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Xtracycle made a reputation for itself years in the past as one of many pioneers in long-tail cargo bikes. When it began electrifying these, it piqued our curiosity and we’ve been desperate to get on one ever since. The celebrities aligned this yr, and Xtracycle despatched us the RFA to run via the paces.
Xtracycle has been constructing cargo bikes as no-compromise car replacements for ages now. The corporate shouldn’t be new to this house, and in reality, it helped to create among the very first long-tail cargo bikes round. Expertise is a really troublesome factor to switch, and Xtracycle’s expertise constructing bikes was evident from the minute the RFA arrived at our door.
![Xtracycle RFA Electric Cargo Bike Xtracycle RFA Electric Cargo Bike](https://cleantechnica.com/files/2023/08/2023.07-xtracycle-rfa-ebike-cargo-electric-bicycle-KYLE-04-scaled.jpg)
The Xtracycle RFA may be kitted out with a ton of equipment to customise it in your life. Picture credit score: Kyle Area, CleanTechnica
The RFA is Xtracycle’s “Prepared For Something” e-bike that can be a transformer. It may be setup as both a short- or long-tail e-bike that comes from the manufacturing unit with an extended rear rack. The rear part of the bike may be reconfigured to accommodate a smaller household, match extra comfortably in smaller environments, and finally adapt to satisfy the wants of your life as your life modifications.
The Meeting
The RFA was designed and constructed like a race automobile of the electrical bike world. It makes use of among the highest high quality supplies and elements obtainable, which helps it function effectively and reliably over years and a long time of use. This design ethos carries into the packaging, and our assessment bike confirmed up in excellent type.
After unboxing, the RFA arrived about 85% assembled and required the attachment of the stem, entrance wheel, and some different knick-knacks that had been all very simple on paper. In actuality, the meeting was extra advanced than a typical e-bike and required an additional little bit of precision to get it excellent. Our RFA arrived from the manufacturing unit with the fallacious spacer setup on the fork. This required an additional journey to the bike retailer, and whereas it’s not one thing we’d count on on a motorcycle straight from the manufacturing unit, it was not a significant challenge.
As a result of further precision wanted to get the bike completely assembled and tuned, I do advocate clients prepare for meeting at a neighborhood bike store versus making an attempt meeting by themselves. We assemble dozens of assessment bikes per yr and at first, it was counterintuitive that the upper high quality RFA was more durable to assemble and tune to perfection. It’s not rocket science, however for a motorcycle of this high quality, it’s value getting it put collectively and tuned to perfection versus simply put collectively.
The Trip
Heading out on the RFA, the ahead using place is straight away evident. The geometry of the RFA’s body places the rider in a ahead leaning place that’s much like a mountain bike. For these searching for a extra upright place, you could need to have a look at buying an adjustable stem to convey the handlebars up and nearer to the seat.
![Xtracycle RFA Electric Cargo Bike Xtracycle RFA Electric Cargo Bike](https://cleantechnica.com/files/2023/08/2023.07-xtracycle-rfa-ebike-cargo-electric-bicycle-KYLE-09-scaled.jpg)
Picture credit score: Kyle Area, CleanTechnica
On our first lengthy journey of the Xtracycle RFA, we headed right down to the seaside to get some hills and lengthy flat stretches in. The RFA pairs the Shimano’s STEPS e-bike equipment with its extra conventional mechanical elements, together with a luxe 11-speed derailleur and cassette within the rear. The 250-watt Shimano EP8 mid-drive motor is tuned fantastically to enhance the biking expertise.
It’s like having a further one, two, three, or 4 folks behind serving to to pedal. It’s not a loopy quantity of help that’s going to make you want you had a throttle so you may simply sit again and cruise. However relatively, it’s a pleasant quantity of energy that helps you rise up hills, carry heavier hundreds, and go additional than you’ll have on a handbook bicycle.
![Xtracycle RFA Electric Cargo Bike Xtracycle RFA Electric Cargo Bike](https://cleantechnica.com/files/2023/08/2023.07-xtracycle-rfa-ebike-cargo-electric-bicycle-KYLE-12-scaled.jpg)
Picture credit score: Kyle Area, CleanTechnica
This philosophy is obvious in the truth that the RFA has an 11-speed cassette out again. This e-bike was made for pedaling, with the motor and battery there merely to enhance the general using expertise. Essentially, the addition of a motor and battery permits you to do fairly a bit extra along with your bike with out having to endure unnecessarily consequently.
The Xtracycle RFA was designed and constructed to be a workhorse, so we put it to make use of at each alternative. Zipping down the hill into city on the RFA was all the time a blast and felt secure because of the hefty hydraulic brakes it’s packing. These present a lot wanted stability and management when heading down hills, and particularly when carrying valuable cargo on the rear rack.
![Xtracycle RFA Electric Cargo Bike Xtracycle RFA Electric Cargo Bike](https://cleantechnica.com/files/2023/08/2023.07-xtracycle-rfa-ebike-cargo-electric-bicycle-KYLE-13-scaled.jpg)
Picture credit score: Kyle Area, CleanTechnica
The big selection in gearing supplied by the RFA’s 11-42 tooth, 11-speed Shimano cassette was extraordinarily useful when commuting up and down steep hills daily. It was a breeze to shift the snappy derailleur right into a more difficult gear for downhill sprints that allowed me to maintain pedaling at speeds higher than 20 mph the place the pedal help disengages.
On the best way up the hill on the best way house, shifting right into a decrease gear made it simple to contribute as a lot as attainable on the uphill climb. In fact that is additionally the place the motor and battery come into play. The Shimano EP8 mid-drive motor places out 250 watts of steady energy, with the flexibility to push out as much as 500 watts for brief bursts. The height energy output is important for tackling quick steep climbs like the previous few blocks as much as our home.
The Shimano STEPS system on the RFA can present as much as 400% pedaling help, which is able to make anyone really feel like Superman whatever the terrain. What’s good in regards to the tuning on the RFA is that integration of the pedal help is so seamless that the engagement of the motor doesn’t detract from the biking expertise, however relatively, it accentuates it.
![Xtracycle RFA Electric Cargo Bike Xtracycle RFA Electric Cargo Bike](https://cleantechnica.com/files/2023/08/2023.07-xtracycle-rfa-ebike-cargo-electric-bicycle-KYLE-06-scaled.jpg)
Picture credit score: Kyle Area, CleanTechnica
Whereas many American riders are used to using in a forward-leaning, mountain bike model, we might like to see the RFA come from the manufacturing unit with an adjustable stem that permits for an upright seating place. The RFA is such a versatile platform that including one thing like this could make it extra succesful and versatile, supporting much more riders with totally different preferences.
Cargo & Equipment
The Xtracycle RFA comes with foot rests and wheel skirts from the manufacturing unit that make it simple to throw a passenger on the again and get cruising with your folks or household. It additionally comes with a beefy center-mounted, twin leg kickstand that gives a pleasant, steady broad base for the bike whereas stationary, no matter what you’ve acquired strapped to it. In fact, it’s most likely not a good suggestion to depart it absolutely loaded with people or cargo whereas parked.
![Xtracycle RFA Electric Cargo Bike Xtracycle RFA Electric Cargo Bike](https://cleantechnica.com/files/2023/08/2023.07-xtracycle-rfa-ebike-cargo-electric-bicycle-KYLE-01-scaled.jpg)
Picture credit score: Kyle Area, CleanTechnica
The RFA additionally comes with a set of full steel fenders and built-in entrance and hind lights, rounding out the complete service commuter platform. Build up from that base, Xtracycle additionally presents a variety of equipment that make it simple to dial the RFA in to completely complement your way of life. For these with little youngsters, the RFA may be fitted with two Yepp Nexxt Maxi youngster seats. Be aware that these are a distinct mannequin than the ever-present Yepp Maxi carseats, which aren’t suitable with the RFA.
Xtracycle presents a powerful vary of rear handrails and bars that bolt onto the rear of the bike, comprising its “Hooptie” rail system. These are an effective way to present youngsters an additional sense of reassurance and safety whereas using on the rear of the bike.
![Xtracycle RFA Electric Cargo Bike Xtracycle RFA Electric Cargo Bike](https://cleantechnica.com/files/2023/08/2023.07-xtracycle-rfa-ebike-cargo-electric-bicycle-KYLE-07-scaled.jpg)
The PorterRack and PorterPack make it simple to convey alongside private objects with ease. Picture credit score: Kyle Area, CleanTechnica
As your youngsters develop out of automobile seats, Xtracycle presents the MagicCarpet seat cushion which offers a pleasant comfortable place in your youngsters to park. Mixed with the Hooptie rail system and the included footrests, the RFA is remodeled into the final word car to take your youngsters down to high school for drop-off.
Xtracycle has a entrance rack that it calls the PorterRack. The corporate despatched us one among these, together with a PorterPack entrance bag that shortly turned one among our favourite e-bike equipment ever. It’s the proper place to park your telephone, water bottle, keys, strawberries, youngsters, helmets, or another swag you’re packing whilst you’re using.
It secures to the rack with a single hefty Velcro loop, making it simple to place it on and take it off whenever you arrive at your vacation spot. Drop a lock within the bag whereas heading right down to work, then swap it out for a helmet and shades when it’s time to head into work. It’s tremendous handy, and being up entrance, simple to entry as properly.
General
Most e-bikes out available on the market are little greater than frivolously modified clones of what others have accomplished. The Xtracycle RFA seems like a clear sheet of paper construct the place the parents at Xtracycle sat again over a 12-pack spitballing concepts for what the best household e-bike would appear to be based mostly on their a long time of expertise on bikes. The outcome was a motorcycle that was not solely constructed to final, it was designed to final.
It is ready to remodel and evolve as your life and household do through the years and a long time. The rear rack can actually increase or contract to fit your wants. A bunch of equipment may be added, modified, upgraded, and eliminated as wanted. It’s a jack of all trades and is a good choice for these trying to ditch their outsized 4-wheeled car in favor of a 2-wheeled electrical car that offers you as a lot of a exercise as you’re searching for whereas adventuring via life.
![Xtracycle RFA Electric Cargo Bike Xtracycle RFA Electric Cargo Bike](https://cleantechnica.com/files/2023/08/2023.07-xtracycle-rfa-ebike-cargo-electric-bicycle-KYLE-03-scaled.jpg)
Picture credit score: Kyle Area, CleanTechnica
It was clearly designed and constructed to final through the years. Sure, it should want service. Sure, it should must be tuned. Sure, it should final. And should you’re fortunate, it’d even turn into a member of the household.
The Xtracycle RFA retails for $4,999 and is available in black and white liveries. For extra details about the Xtracycle RFA or to order one for your self, head over to its official on-line house.
Xtracycle RFA Electrical Cargo Bike Specs
MSRP: $4,999
Motor: Shimano STEPS EP8 mid-drive motor
Motor Energy: 250 watts steady, 500 watts peak w/85 Nm torque
Battery Capability: 630 Wh
Body & Fork Materials: 4130 Chromoly Metal
Weight: 60.2 lb
Weight Capability: 400 lb
Brakes: Tektro 4-piston hydraulic brakes
Rear Derailleur: SRAM NX11 X-HORIZON
Rear Cassette: SRAM GX PG-1130 A1, 11-speed, 11-42 tooth
Max Velocity: 20 mph
E-bike Class: Class 1
Disclaimer: Xtracycle offered the RFA to the creator for this assessment.
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