Joseph
We’ll assume the new Momentum PakYak E+ gets its name from the pack animal. Yaks are real working horses endowed with incredible brute strength. Now there is no offense towards the actual yak, but they need care and feeding. The truth is that we’re not really sure what or what They eat, but we know for sure that the PakYak E+ chews up effort, then spins up to 80 Nm of torque – way more than even most Powerful e-bikes On the market – all from a 500Wh battery. Here’s what to expect from the new e-cargo bike.
Momentum PakYak E+: Longer Charging, Better Range and Excellent Storage
The range is really excellent, at 60 miles, but there’s also a slot for a second battery to double that to 120. The yak might work too, but moving, we think, will be slow. We assume that slow and steady moving is not what you want from the transporter.
Momentum wasn’t happy to stop there either, so while a lot of e-bikes charge slowly, you can reboot this rig in a faster charging mode, allowing it to refill up to 80 percent in just a few hours, or half an hour. Recharges in less than an hour.
We’re also a fan of the addition of lockable storage on the bike. This is useful, not only for tools you might need to do repairs on the bike, but also to conceal a windbreaker, gloves, or rain jacket—just in case.
The Momentum PakYak E+ has a second battery slot that extends to twice its length.
photo courtesyPower and performance: what to expect from the Momentum PakYak E +
In terms of performance, Momentum opted for it, with four-piston brakes, standard fenders and lights, and a Shimano internal hub gearbox. We dig the latter, as it makes transitions very smooth. And you need those strong brakes (with oversized 203mm rotors) to handle the payload.
There is a smart wheel lock on the front that prevents anyone from easily rolling around with your PakYak. Weighing in at 79 pounds, it’s not light, so if that front wheel can’t roll, lifting it up for a fast swipe would require either someone very strong, or at least a few regulars.
The sightsel is a top assist speed of 28 mph, because the cadence of traffic from stop light to stop sign is just a hairs bit faster than the top speed of 20 mph for most lesser freight wagons. More boost with a higher cadence will reduce commute/courier times, because you’ll keep up with traffic better, whether it’s a bike or a car.
For how much barge you can land, the rear rack can hold up to 102 pounds, and the front end can hold 33. You can also set it up as a school bus instead, with two tire seats aft.
Personalize your perfect PakYak E+
We dig out the smaller wheel size (24 inches versus what would be a traditional 26 or 27.5) with 2.5-inch wide rubber, not to mention the steering stabilizer that helps return the bars to center when you carry weight on that front basket.
These smaller wheels help the bike sit lower, and this combined with the step-down design, all together allows you to get the most out of your leverage. (The higher the bike is, the “agile” it feels, and the feel of the pendulum worsens on cargo bikes that ride longer.) A dropper seat post also lets skinny or shorter riders instantly adjust pedal strokes, and the Momentum includes a USB phone charger from the digital display, and a kickstand. Double to keep the bike balanced when loaded.
Momentum even built in a whole bunch of extras like cargo bags and baskets that nest inside the front/rear racks, to make the experience and use as seamless as possible.
Sorry the actual bull. You are not as versatile as this bike.
[From $5,500; momentum-biking.com]
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