Urban Arrow has spent the last 14 years building a reputation around front-loading cargo bikes, becoming one of the biggest names in the family cargo bike world. Now the Dutch company is branching out into an entirely new category with the launch of the Urban Arrow Breeze, bringing its first-ever longtail electric cargo bike to the North American market. While Urban Arrow’s signature front box bikes have long been popular with parents hauling kids and groceries, longtail cargo bikes have become an increasingly important part of the North American market. They offer much of the utility of a cargo bike while riding and feeling more like a conventional bicycle, making them an easier transition for riders who may be intimidated by larger front-loaders. That’s exactly the audience Urban Arrow is targeting with the Breeze. According to Urban Arrow North America General Manager Mark Danhof, longtail cargo bikes now make up the majority of the North American cargo bike segment, making this a natural expansion for the company. Advertisement - scroll for more content The Breeze is built around 24-inch wheels instead of the more common 20-inch rear wheel seen on many longtails. Urban Arrow says the larger wheels create handling that feels closer to a standard bicycle while also improving stability at higher speeds and when carrying passengers. Power comes from Bosch’s Cargo Line motor, paired with an Enviolo continuously variable hub transmission and Gates carbon belt drive. That’s a premium drivetrain combination that should appeal to riders looking for low maintenance and smooth operation. Despite its relatively compact appearance, the Breeze is designed to haul some serious weight. The rear rack is rated to carry up to 176 lb (80 kg), enough for two children or a combination of passengers and cargo, while total payload capacity reaches 440 lb (200 kg). A very low step-through frame should also make mounting and dismounting easier, particularly when the bike is fully loaded. Urban Arrow has also added several family-focused touches, including spoke and belt guards, a sturdy dual-leg kickstand for easier loading, Bosch’s Purion 200 display, integrated security features, and the MIK HD accessory mounting system on both the front and rear racks for quickly swapping between passenger and cargo setups. The company is sweetening the launch with more than $700 worth of included accessories, including a passenger protection bar, footrests, seat cushions, and a front rack. The Urban Arrow Breeze is available now through select dealers in the US and Canada in a single green colorway. Pricing starts at $6,999, putting it squarely in the premium cargo bike category, though the included accessories help soften the blow compared to many competitors that charge extra for those essentials. Electrek’s Take Urban Arrow already knows how to build excellent family cargo bikes, so it isn’t surprising to see the company bringing that expertise into the longtail segment. If anything, it’s surprising it took this long. The longtail cargo bike design also makes a lot of sense for North America, as this style has become the default recommendation for many families looking to replace car trips because they offer a gentler learning curve than front-loaders while still carrying one or two kids with ease. We shouldn’t really be surprised at the price, since Urban Arrow has long been a premium brand, so you’re going to have to pay to play when it comes to a Dutch cargo e-bike brand. At nearly $7,000 it certainly isn’t inexpensive, but neither is the rest of the premium cargo bike market. For families planning to rack up thousands of miles replacing school drop-offs and grocery runs, that investment may be easier to justify than it first appears. I’m a bit surprised they only brought one colorway to the US, and not the darker option that debuted when they launched this model in their home market of Europe last year, but I guess they have their reasons. Stay up to date with the latest content by subscribing to Electrek on Google News. You’re reading Electrek— experts who break news about Tesla, electric vehicles, and green energy, day after day. Be sure to check out our homepage for all the latest news, and follow Electrek on Twitter, Facebook, and LinkedIn to stay in the loop. Don’t know where to start? Check out our YouTube channel for the latest reviews.
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