Front cargo basket
Wired calls a sturdy front basket one of the most useful upgrades you can make. Load groceries, a backpack, or a small dog where you can see them.
A front basket is the fastest way to turn any e-bike into a runabout. The key distinction is how it mounts: a basket bolted to a fork- or frame-mounted front rack keeps the load with the bike, so the weight doesn't fight your steering — which is why Wired recommends buying the basket made for your specific bike (Rad, Aventon, Lectric and others all sell one). Handlebar-clamp baskets are cheaper and universal, but everything you carry now steers with you, which takes some getting used to at e-bike speeds.
Choose steel or heavy-gauge aluminum over plastic, a flat bottom that won't dump a grocery bag, and a rated load capacity (most are 20–40 lb). If you'll carry anything that could bounce out, add a cargo net or bungee (see the cargo net entry).
Where to buy
Two paths — match your spend to the bike. Quality picks last longer and protect resale; affordable picks get you riding safely today.
Quality picks
Quality
Rad Power Large Front-Mounted Basket
$89
Mounts to Rad's front rack so the load stays with the bike, not the steering — purpose-built for RadRunner/RadCity.
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Quality
Aventon Front Basket Kit
$98
Brand-fit basket + front rack for Aventon e-bikes; steel construction, integrates cleanly with the headlight.
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Pro tips from our test team
- Buy your bike-maker's basket first — it bolts to the front rack so the load doesn't steer with you.
- A flat-bottomed basket holds a paper grocery bag upright; open mesh lets it tip.
- Pair it with a cargo net so nothing launches over a pothole.