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Review: Yuba Spicy Curry
Welcome to our new bike review series! We've taken a long, hard look at the bikes we carry or will be bringing into the shop soon to break down what makes them different to help you find the perfect bike for your ride. We start today with an absolute legend, the Yuba Spicy Curry. It's a longtail cargo bike we've had around for a while, you may have even seen Dan's wife carting the kids around on the back of her Spicy here in Welly, but with more manufacturers offering cargo variants than ever before it is facing new competition from all sides. So let's dive in and see how the Spicy stacks up!
What’s it made for?
The Spicy Curry is a bike built to bring two traditions together. The stable, versatile cargo capacity that Yuba has been honing for years and the best-in-class Bosch Performance Line CX motor system, so you can carry big cargo and still step lightly up steep hills. Like other bikes in this category, it is catered at being a car replacement for families, or for those who want to leave no excuses not to ride. The massive built-in cargo rack out back is incredibly versatile in how it can be laden and comes with a huge ecosystem of custom accessories from Yuba. All to make the Spicy Curry our most versatile longtail cargo.
How does it ride?
The Spicy Curry is a true cargo bike. With a wheelbase (and overall length) longer than standard bikes (and even most of our longtail cargo options) it is undeniably a big bike, but with its 26-inch front wheel, we were surprised at how natural it felt right out of the gate. All that said, Yuba tuned the ride of this rig with one primary objective, stability. The 20 inch rear wheel drastically lowers the center of gravity for the bike meaning heavy loads stay under control, and the kids can be loaded up in a snap. The combination of wheel sizes keep it stable and lets you weave through busy city streets even with a full load. As is seen throughout the category the Bosch Performance Line CX motor provides plenty of pep even when being pushed to the limits. The Spicy Curry stands apart here too using the Bosch CX variant of the motor for even better low-speed torque output, meaning you can go up a hill from a standstill with a full load without breaking a sweat.
What makes it special?
The combination of the 20 inch rear and 26 inch front wheels lets the Spicy Curry thread a tough needle with its balance of huge cargo capacity, stability while laden with cargo (or kids), and natural ride. Being able to keep the center of gravity so low helps tremendously in making this (undoubtedly) large bike feel very manageable in all situations. Whats more the Spicy Curry means you have access to the unparalleled range of Yuba accessories meaning it can be tailored to fit the needs of your daily ride. The one we have photographed here is setup for one or two mid-sized rear riders with a soft seat, hold-on bars, and side running boards. You'll have plenty of options though, from kid's seats to pannier bags to a huge front basket to carry a day's shopping.
How does it stack up?
Bikes like the Tern GSD are similarly stable when loaded up, but can't match the ultimate carrying capacity of the spicy. Meanwhile, a bike like the Benno Boost E is better across varying terrain and favours those who only need to cart one child. The Spicy Curry proves itself every day with our owner’s family, hauling multiple kids and the day's shopping up over the steep Wellington hills. If you’re in the cargo bike market we absolutely will be putting you out on a test ride with the Spicy Curry to see what the hype is all about.
