's talking about? The guy is shaking unloaded bike to detect flex and talk about other bike flexing. That's not how you look for body flex.
Amazing bike
Agree! I like the cover option and the beautiful wood cargo bucket they made :)
I do not understand the explanation of the Bosch display's with every bicycle you so kind to show us. Why not put a link under the nice vlogs you make. Those links will get you to the explanation of every display. The Intuvia for example is the same on every bicycle (You could handle the updates even on one place) and it is not nice to have the explanation on every bicycle you show us. I like the vlogs, like I already mentioned you make, thanks!
6 grand for an electric is just to much. I will stay with my Radpower mini at $1,500 and has a 750 watt hub geared motor and 7 speeds , to bad they do not come with the racks anymore like the first year I have and also have a Honda Helix cn250 for those long trips. Everywhere I need to go like the store is under 2 miles so the electric wins there. By the way I am 75 years of age and older people would really benefit from a electric.
Sure, but the radpower mini isn't even the same thing as this bike....
Why the hell are you riding on the sidewalk?
Cuz it’s a bike
Someone really needs to build a motor with more torque, at least over 100, for heavier cargo bikes.
My BBSHD comes really close!
@@Bigolg1975 oh yeah, the bafang bolt on motors can come in ridiculous amounts of power. That's why I would get a non powered cargo bike and fit it with a bafang 1500 or 2000 watt.
@@kldstl Would be on this brilliant on this bike for sure!
@man0z That would be an interesting idea. Two wheel drive? Better traction for heavier loads? I dig it.
just get the HPC Supermarche. its the regular Yuba Supermarche with a 2000w hub motor. Its about $2000 less than this.
Non electric version 2799 $
Nice Bike! It will never be 6K Nice.
6 k can get you a car
6K, really?
I paid $500 bucks for my 94' Honda civic. LOL
Nice! A couple of things come to mind... I used this inflation calculator to find out that $500 in 94' would cost you $826.99 in today's money www.in2013dollars.com/1994-dollars-in-2017?amount=500
The other thing is that a car costs much more money to fuel, service, and insure than an electric bike. You can ride 100+ miles for less than $0.20 (depending on your electricity source and type of bike) and you won't need to pay for parking. I chose to get into electric bicycles because I lived in Austin, Texas and the traffic was getting pretty bad and parking at work was $20! It was crazy... The ebike actually saved me a lot of money, even over an electric motorcycle, and I got to ride in more peaceful areas off of main streets :)
@@ElectricBikeReview That is a long way from $6,000 dollars. No need to justify electric bikes over cars anyway. By the way, after your first review of the Radpower mini I bought one and have been very happy with this bike. And the first year came with a front and rear rack which they do not have anymore.
I think $6k is outrageous. Who in the f**k can afford six grand for a bike. Eight hundred for a battery pack? That's highway robbery.
6 k and it don’t even have all the stuff in it what a scam
scooters are going to beat you guys
Well, it doesn't have to be a zero sum game... I see a world where bicycles and scooters can co-exist :) what's your favorite scooter? Are we talking Vespa style or kick scooters?
@@ElectricBikeReview no the new electric scooters and they are close to the price of those bikes
I don't know about that. I've never seen a scooter with that much cargo room. Besides, with a scooter you have to get out there with traffic, pay the extra cost of insurance and gas not to mention no added benefit of exercise.
@@kldstl no electric scooters price wise is the way to go
I disagree. The added cost of gas and insurance would push the price well past this. And again, scooters have nowhere near the cargo room or the ability to carry kids.