Xtracycle’s new OmniTierra is one of the most unique bikes I saw at Sea Otter this year. While the brand is known primarily for its electric cargo bikes, they teamed up with Priority Bicycles and legendary adventure cyclist John Freeman — and his dog Mira — to create this unique, non-electric, titanium-framed mid-tail cargo bike. I met up with John Freeman, Mira, and the Xtracycle and Priority folks at the Gates booth at Sea Otter to check out the new OmniTierra before its official launch last Saturday.
According to Xtracycle, Freeman approached them in 2024 with the goal of helping them design the ideal cargo bike to suit his type of long-distance bikepacking and adventure riding. And, when they say long distance, they mean it. Reportedly, Freeman has ridden over 120,000km through 15 countries, and he does it with his dog Mira riding along with him. In the brief time we chatted, I was told about rides from his home in Alberta, Canada, to Peru and back again, with Mira by his side.
Built For Dog-Packing
Along with needing space to carry everything he needs for extended bike tours — clothing, food, water, tent, bedding, etc. — Freeman also needs room for his canine co-pilot, Mira. So, they designed the OmniTierra with cargo-carrying capability, not just for dogs, as one of its top priorities. But they also wanted to ensure that comfort and ride quality, a reasonable weight, durability, low maintenance, and versatility weren’t forgotten either. After several iterations and lots of testing, the finished product is what you see here.
For ride quality and durability, the OmniTierra frame is made from titanium. It has a mid-tail cargo design with extra-long chainstays; the rear center length is not specified, but the wheelbase is listed at 1,320mm and 1,347mm on the medium and large frames, respectively. The long rear end accommodates the included heavy-duty rear rack and helps add stability when loaded with gear.
The rack’s weight limit is listed as 27kg (59.5 lbs.), which is more than enough for a mid-sized Border Collie-Heeler and a bunch of lightweight bikepacking gear. The frame also has loads of mounting points inside the front triangle, on the underside of the downtube, and on the top tube to attach bags or other items.
Versatility
The OniTierra’s frame has been designed with versatility in mind, so riders can choose the wheel size and tire setup that works best for their needs. The frame has clearance for tires up to 29″ x 2.4″, which come on the stock build. It can also fit fat bike tires up to 26″ x 4″ (possibly wider depending on the model) if you’re using it for winter travel or in other loose conditions. An adjustable dropout system also appears to provide some length adjustment for varying wheel sizes and possibly a derailleur hanger for a mechanical drivetrain (see 2 photos down for more detail).
For fat-tire setups, riders will need to swap out the stock suspension fork for a fat-tire fork with more tire clearance. Xtracycle had the OmniTierra set up with a rigid carbon fat bike fork, fat tires, and carbon wheels at the show (see above), which apparently weighed 2 pounds less than the stock setup. I rode it around for a minute or two, and I was very pleasantly surprised by how light it felt and how intuitively it handled, even with the mid-length rear end, cargo rack, and fat tires.
Gearbox + Belt Drive = Low Maintenance
In keeping with the low-maintenance and durability theme, as well as the partnership with Priority, Xtracycle chose the Pinion SmartShift C1.12 gearbox and the Gates CDX Carbon Belt drivetrain setup. This 12-speed drivetrain features wireless shifting and a 600% gear range.
The Gates belt is quiet, never needs lubrication, and lasts 2-3x longer than a regular chain. Likewise, the sealed gearbox requires almost no maintenance — an oil change every 10,000km — and the electric shifting reportedly lasts 10,000 to 20,000 shifts between charges. One could argue that a belt-driven gearbox is the ideal bikepacking drivetrain.
Geometry
The OmniTierra is currently offered in 2 frame sizes, medium and large, with geometry numbers catering toward all-day comfort for long-distance riding. As such, it has moderate reach numbers of 434mm and 460mm, respectively, along with generous stack heights to keep riders in a fairly neutral seated pedaling position. The head tube angle is listed at 69 degrees, with a seat tube angle of 74 degrees.
Build Kit
The OmniTierra comes in one complete build with a Fox 34 SL Performance fork and 29″ wheels front and rear. According to Xtracycle the stock build in a size large, including the rear rack, weighs just 42 pounds. Full specs are listed below.
Xtracycle OmniTierra: Pricing and Availability
The new titanium-framed, gearbox, belt drive, OmniTierra cargo bike has a retail price of $6,699. It is available for pre-order now, and you can buy it for just $5,699 if you order by May 31st. According to Xtracycle, the OmniTierra begins shipping in November, 2026.
You can learn more about the new OmniTierra or order one for your next adventure on the Xtracycle website: xtracycle.com
Follow along with John Freeman and his dog Mira’s adventures on Instagram: @mira_la_perra
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