Phan Hoàng Đức
Riese and Müller make some of the most amazingly capable electric cargo haulers out there and the Riese and Müller Load4 75 Vario is their most recent take on their most capable model. As with the original Load 75 range, it combines a huge carrying capacity in the form of a front box and strong rear rack with superb full suspension. The Load4 version adds in all the wirelessly connected features of the latest Bosch Smart System with the option of ABS 2.0 braking as tested here.
The Riese and Müller Load4 75 Vario really is the ultimate car replacement – indeed as well as carrying up to three toddlers or a large cargo load (gross vehicle weight of 200kg) this GX version is equipped to venture off-road to make most use of the high quality full air suspension. If you want to use it as a touring expedition vehicle you could opt for the double battery option giving a huge 1450Wh battery capacity.
Riese and Müller Load4 75 Vario
From £7,429 | VIEW OFFER
Pros: Huge volume carrying capacity Full suspension The option of Bosch’s latest ABS 2.0 braking means this is one the most reassuring and comfortable rides out there for hauling around truly big loadsIf your toddlers love being transported by bike then they should love the luxury and comfort afforded by all the child carrying extras available for the Load4 75.
Cons: Solid metal mudguards are the only real weakness on the quality front The significant weight – pushing or exceeding 40kg depending on spec – will mean your intended use of the bike shouldn’t include being able to lift it upStorage space may also be an issue for some
Features:75cm x 54cm load platform is one of biggest out there and there are many options to customise it for both child and cargo hauling depending on your needs. Load platform area has a 70kg carrying rating and the optional rear rack 20kg rating, with gross weight capacity of the bike 200kg (includes bike and rider). Powerful Bosch mid-drive and full Smart System connectivityWeatherproof system for children in the form of the Child Cover (as reviewed)Stepless Enviolo hub gear with belt drive options (as reviewed)Bosch ABS 2.0 brakingFull air suspensionGX option (as reviewed) makes the Load4 75 off-road capablePowerful front and rear LED lights, front with full beam
Spec:Motor – Bosch Cargo Line mid-drive with Smart System connectivityBattery – Bosch PowerPack, 725Wh, frame-mounted and removableGearing – Stepless Enviolo 380 hub with Gates CDX belt driveBrakes – Tektro TRP C 2.3 hydraulic discs with Bosch ABS 2.0 anti-lock braking Connectivity – Bosch Smart System including navigation and electronic locking and tracking featuresWeight – 39.5kg as specced
Riese and Müller Load4 75 Vario – very possibly the best car replacement e-bike there is
There are lots of much more reasonably priced but much smaller load capacity e-cargo bikes out there, from the industry leader in 20”-wheeled machines, Tern, to those that look to compete at a lower price point such as Velosta. Compared to all these the Riese and Müller Load4 75 Vario ‘basic’ price tag of £7049 for the derailleur-equipped Touring model looks pricey (our Vario test option with all sorts of extras adds and extra £1827 on top of that).
Whilst that might make it seem expensive it can be looked at another way – this is a bike that will get smaller kids to school, do a (very) big shop, venture off-road on fully-equipped camping trips and make errands such as picking up parcels a breeze whether or not there are traffic queues. All for much less than the price of a new car and it should last for practically ever if looked after properly, whilst every car I have ever had has quietly rusted away after a few decades or less. Add in the fact that running costs and environmental impact are minimal – even compared to electric cars – and you can see why the figures may well stack up for you.
Now that we’ve hopefully answered any price objections lets dive into the detail of what you get and how it performs.
A Rolls-Royce Cargo Ride
Above all else the Load4 75 is just a lovely cargo bike to ride. There is high quality front and rear air suspension, an adjustable angle handlebar, a quiet, responsive and powerful mid-drive and powerful LED lighting with an easy to use centre kickstand with a wide footprint and full length mudguards.
All this means it’s a joy to ride. It just floats over every obstacle in it’s path, on or off-road (this being the GX option with Schwalbe Smart Sam knobbly tyres), and it eats up any steepness of gradient due to the max 400% assist of the 85Nm rated Bosch Cargo Line mid-drive. It’s a one size frame but the handlebar post tilts forward and back and up and down with quick release fittings to just about all sizes of rider will be able to experience the superb ride quality in maximum comfort.
The stepless Enviolo hub gears are super easy to use – just twist the grip forward or back for easier or harder pedalling. There are derailleur and Rohloff hub gears if you want lighter more efficient gearing or huge range in a heavier and very pricey format respectively. The Enviolo is the least efficient option so it will eat into battery capacity more but is by far the most intuitive to use and has virtually zero day to day maintenance.
When I added in a hefty weight on the load platform and loaded rear panniers it kept these wonderful riding characteristics – that full suspension and the long wheelbase really makes it feel stable and safe and the motor kept cranking out the power even up 15% gradients around my area of West Yorkshire. In short, if you want an e-bike for safe and speedy handling of big loads the Load4 75 is unrivalled. Having ridden a couple of Load models, for big loads I would now only consider a full suspension model as they so effectively isolate the weight from humps and bumps and make handling so much better. This also applies to the rear rack which is effectively isolated from shocks by the rear suspension.
Whilst I used the Load4 75 on and off-road around the Calder Valley for a variety of load hauling jobs over the Xmas period, it would also make a great adventure e-bike when the weather improves; the full suspension and off-road tyre option make it ideal for chucking in a load of camping gear (and you might even squeeze a small canine friend in there) and heading off-road into the wilds.
Whilst it won’t tackle super-extreme long travel e-mtb territory, it will let you access huge areas of countryside in relative car-free luxury. Previously I have ridden another Load model the length of Mastiles Lane in the Dales – to give you an idea of its challenging nature it was once (but no longer) a favoured haunt of 4×4 motorised recreational users who wanted to give their vehicles an exacting test. The Load was easily up to the challenge.
Saving the best safety feature until last, let’s take a look at the optional Bosch ABS braking 2.0 as fitted to this test bike. In short this acts as a secondary front brake and millisecond-sensitive sensors sample the braking status of the front wheel and should it lock up it braking pressure is automatically backed off. I tried coming to a stop with a 40kg front load at 20mph down a steep hill and it managed to stop the bike without any lockup on wet winter tarmac. I can’t vouch for non-skid stopping power in very muddy off-road conditions but ABS certainly will help safety. Of course in the more extreme off-road conditions it won’t overcome the effects of physics so there are limits to its effectiveness – though these are likely at the borderline of where you would want to be riding a bike of this design anyhow).
Other features include a rear wheel lock as standard and this will work in tandem with an optional extra chain lock that plugs into the side of it. There’s also the ability to charge the battery on or off the bike.
Load Options and Smart Connectivity
The variety of optional extras mean the Load4 75 can be customised for up to three children of seven or under who can be carried in the box area, within the 70kg weight rating; they will get their own seats and seatbelts too plus the option of fully enclosed weather protection. There are low side (best for kids) and high side (best for big loads) cargo box options and the ability to weatherproof any load with a tarpaulin or even lock in loads.
Even though I didn’t use the bike for kiddie-hauling my test bike came with two child seats with five point harnesses and a full weather proof cover which was a good chance to examine how the latter worked. It is fully-enclosed but has roll up sides for ease of getting in and out and also for fresh air if the rain isn’t too heavy. It removes in a matter of minutes, as do the seats if you want to quickly convert it to a full on load hauler.
What exactly is the Smart System and what advantages does it give you? The overview is that it is a way of digitally future-proofing the bike, as over-the-air updates mean it has the ability for extra software to be added over time. For example, in a recent update the Smart System gained enhanced navigation features that included voice commands. It is also needed for the operation of Bosch’s ABS as found on this bike. Smart features include the ability to alter the power delivery profiles of the different levels and an electronic lock with GPS tracking.
To get the most out of it, it should be used in conjunction with Bosch’s eBike Flow app and either a Kiox display or by using a smartphone as a display (the Load4 75 should be upgradeable to Bosch’s smartphone grip although it’s not a factory standard option).
Riese and Müller Load4 75 Vario
From £7,429 | VIEW OFFER
The Competition
If you want to stick with the superb quality offered by Riese and Müller then there are two possibilities – if you like the idea of a Smart System and bigger capacity options then the Load4 60 offers a very similar spec to the Load4 75, but with a 60cm load area length which maxes out at a two-child carrying capacity. Alternatively the original Load 75 and Load 60 are still available and come without the benefits of the Smart System (so ABS for example is not an option) whilst also featuring still sizeable but smaller battery options.
There are no other full suspension e-cargo bikes I am aware of but there are large electric cargo options from the likes of Babboe, Aitour and the Raleigh Stride 2 which all look to compete at a lower price point than Riese and Müller. Perhaps the stiffest competition comes from the Trek Fetch+4 which claims to accommodate up to five small children up to a max of 80kg in its front box, though it lacks full suspension. If you simply want a stable load platform electric trikes are also worth a look and Cube’s Trike Hybrid is a prime example.
Raleigh Stride II
£4,299 | VIEW OFFER
Trek Fetch+ 4
£6,475 | VIEW OFFER
Cube Trike Hybrid
£5,999 | VIEW OFFER
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