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Good to hear your thoughts on this. I'd like to get an electric longtail at some point. Currently between HSD and Radrunner for me due to length constraints (1.75m max). HSD looks better out of those to me, although much more expensive obviously. Only one kid so HSD would be adequate capacity-wise.
Polygon-
I mean for 1 kid you dont really need a long tail, just a seat. But the Short hauls are pretty nice looking
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RemiDemi or R+M Tinker are both worth a look too. Both are regular bike length but offer better kid carrying capacity/lower down = easier to deal with. I think both as well will fit in a regular bike locker with the kid seat left in place. A normal hybrid will not, have to remove kid seat each time.
young_gun
BrickMan
PSA. RADWAGONS.
Probably the king of the budget longtails? They have issued a sort of recall for tyre issue and rim tape issue. The rim tape is just a strip of rubber with no adhesive and its not very wide so easily disturbed allowing tube to explode into spoke holes. Easy to replace with something adhesive and of quality.
Tyres they don't have a solution for yet and will be a few months. There is a few scooter/small MC tyres that will fit. Done two this week with 'Pirelli Demon'. They do go on with normal tyre levers, no car/MC tyre shop machine required just some hard work and maybe a bit of tyre bead grease. Existing tubes in Radwagon's are OK to put inside these tyres.
Pleasantly surprised by the quality of the wheels on the radwagon, the spokes are branded and approx 12g, rim is unbranded and pinned, but looks sturdy enough for the job. Better than some bikes costing about a grand more!
Brakes on radwagon's are cheap cable jobs though. Would strongly suggest replacing with tektro e bike hydraulics (£55 an end) for a massive upgrade in performance/reduction in faff/constant adjustment.
Riding Radwagon, GSD mk1, GSD mk2, benno boost and kona back to back. Kona is the worst for sure! Flops around like a cheap farm gate with more than 30 kg on the back (1 kid!!).
Would rate the radwagon 'cage' and quality of seat pads actually above that of Tern, quality of the fixings and welds are certainly better. Tern uses a basic foam pad on the mk1 that deteriorates in UV and use after about a year noticably vs new. Radwagon also use furniture foam in a vinyl cover but feels much more substantial. Benno uses an expanded rubber /hollow injection mould and hold up to UV + use very well (R+M do it the same way).
Stiffness of frame and size of rear load area both larger/stiffer than the GSD mk1, similar to mk2 in terms of stiffness. Radwagon has the largest rear load area. Benno around 5cm less. Both Terns around 12-15cm less.
Biggest issue/negative is the hub motor, detuned for UK market @ 250w rated, its basically useless on a hill start, gives no assistance until your already moving. Hand throttle/walk assist button is a must for it to even start moving. With 80kg of man meat + 60 kg of kids (below total weight limit) a hill start on a moderate hill is a daunting prospect. Have heard of folk reverting them to the US spec, not for the high speed but to try and get it moving from zero more easily. Still not as good as any Bosch/Brose/Shimano mid drive though. Would say its an issue that affects ALL direct drive hub motor bikes though.
Once moving above walking pace, works great. Not as fancy as those above, but works just fine, and for £2300-2800 (inc brake upgrade at your LBS would also change the factory 7s freewheel for a branded one, they are pretty crappy) defo king of the budget long tails IMO.