Best e-bikes with a passenger seat (2026): what I carried my kids on

The first passenger in the MOD Easy SideCar was supposed to be my daughter. The dog got there first (SideCar video, 5:40), and after a couple of laps with her in it, I was completely sold (6:08). That’s what this page is about: the bikes I’ve actually put a person on the back of, or beside me. Some are longtail cargo bikes with pegs, two are folding bikes with a rear seat, and one has a sidecar. Every bike here is one I rode and filmed, and each detail below is tied to my video or the maker’s page.

Payloads and prices

Payload is the maker’s limit for rider, passenger and cargo together. The rack rating is a separate limit your passenger has to fit under. Prices are from each brand’s US store on Oct 27, 2026.

Passenger rules differ by state and city, so check yours on the e-bike laws by state page before you load up.

The longtails I carried kids on

The RadWagon 4 is the one I lived with as a family bike. I used it to take kids to the pool, around town and to the grocery store (RadWagon video, 7:17). The throttle works from zero, which makes starts easy when you’re loaded down with two kids (2:31), and the monkey bars adjust tighter for smaller kids (3:34). My complaint was the shifter, which felt cheap, and I had to adjust the gears out of the box because they weren’t shifting all the way (2:32 to 2:38). On Oct 27, 2026, Rad listed it at $1,799 but sold out.

If your passenger is bigger, the Aventon Abound LR is where I’d look. The LR stands for long rear, and its rack is rated 143 lb. I said you could easily fit an adult back there, and I sat on it myself at about 200 lb and felt sturdy (Abound LR video, 0:53 to 1:02). Footrests came standard (2:38). The handlebar only adjusts forward and back, not up and down (1:39 to 1:44). The shorter Abound SR suits one small child, with a front rack that’s handy for a school backpack (Abound SR video, 3:16). It shipped with plastic pedals, which are cheap to swap (4:04 to 4:22). The original Abound carried 440 lb (Abound video, 1:19), but it had no chain slap guard and the frame got scratched during my test (6:48 to 6:53). It’s no longer on Aventon’s store, so the LR is its replacement.

The RadRunner 3 Plus is a shorter utility bike, and the passenger package is the accessory I’d order with it. It adds foot pegs with a clear guard to keep feet out of the wheel and a well-integrated handle that works great for younger kids (RadRunner video, 2:27 to 2:35). I wanted a torque sensor instead of a cadence sensor at a price that ran $2,500 plus with accessories (1:33). Rad now sells it as the RadRunner Plus at $1,799, with the passenger package at $139.

The Segway Muxi Pro has a 121 lb rack with fold-out pegs (Muxi Pro video, 0:37) and an electronic auto-shifter with no manual override. On a couple of hills it took about half a second to drop a gear (7:14). Segway lists it at $1,999.99 with a 418 lb total payload.

The Blix Packa is the longtail for long days. It can easily fit two kids on the back, but the only cushioning is the air in the tires. The suspension seat post you see in my video was one I added myself (Packa video, 4:12). Its dual batteries are why I called it good for 80 miles (0:28 to 0:33). Blix lists a 150 lb rear rack and riders under 250 lb.

The Kingbull Voyager is the budget option. It comes with foot pegs for a passenger (Voyager video, 2:04 to 2:06), and it was $1,100 when I filmed it (3:34). The handlebar barely adjusts up and down, which taller riders will notice (4:08). Kingbull now sells the Voyager 2.0 at $1,199, rated for 450 lb with a 180 lb rack. I haven’t ridden the 2.0.

Two folding bikes with a rear seat

The Rattan LF 750 Pro is built for a rear passenger (Rattan video, 1:32), and it folds to fit in a sedan (4:24). At 6’1” and 200 lb, I fit on the back, but it was snug (3:20). It handled a snowy trail beautifully (7:09 to 7:22). My one gripe was the key: it can’t come out of the battery while the bike is on (1:36 to 1:49). Rattan now sells it only in Europe, and it was sold out there. In the US, Rattan’s LF Ultra was $1,399 with a backrest seat for passengers and a 400 lb limit. I haven’t ridden the Ultra.

The Romatlink Dolphin is a passenger-ready folder with full suspension and a huge battery (Dolphin video, 0:07). Its rear seat area was lacking for kids, so I added a handlebar for them to hold (3:09 to 3:39). The catch is 93 lb, one of the heaviest bikes I’ve tested (8:15). It was $599 and sold out on Oct 27, 2026.

A seat right next to you

The MOD Easy SideCar’s motor pulled the bike, the sidecar and my kids up a hill easily (SideCar video, 3:04). It takes some getting used to. Left turns are easy because the sidecar wheel supports you, but on right turns you feel like you might tip, so you shift your weight or slow down (11:49). It’s harder with the sidecar empty. With two kids in it, the weight balances out (12:06). The kickstand doesn’t do much with the sidecar attached (4:36). MOD lists a 150 lb sidecar limit and 400 lb combined, and the Easy SideCar 3 was $3,899.

Which should you buy?

For two small kids around town, the RadWagon 4 is the one I used most, but it was sold out, so the Abound LR is the in-stock pick and carries an adult too. For one small child on school runs, the Abound SR is shorter and $100 less. If you need to fold the bike into a car, the Dolphin and Rattan both do it, but neither was buyable in the US on Oct 27, 2026. If your passenger is a kid or a dog who wants to ride beside you, nothing else I’ve ridden is like the SideCar.

More guides: best cargo e-bikes, best e-bikes for heavy riders, Abound SR vs Abound LR and Abound vs RadWagon 4.

Sources

Prices, stock and payloads checked Oct 27, 2026: Rad RadWagon, Rad RadRunner Plus, Aventon Abound LR, Aventon Abound SR, Segway Muxi Pro, Blix Packa, Kingbull Voyager 2.0, Rattan LF Ultra, Romatlink Dolphin and MOD Easy SideCar. The Muxi Pro timestamps are from my video’s chapter notes. My videos: RadWagon 4, Abound LR, Abound SR, Abound, RadRunner 3 Plus, Muxi Pro, Packa, Voyager, Rattan, Dolphin, SideCar.

“Let the little children come to me and do not hinder them.” Matthew 19:14 (ESV)