Decathlon’s R500 E longtail cargo bike is back in stock at €2,799

Two months ago, Decathlon presented its longtail cargo bike on its Twitter account, promising to say more by the end of the year. It is well and truly done and more, since the bike has even just entered the catalog of the brand, despite availability for the moment very limited.

If it is already unavailable at the time of writing these lines, it is probably because of the context of shortage of components which currently agitates the middle of the cycle, on the one hand, but also one suspects it because an attractive sale price for an electrically assisted cargo bike. At €2,700 – which is still a good sum, we agree – this electric cargo bike is indeed positioned among the cheapest on the market, especially when we remember that the Vosges manufacturer Mustache Bikes presented a few days ago only its first model of the same kind, the Monday 20, starting at 1,900 € more!

On paper, honorable characteristics

The services are obviously not the same, but at such a price, Decathlon is likely to seduce more than one cyclist in need of transport capacity. As such, the Decathlon R500 ELec longtail cargo bike has little to envy its competitors, being able to support up to 170 kg of load (mass of the bike not included, once is not custom), including 80 kg on its rear rack and 10 kg on its front basket. On the other hand, it is 35 cm longer than the Mustache Lundi 20 that we have just mentioned, since it is 220 cm long. It will therefore be less easy to park and cannot be placed in a vertical position.

In terms of motorization, you also have to accept some compromises. No central motor on this Elops R500 Elec, but a 48 V rear hub motor developing a peak power of 685 W (250 W nominal power) and a maximum torque of 58 Nm, far from the 85 Nm of a Bosch Performance Cargo Line which precisely equips the Monday 20. Climbing climbs with a heavily loaded bike will therefore be more difficult, although we can count on an 8-speed Microshift transmission which should allow less pain on the low gear. Pedaling should also be quite natural thanks to the torque sensor integrated into the pedals, allowing assistance proportional to the effort applied to the pedals and variable according to 3 modes (90% assistance in “Eco”, 180% in “Normal” mode and 300% in “Power”).

Decathlon has also provided a start-up trigger, designed to propel the bike up to 6 km/h, as with the walking modes found on the majority of pedelecs. This makes it easier to launch the bike, especially if you have forgotten or not had time to change gears before stopping.

To power this motor, a large 672 Wh battery is integrated into the downtube. Rechargeable in 4:40 with the charger provided, according to Decathlon, it should provide up to 50 km of autonomy for the R500 Elec in maximum assistance mode (“Power”) and up to 90 km in economy mode.

Sharp competitors in this price range

The specs of the Elops R500 Elec actually make us compare it more to electric cargo bikes like the Yuba Kombi E5 ($3,200) and RadPowerBikes’ RadWagon 4 ($1,799, sold online only). If the first benefits from its reputation, a Shimano Steps E5000 central motor (40 Nm) and better compactness, the second is formidable in terms of price and yet has a more torquey motor (80 Nm). The RadWagon is however less evolved, less well equipped as standard and less robust: no torque sensor, battery not integrated, maximum load of 58 kg on the rear rack, no front basket or rear footrest, fork rigid and mechanical disc braking are its main weak points.

The Decathlon freighter can count on a suspension fork, on a hydraulic braking system with 180 mm discs signed Tektro and more efficient, on its equipment which makes it ready to use for the transport of goods as well as passengers. — with the exception of the luggage rack cushion, which is optional —, as well as a very well-represented after-sales service thanks to the workshops in the group’s stores. Decathlon also insists on the 100% repairability of its bike, thanks to the spare parts available on its website and in its workshops and stores.

In addition to the rack pad expected for January 2022, Decathlon is planning large 50L panniers as an option that can be attached to the rear footpegs and will be available in March 2022. Hopefully the bike itself will be back in stock before this period. Like most bikes today, all categories combined, availability will undoubtedly be tricky and you will have to be reactive when returning to stock to afford this first electric cargo from Decathlon.