High-Quality, Low-Cost (Under $1500) Cargo Bikes?
Here in Lubbock, bike-commuter nirvana starts next week, and I am excited! Yep, the kids will be out of school. The sleep-deprived parents won't be out in force, and the bike routes near schools will be all quiet and peaceful.
This time of year always gets me dreaming (and scheming) of bikes, and I like to dream big! (I like big bikes and I cannot lie!)
For me, the whole goal is to burn less (or no) gas and to tread very lightly. And the ultimate gas-less-tread-lightly tool for a low-budget fool like me is a cargo bike. It's the double-cab pickup of the bicycle world. So, I've been scheming a lot...
The Cargo Bike Biggies! (Xtracycle and Yuba)
Unlike my last low-cost cargo-bike post, this one won't focus on building your own frame, but it may still have you doing a fair amount of assembly (and possibly cursing).
For instance, the first (and lowest cost) option on today's list is the Xtracycle Leap. The Leap is a kit that you add to your existing bike to turn it into a very stable long-tail cargo bike. Xtracycle originated this idea in its earlier version - the FreeRadical. The Leap is the newest evolution. The base kit, which will definitely get you hauling, is $599 (plus shipping).
Next up is a pair of offerings from Yuba.
These two will basically get you to the same place, but the approach (and level of effort on your part) are very different.
For $699 you can get the Mundo LUX frameset. If you're handy with tools and have a nice 26" mountain bike to use as a donor, this could be your path to a really great cargo bike for less than $1000. The LUX frame is chromoly and is stronger and lighter than the Mundo Classic's steel frame.
If you're less handy with tools, you don't have a 26" donor bike, or you are just impatient to get on the road and hauling, check out the Mundo Classic. The Classic is a no-frills workhorse of a bike, but at $999 you're still getting a high-quality machine that comes ready to ride. (REI members can also save 10% (and possibly shipping) by purchasing the Classic through REI. (I find this bike at that price very, very tempting!)
The next step up our list takes us back to Xtracycle, but this time to a purpose-built frame that is more rigid and committed - the EdgeRunner. They currently have some framesets and complete bikes on sale.
How is the EdgeRunner different from a Mundo?
The biggest difference between the two is rear-wheel size. The Mundo has a 26" rear wheel. The EdgeRunner has a 20" rear wheel. This puts the loading height and center of gravity on the Xtracycle much lower.
[Yuba offers a bike similar to the EdgeRunner, the Sweet Curry, but its price keeps it out of our sub-$1500 list.]
EdgeRunner framesets can be bought as low as $899. (Keep in mind that a 26" donor bike will get you most of the way there in your build but you'll still need to come up with a 20" rear wheel.)
Ready-to-ride EdgeRunners can be bought for as little as $1264. While that price is higher than the Mundo Classic, the Xtracycle does have some advantages - disc brakes and a much wider gear selection. If you live in a flat place like Lubbock, those upgrade may not seem too important. If you live in a hilly place or plan to carry heavier loads, those upgrades could be well worth the $265 price difference.
Two Honorable Mentions
In case neither the Yubas nor the Xtracycles have you tempted, here are a few more possibilities to check out:
the Benno Carry On (You don't think it's sexy?!!!)
Yes, the next one is a bit of a cheat in the $1500 list, BUT it comes with free shipping. Many of the options above will cost well over $100 in shipping or travel to pick up.
So, here's the Radwagon from Rad Power Bikes. At $1599, it's the most expensive option listed, but unlike all the others, this one includes free shipping. Oh, by the way, this one is electric. So, yes, it's a very different thing in one way, but in another, it's another longtail cargo bike (with good reviews) in the same price range.
The Radwagon (Apparently selling well)
And here's my other justification for including the Radwagon. It's my yardstick for measuring cargo bike cost/value. Xtracycle and Yuba are both pioneers in cargo bikes, especially so for North America, and there is no questioning their quality. But an electrified version of either will cost you something north of $4000 (unless you buy a non-electric version and convert it yourself). And I am in no position to invest that much in a bicycle.
If I were, I would rather put that money toward a used Nissan Leaf so that I could use it to lower my carbon footprint when hauling the family and workmates around. (Although I am having a fun mental image of hauling my 6'3" well-dressed boss around on an Xtracycle Leap. Where there's a Will...)
But a $999 Mundo Classic or a $1264 Edgerunner, it'd be a financial stretch, but I can see making that happen! And I am thankful to see a time when there are so many great choices out there.
Even so, bike commuter nirvana starts next week. I have a mountain bike with a cargo rack on the back and an almost-finished electric Huffy cruiser and a one-wheeled trailer. It's time for me to quit scheming and get busy pedaling.
How about you? What ways are you dreaming and scheming toward a cleaner life? Whatever they are, I hope you (and a whole lot of us) get there soon.
PS. If you're looking for more cargo bike posts, you can find plenty over at our Mesquite Hugger blog.
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