Discovering the Zag E-Cargo: Built for Everyone, Everywhere
You’ve probably seen the thumbnail and read the title already, so before you grab your pitchforks and start asking why an eBike is showing up on SSS, give me a minute to explain.
I’ve said it before, but I truly believe that, even if humanity seems to be heading straight into a wall, cycling, bikes, and the people who build, ride, and use them in any capacity have the power to help save the world we live in.
Urban mobility and air quality are just two of the major challenges cities everywhere are facing. While cycling feels like the obvious solution to many of us, we also need to recognize that our cycling-passionate bubble is incredibly small compared to “the rest.” That means businesses, non-cyclists, casual riders, commuters who see the bike as nothing more than a tool, the general public, and even many within the outdoor or sports world who don’t pay much attention to cycling culture.
While many of us don’t mind hauling a few extra kilos on a cargo bike to get things from A to B, that’s not the case for everyone. Still, as I’ve said before, cargo bikes remain one of the best ways to make cities more livable. A few months ago, I reviewed another compact cargo that struck me as a format perfectly suited for people who dream of owning one but struggle with storage space. Through my own research and a visit to the Mini Bike Festival, I also discovered a number of small builders tackling the same challenge: creating compact, yet truly capable, cargo bikes.
And as it usually goes, it was through an Instagram post that I first came across the Zag. Intriguing in design and clearly produced with a European mindset, it caught my attention enough that I reached directly to see the bike in person and eventually test it for a day.
A few months later, I was among the lucky few to ride one of the “Pre-Serie” Zag, part of the first batch of twelve bikes. Why twelve? One stayed with the owner to replace the original prototype, another went to Germany for testing and homologation, and the remaining 10 are soon to be on their way to Zag’s very first customers. This “Pre-Serie” was also here to validate the market interest and confirm the “industrialization” process. Take industrialization loosely here, because while the Zag is built in France by the framebuilders at Milc (like the MONoPOLE), designing a frame that could be easily replicated, and compatible with the welding robot Milc recently invested in, was equally important, but it’s not like the plan is to take the whole production to Asia.
So after meeting up in “Le Cap Ferret”, we of course spent time riding, but we also did a lot of talking. Guilhem and his wife Sixtine, the couple behind the entire project, walked me through the core values of the Zag cargo to help me better understand what they had created. On their website, you’ll find the words Cargo, Compact, Durable, Playful, but here’s what I took away from our day together:
Working in the field of renewable energy and riding his mountain bike on the weekends, Guilhem set out to create a bike that aligned with his values: a compact cargo bike that would still function decades from now, remain fun to ride, and carry a timeless design. Simple is good, and unless someone convinces me otherwise, there’s nothing more timeless and reliable than good old round CroMo steel tubes. Still, what follows is where my curiosity, and a slightly skeptical eyebrow, was first raised.
At the heart of the Zag is Shimano’s EP801 motor, delivering up to 600 W at peak power. Unlike the frameset, which is built to last, the motor won’t stand the test of time in quite the same way. To address this, Guilhem designed the Zag to work not only with Shimano, but also with a wide range of electric drive units like Bafang, Virvolt, and others available today, as well as whatever comes in the future. The solution is simple but clever: small aluminum brackets connect the motor to the frame, and these can be swapped out to fit different motor designs. As long as Guilhem, or anyone else, keeps producing new brackets, the Zag can evolve with the ever-changing e-bike technology.
Making a good bike is one thing, but who is it for? As I mentioned earlier, if we want to save our cities (and, by extension, ourselves), we’ll need to get a lot more people riding bikes to reduce the number of cars and trucks honking at each other while you’re trying to enjoy a coffee on a terrace. (That’s Parisian Paul talking here.) For that mission, the Zag has two aces up its sleeve. The first is a one-size-fits-all geometry: if you’re between 1m60 and 1m95, you should be perfectly comfortable. Its virtual 72-degree seat tube angle means that as you raise the seatpost, the saddle naturally shifts farther back, adapting to different rider heights. And since this geo is inspired by mountain biking, it feels relaxed yet retains a healthy dose of dynamism. (That of course also depends on how you’ll set your bikefit with seatpost height and adjustable cockpit)
The second is what really surprised me about the Zag. With its front rack rated to carry up to 80 kilos, and thanks to both the frame design and the electric motor, the Zag’s handling doesn’t change no matter how much weight you load onto it. During my test rides, I didn’t feel any flex, didn’t have to put in extra effort, and never once worried about the cargo I was carrying, the Zag is doing this quite incredible thing to ride almost exactly the same, fully loaded or not. By consequent the Zag is a super easy-to-use e-cargo that you can lend to almost anyone; from a complete cargo-bike beginner to a seasoned rider, who will likely be surprised by just how fun it is.
Okay, that’s all well and good, but what’s in it for us? Yes, us, the real, hardcore, old-school cyclists! We don’t need e-bikes! We’re in peak physical condition, happily wrecking our cardio while hauling anything and pretending we’re not even breaking a sweat. (Speaking from experience as you can tell.)
Well, remember those aluminum brackets I mentioned earlier? They could also be swapped for a simple adapter, letting you mount a threaded bottom bracket and turn your Zag into a fully analog cargo bike. Guilhem is actually working on that adapter as we speak, but here’s the thing: in its electric version, the Zag weighs 29 kilos in the offroad setup that I tried, and 30 in the urban version coming with fenders and other accessories. If you go analog with a standard drivetrain, or even a belt drive (yes, it can do that too) I’ll doubt you’re going to shave much off that weight. So the question is… do you really want to go non-electric and why? For the urban version, an electric cargo just makes sense, but I’ll also understand if you don’t want to be limited by the battery’s 70 km range while going on a longer ride. Guilhem managed longer trips by carrying two batteries, but that only works if you’re sure you’ll have somewhere to recharge along the way.
With all that in mind, I tested the Zag as what I would think would be a fun adventure e-cargo, which could handle mostly day trips until you run out of battery. Which it totally can, and the places and timing you decide to recharge them on longer trips (if you take an extra one) just comes down to organization. But I personally think the Zag would also excel in professional environments. Electricians, locksmiths, plumbers, trail maintenance, on-site logistics for campus, event staff, industrial plants, and of course, couriers, could all benefit from such a versatile platform. On top of that, the Zag (In this “Bivouac” version) is expected to cost 6960€ as a complete bike, with the frameset possibly around 3,000€, though these prices aren’t fully confirmed yet. So even if it’s a fair price for a complete e-cargo with a french made frame, it’s still a hefty chunk of cash for anyone buying it solely for their personal use.
Before we move on, here are some highlights from my day on the Zag:
Shimano CUES Di2 Transmission, smooth, precise.
XT brakes, insanely powerful; Guilhem even admits they might be a bit overkill.
Shimano Linkglide reinforced cassette
Chunky 2.6” tires that can handle most terrain with ease.
Integrated front and rear lights
A clean Cable routing
A Kickstand!
The quick release system to mount a case on and off in seconds on the front rack.
Available (for now) in one unique size and one unique color
And finally, some great values and people behind this project.
Now, there’s another point worth addressing. Something I’ve heard more than once while talking about the Zag with various people was: “Oh, so it’s like a Monopole?”
While the Monopole and the Zag share the same 20/24” wheel sizes and are both made at Milc in France, I believe they’re much more different than people might think. The lighter Monopole feels easier to maneuver in dense city traffic, whereas the Zag excels at carrying weight across a variety of terrains. In other words, the Monopole is great for quick hops around town, while the Zag gives you instant confidence that you can carry anything you need for 50 to 70 km without breaking a sweat.
Both bikes share a playful character, after all, the Zag comes from ZigZag, but they clearly serve different purposes. Personally, I’d choose an electric Zag over a e-Monopole, but an analog Monopole over an analog Zag. That’s just my opinion (mostly based on weight, and tire size, rolling resistance, etc..), though, I wouldn’t be surprised if more brands jump on the 20/24” cargo platform soon, since it’s such a great form factor.
To sum it up: The fact that the Zag is borderline over-engineered, makes it a versatile and durable platform for anyone looking to duplicate their cycling abilities. From how much you can carry, to how far you can go, the Zag is a great tool for that. And “anyone” really means everyone: from casual riders wanting to handle daily errands with zero fuss, to cycling enthusiasts who might even take a cargo bike onto the trails just for the fun of it. With the right balance of innovation and fun, the Zag proves that an electric cargo bike might be a logical choice for some of us, but also a way for non-cyclists to rethink how they move through cities… and beyond.
Every bike on SSS is a beach cruiser now!
🌐 zagbikes.com
🎞: Kodak Color Plus 200
📷: Leica M6
📍: Le Cap Ferret
