Bullitt bikes - when larry met harry

I'm looking to get a Bullitt bike to cart my kids around, do the shopping, haul stuff and generally let the car sit in our driveway.

Anyone got one and can share thoughts on how to spec it? I'm currently in two minds about internal gears or not. I'd like the maintenance free part of internal but not sure 8/11 gears will do it when I'll load anything from 0 to 80kgs on there. Disc brakes seems like a given though.

What about the extras such as child seats? Worth the monies or will something home-made be just as good?

Try here
https://www.lfgss.com/conversations/144978

Aha, cheers!

Kill thread please

Don't kill the thread, rename it & turn it into one of bikes people use to haul their kids around. Broader spectrum than just a bullitt and probably info that you and others, including myself, would like to read about.

There's tons of different ones out there but insight from actual owners would be valuable.

Good thinking. The resurrection!

Yup, defo interested in bikes for lugging kids around. My racklyfe fixie skidder dad bike is only gonna last so long!

We have a Nihola 4.0 it rides like a ferry. Or maybe a cruise ship is more fitting.

Im in the market from May.
Bullitt was my first choice. I met a guy on the TCR who has one and he loves it. Also saw a French guy using one to haul a massive picnic including lots of beer up a mountain.

The other one I am thinking of is Douze

They also sound like they are good to ride and the advantage of them is that the frame can split in two so we could potentially take it on holiday, which could be fun. But I've not met anyone who has actually ridden one.

I've a workcycles KR8. The ride is best described as stately but very comfortable; OTOH when empty it can shift when given beans (as much as a 30-kilo-or-so bike will ever do so!), and when you've kids on board you're not going to hoon along like a maniac anyhow. My two (preschool twins) love it; we've had it since they were 18 months or so, and it does sterling duty for the nursery run and the weekly shop. Once they start school this autumn I suppose I will look at selling it, but I'll be very sad to see it go.

The bullit is great,it can load a big weigth and it is very fast with small load.internal gears or derailler is fine in both cases(you will need a lot of low gears when loaded uphill),very nible and nice to ride

The coolest copenhagen parents all have Omniums though.

think @Vince has a douze, or has at least test ridden one..

Wouldn't having your kid at a lower height from the ground be safer though? (Bullit vs Omnium)

Only if they fall off really.

Think I'm swaying towards derailed just to get more low gears. Once I get going I'm sure 8 or 11 will be fine, but cranking an 80kg load over a hill will require all the gears in the world

FWIW my KR8 has a nexus 8 and I don't tend to feel like I've got too few gears unless I'm very heavily loaded on a steep hill. If I were buying it again I might stick a bigger sprocket on the back; I don't need to do more than evens on the flat, and downhill you can just let gravity do the work. An Alfine 11 would give a bigger range, and for what is after all a utility bike I like the lack of maintenance, ability to shift at the lights, and ability to run a chain guard.

I have a Douze in London, using it for Champagne deliveries.

Carries 100kg of me + 120kg of Champagne.

You can borrow it for a couple of days if you want to try it.

Or if the wheel slips and you both crash.

Not sure if there is a conflict of interest here, but i work for Larry vs Harry. If anyone's got any questions regarding the Bullitt....I can probably help out. Also, SBC Cycles in London are now dealers if people want to get hold of one.

Thanks @Vince, very kind. I may take you up on that.
I need to do some subtle persuasion of my wife as, for some reason, she's not keen on the idea; she tends to say, things like 'yes, that would be a good idea if we were to move to Amsterdam'.
Any one got any tips on how to win over partner's with London traffic safety concerns?

Let her try out the Douze and see how she feels? I live in the West Midlands, not exactly - WMP's enlightened policy on close passes aside - a particularly cycling-friendly place, but I've found that the WTF factor of a cargo bike means you generally get a fair amount of consideration and room from drivers. Greater familiarity in London's famous London may breed contempt, I don't know, but then you've got better cycle facilities...

Can't see why it would

What's your opinion / experience of the different gearing options? Is any of them superior to others in terms of reliability, or is it more down to personal reference?

Also, just from looking at photos, the standard double child seat seems a bit tight with two kids, is that correct? Or is it just cozy?

Regarding gears....the Alfine 8 is pretty bombproof. Add a Gates belt drive and you've got a pretty durable and minimal maintenance drivetrain. That said, I still use a derailleur/cassette....just suits my riding better.

The Folding Seat works well with two children when used in conjunction with the Canopy...which is wider than the frame itself. It ships with 2 seatbelts and has been designed with 2 small children in mind.

So with the canopy the kids can rest an elbow on the box ledge while still being "inside"?

They are completely enclosed, no need to hang limbs out. The canopy is aluminium framed.