Yuba Spicy Curry Review

The Spicy Curry is a Class 1 electric cargo bike, which means that it doesn't have a throttle, only pedal assist modes. A 500-watt-hour battery and a 250-watt mid-drive Bosch motor provide electrical power. It has a 26-inch wheel in the front and a smaller 20-inch rear wheel, which lowers the center of gravity and improves handling when the rear rack is loaded with cargo. The wheelbase is long at 56-inches. The 6061 aluminum frame can support a total weight limit of 440 pounds, while the bike itself only weighs 60.2 pounds. The maximum speed is 20 mph.

Performance Comparison

Ride

This model offers a nice ride with some nuances. The handling of the Spicy Curry is defined by its length (1420 mm wheelbase). As a result, it is not the most maneuverable and has a large turning radius. Admittedly, though, we expected the Yuba to be less nimble than it actually turned out to be, which impressed us. Where this bike's ride quality shines is in how smooth and stable it cruises down the road, and it's pretty quiet, too. Even without suspension, this bike absorbs vibration over rough surfaces better than we expected. Due to the positioning of the rear cargo rack closer to the ground, this bike's handling and stability are not so adversely affected as other bikes that have a higher center of gravity when loaded with cargo.

Yuba kits out the Spicy Curry with some excellent components that less expensive cargo bikes cannot afford. The Shimano Deore 10-speed drivetrain and trigger-style shifters are great, and the RideRever hydraulic disc brakes work fantastic, offering reliable speed control for this large bike. The Schwalbe Super Moto 2.4-inch wide tires roll fast and have enough girth to provide some vibration damping. Such high-quality components encourage belief in this bike's longevity.

The comfort of a bike involves how well it fits your body. Thankfully, the Spicy Curry has a large rider height range, claiming to fit bodies from 5'0" to 6'5". Our long-legged lead tester is six feet tall and was able to find a seat height that allowed his legs to fully extend while pedaling with plenty of adjustment to spare. The frame is fairly low making mounting the bike easy, even for shorter riders. The mustache-shaped handlebar feels great with ideal hand positioning and ergonomic grips. A testament to this bike's comfort occurred during our range test. Our lead tester rode continuously for 44 miles and walked away very impressed by the overall comfort of the Spicy Curry.

The Spicy Curry has solid features to add convenience. We love integrated lights that are powered by the bike's battery, and this bike has them, front and rear. The rear light also functions as a brake light when the brakes are engaged. There are front and rear fenders to keep road filth off your clothes and cargo, too. A safety screen over the rear wheel helps to shield any dangling straps from entering the spinning wheel, which is a nice safety feature. There's a bell, additional mounting options (for a front basket), and a best-in-class display that can be controlled via the Bosch app.

Range

Smashing the competition, the Spicy Curry boasts an incredible range from its 500-watt-hour battery. We cruised a whopping 44 miles on our range test course with well over 2,000 feet of elevation gain. If you want to go far distances, the Spicy Curry will take you there, but you don't get a free ride the way you can on throttle-equipped models.

Important to realize is that this bike does not have a throttle. Instead, the mid-drive Bosch Cargo Line motor relies on four pedal-assist modes. This means that you must pedal to start the powered assistance — no free rides by pushing a throttle button. Therefore, we had to augment our normal range test, which normally tests e-bikes by using only the throttle. Our tester pedaled with moderate effort throughout the test while in Turbo mode. So, while we do not have an apples-to-apples comparison, the total distance traveled speaks for itself. We feel it is entirely possible to achieve an even greater distance on the Spicy Curry using a lower assist mode or pedaling with more effort.

Power

The 250-watt mid-drive Bosch Cargo Line is a stellar, sophisticated motor. It provides very smooth power delivery based on a torque sensor that delivers power proportionally to the effort you give as the rider. Put simply, the harder you pedal, the more power it delivers. This stands out as a clear difference from bikes that use a cadence sensor for their pedal-assist modes. The torque sensor makes accelerating feel more natural than cadence sensors. This also means that you will not jump off the line from a stop as you can with throttled bikes.

The four pedal-assist modes are Eco, Tour, Sport, and Turbo. In Turbo mode, it's not very difficult to bring the speed up to 20 mph, but as there is no throttle, you do need to put in some work. The first screen on the display has a power meter, so you can see the bike's power output increase with your pedaling power input. This type of drive unit is technically more advanced, and it really does have an ultra smooth and also very quiet power delivery.

The high price of this bike is in part due to this higher-end motor and, technically, a superior system compared to throttle motors with cadence sensors. But, just because it is a high-end motor does not make it a better option for everyone. If you enjoy pedaling and don't envision ever using a throttle lever, then you should be fine. Maybe you just don't want the throttle temptation to become an issue on your rides. But, if you want a throttle to help get you going from a stop or just to take a break from pedaling while underway, this bike and motor may not be the best fit.

Cargo Carrying

The Spicy Curry has a huge potential to haul cargo. The 440-pound total weight limit is higher than any other model we tested in this category. The weight-bearing ability of this bike is even more impressive when you realize that it weighs just 60 pounds, which is comparatively lighter than similar models. It also has plenty of space to hold the cargo, featuring an extended-length rear rack with an effective length of 29.7 inches. As mentioned, the smaller rear wheel brings the cargo rack closer to the pavement. Loaded up with cargo, this design aims to provide a low center of gravity to improve the handling and stability of this bike when loaded.

On its own, the Spicy Curry doesn't come with much to support your cargo other than the long rear rack. It's easy enough to strap some things to the rack, but as with any cargo bike we tested, adding after-market accessories will help you max out its carrying capability. Yuba offers one of the largest selections of accessories we have seen, with options like bamboo tops and running boards to seat pads, kids seats, cargo baskets for the front or rear, locks, cargo bags, handrails and handlebars for the kids, and even a ski rack and a surfboard rack. None of it is necessarily cheap, but wow, you can really go to town tricking out your ride. This goes to show how confident Yuba is that this bike can replace a vehicle.

Interface

The user experience and interface of the Spicy Curry is yet another performance area where this bike soars. A best-in-class display screen communicates with a mobile app to add capabilities that other bikes can't match. The five-button control unit is ergonomically shaped and placed and intuitive in its operation.

When you turn on the Spicy Curry for the first time, it prompts you to run through a quick tutorial through the display. It explains each button function and how to operate the bike correctly. It's brief and super helpful, setting you up for a successful first ride without any surprises. The Kiox display itself looks similar to a bike computer with several different customizable screens to scroll through with all the info and data you could really want.

The Bosch app is called eBike Connect. It includes services such as route planning, fitness training, display of all activities with numerous parameters, and screen personalization with individual screen designs. Again, this bike and its integrated technology often feel like a masterclass in sophistication when compared to the competition.

The battery locks onto the downtube on the frame of the Spicy Curry. It can be removed for off-bike charging and has LED lights that indicate the remaining battery power.

Assembly

We purchased the Spicy Curry through REI Co-op, where we picked it up fully assembled. If you can access a service like this, we recommend it, as it did not add to our price of purchase, and it doesn't get much easier. If you don't have access to a Yuba dealer nearby, you can order it directly to your house from the manufacturer; there is an assembly video that Yuba made to assist in assembly. Going this route, you'll get the Spicy Curry 85% assembled, and the rest resembles the steps we took with other cargo e-bikes.

Should You Buy the Yuba Spicy Curry?

There is no doubt that the Spicy Curry is an exceptional bike. Coming with premium, name-brand components, huge carrying capacity, a best-in-class display, a stellar range, and the most natural power feel in a sea of e-bikes all add to the great experience of riding this bike. If you are looking for a bike to truly replace your need for a second (or third, fourth) car, this bike puts up a strong argument that it can. Using this bike to replace a vehicle helps justify the high price tag.

What Other E-Bikes Should You Consider?

If you are not willing to make the leap in price for this Yuba model, the Blix Packa Genie saves you thousands of dollars while also providing excellent service as a cargo e-bike. Its max load is just a bit less at 400 pounds and there is less room for larger items, but its shorter length makes it a touch more maneuverable. It also has a throttle for times when you want to cruise along without pedaling. And if you want to surpass the incredible range of the Yuba, you can pay for the optional extra battery. If you're interested in something a bit different, the front box style Bunch Original is an interesting option. This three-wheeled family-oriented bike has a large front box that's ready to haul large amounts of cargo. It handles completely different and requires a cautious approach, but we think it could be a good option for some people.