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About Xtracycle
Xtracycle invented the longtail cargo bike. Ross Evans designed the FreeRadical, a bolt-on extension that turned an ordinary bicycle into a load-hauler, while managing a Bikes Not Bombs project in Nicaragua in the 1990s. In 1998 he and Kipchoge Spencer founded Xtracycle to build and sell it, and the long rear deck they popularized became the template the entire cargo-bike industry copied.
The company kept the design open, which helped the longtail format spread far beyond its own catalog. Over time Xtracycle shifted from extension kits to complete bikes, then to a fully electric lineup built around Shimano STEPS motors and a modular accessory system, the Hooptie kid rails, PorterRack, and snap-on bags that let one frame carry kids one day and groceries the next.
Xtracycle operates out of Oakland, California, and now builds family- and utility-focused electric cargo bikes exclusively. The current range spans compact midtails to long, passenger-ready longtails, all rated for heavy payloads and designed to replace a second car.
Most popular Xtracycle models
Xtracycle’s lineup is all electric cargo, sorted by how much you need to carry. The Swoop ASM is the flagship family longtail, with a low step-through frame, a long rear deck for two kids, and the accessory set bundled in. The OmniTierra is the off-road midtail, built with wider tires and adventure geometry for hauling gear onto dirt and gravel. Both ride on Shimano STEPS power and Xtracycle’s modular passenger and cargo system.
The RFA, short for Ready For Anything, is the compact utility bike with an adjustable wheelbase that shrinks to fit a bus or car rack, then extends back into a stable hauler. The Hopper is the smallest and most affordable, a nimble compact cargo bike that ships as a Class 1 or Class 2 e-bike with a front PorterRack and Hooptie passenger rails included. A loaded family longtail carries kids and the kind of replacement value homeowner’s policies routinely cap below, which is where stand-alone cargo bike insurance from Velosurance fills the gap.
The flagship family longtail. A low step-through electric cargo bike with a long rear deck for two kids and the full passenger and cargo accessory set bundled in.
Ready For Anything. A compact utility e-bike with an adjustable wheelbase that shrinks to fit a bus or car rack, then extends back into a stable hauler.
The compact cargo bike. The smallest and most affordable Xtracycle, shipping as a Class 1 or Class 2 e-bike with a front PorterRack and Hooptie passenger rails included.
The off-road midtail. Wider tires and adventure geometry on a Shimano STEPS platform built for hauling gear onto dirt and gravel.
Xtracycle's Warranty: What It Covers and Where It Stops
Xtracycle warrants the frames and forks of its bikes and e-bikes against defects in manufacturing and materials. Five terms decide what that is worth to you.
Lifetime on steel, five years on aluminum
Each steel frame and fork is covered for the lifetime of the bike for the original owner in personal use. Aluminum frames and suspension forks are covered for five (5) years. In commercial use the term is one (1) year regardless of material.
One year on Xtracycle original parts
Xtracycle original parts are covered for one (1) year in personal use or six (6) months in commercial use. A listed set of parts is excluded, including the chain, cassette, tires, rims, brake pads and rotors, derailleurs, and hubs.
Motor and battery: two years, through Shimano or Bosch
Shimano and Bosch parts are not covered under Xtracycle's own warranty. The Shimano STEPS and Bosch motor, battery, and cycling computer are warrantied for two (2) years for the original owner in personal use, and a certified Shimano STEPS or Bosch dealer must handle those claims.
A replacement frame or store credit, no labor
On an approved claim, Xtracycle provides a replacement frame or fork or a store credit at xtracycle.com for its value, at its discretion. Labor charges for part replacement and original shipping costs are not covered, and Xtracycle does not reimburse for service.
Defects only: accident damage is excluded
The warranty covers defects in manufacturing and materials. It does not cover damage or failure due to accident. Those are the losses a Velosurance policy is built for.
Summary of the Xtracycle Terms and Conditions, Limited Warranty: Xtracycle bikes and e-bikes, reviewed September 17, 2026. Applies to Xtracycle bikes and e-bikes assembled by a bike shop or by Xtracycle, original owner only, with proof of purchase. The manufacturer decides every warranty claim, and its full published terms govern.
More Brands We Insure
Any brand of conventional or Class 1, 2, or 3 electric bike: theft, crash damage, and transit at stated value.
Why Velosurance is best for your Xtracycle
Velosurance is a stand-alone policy that covers theft and accidental damage and can be optioned to create a comprehensive umbrella of protection for your cycling lifestyle.
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