Separation hurts. But sometimes, it can also be refreshing, even needed. It’s for the best, they say. When editor-in-chief of E-MOUNTAINBIKE, Robin, handed over the keys of his beloved Jeep in return for a rather special cargo bike, it was the beginning of a new chapter. Here’s his story of the Riese & Müller Load 60 Rohloff.
We’ve all got something that feels like an essential part of our identity. In my case it is, or rather was, a ‘97 Jeep Cherokee. It had been love at first sight. With its distinctive design it embodied a sense of laid back comfort and an idea of everything being possible without anything being forced. This Jeep was a fully-fledged off-road monster without any frills and I loved it. It oozed style and attitude, but after years of memorable adventures, it started to show its age. Open-heart surgery, MOT agony and then the realization that I’d, quite simply, grown out of it. The Jeep, which had stood still for way too long in front of the house, had a passive dominance that cried out for more attention than I was willing, or able, to give. I clung onto it for months – the memories were like an anchor and I didn’t want to part from them. But in my heart, I knew that our time together had run its course. So what would be able to replace it?
The answer came in the autumn of 2019 in the shape of the Riese & Müller Load 60. Recognised with the Design & Innovation Award, I felt new horizons expand in front of me as I examined the cargo bike and imagined the potential opportunities. The off-road tires, full suspension, integrated lights, high-end mudguards, GPS tracking, locking system and the new Bosch Cargo Line motor sealed the deal. Individually these features were nothing new but the Load 60 combined them in such a unique way that I could immediately tell that this was a bike that was capable of so much, and completely unlike anything else I knew.
Editor-in-chief Robin Schmitt has a riot on his Riese & Müller.
For running quick errands and the odd 20 km jaunt into exhaust-fume-heavy Stuttgart with its unimaginably complicated parking, the bike shone. I took gravel shortcuts through the woods instead of having to curse the traffic on crowded roads. I sped through town but could afford a slower pace off-road, never having to stress about the time needed to find parking at my destination.
…
Months into our relationship, it’s easy to say that the Riese & Müller and I are anything but normal. We love exploring and finding our own way through the chaos of life at every opportunity. You can’t label us, or what we have. We do our own thing. We’ve already been to all the places that you’d never expect to see us – through sloppy puddles, on trails, into Stuttgart’s slowly gentrifying red light district to check out the hippest bars..
Carting the dog around? Clearing out the garden centre? A lift for your girlfriend? Sure! Chop firewood, bring along the trail building tools, or the beer and wood for the barbeque? Already on it.
Stealing the show: the Riese & Müller Load 60 with GX all-terrain tires – not just hella’ fun to ride, but eye-catching too.
If this trail-ready cargo bike had not come into my life, who knows how many of these experiences wouldn’t have come my way. Until now, I’d never realised how easy it could be to live without a car. I’m by no means an opponent to mechanised vehicles, and owning a classic car from a Stuttgart sports car brand is at the top of my wish list in life. But now, having gained this new perspective, I can weigh up the pros and cons of each mode of transport and see which works best for me. For the moment, the off-road cargo bike is damn near unbeatable. It can grow and change and evolve to meet whatever requirements I have. What if I had a kid in tow? Just add a child seat to turn the cargo bike into an urban kids bike.
Do other all-terrain, full-sus cargo bikes exist?
Alongside the Load 60, Riese & Müller also offer a longer version, the Load 75. These two models are the only full suspension cargo bikes that exist anywhere. For those with an interest in cargo bikes, their possibilities and some wildly diverse takes on them, head over to our sister publication DOWNTOWN, where we cover a wide range of modern urban mobility options. There you can also find a group test review of 9 cargo bikes.
Riese & Müller Load 60 Rohloff
The Riese & Müller Load 60 is a one-of-a-kind e-cargo bike. Fully equipped, it’s not only fit for every urban mission, but also capable of going all-terrain and family-friendly to boot. Basically, it’s a substitute Jeep in the form of an ebike and can hold a total weight of up to 200 kg, including rider. The cargo area measures 600 x 450 mm and comes with a customisable transport box. With front and back suspension, your load (or kids) stays safe on bumpy ground, cushioned from big knocks during transit. Thanks to the slack seat angle, you’re low enough to place your feet firmly on the ground when necessary. The whole package is completed with the powerful Bosch Cargo Line Cruise motor.
As we’ve come to expect from Riese & Müller, the bike can be specced in myriad ways. After who-knows-how-many kilometres, we wholly recommend the Bosch DualBattery – you’ll soon learn that 500 Wh doesn’t last all that long on a fully-loaded cargo bike. We also recommend features like the RX chip for tracking, digital service offers and the GX variant for your off-road tyres.
As alluring as the pairing of the Rohloff Speedhub E14 and belt drives sounds, the shifting performance and durability haven’t done enough to convince us of the steep price tag, especially not when the classic Shimano XT drivetrain already ticks all the boxes. By the way, the version with the regular drivetrain (Riese & Müller Load 60 Touring GX) was awarded “best in test” in our sister publication DOWNTOWN. The hub gear setup of the stepless Enviolo 380 shifting comes with a limited gear range, restricting the appeal of this option to those who primarily ride on flat ground. The cargo hold can be fully customised and the practicality of having a glove compartment in the footwell was a hit.
The full suspension Load 60 excelled in so many situations it’s hard to list them all – from adventuring with the kids, cruising through the city, to transporting the barbeque supplies and more. Stability and safety combine to let new horizons and new experiences be explored. Braaaap!
For more information about the Load 60 head over to r-m.de
If you’re now curious about cargo bikes in general, the cargo bike comparison in our sister publication DOWNTOWN is definitely a recommended read!
The role of eMTBs and the potential for where they can be used are changing rapidly. We offer fresh impetus to that change while helping to maintain a clear overview. One thing is for sure: the future of the eMTB is more exciting than ever before! Our E-MOUNTAINBIKE Theory of Evolution provides context for this and all other articles in our New Generation series, providing new perspectives and broadening the horizon of what’s ahead.
Further articles in the series cover the era of E-SUVs, the new handling of Light eMTBs, the potential for off-road cargo bikes, our off-road step-through group test, connectivity and software solutions, the new generation Z and our guide to passing on your bike passion to your kids.
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Words: Robin Schmitt Photos: Josua Haag
