MOD Easy with SideCar review

Should you buy one?

Buy the MOD Easy SideCar if you want to replace short car trips with something your kids, your dog or a load of groceries can ride in. I tested it for preschool pickups, park runs and laps with the dog. I got about 20 miles per charge on throttle only, with two kids in the sidecar and me at about 200 lbs. That held true when I checked again six months later.

Take every turn with care. In my testing, right turns with an empty sidecar felt tippy. One owner reported the opposite: the bike pitched over to the left on them in banked corners. MOD’s guidance at my follow-up was 10 mph max; its current guide says 5-10 mph while learning.

Skip it if you need long range with heavy loads or don’t have room to park something this wide.

Price: As of Oct 24, 2026, MOD lists the SideCar 3 at $3,899. When I first reviewed my bike, it cost just over $4,000. By my 6-month follow-up, MOD’s site listed $4,190.

Check the MOD Easy SideCar at MOD Bikes (affiliate link). MOD sent me the bike for review, and my opinions are my own.

Where to find each part in my videos

The original review (about 14.5 minutes):

• 0:00 Introduction and assembly
• 1:25 Design and controls
• 3:08 Accessories and features
• 4:43 The sidecar, with my kids and the dog
• 7:08 Battery and electronics
• 9:50 Riding and handling, including the right-turn wobble
• 12:18 Real-world use: preschool, groceries and the park
• 13:30 Final thoughts and pricing

The 6-month follow-up: the specs I read off MOD’s site start around 4:10, the accessories bundle at 5:13, my six-month verdict at 8:22, and my wish for a sidecar step at 9:05.

Which features my bike had

I tested the version before the SideCar 3.

I haven’t ridden the SideCar 3, so I can’t tell you how well its new features work.

Who it’s for

• Parents doing short school and park runs. My son fits with his backpack and seat belt on.
• Dog owners. Clip the leash to the D-rings.
• People trying to drive less. Grocery runs and kid pickups are what it does best.
• Families with three kids. At my 6-month follow-up I pointed out that with a rear child seat on the rack, it carries three kids plus you. MOD lists the rear rack as “Child Seat Ready” with a 70 lb rating, and sells the Thule Yepp Maxi 2 rack-mount child seat for $279 (as of Oct 24, 2026). Check the bike’s 300 lb limit: a 200 lb rider plus a 40 lb child and seat on the rack is 240 lbs, leaving two sidecar kids up to the sidecar’s 150 lbs and the 400 lb combined cap. I haven’t tried a rear seat myself.
• Anyone who’d also ride it solo. With the sidecar off it’s a good e-bike on its own.

Who should look elsewhere

• Anyone who needs long range with passengers. See the range section.
• Riders with no room to park it. It takes more space than a normal bike, and it’s tight on a normal-width sidewalk.
• Shoppers on a tight budget. It costs more than most e-bikes I review.
• Riders with steep hills. Owners said it strains on grades over about 10 percent (see the owner comments below).
• Anyone who has to lift it. By my follow-up figures, the bike and sidecar together come to more than 140 lbs.

Loading it: a worked example

MOD lists three limits: 300 lbs on the bike, 150 lbs in the sidecar and 400 lbs combined. Here’s how they add up for a hypothetical load:

Swap in a 240 lb rider and two 70 lb kids, and you’re at 380 combined. That’s close to the cap.

Learning to ride it

My buddy rides a lot of bikes and still needed about 5 to 10 minutes to get comfortable. MOD’s guide says most riders learn in 20 to 30 minutes, and recommends riding the bike alone first, then practicing in an empty lot with 50 to 100 lbs in the sidecar.

For me, left turns felt steady, because the sidecar wheel holds you up. Right turns felt like I might tip, so I shifted my weight or slowed down. That was worst with an empty sidecar; with two kids aboard, the weight balanced it. MOD’s guide says the sidecar wheel can lift if you go too fast into a right turn without leaning. One owner’s left-side tip-overs in banked corners are why I’d take every turn slowly.

Pedal clearance is tight. My right foot hit the mounting hardware a few times; pedaling with my midfoot solved it.

Power and range

The motor pulled the bike, the sidecar and the kids up my hills easily. My test hills weren’t steep, though, and two owners said it struggles on steep grades.

What I measured on camera: about 20 miles per charge on throttle only, carrying two kids and me at about 200 lb (video, 2:56).

Range: about 20 miles on throttle only, with two kids and me at about 200 lbs. MOD rates 50 miles on one battery and 100 on two, but those numbers aren’t for a loaded sidecar on throttle. MOD sells a second battery as a Dual Battery Kit for $699, and a spare 15Ah battery for $599, both in stock as of Oct 24, 2026. MOD says a full charge takes 3 to 6 hours with the 2A charger.

The battery sits in a metal case with handles and locks to the frame, so it’s easy to carry inside to charge. Behind it is the controller, with aluminum cooling fins.

The sidecar itself

MOD calls it the Easy Boat. In my video (4:43) I said the new plastic sidecar is 50% lighter than the older model. MOD lists it at 45 lbs with a removable padded seat and seat belt, and it ships in its own box of 43 x 29.5 x 21.5 in. MOD doesn’t list the inside dimensions, the sidecar wheel and tire size, or the overall width with the sidecar on, and I didn’t measure them. It attaches with three quick-release pins; MOD’s page doesn’t break the attach into steps. My daughter asked to ride first, but the dog got in ahead of her. She was nervous for a couple of laps, then settled in. Two kids fit at once, and they smiled the whole way every time. MOD now sells sidecar goggles for dogs ($89), which I wished for.

MOD’s page doesn’t list a minimum child age or helmet guidance for sidecar passengers. Put a helmet on every kid, and ask MOD about age before you buy.

A viewer asked whether the sidecar fits any bike. I only used it on this MOD frame. One owner said he uses MOD’s updated Easy Boat and that you can buy the sidecar by itself. When I checked MOD’s store on Oct 24, 2026, I found sidecar accessories (a sidecar rack for $59, a booster seat for $199, a windshield kit for $69) but no standalone sidecar listing, so ask MOD. MOD also doesn’t give an attach time. In my follow-up, the three pins were really hard to get apart. MOD’s assembly guide covers riding with or without the sidecar.

Controls, comfort and the bag

• Left side: front brake and a small bell that’s surprisingly loud.
• Right side: a throttle that works from zero, the rear brake and the shifter.
• Display: basic, not color, with no phone connection on my bike. I didn’t miss the app.
• Comfort: the grips and seat are some of the most comfortable I’ve used on any e-bike.

The rear rack and bungee straps come with the bike. The handlebar is 700mm wide on a stem that adjusts from 0 to 60 degrees, per MOD’s spec list.

The Essentials bundle I used

At my 6-month follow-up I showed MOD’s Essentials bundle. Here’s what was in mine.

• Trunk bag. It cost about $130 extra when I reviewed the bike, and $139 on its own as of Oct 24, 2026; I’d buy it. It clips on and off the rear rack with a button underneath. It has a water bottle holder outside, side pouches that unzip into full-size panniers, a carry strap and a reflective rain cover. With kids in the sidecar, that’s where snacks and water go, and it holds a grocery run. The zippers and materials didn’t feel cheap.
• Phone holder. It clamps to the handlebar with a metal twist mount, not the cheaper plastic kind I’d used before. It’s useful if you navigate with your phone.
• Folding lock. It mounts on the standard water-bottle bolts, so it rides on the frame.

The bundle has changed. As of Oct 24, 2026, MOD’s Essentials Bundle is $349 and includes the trunk bag (or a rear or front basket), a Foldylock folding lock and a Lumos smart helmet. The phone holder now comes in the $459 Essentials Pro Bundle or costs $39 on its own. The Foldylock is $109 on its own.

Locking it up. One viewer said the battery’s cylinder key lock isn’t very secure. That lock is there to keep the battery on the bike, so if you leave the bike somewhere, use a real bike lock as well. MOD also sells a $299 Security Bundle with a folding lock, theft-resistant skewers, an alarm and a tracker. I haven’t tested it.

Is it a car replacement?

That’s my opinion, not a measured result. I picked up my son from preschool, ran to the grocery store and took everyone to the park without getting in the car. I haven’t run cost numbers against a car. Whether it works for you depends on how many of your weekly trips fit inside the loaded range I got.

My complaints

• Headlight mount. The light is bright, but even fully tightened the bracket rattled.
• Kickstand. It gets in the way of the pedals and doesn’t support the sidecar. The SideCar 3 adds a handbrake for parking.
• Charge port plug. It popped out on almost every ride.
• Assembly. I hunted for paper instructions. MOD had emailed them, so check your inbox first.

MOD’s spec sheet

These figures are from MOD’s SideCar 3 page, checked Oct 24, 2026, not my testing.

• Battery: Samsung cells, tested by SGS to UL 2271.
• Pedal assist: torque sensor, 5 levels.
• Class: ships as Class 2 (20 mph), adjustable to Class 1 or 3; off-road mode allows 28 mph. A Class 1 version without a throttle is also sold. Canadian units are set to 500W and 32 km/h. E-bike rules vary by state and city, so check your local laws, especially for carrying passengers.
• Brakes: 180mm hydraulic discs, dual-piston, with motor cut-off and a handbrake.
• Gears: Shimano Altus 7-speed.
• Seatpost: EXA Form 525 suspension, 40mm travel.
• Rider height: 5’3” to 6’9”.
• Weather ratings: motor IP44, controller IPX5, battery IP65, display IP66, torque sensor IP67. The motor is rated lowest, so avoid deep puddles and don’t hose it down.
• Colors: Charcoal Black, Army Green and Desert Rose, all in stock.
• Shipping and assembly: free shipping in the continental US and Canada. Assembly is required, and MOD offers paid professional assembly through Angi.
• Trial and warranty: a 14-day home trial; you pay return shipping. The “5-year limited warranty” covers the frame for 5 years, the electrical system and the fork and suspension for 18 months, and the drivetrain for 12 months. I found no MOD recall on a CPSC-compiled list on Oct 24, 2026.

What owners said in the comments

• Hills. One owner said it works best on grades under about 3 to 5 percent and that anything over 10 percent strains the rider and the motor. Another, on San Francisco-style hills, said he pedals a lot just to get up a short hill.
• Small build issues. The front brake cable rubbed the wheel until one owner strapped it to the fork. The sidecar seat slides on its suction cups, and the sidecar sticker came off, which happened to mine too.
• Headlight. One owner said it’s more for being seen than for lighting the road.
• Reattaching the sidecar. One owner said it’s hard to do alone after hauling the bike in a truck.
• Weight. The same owner who described the hills said the bike with its battery weighs 88 lbs and the sidecar about 42. His bike figure matches what I read off MOD’s site at my follow-up.
• Ballast ideas. Two viewers suggested carrying an extra battery in the sidecar as ballast. MOD’s guide does say to practice with 50 to 100 lbs in the sidecar. I haven’t tried a battery back there.
• Price. Some viewers said it’s overpriced at around $4,000, and one said people build their own sidecar bikes for under $1,000. For me, the features justified the price: a bright headlight (though the bracket rattled), fenders and rack, and a sidecar that comes with a seat and seat belt. I haven’t built or ridden a DIY sidecar.

Other ways to carry kids, and what they cost

Prices as of Oct 24, 2026, from each maker’s store.

• Aventon Abound, Abound LR and Abound SR. These are longtail cargo bikes for about half the price. Kids sit on the rear rack instead of beside you.
• RadWagon 4. Rad now sells the RadWagon 5 at $2,399.
• Lectric XP Trike 2. A stable three-wheeler with a 415 lb payload. Its baskets are for cargo, not passengers.
• Bunch Original 3. A front-box trike that cost just under $5,000 when I reviewed it, so it’s even pricier than the MOD.
• Without the sidecar. I said that, sidecar aside, the MOD Easy is a great e-bike. As of Oct 24, 2026, MOD lists the Easy 3 without the sidecar at $2,399. MOD also sells a Groove SideCar 3 at $3,499. I haven’t ridden that one.

Buying a used MOD Easy SideCar

Most used ones will be the version I tested or older. Things to check:

• Assume no warranty. MOD’s warranty covers the original owner only.
• The pins. Work all three quick-release pins. Mine got really hard to separate.
• The charge port plug. Mine popped out on almost every ride. Check that the port isn’t dirty or corroded.
• The headlight bracket. Mine rattled even fully tightened. A replacement headlight is $39 from MOD.
• The fender. My kids had to learn not to step on the fender getting in, so look for cracks.
• The battery. Ask for both keys and the charger. MOD lists an Easy 2 battery (48V 15Ah) at $599 as of Oct 24, 2026. Confirm which generation the bike is before you order one.
• Wear parts. MOD lists sidecar tires at $69 and Easy tires at $89.
• Ride it with weight in the sidecar. It should track straight.

Pros and cons

Pros

• Carries kids, a dog or groceries
• Plenty of power on my hills with passengers
• Very comfortable grips and seat
• Locking, removable battery

Cons

• Slow with the sidecar: MOD’s guidance at my follow-up was 10 mph max; its current guide says 5-10 mph while learning
• Tight pedal clearance on the right
• Kickstand doesn’t hold the sidecar
• Expensive

FAQ

Do you have to pedal? No. The throttle works from zero.

Does the SideCar 3 have a door for my dog? Yes, MOD lists a rear dog door. My bike didn’t have one.

What does the warranty cover? Frame 5 years; electrical system, fork and suspension 18 months; drivetrain 12 months; original owner only.

Is there a discount code? When the review went up, I pinned the code “ALL ELECTRIC” for $50 off. I haven’t checked whether it still works.

6-month update

I filmed a follow-up after six months.

• No mechanical issues. After six months of what I called torture testing, it looked like the day I got it. A sidecar sticker peeled, and I super-glued it back.
• Frame: aluminum, which helps with weight, though it’s still a very heavy bike.
• The kids still love it, and I use it for groceries.
• Annoyances: it’s tight on sidewalks. I wanted a step into the sidecar, which the SideCar 3 now has.
• MOD’s site at the time listed $4,190, up to 45 miles of range (likely with pedal assist), a Samsung battery, a cadence sensor, 750W and a 5-year limited warranty.

Price

When I first reviewed it, the bike cost just over $4,000. MOD’s site listed $4,190 at my 6-month follow-up. As of Oct 24, 2026, MOD lists the SideCar 3 at $3,899.

Check current SideCar pricing at MOD Bikes (affiliate link).

Related reviews and guides

• My Aventon Abound cargo e-bike review
• My RadWagon 4 review
• Aventon Abound vs RadWagon 4
• E-bike guide for parents
• E-bike types explained

“Two are better than one, because they have a good reward for their toil.” Ecclesiastes 4:9 (ESV)