The Flyer Via Pro is the first cargo electric bike I’ve tested, and I don’t think I could’ve asked for a more reliable experience. It took me roughly an hour or two to assemble, and the instructions were nice and clear. The company sent me a , the , plus the that attaches to the rear rack, but there are so many other accessories available that you can customize the bike to whatever (or whoever) you plan on hauling. I don’t have kids, so I mainly used the hauler’s spacious storage capacity for groceries and beer. Lots of beer. The ebike has a 400-pound weight capacity.
Riding on this class 2 ebike is like riding a cruiser. It’s a bit unwieldy to move around when you’re trying to get it into place to hop on, but once your feet hit the pedals, it’s smooth sailing, baby. The 750-watt motor breezed through the streets of Brooklyn and had no trouble with slopes. I typically rode at level-three pedal assistance (out of five) and sat at roughly 17 miles per hour (it maxes out at 20 mph). The hydraulic brakes are effective, the Shimano eight-speed shifter is easy to use, and I liberally used the throttle to escape narrow jams in traffic so I didn’t get squished by cars. The suspension was most impressive; we have some seriously terrible streets in New York City, and even going over milled roads, I was surprised at how the ride still felt reasonably calm and didn❽make my teeth chatter.
You can use the surprisingly slick app to customize speeds per pedal-assistance level, but I largely stuck with the defaults. The Flyer Pro’s cockpit is excellent, which is partly why I didn❽feel the need to fuss with the app. The color display distinctly shows battery life, speed, the odometer, and pedal-assistance level. And I can reach the turn signals with my thumb. I’ve been storing the whole thing outside in my yard and have kept it covered with Radio Flyer’s . Just remember to bring the battery inside. That might be my only gripe—the battery is in a cramped area and can be a little awkward to remove and reinstall. —Julian ChokkattuSpecs:Motor: Flyer 750-watt rear hub | Battery: Flyer 687-Wh | Recommended Height: 4❁" to 6❁" | Total Payload: 400 pounds