The 2023 Riese & Muller Packster 70 Vario is the bike version of a Range Rover. It hits the sweet spot of being extremely maneuverable (thanks to its tight turning radius and low centre of gravity) while also amazing at hauling kids or cargo (up to 3 kids or 350 litres, respectively). These bikes are custom-built with German precision and laser-focused attention to detail that leaves absolutely no stone unturned in their quest to build the absolute best cargo bike for every terrain - even the roughest single-track dirt trail. Your family will travel in luxury, safety, and ultimate comfort with the Packster 70 e-cargo bike.

Any good e-bike worth its salt has a motor and battery up to the task of hauling goods and people, and Riese & Muller knocks it out of the park with its Bosch systems. Powered by a Bosch PowerTube 625Wh that provides up to 125km of range (and has the capacity to add a second battery to the system in future if needed), the Cargo Line Cruise motor is designed specifically for use with cargo bikes, providing 85Nm to make uphill journeys under load way easier. It reads your pedal input 1,000 times a second for an extremely accurate and sensitive intuitive ride. With up to 400% energy support to your commute, you never have to fear steep climbs with heavy cargo loads again.

The Purion display is a minimalistic control panel that shows your speed, battery life, and distance travelled on a backlit non-glare display. Change between assistance modes while keeping your hand on the grip with simple thumb +/- buttons.

The Enviolo 380 hub has stepless shifting technology to change gears under load without any resistance and is designed specifically to work with the high torque of an e-bike, and the Gates belt drive adopts motorcycle technology to give you 30,000km of riding before needing replacement - over three times longer than any chain. This bike comes spec with three child seats, child cover, and a lock for the built-in glove box, but you can customize your cargo bike with a wide selection of weather protection and child carriers to make this bike exactly what you need. The included ABUS lock ensures your bike remains yours with solid German engineering and construction.

This bike comes with the Performance Package setup, which makes it more comfortable and even safer. Tektro TRP C 2.3 cargo brakes withstand more stress stopping under constant load, providing more stability and enduring less wear over time than the standard brakes. A Supernova lighting set (M99 Mini Pro headlight with high-beam and M99 taillight with brake light capability) keeps you safe and able to see everything on the road in even the darkest conditions. The Satori suspension seatpost irons out road bumps. The included Comfort Kit provides a swingback handlebar for a more upright riding position, wider saddle, and German-made Ergon ergonomic grips.

Combine these with Tektro disc brakes, super-bright Supernova/Busch & Muller light system, Selle Royal saddle, Schwalbe tires, and a Suntour front suspension fork for off-road adventures, and you get the crème de la crème of electric cargo bikes - the Riese & Muller Packster 70 Vario.

Questions? Book a consultation with one of our Cargo Bike experts
Riese & Muller Packster 70 Vario E-Cargo Bike
Build the bike you need - Add up to three kid seats and the box canopy that suits your lifestyle, family, and/or business needs
Bike comes spec with three child seats, child cover, and lock for glove box
Lightweight Aluminum frame with Front Fork Suspension - Provides strength and agility on even the roughest off-road trails
Motor: Quiet & reliable Bosch Cargo Line Cruise is specifically designed for cargo bikes, providing up to 85Nm acceleration
Battery: Bosch PowerTube 625Wh Plus gives you 125km of range on a single charge - Bike is pre-wired to convert from single to dual battery when required
Cockpit Display: Minimalist Purion cockpit controls
Lighting: Super-bright Supernova M99 lighting system - German quality construction with hi-beam and brake light capability
Performance Package includes Tektro cargo-specific brakes and suspension seatpost
Comfort Kit sits you more upright and adds handlebar and saddle comfort
Enviolo 380 Internal Gear Hub: Stepless shifting technology to change gears under load without any resistance - Designed specifically to work with high torque of e-bikes
Gates Belt Drive: Lube-free, durable, and winter-friendly with a 30,000km lifetime before needing replacement
Fully adjustable stem and seatpost - Swap quickly between riders of different heights, perfect for shared family use
Schwalbe tires are highly puncture-resistant - Made in Germany
Comfortable ergonomic Selle Royal saddle - Made in Italy
This product can only be purchased in Canada
PRICE MATCH GUARANTEE

PACKSTER 70 VARIO
FRAME	Aluminum - White
BIKE WEIGHT	92.6 lbs (higher with accessories)
WEIGHT CAPACITY	250 kg / 550 lbs
BATTERY	Bosch Powertube 625 Vertical - 36V 625Wh
MOTOR	Cargo Line Cruise (Gen4)
DISPLAY	Bosch Purion
MAX ASSISTED SPEED	32km/hr as per Canadian regulations
COMPUTER MODES	Eco, Tour, Sport, Turbo
RANGE ESTIMATE	60-125km (Powertube 625)
CHARGING TIME	5 hours (Powertube 625)
SUSPENSION FORK	Suntour Mobie 34 CGO Boost, 20", 80mm
REAR SHOCK	X-Fusion Glyde
HEADSET	Acros IntegrationX, block lock / Cane Creek ViscoSet R&M special
SEATPOST	Satori Elegance-LT OV 34.9 x 405mm
SEATCLAMP	TranzX QR, 40mm
TIRES	Schwalbe Big Ben Plus / Schwalbe Super Moto-X
TUBES	Schwalbe
RIMS	Mach1 Trucky30 20" CNC / Mach1 Trucky30 26" CNC
FRONT HUB	Novatec Boost Cargo Disc 32H
REAR HUB	Enviolo 380, 36H
CRANKSET	FSA / Riese & Muller, 170mm
CHAINRING	55T for Gates Belt Drive CDX
CHAINGUARD	Riemenschutzring / Belt guard
CHAIN	Gates Belt Drive CDX
PINION	24T for Gates Belt Drive CDX
SADDLE	Selle Royal New Lookin Evo R&M / Selle Royal New Lookin Female Evo R&M
PEDALS	VP R&M Custom
SHIFTING SYSTEM	Enviolo grip shift continuous
SHIFTER	Enviolo grip shift Twist Display Pure, continuous
HANDLEBAR	Satori Horizon 31.8mm, 9-degrees, B=620mm / Satori NoirettePlus, 31.8mm, Aluminum
STEM	Satori, 60mm, +/- 17 degrees
GRIPS	Ergon ergonomic
BRAKES	Tektro Auriga Comp HD-500 hydraulic disc brakes / Tektro TRP C 2.3 disc brakes
FRONT LIGHT	Supernova M99 Mini-Pro 25
TAIL LIGHT	Supernova M99, integrated brake light
MUDGUARDS	SKS A69R
REAR RACK	Riese & Muller, MIK
BUNGEE	Bibia
BELL	Billy
KICKSTAND	Riese & Muller
LOCK	ABUS Shield rear wheel lock

PACKSTER 70 VARIO	FROM	TO
ONE SIZE	4' 11"	6' 5"

Will this take up a lot of space on the road?

Nope. This is the narrowest, fastest and meanest cargo bike on the road. You can even pass in the bike lane (if you’re good).

How does this compare to other two-wheeled cargo bikes?

Now that urban cycling is taking off, we're seeing more and more cargo bikes on the streets ferrying families, packages, and supplies. They were primarily designed for use in cities with paved roads and bike paths. Riese & Muller has achieved the pinnacle of cargo bikes in speccing theirs with full-suspension GT and GX options, meaning you can take them off-road - on dirt track, mountain roads, even forested trails. Unlike other two-wheeled cargo bikes that have a bit of a learning curve, Riese & Muller bikes feel exactly like a regular bike - no wobbling or resistance at all. They're intuitive and absolutely great for anyone a little nervous about cargo riding who also wants to travel faster and more efficiently than can be achieved on a three-wheeled Babboe or Nihola.

How the heck do I buy one of these?

We've done all the legwork for you! Take a read through our extensive spec options, build up your bike just the way you want it, place an order and we'll be in touch when your bike arrives fully built!

Can I use this bike for a business?

Absolutely. With the smorgasbord of options for cargo boxes, canopies, rear racks, and on/off-road capabilities, this bike will excel at whatever you ask it to do. Email eric@curbsidecycle.com if you’re interested in discussing a Riese & Muller for your business or business idea.

Can Riese & Muller bikes do double duty carrying kids and cargo?

Yep! On Riese & Muller cargo bikes, the seats within the cargo box take up minimal space and/or fold out of the way to provide maximum storage when you're doing a massive grocery run sans kiddos. The Multicharger bikes have a longtail platform at the rear that can be set up for passengers, cargo bags, or both with a combined weight of 65kg / 140lbs on the rack.

How many kids will this carry?

One, two, or three using a combination of two forward-facing seats and one backward-facing seat. Alternatively, the cargo box can also accommodate a single adult up to 5'6" tall or carry up to 550 lbs of weight.

What is an internal gear hub?

In Europe, a bike with an internal gear hub is what makes it a definitive city bike. Because the chain isn’t derailed up and down a set of external cogs (using a derailleur), the chain will never fall off again, and best of all, the chain can be covered so you can wear whatever you want. The gears are sealed inside the rear hub and they hold a tune two times longer than a derailleur, minimizing tune-ups and allowing you to store the bike outside throughout the winter problem-free.

What is a belt drive?

Belt drives have been developed over the last 30 years for use in racing engines and motorcycles. They are a band of nylon teeth held together with a series of carbon fibre cords, paired with alloy alloy chainrings and stainless-steel cogs. They've recently made the jump to bikes because they're nearly silent, don't require lube (and are much more winter-proof as a result), don't rust or get jammed with debris, and last for up to 30,000km of riding before needing replacement. We don't see them often on North American bikes because they can't be used with external derailleurs, only internal hubs or crank-based gearboxes.

Can I store it outside?

Of course. But if you are storing it outside during the winter, we strongly recommend going with the Vario or Rohloff internal hubs over an external-gear Touring derailleur, as they're built for year-round use and keep maintenance costs to a minimum. Should you have your heart set on a derailleur Riese & Muller, be sure to pick up a Bike Parka to keep it covered from ice and snow.

Does the battery lock to the bike?

Yep. That’s one expensive chunk of Lithium Ion. Frame-mounted batteries lock on to the down-tube and only you can remove them with the key provided. Internal frame batteries are built into the bike, so no need to worry!

How long does it take to charge the battery?

It takes about five hours to charge a single battery from flat to full, and twice as long if you have a dual battery system on your Riese & Muller. The batteries don't have memory so there is no problem if you only charge the battery a little bit, halfway, or whatever. You’ll get over 1000 complete charges, which is typically 5+ years of use before a replacement is required.

Is the unit serviceable?

You bet it is. For years the e-assist market was dominated by small fly-by-night companies with good ideas and no balance sheet. The consumer took all the risk and were often left with technical assistance phone numbers that no longer worked. Riese & Muller partner with Bosch, a huge player in the e-bike market – and they are sophisticated, which means they are updatable, diagnosable, and if something does break, fundamentally repairable.

What's the lifetime on the battery?

On average you will get about 18,000-20,000 miles from the battery before it needs to be replaced.

This is expensive! Will it get stolen?

Estimates are that over 90% of bicycle theft is tied to cash-for-drugs (unfortunately) and most bike losses are due to inferior or cheap locks. Make sure you buy a good ABUS U-lock or a chain and your bike will be safe. You can read more about bike theft here.

What’s the warranty?

For the original owner, Riese & Muller offers a two-year warranty for manufacturer defects on frame and fork, five years for frame / swingarm breakage, and two years on the battery. Does not include wear and tear.

RIESE & MULLER

2023 PACKSTER 70 VARIO - PURION - 625WH PLUS - PERFORMANCE - THREE SEATS - CHILD COVER - GLOVE BOX LOCK - COMFORT KIT

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