No stranger to value-packed bikes, Australian company Reid has thrown its hat into the budding e-Cargo Bike scene with the KADe. Based on a long tail design and boasting competitive range, total carrying weight, and versatility, join us as we take you through the Reid KADe Electric Cargo Bike.

• Who’s It For?: Those looking for a versatile ride capable of carrying a load or replacing car trips in and around town.
• What We Liked: The competitive price point, comfortable ride, one-size-fits-most geometry, sturdy racks and effortless torque on offer from the drive unit.
• What We Didn’t: Dimensions of the bike aren’t friendly with all of our local cycling infrastructure, drive unit lag and minor component complaints.

Dialling In the Value

Marketed as a feature-packed cargo E-Bike, the Reid KADe features a sturdy, reinforced aluminium frame. Reid claims a total system (i.e. bike, rider and cargo) carrying capacity of 200kg. The bike features a more traditional long tail design complete with a sturdy rear rack, while the static rack at the front is ideal for holding shopping bags or luggage for your commute.

Shimano provides the bulk of the mechanical components on the KADe with its Altus level 9-speed shifters and rear derailleur. Powerful MT200 hydraulic disc brakes gripping 160mm rotors are also present.

Powering the unit is a torquey Ananda mid-drive motor, which, while limited to 250w to conform to local laws, boasts 110Nm of torque. Fuelling the drive unit is a dual-battery system comprised of a 9.6Ah integrated downtube battery and a bigger rear-mounted 12aH battery. Reid says this dual-battery system is good for up to 150km on a single charge in ideal conditions, something we couldn’t replicate on test, but more on that later. An integrated lighting system is also included while the bike rolls on sturdy 24” double-wall aluminium wheels wrapped in 3” puncture-resistant tyres.

The Reid KADe is available in a single one-size-fits-most option, with the adjustable seatpost said to cater to riders ranging from 150-200cm in height. A single orange colourway is offered, while the optional extras on offer include a padded rear pannier seat or an Urban Iki child seat rated for children aged 9mo-6 years (9-22kg).

Riding Impressions

There’s a lot to love about cargo bikes. They’re versatile, capable and perfectly suitable to replace short trips that would’ve otherwise been taken in a car. Add in powerful electric assistance, and the weight penalty of the bikes is dampened too. Hence, it’s not hard to see why this style of bike is booming across Europe, North America and beginning its charge (no pun intended) here down under.

During the review period, I found myself reaching for the helmet over the car keys more often than not and found it great at those 20-25 km round trips to the supermarket, friends’ houses and cruises along the bike path. The riding experience of the KADe is largely fuss-free, too, adding to the enjoyment of the ride, a big plus for prospective buyers looking for something more than “just a bike”.

The Shimano components and hydraulic brakes did a commendable job of shifting and slowing the hefty steed down. However, we did experience persistent brake drag from both the front and rear callipers after 50km or so of riding. On the rolling stock, the large volume tyres provided a comfortable ride and effortlessly sailed over gravel paths and easily swallowed up divots, cracks and imperfections of the riding surface. Elsewhere the included racks on the bike were exceptionally sturdy, and I had no issues loading up to 60kg of cargo across the front and rear racks at times. The mudguards did an excellent job shielding from water, dirt and other debris, and I found the touch points comfortable enough for daily use.

As is the case with just about every bike I’ve tested with an integrated lighting solution, this was, again, a disappointing specification choice. Whilst it does a job, and the light sensing on/off feature was a nice touch, it was simply inadequate in providing enough luminosity to both safely be seen and see by when the sun dips below the horizon. As such, it’s best to budget for a supplementary front and rear lighting system.

The Ananda drive unit propelling the unit did a commendable job at powering the KADe. The drive unit is surprisingly quiet in its operation, and the impressive torque on offer made short work of hills. However, It must be noted that there was a noticeable amount of lag between the pedal input and the assistance kicking in from a stop. This was especially noticeable when the bike was loaded with cargo.

While quoted at offering up to 150km of range, we had found that in regular conditions, using the motor on its second to lowest setting, we were only able to travel 50km or so before choosing not to roll the dice on the range and giving it a charge. Upon mentioning this to Reid, they informed me that the rear battery needed to be manually switched on upon taking delivery of the bike, else the bike would default to running solely off the downtube battery. After turning the rear battery on, other KADe users reported increasing their range by over 100km. Reid has noted this and is upskilling its dealers to ensure this step is explained and taken at the point of sale.

While not a particular fault of the KADe, local cycling infrastructure proved to be the biggest hindrance during my time with the bike. Despite being on the smaller side for a cargo e-bike, at 201cms long, the bike was a bit of a logistical headache to shift around. It’s too large to fit in most cars, let alone on metro and regional train services, so my usual bike-train-bike commute was not possible during the review period. For those wanting to travel with the bike or transport it outside its intended riding range, I’d strongly suggest looking into an e-bike-rated car bike rack to transport the bike around.

Weighing in at over 30kg, the sheer heft of the bike makes the power assistance almost essential too. Admittedly, the wide range of gears on offer makes the bike rideable sans assistance on flat terrain, but it’s slow going. As such, the KADe does have a handy walk assist feature that does make walking alongside the bike a little easier, but if you need to ascend a flight of stairs with the bike regularly, which I did, I’d suggest either hitting the gym or compromising on the load-lugging ability and looking at a traditional or lightweight e-bike.

Final Thoughts    

All in all, the KADe sits as a compelling option for those looking for a bike with a little more versatility. Whether that’s loading up the kids, groceries or simply using it as a commuter for its intended usage, it ticks most boxes that prospective buyers are likely to consider. Contact your local dealer to try out the KADe for yourself.

*Review for Reid Cycles Australia by Taylor Jones at Bike Exchange. The KADe is a global product with the same specifications, geometries and sizing for both Reid Bikes and Reid Cycles.