Long time no tarck!
I’m thinking about building a long john style cargo bike. Having a kid soon and would be nice for daycare runs etc. in 1-2 years.
What models on the market are worth looking to for inspiration? Not wanting to get too crazy with it. The only cargo bike I’ve ridden is a recalled Babboe curve a friend gave me, I’m not a fan of how the trike layout rides which is why I’m thinking about a long John.
Not much out there in the world of acoustic longtail these days. I was ogling this tern short haul the other day. Seems p sweet.
you could do a lot worse than copying the bullitt
I’m thinking that’s probably the simplest approach. How and if I should electrify it is the next question. Brackets for framebuilding with Bosch/shimano are available but it doesn’t seem to be straightforward to just buy the parts.
Bullitt with a lower top tube and wider tire clearance would be my dream cargo bike.
I think diying a bosch or shimano e-kit sounds like a nightmare. they are going to fight you every step of the way.
I have some industry connections but yeah I still think it would be a pain.
looks like bafang stuff is more available, might have to fab my own mount though. Aluminum ones are available but not seeing any in steel. Or just build it with a regular bb and use a conversion style e-conversion kit.
Check out the All Axle hub motor from Grin (ebikes.ca).
I know you said longjohn but if you’re thinking of electrifying a cargo bike just getting an Xtracycle edgerunner is the way to go.
With longjohns you can attach a baby seat in the front bucket and start hauling sooner though.
2nd the grin suggestion. I understand and shared the hesitation but the hub motor takes your drivetrain out of the motorized loop. Also they have an infrastructure for supporting diy that makes it all more accessible. Off the shelf Bosch or shimano from the factory is good but I don’t think you’re beating grin for diy
I like this! haven’t heard of Grin before and they’re in Canada which is nice for not dealing with duties and what not. I don’t really have anything against hub motors but you just don’t see them that much on production e-bikes so I wasn’t looking at them.
I guess a long tail frame might be a little easier to build, especially if I started with a donor frame. I do like the whole cargo in front thing though and there’s something kind of appealing about going all in and doing a long john build.
I misread your original post ant thought you were looking to purchase a longtail but now I see that you should buy the VO neutrino bakfiets.
The grin hub motor with regen braking is a whole other level. I was originally going to do a mid drive too, but the All Axle with a 20" wheel is plenty of power to go 25mph with ease with two kids on the back
If I was going ride something off the shelf I’d either stick with the shitty babboe or just buy a bullit or whatever front loader is priced best locally.
I have the means to just weld up whatever so long as it’s a proven design and I don’t need iterate a bunch of prototypes (don’t have that much free time).
Just buy something, you’re about to have negative free time.
Will admit I had a smug biker moment when I was taking this picture as another dad was loading a single balance bike into a lifted F-250
That would be a moment of rage for me. No one needs a truck with a hood height of 5+ feet.
If you can’t accidentally drive over your family members in the driveway due to no visibility, it’s not a real truck.
fancy mailbox?
or did you rob a church?
Free cast aluminum mailbox.
