“Argo” Cargo box bike conversion kit

[Dewey]

https://argobikes.com/products/argocargokit

The cost of the Argo kit is 1/3 the price of most complete cargo bikes, it’s a cargo bike that breaks in two for ease of transportation/storage. You will need a compatible donor bicycle or ebike, for example convert a pedal bike with a rear hub kit motor like the Copenhagen Wheel. The Argo is not suitable for mid-drive motors as there is an attachment bracket piece you put on your bike’s bottom bracket and there can’t be anything under it. If you don’t have these already the cost of acquiring them plus the Argo kit would bring the price closer to the cheapest complete bakfiets style cargo bike with electric assist the Bunch Bikes Swift. But the advantage of the Argo is it could offer a useful choice between your regular front wheel for commuting during the week, then switch to the box for carting kids/groceries at the weekend.

 

[Dewey]

This actually did make it into production and is now available from https://argobikes.com/ There is a Facebook page for the company https://www.facebook.com/ArgoCargoBikes/ and an owners group https://www.facebook.com/groups/657167884617949/

The Argo kit won't work with e-bikes that use a mid-drive motor, the Argo bottom bracket attachment piece that stays fitted on the bike (see photo at bottom of this post) won't work with a motor, battery, or sensor, assembly that projects out under the bottom bracket shell or that widens the shell beyond the standard 68mm or 73mm width, however it would work with e-bikes using a rear wheel hub motor and derailleur gearing. Also the donor bike would need to have either a rigid fork or a suspension fork that locks. Regarding a PAS sensor, the Argo attachment piece might work with a simple cadence sensor magnet disk that clips on the spindle, or a bottom bracket torque sensor might work provided the Argo attachment piece, which acts like a spacer, didn't take up too much of the shell screw threading, the photo below shows there is sufficient clearance for a torque sensor wire that typically comes out underneath the bottom bracket shell.

An interesting candidate motor is the TDCM IGH sold in N America by Grin. It's a direct drive hub motor built around a 5-speed internal gear hub, this would be a good option for a step through city bike. Choose your motor controller current + battery voltage combination carefully as anything rated higher than a 20A controller + 36v battery (720w peak power) would make it a Class 3 ebike.

Argo attachment piece on the bicycle's bottom bracket - this clips into the spar protruding out from the back of the box

 

[Dewey]

An Argo owner reports he Motorized the 20” front wheel and mounted the controller and batteries on the back of the box itself, this is an intriguing mod that would let you keep the donor bike as a pedal bicycle
Source:

https://www.reddit.com/r/CargoBike/comments/9etb6z/_/e60coxu

 

[Dewey]

Scott Taylor, the designer of Argo, recently was interviewed by Arleigh Greenwald and revealed he is looking at the possibility of creating a tricycle version of the Argo. https://www.bicycleretailer.com/entrepreneurs-transition-bike-shop-owner-cargo-bike-purveyor

 

[Dewey]

Revised Version 1.01. Price has gone up to $1099

 

[Dewey]

An Argo owner reports he Motorized the 20” front wheel and mounted the controller and batteries on the back of the box itself, this is an intriguing mod that would let you keep the donor bike as a pedal bicycle

This mod was thought so successful, Argo's official electric conversion follows the same principles using an Electric Bike Outfitters front hub motor, and battery mounted on the box.