Royal Cargo Bike 3W Premium at Fatbikeskopen.nl

The Royal Cargo Bike 3W Premium sits between the Eco and the Premium Plus: you get the powerful Bafang mid-drive motor with 80 newton metres of torque, but with seven fixed gears instead of a continuously variable Enviolo hub. Four seats, a 220-kilogram load capacity, and a removable 630-watt-hour battery with Panasonic cells. Three wheels mean the bike stays upright when you let go while loading or unloading children.

Difference between the Eco and the Royal Cargo Bike 3W Premium Plus

The Eco has a 45-newton-metre hub motor with eight gears. The Premium has an 80-newton-metre mid-drive motor with seven gears. The Premium Plus adds belt drive and a continuously variable Enviolo hub. In practice, the biggest step is from the Eco to the Premium: you can feel that motor as soon as you set off with a full load. The step up to the Plus is mainly about easier maintenance and shifting without pedalling. The brake pads and discs use standard sizes, so they can be replaced at any service point. Hydraulic brakes occasionally need bleeding, but otherwise they require little maintenance.

Bafang mid-drive motor with 80 newton metres of torque

A mid-drive motor is located at the bottom bracket and delivers its power through the gears, making pedalling easier rather than giving you a push. Eighty newton metres is substantial, and you notice it as soon as you set off with four children in the box or have to ride up a bridge. The motor's weight is positioned low and centrally, which contributes to a calm steering feel on a tricycle with a large box at the front. That may sound like a minor detail, but it adds up on your daily route. The motor uses a torque sensor, so the assistance follows your own pedalling force and starts smoothly when you set off.

Four children and 220 kilograms

The box accommodates four children, and the maximum total weight is 220 kilograms, including you and your luggage. The box sits low between the two front wheels, keeping the weight close to the ground. Children can climb in themselves from the side, which is possible without help from around the age of three. The 630-watt-hour battery is removable, so you can charge it indoors while the electric bike remains outside or under a shelter.

Three wheels and brakes

A tricycle stays upright when you let go, even when loaded. So when loading four children, you do not need to keep one hand on the handlebars. What you give up is leaning into corners: you steer instead of leaning, which takes some getting used to during the first few rides. On a bike that can weigh close to 200 kilos when loaded, hydraulic disc brakes are not a luxury but essential equipment. Hydraulic brakes need bleeding occasionally, but otherwise require little maintenance. The lighting is permanently mounted on the bike and runs on the main battery.

Who is the 3W Premium for?

For families, childminders, and schools transporting several children who want the powerful mid-drive motor without paying extra for a belt drive and continuously variable hub. The recommended rider height is approximately 1.60 to 1.95 metres. Please note: there is no suspension, so children will feel every bump on cobblestone streets, and a tricycle is wide. Measure your gate, shed door, and the access route to your storage area before ordering. Brake pads and discs use standard sizes, so they can be replaced at any service centre. Hydraulic brakes need bleeding occasionally, but otherwise require little maintenance.

Ordering from Fatbikeskopen.nl

Compare the Eco, Premium, and Premium Plus side by side before choosing, because you only notice the difference in motor power and gearing when the bike is loaded. You can do this at ten showrooms, preferably with your children. For maintenance, you can visit more than 450 service points in the Netherlands. When ordered online, the bike is delivered to your home ready to ride. There is a three-year warranty on the frame and a one-year warranty on the components and battery. Upon delivery, the bike is assembled and adjusted outside your door. After delivery, you have fourteen days to take it for a test ride.

Also see: Royal cargo bike cargo bikes | cargo bikes | longtails | e-bikes