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I’ve got a Butchers and Bicycles cargo which weighs 50kg and has the Bosch Performance CX motor (75nm torque). It gets up anything easily, even with two kids (40kg) on the front. We live by the South Downs.
My partner has just got an Orbea Katu with the Bosch Active motor (40nm torque). I thought the far lighter bike and load would mean it would ride the same, but the lower torque is noticeable, as we’d got used to the CX. It’s hills where you notice it most.
So with that in mind I’d personally go for the most powerful motor available for futureproofing on a cargo bike.
cmyj-
Ah fare enough the leasure motors are not for cargo bikes, hybrid with some panniers only tbf!
Talking about difference between the motors with a rated torque in the 65 to 85nm range.Rode a triobike with a brose cargo motor (85 or 90 as advertised?) and honestly my e8000 (70nm advertised) motor in the samr type of bike and drive train walked all over it in every situation (brose much quieter though), so sometimes the printed figures I don't think translate to a reality.
BrickMan
thanks @Gewürzt @MCamb @skinny @MisterMikkel and @frank9755 for the feedback.
The cost of the bike is being spread out over several years of payments so the bump in price between the 6100 and ep8 isn't a huge concern.
My thinking is that I am better off getting the strongest motor available on the market up front, even if it is surplus to requirements, rather than getting something a bit weaker and then two years down the line wishing that I had done it in the first place, and then paying more for an upgrade.
I might be moving to a hilly area and I am trying to convince my partner to start using the Bullitt (she won't get on the current non-electric one) for shopping etc., so having a bit of a boost to get her started, especially if it's on a hill, is a draw.
I had read the LvH article before, and yes was a bit confused about it tbh, thinking about when I have a heavy load on my current one. Even if I am going up a steep hill I don't think I ever get out of the saddle on the Bullitt. Also a bit unsure about the remarks about the ep8 potentially being a bit scary for kids being transported if you're swaying the bike around while riding fast. Does anyone really do that?