Cargo Bikes

recommend me a e-cargo bike. Currently leaning toward the Nihola Family but happy to take suggestions

requirements

1. Needs to fit two kids + some shopping. This will be doing nursery/school/shop runs daily.
   
2. Needs to be stable (wife and I will be taking turns riding it)
   
3. Waterproofing important
   
4. Dynamo lighting - winter is very dark here in Scotland and I CBA with stressing about charging lights every day.
   
   

bonus points if there's a gates drive

The Nihola seems to be best for carrying kids and stable handling but no dynamo option as far as I can see. What else is there?

Often e cargo bikes have lights that run off the battery, so unlikely they’ll come with a dynamo as standard.

Are you set on a 3 wheeler? Have you got a rough budget?

Often e cargo bikes have lights that run off the battery, so unlikely they’ll come with a dynamo as standard.

in that case - either dynamo or main battery powered!

Are you set on a 3 wheeler?

nope - my wife prefers one (Without having ridden anything) as it looks more stable but i could argue the case for sure

As for budget - no. We're planning on getting an interest free loan from the Scottish government for it, which goes to £6000. Obviously we'd rather not use the full amount but we're flexible.

Is always look and test a bullit, but that does look stable, it can’t fall over! That’s a bonus with heavy loads...

Also. Damn I need to move to Scotland.

How many hills will you be tackling on a regular basis?

Few. Southside of Glasgow is pretty flat. With an ebike is that much of a concern anyway?

Yeah, or wiggly kids when moving off from traffic lights, which is our main worry regarding stability

eBullitt + a trailer for the shopping?
Or this, if you really want to make your wallet hurt.

I'm looking for similar thing atm and I'm almost set on a Yuba spicy curry.

This is my concern for my wife, got hit by a Range Rover a few years back and broke both wrists... really doesn’t have the strength to be fighting a cargo bike with moving load!

Yuba spicy curry.

think i'm set on front loading tbh. I want to be able to see if my eldest is prodding at my youngest or vice versa, haha.

damn that's rough.

eBullitt + a trailer for the shopping?

I think the appeal of the nihola family is that you can fit shopping and kids without need for a trailer.

The butchers/bicycles look bloody great but the base model + acccessories are mega pricey...beyond our reach I think :(

I’d ride a bullitt, but I think the wife would struggle so we would then look at the Nihola style option; it’s very definitely a sturdy stable bike, I doubt much chance of any speed even if unloaded!

Also worth speaking to Ben @ kinetics in Glasgow to get his 2 cents!

@M_A_X I am thinking this rack for battery; what do you reckon?

Nihola are a very popular option here (Denmark) for families with kids. Other options:
Christiania (@thuekr bought one of those recently)
Triobike
Winther Kangaroo (which is specifically designed for transporting kids, more so than the Nihola)
Butchers & Bicycles
Babboe
etc etc

With an ebike is that much of a concern anyway

Yes definitely ! Weaker motors aren’t up to providing the power needed to lift you + bike plus 100kg+ Of cargo up even moderately steep hills.

Also in hilly areas the braking system is worth thinking about.

I think the bullit may be too small, although worth taking it for a test ride. Check out the Urban Arrow XL for extra capacity. Two wheelers are generally more manoeuvrable, and stabler at speed imo. + Easier to find parking spaces as they’re that much narrower.

Although 3 wheelers have their pros too. Think you just need to test ride a lot of different types of bike 😎

If you've got the room to store it, i'd go nihola. Is there somewhere localish you can try some options

no idea, check the dims of the battery and whether it will fit.

Also, the rack has to be suitable for disc brakes.

Does the nihola lean? The butchers and bicycles does and it's amazing! I'd be slightly concerned about a three wheeler with electric power not being able to lean into a bend tbh.

I got excited when i looked at Triobike. They have gates drive, integrated lights and plenty of space for kids. Sadly it's over €7000 when i factor in accessories :(

Ditto Butchers and Bicycles. I'm probably ruling out Babboe as (from what i've heard) the steering isn't that great.

Winther Kangaroo (which is specifically designed for transporting kids, more so than the Nihola)

This looks nice. No lights or gates drive but adding this to my list anyway.

good point. I guess the problem is that testing might be difficult just now with lockdown.

@dt i'm building some custom storage in garden just now. Pics when it's done

@pascalo it steers through the wheels rather than the frame I think. I do like the B&B steering system, but again, quite pricey.

FREE

I have this rear wheel going spare - off my Pashley Pronto.

• 26" alloy rim.
  
• Sturmey Archer X-RD3 rear hub (3 internal gears, drum brake).
  
• Schwalbe Marathon Tyre with 25% life left.
  
• 3 speed thumb shifter & cables if I can find them.
  
  

Needs a service as I have done at least 6,000 miles and done zero maintenance.

Also comes with a 24" tyre

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The drive unit should also be a major consideration.. Bosch, shimano, bafang etc. How accessible are parts and what is the after care like

Any opinion on which ones are best? Have heard that Bosch and shimano are decent

Guessing the OLD is quite narrow vince?