Cargo Bikes

I've been tempted by a very well priced alternative.
http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Bakfiets-Cargo-Family-Bike-3-speed-4-seats-Bakfeetz-NEW?item=320863678731&cmd=ViewItem&_trksid=p5197.m7&_trkparms=algo%3DLVI%26itu%3DUCI%26otn%3D5%26po%3DLVI%26ps%3D63%26clkid%3D6943654652379981957


From what I've read so far. Its a chinese version of a Dutch bike. Apparantly there are a few of these on the market. Intentionally given Dutch sounding names to inflate the price. I've seen it at just over £1k, so the Ebay listing at £680 is possibly a none inflated fair price.

It will need a wider gear range, and possibly other upgrades. But its still a bargin.......or is it a turkey?

Still keen on the Mundo, after loads of research. Its not the best. But it seems the best cargo bike, is the one that fits yours needs most. I have a 'best case build planned. This involoves a N360 IGH, and FSA Metropolis cranks. Which gives 2 nice ranges. One for heavy loads, and one for unloaded cycling.

Yet another china produced cargo bike. Slightly better spec, and 5 year garantee. I'm tempted buy the 2 wheeled version, as I can get it into the bikeroom. Plus it looks like it will handle much better.

www.babboe.nl

http://www.babboe.nl/media/catalog/product/b/a/babboe_city_-_aanzicht_schuinvoor_5.jpg
http://www.babboe.nl/media/catalog/product/b/a/babboe-146-081010_2.jpg

Whats the general feeling reguarding 2 vs 3 wheels?

2 wheels all the way. I hate riding the Christiania - Horrible steering and flexy as hell, and have just ordered a Bullitt with full XTR to get the kid to kindergarten. I'm building up a BellaBike for my boss - Looking forward to trying the rear wheel steering, which I've only heard good things about...

I and a friend met a guy whose mungo was modified into a "bikeavan", it was awesome, enough room for a sleeping bag, small 10" tv/dvd combo and a light.

Go for it, the thickness of the downtime can only be seen to be believed.

I'd check the weight on those cheap cargo bikes. I think the christiania is around 20kg, and they do a lighter one too I think. The cheap christiania versions - not the same as the ones you linked - were around 40kg. Also the christiania frames are actually made in china so these could well be made by the same people.

I agree about the flexiness of the christiania, though it does handle much better when you've got some decent weight in the front. I've heard that the opposite is true for the two wheeled cargo bikes.

3 wheels all the way if you want to carry a serious load. Also negotiating traffic on a 2 wheel cargo bike is plain hazardous.

3 wheels all the way if you want to carry a serious load. Also negotiating traffic on a 2 wheel cargo bike is plain hazardous.

On the other hand:

3 wheels are much, much slower (3 tyres = 50% increase in rolling resistance, much bigger aero profile, increased weight). Also, 3 wheels are inherently much less stable, so cornering is a pain. A unladen 2 wheeler is just a much longer bike, a bit slower, but still fun, whereas a 3 wheeler is always just really slow. Unless you are regularly (say, at least once a fortnight) carrying loads of 50+ kgs, I would say that one should steer away from trikes.

I agree about the flexiness of the christiania, though it does handle much better when you've got some decent weight in the front. I've heard that the opposite is true for the two wheeled cargo bikes.

Not true. Both the Bullitt & the 8 Freight are fine under loads, and in fact the 8 Freight seems to handle better with a big load on.

The early versions of the Christiania had tendency to speed wobble.

Thanks loads for the input folks.

Harold. That Cargoo is claimed to weigh over 50Kg, and has (i think) a fold hinge in the middle. So mad heavy and still flexi perhaps.

The great thing about a long bike, is that I would use it as a daily ride. Even when not delivery the kids. So if I was at work and realised I needed to do some shopping. I'm sorted.

The kids would be a lot more comfortable in a cargo bike though. On days when I dont deliver them I'll likely take a different bike to work. I think having to use a lot of footpaths, and gravel paths, points to a 2 wheeled bike. The fact that its fits through the back door to the workroom, where I keep my bikes, is a massive bonus.

So based on use, and the fact that I have other bikes to commute on, the 2 wheeled cargo bike looks favourate.

Having ridden both trikes and long-johns on a regular basis the long-johns win hands down.

Trikes are great for short distance, light traffic and minimal hills, big cargo box is great for kids and unusual sized loads. But as Bill mentioned they are much slower and far less stable at speed and putting it up on two wheels unexpectedly on a corner can be hair-raising. Also I found myself stuck in traffic due to the width and because the bike doesn't lean cambered roads suck, especially as the Christiania seat tube flexes a lot.

2-wheels or Long-Johns. While they look less stable in fact the opposite is true. Having ridden the Bullitt, Long-John and CETMA bikes they all handle well under load. Weight is carried low so if anything they get easier to ride as you load them up. They are far quicker than the trikes in fact unloaded I've found both the CETMA and Bullitt are as quick as most bikes on the road and just as easy to get through traffic.
Negatives - The length can be an issue for storage and then there's the price.

On the issue of flex. The steel Long-John style bikes flex quite a lot and while it makes for a slightly spongy ride when loaded I've never found it much of an issue. The Bullitt is a very stiff frame as it has to be being an Alu frame. It makes it fast and lively but when light potholes and bumps can be pretty tiring. The steel frames soften the road out a bit and if you're carrying kids its an advantage.

It all comes down to what you want the bike for. Short local trips, kids to school and shopping then trikes are great. But for longer distances, heavier traffic or a bike that you'll also use to commute then the 2 wheels win hands down.
For me bike weight is one of the main factors in choosing a cargo bike. The cheaper they are the heavier they get. A 45kg+ bike is fine on the flat but hills are a killer.

My advise is to try them both, in London Velorution rent the Christiania trikes by the day. The two wheeled bikes are little harder to find but I have a few that you can always come and ride

Established. Great post!

I was in fact mentioning last night to Mrs Smallfurry. That the cambered paths, and massive hills will be a nightmare on a trike.

Cost aside, I like the long bike option. The Mundo can carry silly amounts, of all different sizes. I can customise it, and use it daily.

Living in one of the wettest climates in europe. Means a box with a rain cover could be essential. Having to change the kids every morning at nursery/school sounds nasty.

So the Babboe city is still top of the list. Although, I'd rather invest in a Bullit TBH.

True about the christiania speed wobble. On building up mine there was a time I didn't have the steering damper, which was frankly quite terrifying.

I kind of wish I had a long john over a trike, but the trike is still great. I can not justify 2 cargo bikes!

The Oregon Manifest have some interesting design, fancy me fetching the article on the trail itself? (they ridden Bullitt in 2011 AFAIK).

I want a massive front disc brake.

Does having a fatbike not enable you to go for such sizes?

Does having a fatbike not enable you to go for such sizes?

I was thinking on the cargo bike. I plan to go 180/160 F/R on the fatbike. Dont think the lefty will let go any bigger if I wanted to.

I adjusted the Vee brakes on the Mrs bike this morning. Yet still had to use my feet to stop, going down the driveway with the kiddie trailer attached. The Babboe has drum brakes which sounds like a decent idea for my climate. But I have zero experiance with them.

Bored and messing with Yuba Mundo build options. May have found a way of runnig a n360 IGH without a tensioner. Would be a really neat option.

A NuVinci n360 hub, with a 21t sprocket, combined with a FSA Metropolis geared crankset. (26 x 2.35" tyres)

Effective 45T on crankset = continuos 28 to 102 GI
28T = continous 17.5 to 63.5 GI

A heavy and expensive set-up. But I'm taken by it.

Pulled the trigger on a long bike.

Yuba Mundo frameset + accessories
Kris Holmes rims
NuVinci N360 hub
SP switchable dynamo hub
Patterson internal gear crankset
Shimano cable disc brake set
Maxxis Hookworms
Slime filled inners
Straight guage spokes for rear
Butted spokes for front
Butterfly bars
Stainless steel 20T sprocket
Special adjustabe drop-out adaptor for tensioner-ess running of NuVinci hub.
H-Drive dynamo hub light.

Gearing will be -
continuous 30 to 107 GI
continous 18.5 to 66.5 GI

I will start off having it set-up to carry 2 kids, 2 standard panniers, and a bar bag.
I'll likely pick a set of MASSIVE yuba pannier bags later.

Really excited about this. Could just be my best bike purchase ever.

Great choice. BooM!

I'd love to have mine resprayed. Had to get the matt black.

Will invest in a similar front rack too at some point.

Met a nice lady around baker street on a mike burrows prototype "Black 10" it looked ace. she said it was easy to ride/lightweight etc.
googled it to find pic:

Met a nice lady around baker street on a mike burrows prototype "Black 10" it looked ace. she said it was easy to ride/lightweight etc.
googled it to find pic:

Looks like an updated 8 Freight. Nice bike, very light, handles well.

SOMA TRADESMAN CARGO FRAME SET

Nice, but that front cable routing is not big box friendly. There must be a better way of doing it?

Makes me consider getting a frame mounted front carrier.

Makes me consider getting a frame mounted front carrier.

Only worth doing if you have small front wheel, otherwise you end up with a very small box.