Best Bikes For Delivery Work

‍Delivery work has become very popular in recent years and the great thing about it is that you can do it with a bike, but which ones are the best for the job?

If you are out on your bike each and every day for your delivery job, then it makes sense to have one that is going to give you an optimal performance so that you can speed up your workflow and save yourself from getting too worn out when the day is over. However, there are a lot of different options for bikes for delivery work - given that each delivery rider may have their own preferences based on the number of hills in their area, the amount of time that they spend doing deliveries each day, and their stamina level.

The best bikes for delivery work should be chosen based on the rider’s preferences and physical abilities. The best e-bikes for delivery work are the Rad Power RadCity4 and the Specialized Turbo Vado SL 4.0. The best road bikes for delivery work are the Goplus Road Bike and GHOST Square Cross 1.8.

The occupation of a delivery driver is by no means a new concept, as this is a job title that has been around for decades However, delivery work today is more popular than it ever has been in the past - with apps that make delivery services and employment opportunities so accessible to the general public. There are dozens of different delivery organizations that connect a customer to a rider with the click of a button, which is why so many people are utilizing this incredible service to get their goods - and to get paid. One of the best ways to get around when making deliveries is to do it with a bike. There are so many perks to having a bike when making your rounds which delivery drivers who use cars simply miss out on. With that being said, if you want to take your delivery work to the next level, you have got to invest in the right bike. Let’s take a closer look at the best bikes for delivery work.

As someone who has worked as a delivery rider for many years, I have had an extensive amount of experience testing out various bikes that are ideal for this line of work. My experience has taught me that the best bikes for delivery work are those that are going to accommodate the physical capabilities of the rider, their budget, and the terrain of their area.

‍Bikes For Delivery Work

If you have been doing your delivery work with a bike that is not giving you optimum road performance, then you are missing out. You have got to consider that the worse your performance is with your bike’s efficiency, the more work you need to end up doing - and the less you end up getting paid. You need to look at your delivery bike as an investment into your work, as this is going to allow you to maximize the amount of money that you can make each day.

The reason that this is so important for delivery work is that you are likely not getting an hourly wage and instead are getting paid by the number of deliveries that you can complete in a day. This gives a great incentive to work harder so that you can make more money. However, a work philosophy that I like to embody when on the job is don’t work hard - work smart! At the end of the day, if you could save yourself the hassle of straining yourself to make the same amount of money - why not? Choosing the right delivery bike for making your rounds is the one-stop-shop to solving this equation.

With that being said, having the right delivery bike does offer the luxury of taking things at your own pace while doing your job, but it also presents the opportunity to work just as hard so that you can increase your profits. As delivery riders, we all have different preferences for an ideal bike - which is why you want to pick the one that is going to optimize your workday.

Whether you are doing delivery work full time or simply utilizing it as a side hustle, the right bike can make all the difference in how much money you make. As you consider your options, try to reflect on the qualities that you think are going to suit your day-to-day the best so that you can maximize your performance and your profits in the long run. To help you understand this further, we are going to break down our top picks for the best bikes for delivery work.

Electric Bikes (e-Bikes)

One of the most innovative things to happen to delivery work has been the mainstream use of e-bikes. Let’s face it, cycling is fun and it is a great way to stay in shape, but it can get absolutely exhausting - especially if you are a full-time rider and doing your deliveries in an area that has a lot of hills.

That is why so many delivery riders love using e-bikes when making their rounds. An e-bike simplifies the job by mitigating the amount of physical stamina required throughout your day. So, instead of needing to take a break for 5 min after each delivery to catch your breath, you can already be in motion for your next pick up, which means that you can make your workflow smoother and your bank account happier.

However, e-bikes are also a fantastic option for people out there that might lack the physical stamina and ability to be a delivery rider in the first place. Riding a bike for hours on end each day is hard work and it is, undeniably, not suited for everyone. Having an e-bike widens the demographic for people that want to get involved in delivery work, which is another reason why we are seeing more people get involved in the industry.

There are a lot of different options for e-bikes out there for you to choose from. What you are going to want to consider is how much performance you want to get out of your e-bike based on your riding needs as well as what you can afford. It goes without saying, that an e-bike is going to be a bit pricier than a road bike, but you will certainly get your money’s worth in the long run. Here are some great options for you to consider.

Rad Power RadCity 4

One of the hottest e-bikes on the market right now is the Rad Power RadCity 4, as it is essentially a delivery driver’s dream. You can take your delivery work to a whole new level with this e-bike thanks to its 45-mile charge capacity, which is conveniently right around the average distance that most delivery riders will get up to in a single day.

Now, this 45-mile charge capacity is stellar but if you want to have this be the distance that you can achieve consistently on your deliveries, you are going to want to throttle smoothly and not over accelerate unnecessarily. If you are the type of delivery rider that likes to floor it with their e-bike, you are going to find that you will end up just getting 25 miles or so per charge, which means that it is back to the pedal grind once your battery dies.

Although e-bikes do have throttle power, you are going to want to still keep your pedal movement going consistently. The electric motor is there to assist your cycling not replace it, which means that the more that you pedal - the longer your battery charge is going to last.

The motor of the Rad Power RadCity4 is top-notch as it has a 750W worth of power behind it. Once you have drained it, it is going to take roughly 6 hours for it to recharge. If you are the kind of delivery rider that likes to ride for a lunch shift and then come home for a long break before going out for dinner deliveries, then you can squeeze a charge in between to get some juice back in your bike.

The max weight capacity for the Rad Power RadCity4 is 275 lbs so it should be enough to support most riders. The frame is a 6061 sturdy aluminum. And attached to the back of the bike you have a very convenient rack that can be well utilized for your deliveries. Once in motion, you have got a total of 7 gears to play around with so that you can customize your ride performance to your current level of incline.

One thing that I love about the Rad Power RadCity4 is that the bike is equipped with Kenda K-Rad 26″ x 2.3″ tires that are designed to be as puncture-proof as possible. There is nothing more annoying than being out on a delivery and then hearing that tire go pop - which results in a flat. You can avoid a lot of those incidents with these puncture-proof tires.

In addition to the high-tech hardware of this e-bike, it has also got a fantastic LCD display mounted on the front of the handlebars. This convenient display is equipped with a speedometer, a battery life indicator, and even an odometer so that you know how much ground you have covered in a single day. On top of that, you can even use the LCD display to charge your phone as it has a USB port, which can be a total lifesaver when you are doing your deliveries and you spot that your phone is about to die.

For a price of $1,600, the Rad Power RadCity is still within the budget range of many delivery riders out there. Ultimately, for the performance capabilities of this e-bike, it is well worth the money.

Specialized Turbo Vado SL 4.0

There are few bike manufacturers out there that are as highly praised or widely recognized as Specialized. Their bikes are notorious for having some of the best designs and performance capabilities in the industry, so naturally, they have got a fantastic e-bike for delivery riders.

The Specialized Turbo Vado SL 4.0 e-bike is a top-of-the-line option for a delivery rider that wants to truly maximize their performance, as this is a high-caliber bike that few options out there can compete with.

If you see this bike on the street, you would hardly be able to recognize it as an e-bike given that Specialized has retained the aesthetic of a traditional road bike with the design of the Specialized Turbo Vado SL 4.0. Although e-bikes look cool enough, they undeniably have a bulky look to them, which can be off-putting for someone who has spent the majority of their life riding road bikes around.

Despite the Specialized Turbo Vado SL 4.0 subtle appearance, it is by far one of the most innovative e-bikes on the market with performance capabilities that destroy so much of its competition. This e-bike has a 320W downtube battery, which combined with the optional range extender can achieve a maximum range distance of up to 120 miles!

When you weigh out your e-bike options, you will have a hard time finding something that can get past a 50 mile range per charge. The Specialized Turbo Vado SL 4.0 will get you more than double the distance of so many high-performance e-bikes out there. Given that Specialized prides itself as being a leader in bike manufacturing, they designed the Specialized Turbo Vado SL 4.0 to do much more than just help delivery riders make their rounds.

This bike is used by people for touring and long-distance cycling, which means that you have got a bike that is suitable for the Tour de France at your disposal while making your deliveries. The impressive 120 miles charge range is going to be more than enough for you to smash out your deliveries in a single shift. On top of that, you can get to where you are going at a top speed of 28 miles per hour.

In addition, the bike is extremely lightweight for how durable it is. While riding, you can transition between the bike’s dynamic 11 speeds. For safety, you have got front/rear lighting and fantastic disc brakes. If you are still not sold, the ride is incredibly comfortable. However, the one aspect of this bike that can be a little intimidating is the price, which is currently going for $3,700. Although this may not be as budget-friendly as our previous option, you will certainly get what you paid for with the Specialized Turbo Vado SL 4.0.

Road Bikes

Let’s face it e-bikes are not going to be for everyone. To start, the price of an e-bike is considerably more than that of a standard bicycle and for many delivery riders out there, affordability is crucial.

If that is the case, then you are going to want to consider getting a road bike to handle your deliveries. A road bike compared to most other bicycle styles is going to be the best suited for this line of work, as they are perfect for most terrains and they have dynamic capabilities for taking on hills.

In fact, many delivery riders actually prefer to have a road bike as opposed to an e-bike. One of the great added benefits of this job is that you get to stay in shape while working, which a road bike will certainly encourage. The ability to knock out your workout routine while getting paid is a job perk that few people can rejoice in. Let’s take a look at your options for road bikes.

Goplus Road Bike Commuter Bike

One of my favorite road bikes for deliveries is the Goplus Road Bike Commuter Bike. This bike is practical, reliable, and most importantly - affordable!

If you are on a budget and want a very well-rounded road bike that is going to deliver on performance, there are few options out there that can compete with the Goplus Road Bike Commuter Bike.

This road bike will meet all of the needs of a delivery rider and get you everywhere that you need to go in a flash. It has 21 speeds, which means that you have a lot of dynamic control of how your bike responds to incline - no matter how steep. And it is made out of Aluminum so it is quite durable. The Goplus Road Bike Commuter Bike was designed originally to be used as a commuter bike, which ticks all of the boxes for delivery riders, as the performance specifications are virtually identical.

The bike’s parts are pretty much all Shimano. So, you know that you have got all of your nuts and bolts made by a world-class cycling manufacturer. This will significantly lower your chances of running into maintenance issues down the line and when you do, your parts will be very easy to replace and repair, as Shimano is a name in the industry that every mechanic understands.

On top of that, you have got high-performance tires, excellent hydraulic disc brakes, and a carbon fiber shock absorber fork. For the mere price of $430.00, what more could you ask for. The only downside is that the seat could be more comfortable, but besides that, this is an excellent road bike for deliveries.

GHOST Square Cross 1.8

If you want a little more versatility and dynamic capability out of your delivery bike, you may want to consider going with the GHOST Square Cross 1.8.

This bike is somewhat of a hybrid between a road bike and a light mountain bike, as it has a design that is adaptable for both kinds of use. The on-road performance is fantastic and it will be great for delivery riders that need to zip their way through the city. However, the mountain bike aspect of the GHOST Square Cross 1.8 will also make this a great bike for a delivery rider that has to deal with some adverse terrain.

What is great about owning the GHOST Square Cross 1.8 is that enables you to utilize your bike for cycling hobbies outside of work. The road bike characteristics are great for your deliveries, but if you wanted to start trail riding or even mountain biking on your days off, this is a great bike to use.

With that said, this bike’s delivery capabilities are on point, as you have got 27 gears to play around with when hitting hills, which means you can ride it on any incline level. The bike is equipped with top-of-the-line ACC 003 hydraulic disc brakes and an SF 16-NEX-DS suspension fork that makes for a super smooth ride.

The GHOST Square Cross 1.8 is built with Shimano parts, is relatively lightweight, and to top it off - looks awesome! The price for this hybrid bike is a bit more than the Goplus, but the performance capabilities are well worth the extra couple hundred bucks - at $700.