Huge news, Bunch fam!
For years, our customers have asked us:
"How come your official weight rating is lower than some other brands - even though your components are higher quality?"
For years, our answer has been the same:
"This number is provided by our frame manufacturer. Based on real-life user experience, we know it's probably far too conservative - but we don't feel comfortable listing a higher number without evidence."
With the release of the upgraded Bunch Bike 4+ in 2024, it was finally time. We shipped some demo bikes out to California and invested in thorough, independent lab testing of all our bike models.
NEW RATINGS: Our Bunch Bike 4 and 4+ models are now officially tested and independently verified to ride safely with a total load of up to 600 lb.
We recommend a maximum load of 250 lb in the driver's seat and a maximum load of 400 lb in the passenger area, with the total not to exceed 600 lb.
Please note that riding more heavily loaded (more than 350 lb total) will still result in reduced performance when climbing hills and reduced battery range. You may also experience increased wear and tear on components and will want to check your tire pressure and spoke tension more frequently!
Why testing matters
Any bike company can tell you that their bikes are engineered for safety or that their components are top quality. In fact, most do! Some companies also make eye-popping claims about their bikes' range, power or weight capacity.
But there's no way for the average consumer to evaluate what those claims are based on - or whether those claims are true.
At Bunch Bikes, our goal is to make cargo biking more accessible to everyday families. That means making it easier for you to gather information that you know you can trust - because it's been independently verified.
This is why we sought independent lab testing for UL Compliance as soon as it was available to us - so you could know for sure that our batteries and electrical systems have been thoroughly safety tested.
This is also why we've now completed independent lab testing to the DIN 79010 cargo bike safety standard.
Our families deserve to know that our bikes are safe - and thoroughly safety tested!
The testing process
We sent our sample bikes to the elite ACT Lab in Long Beach, California. They specialize in safety testing, compliance, and certification for ebikes, cargo bikes and other mobility products.
Their specialized testing rigs allow them to simulate both real-life road conditions and stress cases.
Our Bunch Bike 4 and 4+ models were tested with loads of 450lb and 600lb, to each of the following standards:
DIN 79010 5.9.3 thru 5.9.7:
Dynamic testing of frame at the recommended loading weight
DIN 79010 5.6:
Testing of stability and tipping at the recommended loading weight
DIN 79010 5.5:
Testing of brake function at the recommended loading weight
Our bikes passed each test - with flying colors.
What this means
The ACT Lab tested to ensure that even with a load of up to 600 lb - our bike frame will not bend, break or malfunction, our bikes will remain stable and our brakes will safely stop the bike.
This means that our bikes are safe to ride with as many people, pups, groceries, furniture, goats, subwoofers or unicorns as you can fit within that limit!
Important caveats
It's worth noting that even within these safety guidelines - an unusually heavy load will still have an impact on your ride!
Riding with a lighter load (less than 350 lb total) will result in longer battery range, especially on hilly terrain; better performance when climbing hills; reduced wear and tear on your brake pads; and reduced stress on your wheels.
We recommend checking your tire pressure and spoke tension regularly - and even more so if you are riding closer to the top of the weight range!
What about older model Bunch Bikes?
The ACT Lab testing certified our 4+ model Original, K9 and Preschool bikes.
Our 2.0, 3.0, 4 and 4+ model bikes used the same frame. These test results would therefore apply to those frames as well. The frames of the 1.0 and Coupe bikes came from a different manufacturer and this update does not apply to those bikes.
Our 4 and 4+ model bikes use the same braking system. The test results would therefore apply to the Bunch Bike 4 brakes as well. Our earlier models used different brake components and this update does not apply to those brakes. Some older model owners do choose to upgrade to the 4/4+ braking system!
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