A Bafang 350W rear hub motor with 80Nm of torque, delivering pedal assist up to 20mph as a Class 1 e-Bike.
Co-op Cycles Generation Cargo E-Bike Review
Written by: Tom Fortune | September 13, 2026 | Time to read 5 min
The Generation Cargo is REI's take on a compact utility bike, small enough to store easily but built to carry genuine weight when you need it to.
More about the Author: Tom Fortune
Tom is a Brit living in the French Alps. When he's not creating written and video content for various brands, he's either pedalling or snowboarding around his local mountains. E-Bikes have unlocked the potential for Tom to explore Alpine terrain and get away from the crowded bike parks. He is only too keen to share his knowledge and experience with other riders.
The Co-op Cycles Generation Cargo is a short-tail utility e-Bike, smaller and lighter than a dedicated cargo bike but built for the same job: hauling groceries, gear, or a passenger on a frame-integrated rear rack. It comes in two versions, the e1.1 and e1.2, with meaningful differences in battery size and fork type.
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Table of Contents
Co-op Cycles Generation Cargo Specs
| Spec | Detail |
|---|---|
| Motor | Bafang 350W rear hub, 80Nm torque |
| Battery | 417Wh (e1.1) or 672Wh (e1.2), removable, lockable while attached |
| Class | Class 1, pedal assist up to 20mph |
| Drivetrain | Shimano Altus, 1x7-speed |
| Brakes | Tektro hydraulic disc, 180mm rotors |
| Tires | Schwalbe Super-Moto-X, 20x2.4in |
| Frame | 6061 aluminum, low-step, one-size-fits-all |
| Weight | Around 54 lbs, 300 lb weight limit including rider |
How It Rides
Co-op has given the Generation Cargo a Bafang hub motor with enough grunt to get this bike off the line quickly. It also has a low-step frame that keeps it easy to maneuver at low speed, mount, and dismount.
Wide Schwalbe Super-Moto-X tires soak up rough pavement and keep the bike planted when the rear rack is loaded. Combined with the upright riding position, it rides more like a stable urban cruiser than a twitchy commuter bike.
Budget-oriented e-Bikes can have poor-quality brakes, but this model has excellent Tektro hydraulic disc brakes, offering confident, easy-to-modulate stopping power even when you’ve fully loaded the bike.
Motor and Battery
The Bafang 350W rear hub motor is rated at 80Nm of torque, which is plenty for light-to-moderate urban hills. It's a direct-drive hub instead of a mid-drive system, though, so don't expect the same natural pedal feel you'd get from a Bosch or Shimano mid-drive motor. The simple black-and-white LCD keeps things straightforward, showing speed, battery level, pedal assist level, and mileage without cluttering the screen with more than you need mid-ride.
Both versions use a removable battery that locks in place while attached, a small but useful detail if you're leaving the bike parked in front of a shop with the battery still in it. The e1.1's 417Wh battery is rated for 30 to 40 miles per charge, while the e1.2 steps up to a 672Wh battery rated for 40 to 50 miles.
e1.1 vs e1.2: What's Different
The two versions share the same motor, brakes, and tires, but the battery, but the e1.1 has an SR Suntour suspension fork, which softens the ride over rougher surfaces and potholes, and comes with a 417Wh battery. The e1.2 has a rigid fork and an extra front rack. Its larger 672Wh battery also gives you more range.
If your rides are mostly flat, well-paved city streets with occasional heavy loads, the e1.2 should be fine. If you'd rather have comfort on rougher pavement than extra load carrying capacity, the e1.1 is the one to look for.
Things to Know Before You Buy
- The one-size-fits-all frame geometry fits riders from about 5 feet to 6 feet 3 inches, useful if multiple people in a household plan to share the bike.
- The integrated rear rack can carry 100 lbs or more within the bike's overall 300 lb weight limit, which is useful for grocery runs or hauling gear.
- At around 54 lbs, this is a heavy bike for its compact size. So keep that in mind for storage or when lifting it up stairs.
- Anyone deciding between the e1.1 and e1.2 should check the version comparison above before buying, since the right choice depends on your terrain and how often you're carrying a full load.
Who Should Buy the Co-op Cycles Generation Cargo?
- Riders who want decent cargo capacity in a smaller, lighter footprint than a full-sized cargo bike should find this a good fit.
- Riders looking to swap short car trips for a bike, grocery runs, school pickups, or quick errands will find the cargo capacity and Class 1 pedal assist handle those jobs well.
Alternatives Worth Considering
Rad Power Bikes' RadRunner is a close match: a compact utility bike with similar cargo capacity to the Co-op Generation e1.1 and e1.2, right down to the frame-integrated rear rack.
Co-op's own CTY lineup is worth a look if hauling gear isn't a priority and you'd rather have a lighter electric city bike.
Find a Co-op Cycles Generation Cargo on Upway
A hub motor and integrated rear rack both take a beating when a bike hauls cargo regularly, so check the motor, battery, and rack mounting points closely on a used Generation Cargo. But every e-Bike on Upway goes through a 50-point inspection before it's listed to give you peace of mind.
Browse the current electric bike selection, the Class 1 range, or the sale collection to compare options.
Frequently Asked Questions
What motor does the Co-op Cycles Generation Cargo use?
What's the difference between the Generation e1.1 and e1.2?
The e1.1 uses an SR Suntour suspension fork and a 417Wh battery. The e1.2 swaps in a rigid, cargo-capable fork, adds a front rack, and steps up to a larger 672Wh battery for more range.
How much weight can the Co-op Cycles Generation Cargo carry?
The bike has a 300 lb weight limit, including the rider, and the integrated rear rack can hold 100 lbs or more depending on how much of that total limit the rider takes up.
Key Takeaways
- The Co-op Cycles Generation Cargo combines a Bafang 350W hub motor with Tektro hydraulic disc brakes, a properly strong combination for a compact utility e-Bike at this price point.
- The e1.1 and e1.2 differ more than the names suggest: the e1.2 adds a front rack, a larger 672Wh battery, and a rigid cargo-oriented fork in place of the e1.1's suspension fork and smaller 417Wh battery.
- At around 54 lbs with a 300 lb weight limit, this bike trades some portability for actual cargo-hauling capability in a smaller footprint than a full-sized cargo bike.
