Yuba Spicy Curry Review – 2024

In-Depth Review

Frame

Like many eBikes, the Yuba Spicy Curry is made with a 6061 aluminum alloy frame, balancing rigid durability with lightweight materials. However, the Spicy Curry has a more premium build since it is built with the 6061-T6 variant, which is so high quality that it’s one of the metals used to make critical parts in aircraft manufacturing.
Not only is the Spicy Curry extra durable, but it’s lightweight at 63 lbs fully assembled, making it one of the lighter cargo eBikes we’ve reviewed. Able to support over 450 pounds, including the rider and additional cargo, the Yuba Spicy Curry frame mostly meets the mark, with two great colors to choose from.

Some cyclists might have a problem because the Yuba Spicy Curry is only available in a single size. Due to the highly customizable comfort components, the bike is recommended for riders between 4’7’’ and 6’4’’, a range that will cover most adult riders.

However, we know that single sized frames with customization options just never feel as good as having multiple frame sizes, even with customization components. As such, we hope to see more frame sizes in the future, especially for larger riders who might also be limited by the 450 lbs weight capacity.

Motor & Battery

The Yuba Spicy Curry is a class one eBike, with pedal activated motor assistance up to 20 MPH.

You can expect a great Bosch Cargo Line 250 W / 75 Nm mid-drive motor on the Spicy Curry eBike. Mid-drive engines provide a more natural riding feel than hub-drive engines, besides requiring less maintenance and a longer functional life span.

With 75 Nm torque, you have excellent pushing power for climbing the occasional hill or accelerate to keep up with traffic. Because it’s a cargo bike, though, we would avoid riding up anything too steep, or you may find yourself spilling your cargo as a result.

We’re just as impressed with the inclusion of a Bosch Powerpack 500 battery. You can travel over 60 miles with the right settings on a single full charge, which is quite a bit more than usual on an electric cargo bike.

The battery is easy to remove as well, sitting on the center downtube so you can charge it indoors or while mounted on the bike. With a powerful yet lightweight premium 4 amp charger, you can expect to recharge the battery from 0% to 100% in about 3 to 4 hours. If you want a cargo eBike setup you can quickly recharge while you work, the Yuba Spicy Curry should be on your consideration list.

Display/Assist Modes

The Yuba Spicy Curry has a Bosch Intuvia backlit LCD display and button pad, which you can use to change your pedal-assist level along with monitoring many key riding metrics. Unlike many eBikes, which have a permanent, fixed display, the Spicy Curry has a removable display for easier eBike storage–or if you want to upgrade to another display.

We like the readouts the display provides and think it’s the right size because it’s easy enough to read without overwhelming the handlebars or distracting. A full list of the readouts on the Bosch Intuvia display are as follows:

Yuba Spicy Curry Bosch Intuvia Display Readouts, Metrics, and Settings:

• Current Speed
• Average Speed
• Max Speed
• Pedal Assist Level (Four Levels + Walk Mode)
• Battery Level (Five Levels)
• Trip Distance
• Trip Time
• Estimated Range
• Odometer
• Shift Assist Recommendation
• Clock

If you’re unfamiliar with pedal-assist levels, you have multiple options to choose from depending on how you want to prioritize your motor performance. Higher pedal-assist levels will drain your battery quicker, but you’ll accelerate faster and have motor torque power as a result.

Alternatively, lower pedal assist levels will drain your battery slower so you can travel farther. Still, you’ll accelerate slower and will have a more challenging time climbing up hills and steep terrain. Take the time to familiarize yourself with each of the pedal-assist levels, and you’ll be able to pick the right pedal assist mode for every riding occasion.

Handling

• On Streets- For the most part, the Yuba Spicy Curry handles well in the city. The Schwalbe Super Moto tires have good traction on city roads, and in conjunction with the motor, accelerate well even with a heavy cargo load. The one area where handling is a bit tricky is climbing a steep hill, especially without putting your motor to max pedal assist. As long as you remember, this is a cargo bike that isn’t meant for high speed riding constantly; you’ll have a good time with the Yuba Spicy Curry electric bike.
• Turn Radius- Cargo bikes are extra long compared to most electric bikes, so you’re never going to have a tight turning radius, even with thin tires. We do appreciate that the Spicy Curry 2.4’’ tires since it provides the right balance of stability for cargo with still being light enough that you can turn easily. Just be aware that despite the added strength, cargo bikes tend to be a lot more tipsy than traditional bicycles. Take a turn too sharply, or lean too much into the turn, and you and your cargo may wind up on the ground next to your bike.
• Low-Speed Handling- The Yuba Spicy Curry can be a bit of a pain to handle at low speeds without the motor. With the engine on, though, a couple of features make it easier to manage. If you pick the Eco mode, the motor will provide a 50% boost on top of your slow pedaling, helping you travel a bit faster while focusing on your handling. Alternatively, you can also dismount and put the eBike into walk mode, which will help push the bike along without any additional motor power. Take advantage of both of these motor settings, and you’ll have no trouble handling the Yuba Spicy Curry eBike at low speeds.

Gears/DriveTrain

The Yuba Spicy Curry has a Shimano 11-36 T 10-speed cassette with a 50 T chainring drivetrain, held together with a KMC X10 eBike optimized chain. Cargo bikes don’t necessarily need a ton of gearing options since you’re riding on mostly flat roads, but as a 10-speed bike, it’s nice to have some options for when you hit the occasional hill. The Bosch Intuvia even has a unique gear shift recommendation feature, making suggestions based upon your performance and terrain while you ride.

Furthermore, we appreciate the aluminum alloy fender and mud flap setup, which helps keep the tires and drivetrain clean of debris. Since it’s a Shimano drivetrain, you’ll be doing very little maintenance on it. Overall, we like the drivetrain setup, especially since Yuba added a chain guard that further reduces the risk of suffering a chain drop when you need to shift gears.

Brakes

Cargo bikes need extra stopping power due to their larger frame size and weight, and that’s what you have with the Magura MT32 hydraulic disc brakes and 180 mm rotors. 180 mm rotors are typically reserved more for mountain bikes and other bikes designed for challenging terrain riding, but they lend themselves well to the cargo bike to help you come to a smoother, quicker stop.

We also appreciate the incorporated hydraulic disc brakes since they last longer and are less likely to shatter from a crash than mechanical disc brake systems. Whether you’re riding by yourself or with an extra passenger in the back, you’ll be well suited by the Magura hydraulic disc brake setup on the Spicy Curry eBike.

Suspension

You don’t find that many eBikes with extensive suspension support on a cargo bike for the most part. The primary reason is the natural suspension with the cargo bike design, given its larger size and frame weight.

To provide a little bit more shock absorption, the Spicy Curry eBike does have a rigid steel fork instead of relying on the 6061-T6 aluminum that the rest of the frame depends on. This helps the Spicy Curry feel more stable if on bumpy terrain, be it the occasional pot hole, loose gravel, or cobblestone. You don’t have the suspension support needed for trail riding, but cargo bikes shouldn’t be riding on trails anyway.

Pedals

While they might be a minor component compared to the rest of the eBike, we like to discuss pedals since they play a role in the overall comfort of your eBike. The Spicy Curry features aluminum platform pedals, which are large enough to help support tall, heavy cyclists with ease.

Aluminum platform pedals are our preferred pedal setup since they provide better traction support and will withstand a crash better than the plastic pedals often included with stock eBike models. Embedded with reflector panels to make it easier to spot the cyclist by others on the road, these are pedals worth keeping unless you already have premium pedals.

Grips and Saddle

While it may be a one size fits all eBike frame, there are many comfort options in the cockpit to provide a satisfying biking experience for all types of adult riders. The swept-back handlebars have ergonomic Velo grips and can be ridden for several hours– past the point of draining your battery–without tiring out your hands. A clamp locking system is used to secure the grips, so not only do you have a tighter and better hold than glued on grips, they’re easier to replace when they get worn out.

The Yuba comfort saddle is nice and snug to sit on, and it’s positioned so that it won’t interfere with the rear cargo rack even when set to a low position. For the majority of adult riders who want to try out the Yuba Spicy Curry, you’ll have plenty of customization options for a personalized, comfortable riding experience.

Wheels and Tires

The last major component we like to discuss in our reviews is the tires. The Yuba Spicy Curry made the wise decision to have two different sized tires, consisting of Schwalbe Super Moto X 26’’ x 2.4’’ front tires and 20’’ x 2.4’’ rear tires.

Both sets of tires have DB-32 MTB double-walled 36 hole rims, with stainless steel 13 gauge spokes for both tires. Having offset tires help the Spicy Curry have a more even weight distribution and is especially important for supporting any heavy cargo on the back of the eBike. The one downside is that the rear derailleur and other tire components are low to the ground due to the shortened tire size, and have a terrible habit of scraping across sidewalks and other paved barriers if you aren’t paying attention when you’re riding. Be extra careful when riding the Yuba Spicy Curry eBike up hills and on uneven streets, and you’ll be fine, or you may end up damaging critical components in your rear tire if you don’t.

Accessories/Upgrades

One of the fantastic aspects of the Yuba Spicy Curry eBike is that it is highly compatible with a large number of eBike accessories while also coming with some premium upgrades as part of the stock model. A bell, headlight, tail light, dual leg kickstand, fenders, and rear cargo racks are just a few of the great accessories you get with the basic model. We’re thrilled that the lighting system was included since it makes a massive difference in overall riding safety. If you would like to make your Yuba Spicy Curry eBike even better though, here are a few other accessories we think are worth adding:

• Yuba 2-Go Cargo Bag
• Yuba Adjustable Monkey Bars
• Yuba Bamboo Deck and Sideboards
• Yuba Bread Basket
• Yuba Hold On Bars
• Yuba Lock/Security Cable
• Yuba Pop Top Cover
• Yuba Soft Spot/Mini Soft Spot Seat

Recommendation

*For up-to-date pricing on the Yuba Spicy Curry click here

The Yuba Spicy Curry is an expensive, premium electric cargo bike, but with the many excellent features and the stellar performance it provides, we think it more than justifies its price.

The frame is built with aircraft level 6061-T6 aluminum, which provides strong durability while also helping the eBike stay lightweight for a cargo bike at just 63 lbs. You can travel over 60 miles on a single charge due to the Bosch Powerpack 500 battery, a range not even many traditional mid-tier eBikes match, let alone cargo bikes.

The mid-drive Bosch Cargo Line 250 W / 75 Nm motor has a low energy draw but strong motor power and provides a more natural riding feel closer to a non-motorized bicycle when used.

The Shimano drivetrain is very reliable and well protected with multiple guards and fender support, and this 10-speed bike has plenty of gear options to choose from.

The Magura 180 mm rotor brakes, the adjustable saddle and swept-back handlebars, the headlight, tail light, kickstand, and a large number of other features are all premium-level features and accessories too.

Nearly everything about this eBike is high quality. We feel the value justifies the price. So if you want a good electric cargo bike, you will want to consider the Yuba Spicy Curry electric bike!

We hope you’ve enjoyed our spec review of the Yuba Spicy Curry electric cargo bike! If you have any other questions or would like to see a full performance or video review, please leave a comment below letting us know your thoughts.