Cargo Bike Review - Trek Transport+

Find it at trekbikes.com

US and Canada at Ride+ Trek Dealers

The Trek Transport+ is a longtail cargo bike with a 350-watt rear hub motor, heavy-duty rims, fenders, front disc brake, rear V-brake, fold-down aluminum racks, cargo bag, lights, eight-speed freewheel (13–32), 38/ 28 chainrings with trigger shifters and has a carrying capacity of 250 pounds (113 kilograms). It’s part of Trek’s Gary Fisher Collection.

Tell Your Friends

This is a great-looking cargo bike. The electric hub motor keeps heavy loads manageable and uphill rides easy. The fold-down rear low-rider racks are genius.This bike is light enough to carry and the front rack is a useful addition (and the perfect spot to load a pizza!).

Wish List

The kickstand that comes with the Transport+ is barely sufficient. When loading even the smallest amount of cargo on even terrain, the bike would topple over.

Ideal Rider

Great for anyone looking for a cargo bike – as long as you have somewhere to store it because it’s probably not the best idea to leave it locked outside overnight.

Overall

The Trek Transport+ is a great bike overall. At first, I thought that this might even be the perfect cargo build. The 26" x1.5 Bontrager H4 Hard-Case Plus anti-flat tires provide a smooth ride. The electric hub motor really evens out the hills or gives you a needed boost when fully loaded. The gear range is suited to hauling cargo around town and, with minor modification, could be set up for touring. The bash guard on the large chainring is a nice touch.

As with any electric assist, maintenance may be an issue, especially if firmware updates are needed. You won't be able to simply plug a USB cable into the battery, only an authorized dealer with the proprietary cable can do that sort of service. Although, it's unclear how often, if ever, it will be required. Is the motor worth the $1500 it adds to the price tag (the “plus” in Transport+)? I'll put it to you this way: I'm not sure I'll be able to go back to riding my own un-assisted cargo bike. I regularly carry 50+ pounds (23 kilograms) of cargo up Vancouver's hills and the motor on the Transport+ makes it easy.

As with any cargo bike, you'll need an easy access space to store it. While it's not as heavy as one would expect, the length makes it a challenge, especially around corners and up stairs. The high-tech gear may also makes it attractive to would-be-thieves if you park it overnight on an urban street. A garage in a house or a bike room in a condo is your safest storage bet.

It's also a great looking bike: I really like the matte metallic bronze paint colour. It has a not-too-aggressive or too-upright riding position to keep the rider comfortable but still able to stand to peddle when necessary, unlike some of the competition. The step-through aluminum frame makes it easy to mount the bike when the cargo area is loaded enough that you can't swing your leg over. Plus, the fold down rear low-rider racks are a stroke of genius. They're similar to Xtracycle's wide-loaders but with the added advantage of folding-up to keep the bike narrow enough to fit through doorways. Overall, the designers at Trek really did a good job making an attractive bike.