Should you buy one?
If you want to replace car trips with the kids, the Bunch Bike Original 3.0 is the cargo e-bike that did it for my family. I tested it for a few weeks on school runs, grocery runs and errands. The build quality is impressive: a heavy-duty steel frame, a big cargo box that fits up to four people, safety straps, lockable storage under the benches and a parking brake you set from the handlebars. My kids absolutely loved it.
It isn’t perfect. The 500W motor felt like it lacked power with me (about 200 lb), two kids (about 60 and 70 lb) and some cargo going uphill. It’s also big, so it takes up real garage space, and at just under $5,000 when I reviewed it, it’s expensive. If you use it as a car replacement, I think it’s well worth that price.
Bunch Bikes shipped me this bike to review. My opinions are my own, and Bunch didn’t see the review before it went up.
Pros and cons
Pros
- “This build quality is so impressive”: a heavy-duty steel frame that feels built to last
- Steering is “as easy as pushing a shopping cart”
- Big cargo area for kids, groceries or pets, with safety straps
- Fits up to four people, including adults, within the weight limit
- Parking brake from the handlebars, great for loading kids on flat ground or a slope
- Lockable storage under the benches
- Headlight and tail light built in
- Removable battery that you can also charge on the bike
- About 20 miles throttle only in my test
- Good accessories: the sun shade and bench cushions were big hits
Cons
- The 500W motor felt underpowered with two kids and cargo going uphill
- Big footprint, so it needs real storage space
- Expensive at just under $5,000 when I reviewed it
- Without cushions, riders sit on plain wood benches
Design and build
The Original 3.0 has a sturdy steel frame with a sleek, modern design. The build quality is impressive, and you can tell it’s built to last. Steering is as easy as pushing a shopping cart, and the motor makes it effortless to bike the kids to school or do the weekly grocery run.
I’m about 6’1” and 200 lb. The seat felt really squishy, and I had plenty of room to raise it. The handlebars adjust too; I raised them about half an inch. It was a lot more comfortable than I expected from looking at the design.
Bunch sent me the honey wood grain color. They also have other colors and a fully custom option: you can brand it with a company logo or get a full vinyl wrap. I thought the more premium finishes like black and white looked really nice.
The cargo area
The cargo area is the standout feature. It’s perfect for groceries, kids or even pets, it’s easy to get into, and it comes with safety straps. It fits up to four people, and that includes adults, as long as you stay under the total weight capacity. If bigger kids or adults ride, Bunch says to put the heaviest riders closer to the handlebars.
There’s an optional front door that makes it easier for small kids to climb in and out. With the door, you lose one of the benches. For us, two benches inside the cargo area worked best. There are plenty of steps on the outside so bigger kids can climb in on their own, though small kids may need help.
Under the benches is lockable storage, which is great for snacks or small items.
The parking brake
I used the parking brake every day. You engage it from the handlebars and it locks in place, so the bike stays put while you load and unload kids and cargo, on flat ground or a slope. I would have loved this on the Mod Easy sidecar.
Motor and hills
The motor is in the rear wheel and is powerful and smooth. It’s 500W, which is an improvement over a 350W motor and had plenty of power for most situations. But at about 200 lb, with two kids (about 60 and 70 lb) and some cargo, going uphill, I felt it was lacking power with a full load.
Bunch lists the capacity as 350 lb total, with 220 lb for the cargo area and 55 lb for the rear rack. That’s plenty for most people. I’d still like to see an option for a bigger motor, say 750W or more, for families carrying four kids, bigger riders or hilly areas.
Battery and range
The battery is a 48V 13.6Ah Samsung lithium-ion pack. I got about 20 miles on a single charge, throttle only, with an empty cargo area. As with all my range tests, that’s throttle only. For a bike this big and heavy, I think 20 miles is great. Terrain, cargo, kids, outside temperature and how much you pedal all change range. Pedaling or using pedal assist instead of the throttle will add a lot.
What I measured on camera: about 20 miles on one charge, throttle only, empty cargo box (video, 5:37).
There are five levels of pedal assist. Lower levels give you more range but you do more of the work; higher levels help more and drain the battery faster.
Charging is simple: take the battery out and charge it indoors, or charge it on the bike.
What the specs mean on the road
500W rear hub. Enough for flat ground and most errands with this much bike. With a full load on hills, it’s the limit I felt most.
48V 13.6Ah battery. That’s about 650Wh by the numbers. My 20 miles came throttle only with an empty box, so pedaling with the kids aboard will land somewhere different depending on load and hills.
350 lb total capacity. That includes the rider. At 200 lb, I had 150 lb left for kids and cargo, so check the math for your family before you load four kids.
Steel frame. Heavy-duty and solid. It’s part of why the bike feels built to last and also part of why it needs the motor.
Parking brake. On a cargo bike that kids climb into, this matters at every stop.
Everyday life
This bike changed my day-to-day: errands, commuting and school runs. Getting the kids in and out of the Bunch instead of the car was a joy, and there was a lot less fighting during the ride. The “he’s touching me, she’s hitting me” arguments mostly went away.
It also comes with a built-in headlight and tail light, reliable brakes and gears for easy pedaling. The headlight sits under the cargo box and really lights up the ground in front of you at night. Visibility wasn’t a problem anyway, with people pointing, stopping and staring because the design is so unique.
Accessories
Bunch sells a rain cover, a sun shade, a child seat and bench cushions.
- Cushions: really comfortable, and my kids loved them. Without them, riders sit on plain wood. On a gravel road one of my kids said it felt like the couch.
- Sun shade and rain cover: both use U-shaped metal bars and can be used while riding. You can slide the sun shade to one side to block the sun, and air flows underneath. If you live somewhere sunny and do pool or school runs, I’d call the sun shade a must-have.
Size and storage
As a large cargo e-bike, it needs a lot of storage space in your garage. You can’t have your cake and eat it too. For me, the cargo space and how much my kids love it are worth the garage space.
Who it’s for
- Families who want to replace car trips for school, errands and the pool
- Parents carrying two or more kids
- Flat or rolling areas
Who should look elsewhere
- Steep, hilly areas with a full load: the 500W motor struggled for me uphill
- Anyone without room to store a large cargo bike
- Tight budgets
How it compares
- Mod Easy sidecar: both carry kids up front or to the side. The Bunch has the parking brake I wished the Mod Easy had.
- Rad RadWagon 4: a longtail that carries kids behind you instead of in front.
FAQ
How many kids fit?
Up to four people, adults included, as long as you stay under the 350 lb total capacity.
Is the motor strong enough for hills?
For most situations, yes. With me, two kids and cargo going uphill, I wished for more power.
What range did you get?
About 20 miles, throttle only, with an empty cargo area.
Price
It was just under $5,000 when I reviewed it. I couldn’t confirm a current price on Bunch’s website as of Oct 23, 2026, so check bunchbikes.com for today’s price.
