PRESS Archives - Benno Bikes LLC https://bennobikes.com/category/press/ The Original Sport Cargo Bike Tue, 18 Mar 2025 01:59:14 +0000 en-US hourly 1 Benno Boost review https://bennobikes.com/press/cycling-electric/benno-boost-review/ Mon, 03 Feb 2025 08:00:36 +0000 https://bennobikes.com/?p=41599 Benno Boost review byMark Sutton Published: February 3, 2025 | Last updated: February 3, 2025 RATING: 4.7 HIGHS: Surprisingly agile for something so capable and genuine fun to ride, Bosch Performance Line CX motor is well-matched, High volume off road tyres open up countryside, Dual battery possible Excellent carriage options and luggage bags are very

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Cycling Electric

By Mark Sutton

Benno Boost review

Published: February 3, 2025

RATING: 4.7

HIGHS: Surprisingly agile for something so capable and genuine fun to ride, Bosch Performance Line CX motor is well-matched, High volume off road tyres open up countryside, Dual battery possible Excellent carriage options and luggage bags are very well thought out, Great price for a bike this capable, Comfortable ride

LOWS: One of those bikes where route planning is advisable down to weight and length, I’d like to see a hub gear and belt option

One of the first to get serious about the idea of carrying cargo off the beaten path, it felt apt that to get our hands on the Benno Bikes Boost for review quickly on the back of detailing Tern’s Orox, another making an impression in this emerging niche.

Really your options for serious off road cargo haulers are limited and there’s good reason for that. Cargo bikes in general require an immense amount of testing, strengthening, then testing again to get to market as a viable product. If you’re planning to take that loaded up bike off road then a manufacturer must take extra steps to ensure they put a robust product to market.

Luckily, Benno Bikes is backed up by the know-how of beach cruiser brand Electra’s Founder (now part of Trek) Benno Baenziger. With decades of design knowledge under his belt, he returned to the bike market realising the potential that pedal assist motors offered from a design standpoint. In his view, with this innovation the bicycle’s potential as a utility vehicle was greatly expanded, hence the ‘eTility’ catchphrase coined and attached to Benno’s bike range.

Benno Boost review: the headline details

Benno Boost review - Cycling Electric - Loaded

Geoff Waugh

Pros

  • Surprisingly agile for something so capable and genuine fun to ride
  • Bosch Performance Line CX motor is well-matched
  • High volume off road tyres open up countryside
  • Dual battery possible
  • Excellent carriage options and luggage bags are very well thought out
  • Great price for a bike this capable
  • Comfortable ride

Cons

  • One of those bikes where route planning is advisable down to weight and length
  • I’d like to see a hub gear and belt option

Features

  • Compatible with up to two child seats
  • Front cargo tray and longtail type rear
  • Fits riders from 5’1″ to 6’3″
  • 24-inch by 2.6″ tyres
  • Pair of high power Supernova lights (Mini 2, E3)
  • 10-Speed Deore gearing
  • Comes with fenders, a kickstand and other add ons
  • Fits most panniers and accessories
  • Comfortable saddle with lift handle built in
  • Four piston Magura hydraulic brakes
  • Able to handle a trailer with adapter

Specs

Motor: Bosch Performance Line CX 250W 65Nm, GEN 3 motor
Battery:
Bosch Powerpack 400Wh or 500Wh Lithium-Ion Battery
Range
: Approximately 80 miles single battery 160 on dual battery
Weight
:
Frame: 6061 Aluminium Alloy (regular and low-step available)
Gearing:
Shimano Deore 10-speed 
Brakes: 
Magura MT Thirty
Suspension
: Rigid

Benno Boost review - Cycling Electric - Uphill

Benno Boost review: The ride

Let’s continue with a little on the motor, which aside from being the centrepiece, is in large part the reason why a bike like this can exist in the first place. In this instance, Benno has chosen the Bosch Performance Line CX, which has a torque output of up to 85Nm.

I was in little doubt that a motor with that much punch could deliver me to the summit of countryside hills while loaded up with cargo and in keeping with every other time I’ve reviewed a bike with a Bosch motor, there’s very clearly a reason why this is the brand so many premium labels turn to; once I got pedalling making the hill was never in doubt. There was one instance where the uneven dirt hill ahead of me would have been intimidating for some e-MTBs I’ve tested, but the Benno Boost powered right on up with three bags of shopping in the rear basket.

I make the comparison because to my surprise the Boost actually handled in many ways like a hardtail mountain bike. Despite its long wheelbase and load carriage capability, I found myself stood up in the saddle a lot more than I imagined, really hacking this bike around the singletrack of my local area (albeit without the shopping). The agility afforded by the 24-inch wheels, off road tyres and the geometry was unexpected, but I loved it. Instantly, this was a fun bike to ride, regardless of its utility capability. From that moment on, I was warm to the notion that this bike could be the camper’s best friend.

It’s comfortable too, which again is not a given for this kind of bike. I can see that the Benno Boost I have for review has an upgraded dropper post from KS, which also gives some forgiveness when you hit bumps in the path. That’s a very welcome feature, but not a standard one I can quickly spot on most of the builds available to buy online.

Benno Boost review - Cycling Electric - Tyres

You can buy the Boost with tyres ready for the tarmac, but we prefer to spec them for greater versatility

Benno Boost – the build

It wasn’t so much a single component or feature that brought about this ride comfort, rather a sum of all parts, however. The small details on the Benno Boost, like the ergonomic grips, are extras that can really add to the experience, but that don’t necessarily come as standard on all electric bikes we review.

This bike I was sent rolls on customised 2.6-inch ‘Big Betty’ tyres from Schwalbe, though you may find many builds come with a more urban-ready tyre as standard. This tyre was originally developed as an enduro and downhill tyre, but comes adapted here to suit the purposes of the Boost. The characteristics of the tyre count for a lot though, with a big bold tread making them excellent for traction and grip, while the tread is open enough that they also do not attract muck if the conditions are damp. They are as good as a perfect match and they make a big difference to this bike’s handling. As I say, this tyre isn’t necessarily the standard spec, but the Boost is customisable to be either and urban or a countryside hauler.

When it comes to cargo off bike handling is also important and here Benno delivers full marks on the robust kickstand deployed and of course you have Bosch’s walk mode too for times when a push and walk is needed. There is one inescapable problem you will encounter with almost any cargo bike that is built to carry quite as much as the Boost and that’s the infrastructure in the UK. Having encountered one impassable swing gate that could not be navigated I was more careful to plan my route thereafter. That’s no fault of the bike, of course, just a pointer if you are considering buying a cargo bike.

Benno Boost review - Cycling Electric - Infrastructure

Sometimes UK infrastructure makes cargo biking needlessly difficult

Benno Boost: how is it as a cargo bike?

Really one of the pleasantly surprising things about the Benno Boost is that, considering the high capability and versatility, the price is not so out of reach that it will put off a serious could-be cargo biker. The accessories aren’t bad value either and I was rather pleased with the quality of the bags in particular, with each offering versatility in their use thanks to an array of velcro and clips.

For the most part I just did shopping trips by bike, but there are a dizzying array of ways to use this bike, which Benno best illustrates on its Boost page. At the upper end of its ‘eTility’ capability an illustration is showing four children along for the ride courtesy of an available trailer adapter, the large rear basket with footrests and rear wheel protection. Added to that is a front loader basket that has a bespoke bag that I found myself using just as often as the rear capacity.

The racking is robust too. What’s increasingly noticeable in the cargo bike and especially longtail space, is that the bike designers are really working hard to make the quality of the accessories match up to the main bike, rather than considering them an afterthought. In Benno’s case I know from speaking with the Founder that he has had bikes in the hands of Swiss mountain rescue, among others, so a low-quality product won’t cut it.
Really one of the pleasantly surprising things about the Benno Boost is that, considering the high capability and versatility, the price is not so out of reach that it will put off a serious could-be cargo biker. The accessories aren’t bad value either and I was rather pleased with the quality of the bags in particular, with each offering versatility in their use thanks to an array of velcro and clips.

My use was a lot more pedestrian, but there was not an occasion where I was lacking capacity to run errands. The expandable bag that folds out from the rear basket had more than enough volume for a week’s shop and you have plenty of mounting points to secure a load down with bungee cords or similar.

Benno Boost review - Cycling Electric - Benno Bag

The large volume and flexible bag is a very worthwhile accessory to have for shielding your shopping

Final thoughts and the competition

I can’t pick out anything I dislike about the Benno Boost, which is rare, normally there’s at least one small gripe. If I’m being picky, my falling out of love with derailleurs is going to come into play. Nowadays I much prefer a hub gear and belt drive and I can’t help but feel that a bike like this in only a few years time will come with a mid-motor and gearbox all in one; albeit it will then cost a fair bit more up front.

Really, then, it comes down to how the Boost weighs up on price versus its competition and there’s no shortage of that. Some that spring to mind are the Tern Quick Haul Long for a more urban tilt and the more beefed up Orox (subject to our review here) if you’re looking at something yet more capable than the Benno Boost for off road jaunts.

For me, the Benno Boost is probably going to stand in its own space for a while as the quality, but affordable entry to lugging your camping gear into the wilderness and I have to say, I can see high appeal in owning something like this, if only down to its sheer versatility. It really can do it all.

Content retrieved from: https://www.cyclingelectric.com/reviews/benno-boost-review.

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The 10 Best Cargo Bikes Will Let You Go Car-Lite or Ditch Driving Entirely https://bennobikes.com/press/bicycling/the-10-best-cargo-bikes-will-let-you-go-car-lite-or-ditch-driving-entirely/ Fri, 10 Mar 2023 08:00:24 +0000 https://bennobikes.com/press/the-10-best-cargo-bikes-will-let-you-go-car-lite-or-ditch-driving-entirely/ HAUL YOUR GROCERIES, ACCESSORIES, KIDS, AND FRIENDS WITH THESE ELECTRIFIED CARGO BIKES. BY DAN CHABANOV AND TARA SEPLAVY, Published: Mar 10, 2023 Losing riding time to run unavoidable errands sucks. Luckily, electrically assisted cargo bikes make it easier to go car-lite or to ditch driving altogether and pedal (almost) everywhere.

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HAUL YOUR GROCERIES, ACCESSORIES, KIDS, AND FRIENDS WITH THESE ELECTRIFIED CARGO BIKES.

BY DAN CHABANOV AND TARA SEPLAVY, Published: Mar 10, 2023

Losing riding time to run unavoidable errands sucks. Luckily, electrically assisted cargo bikes make it easier to go car-lite or to ditch driving altogether and pedal (almost) everywhere. The latest generation of these bikes are more customizable and offer e-assist and modular mounting systems, making today’s bakfiets and longtails increasingly viable trade-ins for your gas-guzzling SUV. The United Parcel Service and disaster relief managers across the globe use cargo bikes to transport goods where cars can’t go, and it’s freeing to breeze by traffic in the bike lane with a week’s worth of groceries packed onto your ride. Whether you’re picking up supplies or furnishing a room from Ikea, there’s a good chance that the perfect e-cargo bike for you is on this list.
[…]


BEST COMPACT CARGO

Benno Benno RemiDemi 10D

$3,900 at REI

[…]

Cargo Bike Layouts

Domestic and international cargo bike popularity has exploded in the past decade, says Xtracycles founder and longtail cargo bike pioneer Ross Evans. There are generally three main styles of cargo bikes: long tail, front loader, and the bakfiet. There are also trike varieties for riders needing to transport very-heavy loads or more than two children. The longtail cargo bike is the most agile and lightweight, and it transports cargo or passengers on an extended tail section behind the rider. A front loader places its payload in front of the rider, generally on a low-slung platform adaptable to suit many needs. Last is the bakfiet style bike with its large basket (typically in front of the rider) for carrying cargo or transporting multiple passengers.

To Electrify or Not?

To make sense of the recent cargo bike boom, look to e-bikes. “Electricity and cargo bikes go together like PB&J,” Evans says. Schlepping hundreds of pounds on a bike is great if you’re looking for a workout. But e-cargo bikes like the Tern GSD and Benno Boost E use pedal-assist electric motors with more than 50 miles of range to make cargo bikes more accessible to riders who want the convenience of a car in a bike-sized package. The tech comes at a price, however. E-cargo bikes tend to be pricier than their non-electric counterparts, but unless you live somewhere completely flat (and even if you do), we think an e-cargo bike is still the way to go. The vastly improved usability, carrying capacity, and range of e-cargo bikes save you money in the long run by being more effective car substitutes (versus non-assist bikes that requires more effort to ride).

Accessorize to Fit Your Needs

Once you’ve purchased a cargo bike, you’ll want the right accessories to maximize its utility. Start on the manufacturer’s website: Brands like Tern and Benno sell panniers, racks, and child seats to match their cargo bikes. Alternatively, if your style is more “dump it and go,” bakfiets like the Riese & Müller Load 60 use a single spacious box that’ll fit all your stuff (there are still seat belts for your kids, though). The best way to figure out which style or bike you prefer is by getting out for a test ride.

Approach an e-cargo bike and accessory purchase the same way you would if you were buying a car. Try and test as many options as you can. Prioritize your most common cargo needs. While it can be fun to think aspirationally, getting a bike that’s perfectly suited to your daily needs will mean you use it more often.

How We Tested

These bikes have been thoroughly tested and vetted by Bicycling editors. We used them to fetch groceries or take kids to school, riding them as often as possible to find out whether they can replace our cars for daily use. We also interviewed the product managers who build these bikes and compared them to competitors in the market. Have a question about one of these rides or why a cargo bike you love didn’t make our list? Let us know in the comments.

[…]

BEST COMPACT CARGO

Benno RemiDemi 10D

Benno RemiDemi 9D Chai Latte EVO2
BEST COMPACT CARGO

Benno Benno RemiDemi 10D

$3,900 at REI

Pros

  • + Clean design
  • + Wide tires help to smooth out rough roads
  • + Sturdy rear rack and option to add a front one as well

Cons

  • – Can only handle one passenger

There’s something great about the clean design of the RemiDemi 10D that makes you want to take it everywhere. Customize it with accessories like a front rack or panniers, or even a child seat (it comes stock with a big-ass rear rack). It’ll quickly become your go-to compact e-cargo bike for running errands, zipping around at the beach, and even commuting when the time comes (it gets up to 62 miles on one charge). You’ll encourage friends and family to “go ahead, take it for a spin” because you want to share the joy it brings. And with its extremely low standover and stable balloon tires, it’s easy to ride for almost anyone. You might not notice at first, but you’ll come to appreciate its integrated lights and the fact that its wheelbase is about six inches shorter than a typical cargo bike (a space-saving feature), but also one that makes the 10D that much easier to maneuver.


Dan Chabanov
Test Editor

Test Editor Dan Chabanov got his start in cycling as a New York City bike messenger but quickly found his way into road and cyclocross racing, competing in professional cyclocross races from 2009 to 2019 and winning a Master’s National Championship title in 2018. Prior to joining Bicycling in 2021, Dan worked as part of the race organization for the Red Hook Crit, as a coach with EnduranceWERX, as well as a freelance writer and photographer.

Tara Seplavy
Deputy Editor

As Deputy Editor, Tara Seplavy leads Bicycling’s product test team; after having previously led product development and sourcing for multiple bike brands, run World Championship winning mountain bike teams, wrenched at renowned bicycle shops in Brooklyn, raced everything from criteriums to downhill, and ridden bikes on six different continents (landing herself in hospital emergency rooms in four countries and counting). Based in Easton, Pennsylvania, Tara spends tons of time on the road and trail testing products. A familiar face at cyclocross races, crits, and bike parks in the Mid Atlantic and New England, on weekends she can often be found racing for the New York City-based CRCA/KruisCX team. When not riding a bike, or talking about them, Tara listens to a lot of ska, punk, and emo music, and consumes too much social media.

Content retrieved from: https://www.bicycling.com/bikes-gear/a25054215/best-cargo-bikes/.

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Benno’s 46er is an e-cargo bike no bigger than a normal bike https://bennobikes.com/press/ebiketips/bennos-46er-is-an-e-cargo-bike-no-bigger-than-a-normal-bike/ Mon, 06 Mar 2023 10:00:38 +0000 https://bennobikes.com/press/ebiketips/bennos-46er-is-an-e-cargo-bike-no-bigger-than-a-normal-bike/ By Suvi Loponen, Mar 6 2023 2023 The brand’s newest cargo bike is capable of carrying plenty and features front suspension for a smooth ride. The 46er is a rather unique electric cargo bike in that it is the same length as a regular bike. But as Benno, the American manufacturer, says, that is about the only similarity.

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By Suvi Loponen, Mar 6 2023
Benno 46er 10D CX Speed Denim Blue
2023 Benno 46er full bike, by Benno

The brand’s newest cargo bike is capable of carrying plenty and features front suspension for a smooth ride

The 46er is a rather unique electric cargo bike in that it is the same length as a regular bike.
But as Benno, the American manufacturer, says, that is about the only similarity. 

We have had a chance to see the Benno 46er in real life at the recent CoreBike show, and are going to be getting one in for a review soon. But before we put the bike through serious testing, let’s have a look at what it promises to deliver.

Benno 46er – cargo carrying capacity

Benno 46er 2022 with sketch overlay s4
We’ve already seen Benno bring out compact cargo bikes, such as the Benno RemiDemi 9D – but the 46er adds some more cargo capacity, without stretching the bike’s length so much. With a wheelbase of 1198mm, the 46er is 56mm shorter than the brand’s Boost e-cargo bike.

Despite the compact look, the 46er can carry a bunch of cargo – up to 190kg, to be precise (including the rider). This can be distributed across the bike, with the front rack taking up to 10kg and the rear rack up to 60kg.

While the front rack is not too big in size and  best suited for something like a basket or small bag, the rear is where this bike boasts heaps of versatility. The rack can be transformed to carry a variety of things, from dogs to kids to panniers and even surfboards. Benno offers a host of accessories that you can fit on the bike to customise it to your needs.
BENNO 46ER – Multifunction Utility Rear Rack
The rear rack can be equipped with a child seat, or when they grow up, a set of ‘side loaders’ (they’re basically footrests) and rails, or you can also opt to carry just cargo by attaching panniers to either side of the rear wheel.

Benno 46er – technical details

BENNO 46ER – Bosch Performance Speed Motor
Benno has really taken innovation to another level with the 46er, saying they “ditched convention and added capability” – starting with the wheels, which on the 46er are different sizes. The front gets a 26” for comfort and control, and at the back, the 24” lowers the centre of gravity and should offer more strength to the system.

The 46er is running on a top-of-the-range Bosch Performance Line CX e-bike motor, offering 85Nm torque, paired with a 500Wh battery that should offer a range of up to 80 miles. That can be doubled with the addition of a second battery, as the 46er can be made into a dual-battery system.

> Best electric bike motors 2023 – everything you need to know
BENNO 46ER – Suntour Mobie 25 Front Suspension Fork
In terms of componentry, Benno has equipped the 46er with a Shimano Deore 10-speed groupset, completed with Magura MT Thirty brakes (four-piston at the front, two-piston at the back). The fork is a Suntour SF18 MOBIE 25 and offers 75mm of travel to dampen down any bumps.

As mentioned before, the 46er is available with an abundance of accessories, and these also include a kickstand. The bike comes with a set of integrated front and rear lights, so those are always going to be attached when you need them.
BENNO 46ER – German Supernova E3 Tail Light

The 46er is only available in one size, but Benno says it should suit riders from 5’1” to 6’3” because of the adjustable seatpost and step-through frame geometry.

Check the full details of the 46er on Benno’s website.

Content retrieved from: https://ebiketips.road.cc/content/news/benno-s-46er-is-an-e-cargo-bike-no-bigger-than-a-normal-bike-4353.

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Electra Inventor Plans To Turn The Bike World On Its Head, Again https://bennobikes.com/press/investors-business-daily/electra-inventor-plans-to-turn-the-bike-world-on-its-head-again/ Thu, 16 Feb 2023 09:00:46 +0000 https://bennobikes.com/?p=29387 By BRUCE HOROVITZ | 02/16/2023 Benno Baenziger, the guy who created some of the best-selling bikes in America, never particularly liked to ride bikes. Really. So he designed one that even he would use. Now bike enthusiasts globally are so enamored with the Electra and Townie bikes that he designed that they’ve even created Facebook (FB) pages that worship them like a two-wheeled effigy.

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Investor's Business Daily

Benno Baenziger, 57, upended the staid bike industry with his breakthrough Electra and Townie models.

By BRUCE HOROVITZ | 02/16/2023

Benno Baenziger, the guy who created some of the best-selling bikes in America, never particularly liked to ride bikes. Really. So he designed one that even he would use.

Now bike enthusiasts globally are so enamored with the Electra and Townie bikes that he designed that they’ve even created Facebook (FB) pages that worship them like a two-wheeled effigy.

Baenziger, who founded the Electra Bicycle Company 30 years ago, is already on to the next thing. These days, he’s busy creating what he hopes will be the first electric bike that can also carry a serious load of cargo — and still look pretty cool getting the rider from place to place.

His leadership mantra all along: the best product is always something you make to satisfy yourself — never to satisfy others. “If I solve a problem for myself, I’ve probably solved a lot of other people’s problems, too,” said the 57-year-old bike design guru.

Build Something You Love

Building something Baenziger himself likes is how and why he created the original Townie bike while still at Electra. “I asked myself: How could I make a bike that a guy like me — who doesn’t like to ride bikes — would feel good about riding?”

Answer: Make it comfortable and easy to ride — and ultimately add an electric assist. The rider sits upright on the Townie (not crouched) and the bike rider’s feet can comfortably be set on the ground. As for the bike itself, well, it’s super snazzy-looking. And easily customizable. Electra upended the bike industry, putting comfort and style first, prompting most bike makers to scramble to keep up with similar designs.

Baenziger, who grew up as a skateboarder kid in Berlin, Germany, succeeded beyond his wildest wheeled vehicle dreams. He moved to San Diego in 1991 because, he said, “I thought there was a spirit in Southern California for free thinking, open-mindedness, and new inventions.”

That’s precisely why, along with Jeano Erforth, he co-founded Electra Bicycle Company in Encinitas, Calif. in 1993, and sold all of 300 bikes the first year. When they ultimately sold the business to a hedge fund in 2008, they sold an impressive 60,000 bikes that year. When bicycle juggernaut Trek took over Electra in 2014, the Townie became a top-selling bicycle in the nation.

See A Larger Role For Your Invention

Baenziger never much liked bikes. At least not the ones he had as a kid raised in Berlin.

He had to pretty much ride a bike or skateboard to get anywhere. He wasn’t impressed with the options, either, when he co-founded Electra. And he’s still underwhelmed now with most choices. And that’s fueling his drive to again make something better of Benno Bikes. Benno Bikes is a company Baenziger created 10 years ago to design an e-bike that can lug around real-world cargo — say, four bags of groceries or two small kids — and still look like a head-turning vehicle.

He thinks e-bikes are the next wave. They have empowered millions of people to ride bikes for transportation — not just for sport. The transition has taken many years. When Baenziger started Electra, it wasn’t even an electric bike company. It mostly made cool city bikes and cruisers. It wasn’t until 2010 that it started making electric cruisers. Two years later, Baenziger sold the business to a private equity group that then sold the company to Trek. By 2015, Baenziger founded Benno Bikes.

He’s still working on this project along with 10 other design employees who literally live in 10 different time zones.

He sees this as just another shift. From his ocean-view home in Del Mar, Calif., he says that he already rides his Townie more often than he drives his car. He rides it to the gym to work out. He rides it to the store to buy groceries. And he rides it to the ocean to catch some waves with his surfboard. He rides the bike because he knows it’s the right thing to do for himself and for the environment.

“We exposed non-biking people to the experience of riding a bike because we made a product that was not intimidating and didn’t ask much of them,” he said.

Start By Asking “What If?”

Baenziger leads by first asking himself this single question: What if?

No one knows that better than Kevin Reed. He was the first Electra dealer in the country, helped design the Townie and ultimately was hired by Electra as business development manager. “Benno leads by always thinking outside the box,” Reed said. It was Baenziger, he says, who was among the first to imagine bike designs more as art. “People just fell in love with his designs,” he said.

But Baenziger didn’t stop there. He introduced multiple colors to bikes and created bikes that people actually wanted to ride, says Reed. Baenziger “didn’t just make a better riding bike. He made it attractive,” he said.

Don’t Focus On The Money

While Baenziger is now a multi-millionaire, for his first 10 years at Electra, he  says he hardly made any money. He recalls earning an annual salary of about $15,000 per year. “My accountant told me I didn’t have to pay taxes because I was living at the poverty level,” he recalled. “That went on for years — and 90% of people would have given up.”

He didn’t. He persevered.

Perhaps that’s because he makes no differentiation between work and play. “Everything I do is meaningful to me,” he said.

The best way for any leader to persevere, he says, is to not act like a big shot. By that, he means success is all about respecting and appreciating those who work under you. “Try not to be a boss,” he said. “Don’t treat them like they work for you. Treat them like partners. They don’t work for me. They work with me.”

Keep People You Work With Motivated

Success as a leader requires constant motivation of workers. The best way to do that, he says, is to throw light on the bigger picture of what the company is trying to achieve and also show how important they are in achieving it.

“My goal has never been to sell more bikes,” he said. “It’s to get more people to ride bikes. I’m working for a company that’s trying to make the world a better place.”

That’s why, he says, he has never hired an employee who was “just looking for a job.” Rather, he says, he only has hired people who share his vision of making the world better.

In that way, he says, Benno Bikes is much like Patagonia, the outdoor apparel company whose founder essentially donated ownership of the entire company — worth $3 billion — to a trust whose mission is fighting the effects of climate change. While Baenziger says he’s not ready to give away his company, he is giving away his personal labor and hasn’t taken a paycheck since he started Benno Bikes almost a decade ago.

Have A Cause That Drives You

What’s driven him to do all this?

In part, he says, he was motivated by growing up watching his father uncomfortably give up his personal dream of being a musician in order to work for years as a bureaucrat at the Swiss embassy in Berlin. “That gave me the spirit to not compromise and (also) push through,” he said.

He’s also learned to hire people who he says are “smarter” than him — and to step aside and let them do their jobs. “You have to know your weaknesses and strengths. When you find weaknesses, you must find the right people to fill these voids to make you complete.”

Always Plan Your Next Act

Even after forming that team, Baenziger can’t stop thinking about his next bike.

Within the next five years, he hopes to create an entirely new category in the bicycle industry which he has dubbed “e-tility” (like utility). This type of bike will essentially be like what an SUV is to cars. It will ride very comfortably. It will carry a lot of stuff. And it will look super cool.

“I got back in the industry because I wanted to be part of the e-bike revolution,” he said. E-bikes are not quite defined yet as a category. By creating the Benno bike that looks great, rides great, and carries cargo, he hopes he is creating the industry’s new standard.

In the meantime, he can’t keep from fixing whatever needs to be fixed. Even if it’s just a small bakery owner’s distressed Townie.

He recently walked by a bakery where an older Townie was parked outside. He noticed that the handlebars and seat were all wrong. Without telling the woman who he was, he offered to fix her bike — and asked her to bring him whatever tools she had. She obliged, but as she was watching him fix her bicycle, she uncomfortably asked: “Are you sure you know what you’re doing?”

Baenziger still doesn’t know how to answer that question. Maybe that’s why he hasn’t stopped trying.

Baenziger’s Keys

  • Co-founder of the Electra Bicycle Company, which sells the top-selling and emulated bikes: Electra and Townie.
  • Overcame: The biking industry’s initial reluctance to cater to comfort and style.
  • Lesson: “Everything I do is meaningful to me.”

Content retrieved from: https://www.investors.com/news/management/leaders-and-success/benno-baenziger-electra-inventor-plans-to-turn-the-bike-world-on-its-head-again/.

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PODCAST ‘Etility’ – What Electric Bikes Offer with Benno Baenziger, Founder of Benno Bikes https://bennobikes.com/press/micromobility/podcast-etility-what-electric-bikes-offer-with-benno-baenziger-founder-of-benno-bikes/ Thu, 26 Jan 2023 09:00:19 +0000 https://bennobikes.com/?p=29391 PODCAST – Benno Baenziger is an OG of the bike space, founding Electra Bikes back in 1993 as a recent immigrant to California from Germany and growing it through the 90s and 2000s till he sold it to a private equity group in 2008. He stuck around but eventually left to start Benno bikes in 2015 with a focus on what electric can bring to the bike industry.

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MICROMOBILITY INDUSTRIES PODCAST | JANUARY 26, 2023

This week we’re excited to bring you an interview from Oliver’s recent tour of Southern California ahead of our Micromobility World online event. Oliver flew up from NZ to be with James, Julia and the team to produce the event but while he was there also took the chance to visit a whole heap of companies working in micromobility, either as vehicle makers or peripherally. He learnt a huge amount – especially from those who have been in the industry for a while.

Benno Baenziger is an OG of the bike space, founding Electra Bikes back in 1993 as a recent immigrant to California from Germany and growing it through the 90s and 2000s till he sold it to a private equity group in 2008. He stuck around but eventually left to start Benno bikes in 2015 with a focus on what electric can bring to the bike industry.

There’s a few things that you should know about Benno. Firstly, the company has less than 10 employees. He has really understood the bike industry and what makes for great bikes so focusses on the very specific points that he has as a designer to make great bikes and leaves the rest to others, a very different strategy to other companies in this space like Vanmoof or Cowboy who have chosen to eschew the old bike industry and try and do it themselves.

Secondly, he’s profitable with no outside funding beyond what capital he put in himself.

Like the conversation with Josh Hon from Tern, Oliver learns so much about how the world works with experiences like this. It is an honour to bring you material like this and we hope that we get to do more of the tours – it’s always better to do these interviews in person!

Finally, Micromobility World went great. It was one of our largest events to dates and We had a lot of really excellent content come out of it, the relevant ones of which we will drop as podcasts soon.

And here’s Benno!

Specifically they tackle:

  • His background founding Electra Bikes and then moving on
  • Why, despite him saying that he’d not do another bike business, Benno Bikes exists
  • What is ‘etility’ and what does it offer to the customer
  • Why he’s chosen to go a more traditional route for componentry and servicing
  • How he has managed to self fund the company to date
  • The importance of design and quality in a brand

Content retrieved from: https://micromobility.io/news/etility-what-electric-bikes-offer-with-benno-baenziger-founder-of-benno-bikes

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A Cargo E-Bike Can Replace Your Car https://bennobikes.com/press/adventure-journal/a-cargo-e-bike-can-replace-your-car/ Fri, 21 Oct 2022 09:00:31 +0000 https://bennobikes.com/?p=28142 By Justin Housman For whatever reason, cargo e-bike discussion is raging across lots of the internet this week. We’ve loved these machines for years now and still love the Benno Boost. It’s been updated slightly, but the below review from 2019 is still dead bang accurate and our feelings haven’t changed one bit. I have

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All Things Bike

By Justin Housman   |   October 21, 2022

For whatever reason, cargo e-bike discussion is raging across lots of the internet this week. We’ve loved these machines for years now and still love the Benno Boost. […]

I was twenty minutes into the first ride on my new Benno Boost E a few months back, when a car with road bikes on its roof drove past me slowly and yelled “Cheater!” It was the first of many snide comments I’ve received while pedaling the bike through San Francisco. “Manpower forever!” a fixie rider bellowed while retaking me after I passed him on a park bike path. “Use the car lane, a$$%*#!” a slower rider cursed while I passed them in the bike lane. “You should learn to ride a real bike though,” a fellow cyclist told me after we’d chatted about e-bikes while we unlocked our neighboring bikes outside a grocery store one evening.

While there have been plenty of positive comments too, the negative ones from cyclists are confusing though not entirely unexpected. Probably some are meant in good fun. But I think they mostly stem from a fundamental misunderstanding of the purpose of an e-cargo bike like my Benno Boost. This bike didn’t replace another bike in my growing stable of pedal-powered craft in the garage. It’s replacing my car.

The bike has also fundamentally changed how I experience living in an urban area for the better.

I’ve ridden a bike here in San Francisco since the first day I arrived, more than a decade ago. It can be a fabulous way to get around the city. But the hills are no joke. To ride from one neighborhood to the next can mean arriving an exhausted, sweaty mess. Crossing the entire city is a workout, a physical experience that is best planned for with a change of clothes, water, and a snack. Which can, of course, be part of the charm. Plenty of people make cross-town rides on conventional bikes in SF every day, of course, and I was once of them. Like, as recently as three months ago.

A Cargo E-Bike Can Replace Your Car 44
A Swiss ski patrol unit’s custom Boost. Photo: Benno

But the right e-bike completely changes that experience. It simultaneously shrinks the distances between destinations in an urban space while opening it too, reminding the rider they’re pedaling through a natural space, even if one with lots of people and buildings and cars and bikes. This bit of alchemy, spinning a regular bike commute into gold, is produced, simply enough, with the bike’s motor, and in the case of the Benno Boost, the bike’s easy-riding design. By removing just enough of the physical task of riding a bike through hilly terrain, an e-bike lets the rider forget they’re on a bike, to a degree. A daunting climb, a stiff headwind, nothing fazes, really. It’s a subtle thing, and one I hadn’t expected, but rounding off the edge of physical effort opens the rider to their surroundings because you’re not thinking of the effort. Trees, houses, the sky, the sights, the smells—everything around you leaps into your awareness in a way I have never experienced on a conventional bike. I feel more present, more connected with my surroundings. And totally horrified I ever traveled these same streets confined within a car.

Of course, that’s where people yelling “cheater” come in. But a cargo bike, like the Benno Boost, is meant to be a cheater, in a sense, because it’s built to take over urban or suburban or, heck, some rural tasks, from a car. That’s the whole point.

Reviewing the Benno Boost E

I sprung for the base model Benno Boost E, a Class 1 e-bike powered by the Bosch Performance Cruise drive. The 250-watt motor produces a maximum of 65 Nm of torque and has a top assisted speed of 20 mph, though you can pedal as fast as your legs can push you; the motor simply switches off at 20 mph. The bike comes with a rear cargo rack that’s rated to hold 90 pounds. I added footrests for the rear rack to accommodate a rider (my infant daughter, eventually), and to support the floor of large bike bags. I also bought a burly front rack that can hold 55 pounds. Benno makes their own bags, and I purchased one, the utility pannier, which can swallow 30 liters worth of whatever: groceries, backpack, wetsuits, camping gear, dogs, you name it.

A Cargo E-Bike Can Replace Your Car 01
The motor is relatively quiet.

A Cargo E-Bike Can Replace Your Car 02
These foot platforms are add-ons.

The frame is a very sturdy aluminum with a steel fork to soften the ride up front just a bit. Benno designed the bike around its 24-inch wheels which keeps the bike very nimble and playful feeling. The wheelbase is just 73 inches, shorter than most longtail cargo bikes, so it rides pretty much just like any standard commuter. It’s heavy, at about 60 pounds, but that’s lighter than larger e-cargo bikes I comparison shopped. Plus, the relatively short wheelbase means it fits in my garage, unlike cargo bikes with big cargo boxes up front or a tail that’s twice as long.

Power is put to the ground with a 10-speed Shimano Deore drivetrain. With the motor engaged, you have 5 settings: Off, Eco, Tour, Sport, and Turbo. There is not a hill in San Francisco that the Turbo setting does not laugh at. I’ve stuffed my pannier with 40 pounds and pointed the bike straight up some of North Beach’s steepest hills, cable cars groaning their way up next to me, and it’s still a relative breeze.

E-cargo bikes can be massive, heavy, unwieldy, and an eyesore. The Benno is none of those things. I’ve read before that Benno Benzinger, designer of the bike, didn’t like the look of any available e-cargo bikes out there, finding most of them dorky. So he made his own. That’s apparent here. When I’m not getting yelled at by purists, I’m getting strangers complimenting me on the bike.

Ego-boosting is merely an ancillary benefit, however. As I’d hoped, the bike has absolutely replaced my car for driving anywhere less than 7 miles, which is a cross-town drive in San Francisco. I’ve reduced my driving by 65 percent just by owning this bike, and I can get that number down with another accessory, a surfboard carrier; the Carver model apparently bolts right to the Boost. Grocery store runs, hardware store trips, quick jaunts to the Marin Headlands over the Golden Gate Bridge—it’s all easy and fun on a bike like this.

There are campgrounds in Marin within 10 miles from my apartment, accessible only by fireroads which I’m planning to ride to in the new few weeks. It fits on my car’s bike rack, so I’ve driven it to fireroad-accessible backcountry lakes in Northern California and zoomed out to hard to reach places with ease. This would be a phenomenal bike touring system if you planned to recharge accordingly.

A Cargo E-Bike Can Replace Your Car 03
The computer is small, waterproof, and intuitive.

A Cargo E-Bike Can Replace Your Car 04
The battery pack unlocks with a key and fully charges in three hours.

Which brings me to range. It’s actually enormously difficult to calculate because it depends entirely on how hard you pedal and which settings you use. But I ride it every day, usually covering 5-10 miles, though sometimes more, and I charge the 400 Wh battery bike every other day. A conservative estimate would be 25 miles per charge if you live in a hilly place, and 40 if you live somewhere flat.

I’d never really meant to buy an e-cargo bike, or any kind of e-bike, by the way. But I’d bumped into parents dropping their kids off at my daughter’s daycare who were riding them. I researched bikes, found the Benno, went for a test ride, and was hooked within a mile. Within moments, the concept of driving short distances is immediately rendered absurd. The e-cargo bike can be a revelation, in the right situation, and for an adventurous city dweller, it’s about as good a solution to transport as it gets.

The bike is not cheap, however. The base price is $4,000. A model with a more powerful motor can reach 28 mph, but costs another $1,000. But when thought of as a more fun version of a car, it’s a bargain.

All bike photos: Housman

Content retrieved from: https://www.adventure-journal.com/2022/10/meet-the-benno-boost-e-a-cargo-e-bike-that-can-replace-your-car/.

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The Benno Boost Is a Versatile Utility E-Bike With a Bunch of Customization Options https://bennobikes.com/press/autoevolution/the-benno-boost-is-a-versatile-utility-e-bike-with-a-bunch-of-customization-options/ Tue, 13 Sep 2022 09:00:50 +0000 https://bennobikes.com/?p=28131 Folks, today I’m looking at an e-bike explicitly designed to be as practical as possible. Whether you make deliveries or always carry around stuff with you, keep reading and find out more about the Benno Boost 10D, as it might prove to be a suitable choice for you. 13 Sep 2022, by: Mircea Mazuru After […]

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autoevolution Logo

Folks, today I’m looking at an e-bike explicitly designed to be as practical as possible. Whether you make deliveries or always carry around stuff with you, keep reading and find out more about the Benno Boost 10D, as it might prove to be a suitable choice for you.

13 Sep 2022, by: Mircea Mazuru

After graduating from design school, Benno, the founder, moved to San Diego and co-founded the Electra Bicycle company in 1993. After working there until 2010, he went on to create the bike business bearing his name.

Recognizing the power of electrification, he decided to implement it in the Benno Bikes design. He also saw an opportunity in the utility e-bike market, as regular e-bikes offer little to no utility, and full-size cargo bikes are too big and hard to maneuver. This led to the birth of a new e-bike category he calls Etility, where agility meets true utility.

And that became the inspiration for the company’s entire range of products. Among them, you’ll discover the Boost 10D, offering the riding capabilities of a non-cargo bike and the storage options of one.

The Benno Boost is a versatile cargo ebike with a bunch of customization options 11

Before I go into detail, I just want to let you know the Boost costs around $4,500-$5,000 for the base model, so it’s quite pricey. Let’s see what this amount will get you.

Benno Bikes claim that the e-bike can carry more than 3x the load of a typical bike. Using a 6061-aluminum alloy frame and a long wheelbase design, the Boost is made for you to move stuff around on it. It weighs 30 kg (66 lbs.), but it can carry an impressive max gross weight (including the bike and rider) of 200 kg (441 lbs.).

Different versions of the Boost are available – Performance, Performance CX, Performance Sport, and Performance Speed, and you can also choose if you want it regular or step-through. If you’re from Europe, you probably know about the current EU e-bike regulations stating that the max speed a motor can assist you with is 15.5 mph (25 kph). That’s why Europeans only have access to the first two models. The last two versions are meant for the U.S., Switzerland, and New Zealand markets, and they boast a top speed of 28 mph (45 kph).

The Benno Boost is a versatile cargo ebike with a bunch of customization options 06

A Bosch mid-drive electric motor powers the Boost. You can choose between a 400 Wh or 500 Wh battery for the Performance and Performance Sport versions, which will provide 250 W of power and 65 Nm (45-foot pounds) of torque. Of course, why have a utility bike if you can’t go for long with it? The range is not a problem as the 400 Wh battery offers 25-75 miles (40-120 km), and the 500 Wh one provides 30-80 miles (50-130 km). If that’s not enough for you, you can opt for the dual battery option available for the Performance Speed and Performance CX, which will ensure a range of 50 to 150 miles (80-240 km), depending on which mode you’re riding in.

Oh yeah, about that, you have five riding modes and you can cycle through them by using the Bosch Purion On-Board computer. What’s more, the e-bike comes with custom 24″ (61 centimeters) Benno Dual Sport tires and a 10-speed Shimano drivetrain to assist you in all riding conditions. It lacks a suspension system, which might prove tiring after longer journeys.

The bike features some design elements that make it more practical, but its true usefulness emerges when customization comes into play. The stock bike’s only cargo element is the rear rack, but many accessories can be added to the Boost. You have the possibility of choosing from dozens of configurations to adapt the ride to your lifestyle. Just keep in mind that all accessories are extra and you have to pay for them.

For instance, let’s say you’re a parent and prefer taking your kids to school or kindergarten with a bike. You can easily add two child seats in the back and even attach a trailer if you need more seats for your family. Or perhaps you need to make city deliveries involving heavy packages; there’s a solution for that too. You can add a variety of racks, trays, bags, and others to create the Boost that best suits your needs.

All in all, I believe the Benno Boost 10D is a fantastic choice if practicality is the name of your game. It provides enough range for even avid city dwellers, and you’ll fit most of your belongings on it. The only downside I see is the price; it already seems a bit high, excluding all the extra accessories you can add to it.

Editor’s note: This article was not sponsored or supported by a third-party.

Content retrieved from: https://www.autoevolution.com/news/the-benno-boost-is-a-versatile-utility-e-bike-with-a-bunch-of-customization-options-198514/.

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28 Awesome E-Bikes You Can Buy Right Now https://bennobikes.com/press/bicycling/28-awesome-e-bikes-you-can-buy-right-now/ Thu, 04 Nov 2021 10:00:51 +0000 https://bennobikes.com/press/bicycling/25-awesome-e-bikes-you-can-buy-right-now-copy/ COMMUTER, CARGO, CRUISER, ROAD, AND MOUNTAIN E-BIKES FOR EVERY TYPE OF RIDER (AND BUDGET). By The Bicycling Editors It’s official. Electric bikes are here to stay, and their popularity is through the roof. Liberated from some of the normal constraints of standard bike design like weight and gearing, e-bike design has exploded; if you can […]

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COMMUTER, CARGO, CRUISER, ROAD, AND MOUNTAIN E-BIKES FOR EVERY TYPE OF RIDER (AND BUDGET).

By The Bicycling Editors

It’s official. Electric bikes are here to stay, and their popularity is through the roof. Liberated from some of the normal constraints of standard bike design like weight and gearing, e-bike design has exploded; if you can imagine it, someone has built it. From cargo bikes to city and commuter bikes, mountain bikes, road bikes, folding bikes, and even beach cruisers and tandem bikes, there is something for everyone. The beauty of e-bikes is that they make the joy of cycling accessible to so many people in so many ways.
[…]

The Three Classes of E-Bikes

After you decide which style of e-bike you want, consider which class you prefer. In the U.S., there are three classes defined by the type of assist and how fast the motor will propel you. Most electric bikes sold are class 1 or 3. Class 1 bikes have a motor (max 750w) that assists while you’re pedaling, up to 20 mph. Class 3, also known as “speed pedelec,” can also have up to only a 750w motor (aka 1 horsepower), but can assist you up to 28 mph. Both are allowed in most states and cities without the need for a license. Class 2 models have a throttle that can propel a bike up to and maintain 20 mph without having to continuously pedal. Aventon’s Pace 500 is technically a Class 3 e-bike in that it reaches speeds up to 28 mph, but it also has a throttle that tops out at 20 mph (the maximum legal speed for a throttle).

A Wide Variety of Motors and Batteries

E-bikes mostly use motors and battery options from a few major suppliers: Bosch, Yamaha, Shimano, and Brose. (Some bike brands, like Specialized and Giant, use motors that are made specifically for their bikes—the Specialized SL 1.1 is made by Mahle, and the Giant SyncDrive Pro is made by Yamaha.) A few other brands exist but are less reliable or powerful. Some, like the Yamaha system, have more torque, and others, like Bosch’s Active Line, are nearly silent. Look for motor output (in torque), which will give you an idea of total power. Just like car engines, more torque equals more power off the line and more boost to your pedaling. But watt hours (Wh) is perhaps a more important figure to use—it takes into account battery output and life to give a more accurate reflection of power (higher Wh equals bigger range).

What’s New With E-Bike Motors?

As the momentum of the e-bike trend continues, advancements in motor technology is the obvious next step. And with more and more road and mountain bikes becoming “electrified,” brands are looking to add power without adding a bunch of weight or taking up a ton of space on the frame. This is especially important for full-suspension mountain bikes because smaller motors leave more room for suspension, better tire clearance, and fewer geometry compromises. And lighter motors result in a more natural ride feel. Shimano’s new EP8 motor, for example, is 10 percent smaller and 380 grams lighter than the E8000 it replaces, yet it produces 21 percent more torque (85Nm max vs. 70). This trend doesn’t apply only to mid-drive motors. The Mahle X35 hub motor in the Argon 18 Subito is just 100mm in diameter and weighs about 1,900 grams. Bosch’s newest Performance Line CX motor offers 85Nm of torque and an eMTB mode that automatically responds to a rider’s effort and the terrain without the rider having to switch between modes. And the MicroTune function on the Specialized Turbo Levo’s Turbo Full Power 2.2 motor lets the rider adjust power in 10 percent increments.

Battery Range

For many bikes, battery range is more important than total power (because they’re all pretty powerful). You want a bike that delivers a range long enough for your rides at the power levels you want. Most e-bikes will have three to five levels of assist that kick in anywhere from 25 percent of your pedal power to 200 percent. Consider how fast the battery takes to recharge, especially if you’ll be using your bike for long commutes. And remember, if you won’t settle for anything less than turbo, you’ll get the least amount of range (but the most amount of fun!) your battery offers. Many bikes also now offer the option to piggyback a second battery that lets you double your range, or, in the case of the Electric Bike Company Model X, three (one on the rear rack and two in the front basket, for up to a 200-mile range).

Other Features to Consider

As electric bike options continue to expand, brands are integrating the batteries more seamlessly, which makes the bike look sleeker (and more like a real bike). Most batteries lock to the bike and come with a key that lets you unlock and remove it, which serves at least four good purposes: You can remove the battery and charge it off the bike, a locked battery deters (and hopefully prevents) a thief from stealing it, and an e-bike with the battery removed is safer for hauling on a bike rack and lighter for carrying up steps.

Because e-bikes are capable of greater speeds for longer periods of time than standard bikes, you want extra control. Wider tires provide better traction and the freedom to leave the pavement with little penalty, and a suspension fork will help tame some of the rougher roads you might explore. Good disc brakes are a must, too, for slowing a heavy bike at high speed. This is not a place to skimp.

Some e-bikes come with an integrated lighting system that turns on when you power up the bike. While this is an awesome feature to have, it’s not a deal breaker if your bike isn’t equipped this way. With so many great bike lights available, it’s just as easy to attach your own. Same with rear racks: Some e-bikes come with one, some don’t. You decide how important that feature is to you.

How We Tested

Our team of experienced testers incorporate electric bikes of all types into our routines almost daily. We’ve spent many hours and miles using e-bikes for their intended purpose. We’ve commuted to and from work on them, used them to stock up on groceries and beer, tested their passenger-hauling capability, ridden them on questionable terrain to see how they handle, and run their batteries down to officially see how long they last on one charge. We evaluated them on performance, price, comfort, handling, value, reliability, fun, aesthetics, and overall e-factor to come up with this list of bikes that will best serve the needs of anyone looking to add a little pedal assist to their ride.

[…]

E-Cargo Bikes

[…]

―Best Family E-Cargo Bike–

Benno Boost E 10D Speed

Benno Boost 10D Speed

Benno
propelbikes.com
$4,999.99
SHOP NOW

+ Option to add second battery doubles the range
+ Massive rear rack can hold two Yepp child seats

– Expensive

This latest version of the original Boost, which made its debut in 2016 and impressed us with its immense utility and bold design, improves on that model without changing ride quality. It goes faster, too—the Bosch Performance Speed Cargo motor gets you up to 28 mph in turbo mode. You can haul up to 130 pounds on the rear rack and 45 on the front, and the Boost is compatible with a ton of useful accessories, including a variety of front trays, Yepp baby seats (for two), and different rail systems for your little ones to hold onto. A Bosch PowerPack 500Wh battery sits cleanly on the frame and will provide up to about 75 miles of riding—a range you can double with a second battery. The whole package rolls on 2.6-inch tires wrapped around 24-inch wheels. Best way to buy it: Order it today; it’s in stock and available to ship.

Content retrieved from: https://www.bicycling.com/bikes-gear/a22132137/best-electric-bikes/.

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Benno Boost eCargo bike is a trailbuilding, overlanding, commuter’s dream https://bennobikes.com/press/bike-rumor/benno-boost-ecargo-bike-is-a-trailbuilding-overlanding-commuters-dream/ Fri, 15 Oct 2021 08:00:15 +0000 https://bennobikes.com/?p=28121 Posted on October 15, 2021 by Tyler Benedict We’ve seen some great zombie apocalypse bike builds before, but few that seem as practical as this custom setup from Benno Bikes. Using the Benno Boost e-cargo bike as the base, they’ve outfitted it with an overlanding setup that’s equal parts camping, trailbuilding, and bug-outting capable. Designed

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BIKE RUMOR

Posted on October 15, 2021 by Tyler Benedict

We’ve seen some great zombie apocalypse bike builds before, but few that seem as practical as this custom setup from Benno Bikes. Using the Benno Boost e-cargo bike as the base, they’ve outfitted it with an overlanding setup that’s equal parts camping, trailbuilding, and bug-outting capable.

Designed to work as a cargo bike but with handling and ride quality similar to a regular bike, the Boost is Benno’s biggest bike so far. It’s running 24″ wheels front and rear, with a slightly elongated trunk to give it a longer rack and more cargo space.

Benno Boost cargo ebike with overlanding camping trailbuilder setup.

They call it an “Etility” bike, and with the vast array of racks, mounts, and accessories available, it’s easy to make it find the type of utility you need.

Not only do they have an extensive catalog of add ons (it comes with the rear rack as standard), you can also choose between one of four Bosch Performance Line drive systems – Speed, CX, Sport, and base model – giving you both Class 1 and 3 options based on where you live (or how much you want to spend). And the top two versions can use a second battery to increase range up to 160 miles.

Benno Boost cargo ebike with overlanding camping trailbuilder setup. The bike normally comes with 24×2.6″ city tires, but these spiked knobbies look way better.

The frame has mounts for fenders and cages, and they offer their own custom racks that bolt directly into the frame to maximize their load carrying capacity. It’s rated for a maximum 440lb (200kg) load, including rider and bike, leaving you with approximately 130lb (60kg) of cargo (or passengers) in the back, and 45lb (20kg) on the front.

Benno Boost cargo ebike with child carrier seat rack

The Benno Boost comes in one size, designed to fit riders from 5’1″ to 6’3″. They offer standard and step-thru frames, and the rear rack system can hold up to two Yepp child seats, with or without the side rails to keep the little monsters contained.

Benno Boost cargo ebike with child carrier seat rack

Honky squeak toys and other accessories are all sold separately, some less annoying than others. With so many options, it’s best to check their website for pricing.

Fun fact: Benno Bikes is named after the owner, Benno Baenziger, who co-founded Electra Bicycles (which was eventually sold to Trek). Which makes the clean, modern look of these bikes no surprise, and they have some interesting new models coming, too.

Shown above is the Remidemi, a mini e-bike that also has cargo capacity with optional front and rear racks. It’s rolling on 20″ wheels with fat 4.5″ tires for mega grip and a smoother ride. The battery sits behind the seat tube so that they could give it a really low step-through design and upright riding position.

Get it with either the Bosch Performance Sport (28mph Class 3) or Performance (20mph Class 1) drive systems.

Benno eJoy step-thru commuter ebike

The Benno eJoy is a more traditional step-thru cruiser bike, but can use their side rack for panniers, full rack for a kid seat or more storage, and their front rack for groceries, backpacks, etc. Three motor options, two battery options, three colors, and a ton of accessories let you build it exactly the way you want it. And it has bigger 26×2.35″ wheels and tires, so it’s going to ride just like a regular bike.

BennoBikes.com

Tyler Benedict is the Founder of Bikerumor.com. He has been writing about the latest bikes, components, and cycling technology for 14 years. Prior to that, Tyler launched and built multiple sports nutrition brands and consumer goods companies, mostly as an excuse to travel to killer riding locations throughout North America.

Based in North Carolina, Tyler loves finding new travel adventures to share with his family and is always on the lookout for the next shiny new part to make his bikes faster and lighter. And, he’s totally gone down the NFT rabbit hole.

Content retrieved from: https://bikerumor.com/benno-boost-ecargo-bike-is-a-trailbuilding-overlanding-commuters-dream/.

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Benno Bikes RemiDemi 9D review https://bennobikes.com/press/bike-radar/benno-bikes-remidemi-9d-review/ Sat, 02 Oct 2021 09:00:28 +0000 https://bennobikes.com/press/benno-bikes-remidemi-9d-review/ By Warren Rossiter Big-load carrying ‘Etility’ machine is a hoot to ride and super practical Our rating: 3.5 (out of 5 star rating) […] Our review A rare and impressive mix of riding fun and cargo-carrying practicality Pros: Practical; easy; fun Cons: Single-sided kickstand; weighty German bike designer Benno Baenziger had a skateboard and snowboard […]

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bikeradar
By Warren Rossiter

Big-load carrying ‘Etility’ machine is a hoot to ride and super practical

Our rating: 3.5 (out of 5 star rating)

[…]

Our review

A rare and impressive mix of riding fun and cargo-carrying practicality

Pros: Practical; easy; fun
Cons: Single-sided kickstand; weighty

German bike designer Benno Baenziger had a skateboard and snowboard background before he founded Electra bikes back in 1993. Electra is less well known in the UK, but its retro-looking Townie is said to be the USA’s most popular cruiser bike.

Baenziger later sold Electra to Trek and went on to found Benno Bikes, an electric bike brand specialising in what it calls ‘Etility’ bikes – electric bikes that blend an easy, fun ride and a massive cargo-carrying capacity.

Whereas many of Benno’s e-bikes feature long wheelbases, the one-size-only RemiDemi 9D is a more compact model based around a 1,130mm wheelbase. This makes it nice and manoeuvrable in city traffic and its super-fat Duro tyres also help make it one of the most enjoyable utility machines I’ve ever ridden. Who says you can’t combine practicality and fun?

While it is reasonably compact, which makes storing it that much easier, Benno Bikes has still designed the RemiDemi to have the versatility and massive load-carrying capacity of a dedicated cargo bike.

Carry that load

The RemiDemi has a solidly mounted 20kg capacity front rack and it can carry 30kg at the rear, with the chunky chromoly steel frame itself doubling as the rear rack.

The total carrying capacity is a massive 180kg (400lb), including the 30kg bike and a rider up to 120kg (260lb), so most of us will be able to load up both racks to the max and carry a backpack.

Benno Bikes RemiDemi 9D eBike is equipped with a Bosch Purion controller
Bosch’s Purion controller is simple to use. Russell Burton / Immediate Media

This haulage capacity is enough to handle a weekly shop and take your kid to school at the same time, depending on your weight, of course.

The RemiDemi also comes with a raft of load-carrying options for just about every eventuality and potential customer. Want to fit a Thule Yepp EasyFit child seat at the rear? A rear delivery box and front tray for commercial cargo deliveries? A secure frame-mounted front tray? Or perhaps a Carver Surf Rack? The RemiDemi can be adapted for all of these uses and more.

The Benno Bikes RemiDemi 9D commuter eBike is equipped with 20in x 4.25in Duro Street tyres
Wide tyres and a plush saddle keep the ride comfortable. Russell Burton / Immediate Media

The RemiDemi’s versatility extends beyond merely carrying stuff too, as its frame is designed to accommodate riders from 155cm (5ft 1in) to 185cm (6ft 1in) in height, but in practice I found the range wider still. I’m 6ft 2in tall and had no trouble fitting the bike and the same is true for my partner who’s 5ft tall.

Unless your size disparity is even greater than ours, the RemiDemi is genuinely a bike for the whole household rather than a single-owner machine.

The light on the Benno Bikes RemiDemi 9D is powered by the battery
It has mudguards and lights powered by the battery. Russell Burton / Immediate Media

In addition to the front rack the RemiDemi comes with full-length mudguards, which provide a solid platform for the front and rear lights that are both powered by the battery.

The Herrmans MR8 front light puts out 180 lumens and the Herrmans twin LED rear, with its 220 degrees of visibility, is an ideal setup for city riding.

Feel the power

The mid-mounted Bosch Performance Line system is the perfect match for the RemiDemi’s design, as you have so much torque on tap that you never really feel the bike’s near-30kg weight.

If you like to roll along swiftly, you’ll also love the RemiDemi’s massive slick tyres, as these offer an unholy amount of grip when you lean it into corners.

Male cyclist in blue riding the Benno Bikes RemiDemi 9D eBike
Benno’s RemiDemi is practical…and great fun. Russell Burton / Immediate Media

In addition to this, their huge air volume lets the RemiDemi roll over the roughest surfaces and stay comfortable, and you’re further helped by the luxurious couch-like saddle and the bike’s relaxed upright riding position.

The best range I managed on a largely flat urban test ride was 74.3km (46.2 miles) with 311m (1,020ft) of climbing. That’s plenty for a school run or a day’s worth of local deliveries.

Benno Bikes RemiDemi 9D eBike is powered by a Bosch PowerPack 400 battery
The bike is powered by a Bosch PowerPack 400 battery. Russell Burton / Immediate Media

The range was also pretty impressive over some tougher rural test rides, and I managed 57.8km (35.9 miles) with 613m (2011ft) of elevation on an excursion over some of Wiltshire’s rolling hills.

Fun and functionality

I’ve loved my time riding the RemiDemi. It impressed me with its simplicity and practicality and it’s supremely comfortable but, best of all, it’s a shedload of fun to ride. It’s compact for a cargo bike and the folding pedals reduce its width.

Although, I would like to have seen a Speedlifter-style stem, as seen on Cube’s Compact. This lets you turn the bar independently from the fork and would have made the RemiDemi even easier to store.

I’d have also preferred a dual kickstand rather than the single-sided kickstand that comes as standard (though dual-sided is an option). The stability of a double-sided stand would make loading a bike of this weight that much easier.

Kickstand on the Benno Bikes RemiDemi 9D eBike
I’d have preferred a double-sided kickstand. Russell Burton / Immediate Media

But even with those provisos, the RemiDemi is a fabulous bike that’s full of charm.

It’s also a machine that could take over a lot of duties presently carried out by a car and it would make going car-less that much less of a hardship.

Product Specifications

Product

Price GBP £3399.00
Weight 29.6kg (One Size)
Brand Benno bikes

Features

Available sizes One Size
Brakes Brakes Shimano BT-MT200 hydraulic discs, 180mm/ 160mm rotors
Cassette Shimano Acera
Fork 4130 chromoly steel
Frame 4130 chromoly steel
Grips/Tape Benno Ergonomic grips
Handlebar Benno alloy 700mm riser
Motor E-Bike system Bosch Performance Line 250W motor, Bosch PowerPack 400 battery (396Wh), Bosch Purion display/controller
Rear derailleur Shimano Sora nine-speed
Saddle Benno/Velo Comfort
Seatpost Benno alloy
Shifter Shimano Acera
Stem Benno alloy 60mm
Tyres 20in x 4.25in Duro Street tyres
Wheels 20in Benno HJC double-wall 80mm wide alloy rims; 36-hole KT cartridge bearing hubs

Authors

Warren Rossiter

Senior Technical Editor Road
Approaching two decades of testing bikes, Warren can be found on a daily basis riding and exploring the road and off roads of Wiltshire’s Salisbury Plain in the UK. That’s when he’s not travelling the world to test the latest kit, components and bikes.

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