RSS
Twitter
Facebook
YouTubeI've just put the deposit down to buy a Surly Big Dummy/Xtracycle cargo bike.
More Info here: http://www.startribune.com/business/16688786.html
Columbus Underground Messageboard » General Columbus Discussion » Everyday Chit Chat
Xtracycle Cargo Bike
[13 posts] [2 contributors]
Topic Rating:
(Total Ratings: )
Rate this topic:
Rate this topic:
-
michaelcoyote
!seabus
Login to Send PM
Posted 3 years ago # -
michaelcoyote
!seabus
Login to Send PM
Here's some example cargo you can haul on an Xtracycle.
Posted 3 years ago # -
lifeontwowheels
Highland West
Login to Send PM
Those things are awesome. Did you get the complete bike or frame only?
Posted 3 years ago # -
michaelcoyote
!seabus
Login to Send PM
lifeontwowheels wrote Those things are awesome. Did you get the complete bike or frame only?
I belive you can only get the frame right now.. Which is fine by me as I want to build it up my own way.
and yes they are awesome. I've seen a few of the Xtracycle "Free Radical" kits around town and I've also talked to one guy that has had one for 5 years and loves it. I figure the Surly one piece frame is going to be that much better.
srsly, just thinking about that bike makes me feel like I'm a kid at Christmas.
Posted 3 years ago # -
michaelcoyote
!seabus
Login to Send PM
Posted 2 years ago # -
lifeontwowheels
Highland West
Login to Send PM
Did you get it? How are you enjoying it?
Posted 2 years ago # -
michaelcoyote
!seabus
Login to Send PM
For those of you who have asked about my Xtracycle longtail bike, Xtracycle has a promo selling the base kit Radish conversion for $880 ($150 off the usual price). This includes a bike with the extension kit. The bags, frame and snapdeck are $250 for the basic kit (what I have). This means you could get one of these for about $1130 modulo shipping and any applicable taxes.
More info here: http://www.xtracycle.com/cargo-utility-bicycles/radish.html
Posted 2 years ago # -
michaelcoyote
!seabus
Login to Send PM
lifeontwowheels wrote >>
Did you get it? How are you enjoying it?Missed this...
I've had my Surly "Big Dummy" Xtracycle since last November and I love it.. You can really load one of these things up.. I've carried groceries, pet food, firewood and passengers on mine and enjoyed every minute of it.. As you might expect, it handles a bit like a truck, but handling actually improves as you put weight on it (to a point)..
I've found that the sweet spot for handling under load is 30-160 pounds and of course balance and position of the load affect that.
Posted 2 years ago # -
lifeontwowheels
Highland West
Login to Send PM
There have been a lot more options for cargo bikes of late:
The Xtracycycle DIY kit or the complete bike version.
Surly Big Dummy, in partnership with Xtracycle
Posted 2 years ago # -
michaelcoyote
!seabus
Login to Send PM
I've seen the Kona Ute, and I'm pretty impressed with it, although it's definitely more of a light duty hauler compared to the Xtracycle bikes I've seen. Rated cargo on the "Big Dummy" is supposedly 200 pounds, but I know I've gone far above that with no ill effect. You can also load the Xtracycle bikes much lower to the ground for a better center of gravity. That said, the Ute is cheap and perfectly capable of getting a full load of groceries.
The Madsen looks pretty cool, but I've not seen one in person, so I can't really comment.. I think I prefer bags and straps over the bin style construction..
The Bakfiets is the Cadillac of cargo bikes it seems. If I had kids and a house, this would probably be the bike I got. It does have a huge footprint, and in my current situation, I'd have a hard time finding a place inside to lock this up.
I'd not seen the Yuba Mundo before, but I really like this one.. Great price point for a one piece frame. I wonder if it's as stable as it looks, if so, they'll give Xtracycle a run for their money.
Posted 2 years ago # -
lifeontwowheels
Highland West
Login to Send PM
We had a Yuba at one of the bike corrals and it seemed pretty solid.
The problem is that most of all of these are using proprietary aftermarket products. Xtracycle only works with the Big Dummy, their free radical kits and the Radish. Kona with Kona. Yuba originally had little in the way of bags or accessories, though the latest incarnations are seeing a lot more of options.
At some point, something will hopefully give and there will be a lot more interchangeable parts/accessories for cargo bikes.
If I was going to buy one, it would probably be between the Xtracycle variants or the Yuba (if I had the money, the Bakfiets).
Posted 2 years ago # -
lifeontwowheels
Highland West
Login to Send PM
The Madsen has a non-bucket option as well. So I'd probably consider this as well.
Posted 2 years ago # -
michaelcoyote
!seabus
Login to Send PM
You must log in to post.
Launched in August 2010, TheMetropreneur.com is a local online resource devoted to small business development and entrepreneurship. Its aim is to tell the stories of Central Ohio's business community, foster regional economic development and assist entrepreneurs with its resource-heavy focus.