Xtracycle's Swoop ASM is a $4,500 long-tail cargo e-bike featuring Shimano's automatic electronic shifting system, which uses cadence and torque data to shift gears without rider input. While the system accurately determines when to shift, the actual shifting process lacks smoothness, though the bike remains an excellent cargo bike with the feature disabled.
Background
Xtracycle is a well-known manufacturer specializing in cargo trailers and dedicated cargo bikes, expanding into electric-assist models. Shimano has been developing automated shifting technology for bicycles, adapting their automotive-inspired ASM (Automatic Shifting Mechanism) for cycling applications.
- Source
- Ars Technica
- Published
- Aug 26, 2026 at 07:00 PM
- Score
- 5.0 / 10