Review: Benno 46er e-cargo bike

While I truly enjoy testing the fastest and lightest road and gravel bikes out there, testing an e-cargo bike is some fun I can share with my family. My wife and kid were happy when the Benno 46er arrived because, frankly, we’ve used e-cargo bikes before and they make some trips in the city so much better.

For us, we noticed a lot of familiar features on the Benno 46er, and not just because we used the Benno Boost last year. The Bosch Performance CX drive unit is a common motor for bigger bikes. It can put out a maximum 85 Nm of torque, which will help you and your loaded bike up a tough climb. The most significant difference between our 46er and the Boost is the wheels. The 46er has a mixed-wheel setup: a 26″ in the front and 24″ in the back. Also at the front is a Suntour SF18 Mobie 25 fork with 75 mm of travel. All that works with a 1,198-mm wheelbase, which is roughly 56 mm shorter than the Boost and in the range of a cross country mountain bike. In short, the 46er is an agile schlepper. It feels lighter than its 39 kg (86 lb.). Quite naturally, on my first ride I took the bike up a high curb easily and managed other urban technical features (potholes) well. As you’d expect from a mullet bike, this e-cargo machine is a mix of no-nonsense hauling business and fun handling.

The key to getting the most out of an e-cargo bike is by picking the right accessories. The Benno 46er has plenty of add-ons, which let you turn it into a rig for moving your pet, gear of all kinds—whether that’s equipment for your other passion pursuits or work—and kids. I built up a kid-moving-mobile. Since my grom is 10 years old, I figured they’d be good with the half-rail bar, which leaves the seat open on the right side. They liked how easy it was to get on and off. They didn’t like having an open side when we’re going fast over bumpy roads. They’d likely prefer the three-quarter rail that does provide a bit more coverage on the right side.

I’m a big fan of the front tray and bag. It’s great for stashing small items or even a 13-kg bag of kitty litter. On the rear rack, the bars where you’d attach a pannier get closed up once the seat pads and wheel guards are on. I can only get on my panniers with simple, straight hooks, not the ones that use more refined attachment systems.

One of the biggest rides the kid and I did was a cross-town jaunt to make it to a birthday party after their school day. Had we taken the trip by car or public transit, we would have been late, which is just the reality of Toronto’s rush hour. Our ride should have been less than an hour, but I did stop to chat with a friend. (“Daaaad, let’s go,” they said.) We still arrived with plenty of time to spare. On such a long ride, the kiddo did find the potholes a chore. Even though I could keep the bike at about 30 km/h easily, I put the machine in Eco mode and cruised in the low 20s for my passenger. My legs got more of a workout, which I didn’t mind. Then, I realized I had had the front fork’s suspension locked out. I didn’t really need the squish, but once the 75 mm of travel was active, my kiddo had a much more pleasant ride, even at slightly higher speeds.

Later that evening, the ride home was something I’ll always remember. We chatted and joked, while taking in everything around us—the warm early September air, the band playing outdoors in Greektown and the lights of the city’s skyscrapers from the Bloor Street Viaduct. Such a memorable ride.

As I continued to ride with my little tester, I realized we had arrived at a milestone. The last such marker came at age six when they didn’t want to go to school in their bike trailer. They were too grown up for that. With the e-cargo bike, the 10 year old nearing the end of Grade 4 at the time felt a school dropoff from a cargo bike was a bit embarrassing. Less than eight months ago, this wasn’t the case. Now, they’d simply rather ride their own bike. There is an exception though. Soccer matches are at a pitch about 4 km away. The hills and heatwaves they’d face after a game are a bit daunting. So, knowing that the car was the other option, they said, “I want to go to soccer on the cargo bike because I don’t want to be a not-good environmentalist.” Eco over ego—I’m such a proud papa. Luckily, a bike like the Benno 46er can easily evolve as a family does. The cat’s still plenty happy to have her bags of litter brought home by cargo bike, I’m pretty sure.

Benno 46er

Components Shimano Deore shifter, 10-speed rear derailleur and 11-42 tooth cassette, Magura MT Thirty brakes, four-piston in the front, two-piston at the rear, 180-mm rotors. Benno Endurance saddle with rear handle
Drive System 85-Nm Bosch Performance CX, 500-Wh battery, Purion control unit and display
Suspension Suntour SF18 Mobie 25 fork with 75 mm of travel
Wheels Aluminum rims with Shimano MT400 hubs with 26 x 2.35 Benno Dual Sport front tire and 24 x 2.6 rear
Size One size fits most riders 155 to 190 cm tall
Price $7,800
Accessories Half-rail bar $150, Rail clamp plus set $75, sideloader bars $295, wheel guards $70, utility front tray $320, front tray bag $185, two rack top pads $140, dual kickstand $210
Website rlanctot.com