For questions about the Shimano STEPS system, please refer to our very detailed page.

Maintenance of an e-bike is just like any other. Check tire pressure, brakes, and chain before each ride, and take your bike into your local dealer for tune-ups. For more information on maintaining your Xtracycle, please check out there articles: 
– Maintenance: Caring for your new Xtracycle (this includes a detailed maintenance schedule)
– Maintenance: Basic Bike Maintenance Tool Kit Check List (this includes a check list of the maintenance tools you should have)

– Store in a cool, indoor location with a stable temperature between approximately 10 to 20°C (50 to 68°F).
– No direct exposure to sunlight or rain.
– Charge battery to around 70% before storing.
– Every six months, charge the battery back up to around 70%. 
– Before using the battery again, charge it completely.

We recommend the Hollywood Racks Sport Rider for Electric Bikes. It is uses a 2″ hitch tray rack and is compatible with all of our bike models. It can hold up to two bikes that are no more than 80 lbs. each. We highly recommend reading this article to learn more about shopping for a hitch and bike rack for a longtail cargo bike.

Yes, but it can be tricky. We recommend starting with this article: All You Need to Know About E-Bike Conversions

RFA Utility: 73.4″
eStoker: 82″
eSwoop: 83″
Swoop (non-electric): 83.5″

For more details on Xtracycle bike geometry please refer to the information here (new bikes) and here (retired bikes). The rear hub spacing on our bikes is 135 mm, which is standard for mountain bikes.

There are foot rest options available for all of our current bike models.

Swoop / Stoker: U-Tubes
RFA Utility: RFA FootRests
RFA Sport: RFA FootPegs

For more details on each model’s geometry and the best size bike for you, please refer to our Geometry, Sizing and Spec info page.

Diameter: 15 mm
Length: 125 mm
Thread Pitch: 1.5
Drop-out Spacing: 100 mm
Flat seat

Please note this only applies to bikes with a front thru axle.

We do not have bottles of touch-up paint available but we do know the next closest Pantone color. Our bikes use paints from Y.S. Paint in Taiwan and to our knowledge, small bottles of these paints are not available. Matching colors, especially colors from different brands, is not an easy task and the color match will not be exact. That said, we believe these are fine for small scratches and dings.

My Perfect Paint is a website that offers a wide range of Pantone paints available in small bottles for a low cost. When ordering your touch-up paint, we recommend selecting the following:
Select paint type / application: Spray / OEM / Touch-Up Paint
Paint type: Brush Cap Bottles (1 oz.)
Sheen: For glossy paint, select Gloss. For matte paint, select Flat.

Here are the Pantone colors for each bike model and color choice:

RFA Matte: Pantone 179-15 C, RGB 54-52-52
RFA White: Pantone P 168-9 C RGB 230 207 208
Stoker Matte: Pantone 179-15 C, RGB 54-52-52
Swoop Blue: Pantone P 120-1 C RGB 165-196-208

(You can order either TPG or TPX – the only difference between these two is TPG paints are being made in a way that better to matches the rising global standards for sustainable manufacturing processes.)

Before touching up spots on visible areas, we recommend testing the paint somewhere inconspicuous on your frame. After the paint has dried, if you are comfortable with the matching of the paint, you can then use the paint to touch-up places in more visible areas.

We hope this is helpful! Please let us know if you have any additional questions.

The RFA Sport is the same length as a standard eBike. The rear Sport MultiRack has a deck length of 18″ and it can carry two standard panniers and one child in a Thule Yepp Nexxt Maxi seat. A PorterRack can be installed on the front and paired with a PorterPack for front cargo carrying.

The RFA Utility is a mid-tail cargo bike. The rear Utility MultiRack has a deck length of 25″ and it can carry 4 standard panniers, two children in or out of Thule Yepp Nexxt Maxi seats or one adult passenger. A PorterRack can be installed on the front and paired with a PorterPack for front cargo carrying.

Because of the different lengths of the RFA when in Sport and Utility mode, a few other things would have to be taken into consideration when switching between modes.

1. You need the custom RearRack made for the chosen installation mode of the RFA. The RFA Sport has a smaller SportRack and the RFA Utility has a longer UtilityRack. If you buy your RFA in Sport mode, your RFA will come stock with the SportRack. If you decide to move your RFA into Utility mode down the road, you will need to purchased the longer UtilityRack. If you buy your RFA in Utility mode, your RFA will come stock with the UtilityRack. If you decide to move your RFA into Sport mode down the road, you will need to purchased the shorter SportRack.
2. Accessories. Because of the different deck lengths, the RFA Utility Footrests and Hooptie do not fit on the RFA Sport. If you start out with an RFA Sport and move up to an RFA Utility, you might want to add some of the accessories compatible with that model. If you start off with and RFA Utility, you can replace the Hooptie rails with Snackbars and the Footrests with a set of Footpegs.

We advise only using the rack for the mode your RFA is set in. If your RFA is in Sport mode, only use the Sport MultiRack. If your RFA is in Utility mode, only use the Utility MultiRack.

Using a Utility MultiRack while in Sport mode would cause the weight distribution to be significantly unbalanced, leading to an unstable ride. Significant passenger weight carried behind the rear wheel on a cargo bike is not ideal and not recommended. While using the Sport MultiRack when in Utility mode would not cause this weight distribution issue, it would negate the benefits of having your bike in Utility mode since the shorter Sport MultiRack would not allow you to enjoy the benefits of a mid-tail cargo bike.

The DynamicDrops are unique to the RFA and they allow a bike builder to set the rear drop-outs in two different setting: the short Sport mode or the longer Utility mode.

The rear drop-out on a traditional bike frame is the spot on a frame where the rear wheel installs onto the bike. Historically, bikes have a fixed, welded-into-place rear drop-out, meaning your rear wheel can only ever be installed in that position. The DynamicDrops make it so the rear wheel can be installed in two different positions. The shorter Sport position means your bike will be the same length as a regular eBike. The longer Utility position will move your rear drop-out further back meaning your RFA can become a mid-tail cargo bike.

The geometry for the Stoker can be found on the Stoker product page here under the “Geometry” heading. You can also find them on the “Geometry and Sizing” page here.

For descriptions of what each measurement means, please refer to our “Geometry Charts, Demystified” support article.

The specifications for the Stoker can be found on the Stoker product page here under the “Specifications” heading. You can also find them on the “Geometry and Sizing” page here.

For a full geometry comparison, please refer to the comparison chart on the “Geometry and Sizing” page here.

No, Xtracycle bags are not waterproof. Some bags, like the Everyday Bike Pack and the PorterPack are water-resistant.

If you need to use waterproof bags on your bike, consider a waterproof pannier that can be used with the pannier rail.

While we don’t have any replacement buckles available, there is good news! Replacing the buckles with a new set is super simple and won’t cost but a few dollars.

Most manufacturers makes their buckles slightly different so finding a matching end is unlikely. For this reason, you will want to replace the whole buckles. For the CargoBay or LockPocket, you will want a 1″ buckle. You can find those at StrapWorks here. You can find replacement dual adjust 1.25″ buckles at StrapWorks here.

If replacing a CargoBay, SlingSet or original FreeLoader buckle: That dual adjust part is important if your are replacing a buckle on a cargo bag since this will allow the webbing to slide through and cinch tight. The buckles at many local craft-store only adjust on one side so be sure to avoid those.

If replacing a LockPocket buckle: There is no need to use a dual adjustment buckle for the LockPocket. A 1″ non-adjusting buckle should be pretty easy to find at your local craft store.

When replacing the buckle, you will need to replace both the plug (the side that the other buckle snaps in to) and prong (the buckle you pinch in to release) of the buckle since they have to be a perfect match. To remove any sewn in buckles, you will want to cut those buckles off using some snippers. To put the new buckle back on the webbing, simple make the buckle a C-clip by snipping out a little of the plastic.  

For any velcro straps, we highly recommend Velcro One Wrap. You just need to cut it to the length you need, nothing more complicated than that. You can find this at your local hardware store, office supply store or online. 

Yes, it is! Here it is on a standard bike rack.

The X3 CargoBay was more of a nylon fabric bag with a small top flap closure, non-rigid bottom and the sides are enclosed. The FreeLoader Too is essentially just a sling that is made mostly from rubberized mesh with a rigid fabric bottom and open sides. The FreeLoader Too can handle a wider range of cargo, in my opinion, but you can no longer just toss your wallet in the bag like you could have with the CargoBay.

As for the X3 SlingSet, the new FreeLoader Too is more complex and serves more functions. It uses rubber coated mesh, serves as a WheelSkirt as well as a SlingSet, can be folded up and out of the way, and it has a solid “bottom” in the sling to better support gear in the slings.

The PorterPack is custom made for the PorterRack. The patch attaches with two Velcro straps on the back and one Velcro strap on the bottom. (You can see these details in the installation manual here.) For this reason, it’s unlikely that the PorterPack will work on a non-Xtracycle brand rack.

PorterRack mounts spaced 150mm apart vertically (measuring from center of boss to center of boss), like those shown in the picture below, are required to install the 2021 version of the PorterRack.

The 2021 PorterRack fits:

– All Shimano powered Xtracycles.
– Xtracycles where the PorterRack mounts are spaced 150mm apart vertically, which can include the Swoop, Classic, Stoker and pre-2018 frames that were sized large. Be sure to measure your mounts to confirm.

The 2021 PorterRack does NOT fit:

– Any Xtracycle without PorterRack mounts.
– Pre-2021 Xtracycles with PorterRack mounts that are spaced 110mm. This includes pre-2018 frames that were sized small / medium. In these cases, the rack can be modified by drilling new holes but this would have to be done at the buyer’s expense. Any rack that has been modified would not be eligible for return.

The PorterPack is custom made for the PorterRack. The patch attaches with two Velcro straps on the back and one Velcro strap on the bottom. (You can see these details in the installation manual here.) For this reason, it’s unlikely that the PorterPack will work on a non-Xtracycle brand rack.

The spacing (from center hole to center hole) on the front bracket (the bracket that sits closest to the rider) is 5.5″”. ​The spacing on the rear bracket is 3.75″. ​The spacing from the front to the rear (#3 in my drawing), is 21 5/8″”.

Legs: Chromoly Steel
Spring: Steel
Mounting plate and hardware: Aluminum

The KickBack 3 is compatible with all EdgeRunners, Cargo Nodes and the Leap. A KB3 Radaptor is needed for use with the FreeRadical, Cargo Joe, and Radish.

If you are looking for EdgeRunner Specific KickBack 3 that is pre-cut, choose the Precut for EdgeRunners option.

If you are looking for a full length KickBack3 for any bike or cargo conversion other than an EdgeRunner, choose the Uncut Full Length option.

This KickBack 3 will not fit an RFA. For the RFA, you will want the RFA KickBack.

The Yepp Mini is a good fit for the front of many Xtracycles. We also believe the iBert might fit but we haven’t tested that one out yet.

Please note that how comfortable a rider is with a front child seat depends on the individual rider. What might be comfortable for one rider might not be comfortable for another.

We are not aware of any harness system for rear passengers older than 5. The Hooptie might offer a level of protection that would make you feel secure. Another option would be to attach a trailer to the bike built to carry older children and adults. Wike might make an option that would work for older rear riders – here is their extra large Special Needs trailer.

This reflector attaches to the bottom of the Herrmans H-Black MR8 E 6-12V.

Frequently asked questions about retired products can be found here.