Leap Conversion Kit

What is the Xtracycle Leap?

The Leap converts virtually any adult bike into a longtail cargo bike capable of carrying almost anything: passengers, groceries, or anything else you dream up.

What is the Xtracycle Leap rack made out of?

The Leap is made out of steel, and is exceptionally strong and torsionally rigid.

Will the Leap work on my bike?

The Leap will work on most adult bikes. Please download the compatibility guide for more details.

Are there multiple versions of the Leap for different wheel sizes?

The Xtracycle Leap fits bikes with wheels of many sizes. For more information see our article Wheel sizes for Leap Conversion.

Can I ride this off road and/or use touring?

Yes, the Leap is great for both!

Does the Leap work with Xtracycle’s child-carrying accessories?

Yes! The Leap is compatible with all Xtracycle family accessories including the Hooptie, Leap U-Tubes, and Magic Carpet.

Can I put a child seat on the rack?

Yes! The Xtracycle Leap is compatible with Yepp Maxi EasyFit child seats. You’ll need to get the Yepp Kids Seat Adapters.

Does the Leap work with the Xtracycle SideCar?

It does but modifications need to be made. The Leap comes with a tailpiece that curves out toward the end of the bike. This allows the kit to accommodate fat tires. Our other bikes and kits have a tail piece that is flat and goes straight across the back of the bike. To modify the SideCar to fit, you will need to: remove the quill bolts and wedges, saw the quill down the fit inside the Leap tailpiece, drill a hole on the SideCar quill that aligns with the welded boss on the Leap frame, then secure the SideCar onto the frame with a bolt through the welded boss that will also go through the SideCar quill. If you do not have these tools available for such a modification, try reaching out to your bike shop to see if they are able to make the modification themselves.

Is the chain extension included with the Leap kits?

The Leap kits don’t include the chain extension because there are so many different types of chain that vary greatly in price, speeds. We do have optional Leap length specific chain extensions available on the product page.

My bike has V-brakes / cantilever brakes. Can I still install a Leap kit?

Ya sure can! The Leap kit will require a disc compatible rear wheel. Simply get your hands on a new or used rear disc-compatible wheel to use on the Leap portion of your cargo bike and keep your original brakes up front. You will then just need to purchase and install the rotor and caliper. Alternately, you could also have non-disc brake posts welded on by a local frame builder/metal shop.

Does the Leap support 20″ wheels?

Yes, a 20″ 135 O.L.D. rear disk wheel will fit. Currently we don’t have experience with this type of install – a good place to start might be a bike that came natively with a rear 20″ wheel like the Cannondale Hooligan. Other modifications would likely be required.

If I want to take my 26″ mountain bike and put the Leap on, but convert the rear wheel to 20″, would there be any issues with that?

Currently, we don’t have a ready solution. If everything else is kept the same, a 3″+ drop will change geometry, deck slope, steering, etc.

Is the angle of the cargo deck shown directly related the the chain stay angle?

Basically, yes. There is some adjustability afforded by the attachment system and depending upon the bike. It is largely driven by the BB drop (CS angle). The photo of the 650b+ grey and orange bike is not necessarily an accurate representation of how the Leap addition will affect geometry.

Does the Leap assume a certain BB Drop / CS angle? IE, in order to achieve a level deck, I would assume there is an angle built into the Leap to keep the geometry of the bike fairly consistent while allowing for a level deck?

Correct. The challenge comes when you try to make one frame work for 26-29+ frames because the BB drop can vary greatly. Henry Kellogg is working on a calculator that will ultimately inform the boom tube angle.

Looks like it’s been designed for a mid sized wheel (26″?) and anything smaller or larger will slope the deck aft/fore respectively? Can some “telescoping” be designed in to trim the deck level? Can’t help thinking there’s a smarter solution though that uses the arc of the Leap frame… have separate drop out for each wheel size (or sliding) with smaller wheels more forward and largest wheel at mid (highest) point of the arc.

In the intensive 4+ years of development, we explored many of these directions. With your involvement and ideas, the Leap will continue to improve over time. It turns out to be extraordinarily hard to make it affordable and adaptable to ALL bikes/ideas out of the box. However, you’ll find that the Leap Base Kit is highly “hackable” and a fantastic foundation for custom alterations. For deck “slope” it is possible to lift up and clamp the V-racks in the front or rear to make minor adjustments to the deck level (fore/aft). Changing the size of one wheel will change the bike geometry in as-yet-unknown ways.

Are frames with a 130mm dropout spacing compatible?

It depends. If the O.L.D. can be increased on the wheel, it will fit (change axle, add washers). Most bikes have some ability to flex the chainstays/seatstays so 5mm shouldn’t be a problem.

What is the make/model of the pictured bike on the Leap product page?

It’s a Marin Pine Mountain 1.

Is the Leap be compatible with kids safety seats, like the Yepp?

Absolutely! Use our Yepp Kids Seat Adapters for use with the Yepp Maxi Easyfit seats.

Will the Kickback on my FreeRadical work with the Leap?

The original KickBack will fit. However, it will need some modifications to match the shape of the boom tube and its spring pins replaced with M4 bolts.

How far will the Leap extend my bike’s wheel base?

There are two mounting positions for the Leap installation. One will extend your wheel base by 1’6″. The other will extend your wheel base by 1’3″.

Is it ok to attach the Leap stay clamps so that the boom tube is above the clamping plates instead of below?

Yes. It may be hard to make it work on some bikes but it should work.

What is the weight of the Leap kit?

The Leap kit weighs roughly 12 lbs. Here are the various parts of the Leap kit and what they weigh:

Leap frame = 2.3 kg
V-racks = 1 kg
FlightDeck = 1.4 kg
RackLocks = 0.25 kg
cable housing and bolts = 0.6 kg
WheelSkirts = 0.4 kg
(Weight does not without the wheel, derailleur, disc brake caliper and disc brake rotor)

How much do the Leap U-tubes (discontinued) weight?

The Leap U-tubes aren’t available anymore, however the standard U-Tubes can be modified using our adaptation guide.

What is the maximum tire width I can install on a Leap?

3″ wide.

How can I prevent fat tire rub on the Leap?

Unfortunately that’s just a symptom of plus sized tires. On the up side, it won’t really effect the tire or chain in a hugely negative way. You can try re-dishing the wheel to the drive side just a little so the cassette is more drive-side than it already is. Another alternative is trying a bottom bracket or crank set with a wider Q-Factor / more outboard chain line than what is currently on your bike. Keep in mind that these two options are both pretty significant changes to solve a issue that won’t cause the tire or the chain to wear out faster than it would otherwise.

How much length does the Leap add to my bike?

The tailpiece of the Leap kit will measure 36″ from the original drop out. The new wheel drop out will be 19″ past the original drop.

What are the dimensions of the Leap clamping plate?

The Leap clamping plate measures 7.1 cm long by 3.1 cm wide with a 1 cm x 1 cm wide square hole.

Can I use a 160 mm brake rotor?

No. The caliper will interfere with the Leap frame.

Why is the Leap chain roller threaded?

The threaded portion acts as a “pin” when inserted into the Leap frame boss. It does not actually thread into the boss, but instead sits within the unthreaded boss.

Is there a tow hitch for the Leap?

No.

Does the LT1 KickBack fit on the Leap?

No. Essentially, if you get it bolted on, the angle of the plate which rests on the boom tube causes it to not sit flush. You can’t swing the KickBack 1 far enough down to keep it up. I tired it on my Leap at one point and it didn’t work.