Interested in experience of people transitioning to a frontloading cargo bike

[sammcneill]

Hi Guys,

Every now and then I entertain the idea of getting a front loading cargo bike like the R&M Load to perhaps replace by R&M Supercharger 2

I'd be really interested in the experience of anyone who has gone to something like that and if they've had any regrets etc.

A few things (in no particular order) that I wonder about:

• Storage - much harder to fit into garages if there is limited space
• Length - just the ability to get around in tight spaces for parking or navigating traffic
• Traffic - likely could not slip up the side of traffic that is not moving at traffic lights etc as the bike is much wider
• Wind - dealing with head/side winds and impact
• Servicing - when it breaks down, major punctures etc, the ability to transport it for repair must be a real pain.
• Frequency of using the storage - could become car replacement of course, but wonder if people feel like they're really using them to max capacity (my kids are too old / think they're too cool to ride in one now)

Perhaps the key question for people who have a Load etc: would you go back to a non cargo bike now?

Cheers
Sam

 

[Mike_V]

I have not ridden one but have seen another rider on our local rail trail quite regularly riding an older lower powered(?) low/med capacity cargo eBike
( I don't know the brand but it's painted a light pastel ) He is very comfortable on his very stable ride - no helmet and an easy pace.
When I see him the front drive cargo area is nearly empty, water and lunch, a jacket.
I get the distinct impression this rider's ability and agility on this machine resembles a man very happily and skillfully handing his wheelbarrow.
I imagine an eBike like that would be inexpensive to have in your fleet in any case.

 

[indianajo]

With the winds we have here, I decided a front loader was a super expensive sail for my shopping problem. I ride upwind about 60% of the time. We have frequent high winds all fall+winter+spring. 28 mph gusts Sunday. The front loader turning radius is rediculous and the width is a problem on trails , sidewalks and berms. I ride in a 14" wide berm twice weekly for 6 miles and even with a 14' wide auto lane I get chased off the pavement once or twice each trip. My cargo is usually groceries or agriculture supplies, which can be split between two panniers. The panniers are behind me, so my body has already parted the air. My cargo bike is only 8" longer than a MTB. If you are a carpenter and need to haul your table saw to the jobsite, nothing like a front bin.
I also flip my bike on handlebars+seat 6-10 times yearly for tube+tire+chain+pedal+cable+derailleur+motor maintenance. That chain driven steering mechanism is IMHO unnecessary weight. The small front tire is unnecessarily rough through potholes. The front loader IMHO is a solution for nursery schools in perfect pavement low wind Germany. The hunting reserve fire roads and the village to farm field tractor paths had better pavement in SW Germany in 1982 than my county or city. The rider needs to keep her eyes on the kiddies in the bin in case one decides to crawl out, or pick up something off the ground. I had endless trouble with kids hanging out the windows of school busses which go 35 mph past trees and poles, when I was in college.

 

[sc00ter]

Only one I've ever seen in person was the Trek Fetch. The box was to small for my wife to fit in it comfortably. My main impression was "That bike is a monster!". I like the idea of one but I'm not sure I can live with one. Do you have a dealer in your area or are willing to travel to a dealer to take a detailed test ride on one? I lucked into the Trek in my area, and the owner was more than generous letting me take it for a nice long ride. I've yet to see a Urban Arrow in person but my wife is happy riding on the back of a Lectric Xpedition so my front load cargo dreams are on the very furthest back burner. Oh crap, riding experience!

I adapted very quick to the Trek Fetch. Like mentioned above the turning radius was noticeably wider. I guess the wind was calm but I can see it being a problem. Technically it wasn't much wider than a conventional cargo ebike but the extra length made it seem much wider than it really was, if that makes sense. Still fun to ride though. So I would suggest trying to get a real world test ride in.

 

[sammcneill]

I imagine an eBike like that would be inexpensive to have in your fleet in any case.

Not so sure about that comment - in NZ where I live if I spec'ed a Load with a Rohloff+HS Bosch it would exceed NZD$20,000! (USD$12K) so it's absolutely in the small car price range.

 

[sammcneill]

Do you have a dealer in your area or are willing to travel to a dealer to take a detailed test ride on one?

I do have a dealer close (where I bought my R&M SuperCharger from, but they would likely not do a super extended test ride (e.g. an over night) as it will clock up km's on a product someone else will want to buy "for new". They were talking about their partnership status changing with R&M which might allow them to have a demo unit for loans for a week with a fee e.g. $200/w

The front loader IMHO is a solution for nursery schools in perfect pavement low wind Germany.

You may well be right on that comment!

My wife has a mid-tail Multicharger Mixte with a generous tray on the front and has quite a lot of carrying capacity if you go for larger panniers on the back - might be the better compromise.

I'm just eternally curious about new bikes (the other end of the spectrum for me is considering getting a Brompton Folding bike!)

 

[sammcneill]

Interesting - LBS R&M Dealer just listed a Packster with significant discount:

Riese and Muller Packster 70 Vario - Dual Battery – Christchurch Electric Bicycles

Interestingly, appears to be a refurbished model:

 

[dblhelix]

Interesting - LBS R&M Dealer just listed a Packster with significant discount:

Riese and Muller Packster 70 Vario - Dual Battery – Christchurch Electric Bicycles

Interestingly, appears to be a refurbished model:

View attachment 185834

Packsters were recalled 20-21; assume this is a refurbished recalled model. Problem was with the steering, IIRC. Regardless, I would not purchase a Vario -- too many have failed multiple times on cargo bikes during the warranty period for comfort.

 

[sammcneill]

Packsters were recalled 20-21; assume this is a refurbished recalled model. Problem was with the steering, IIRC. Regardless, I would not purchase a Vario -- too many have failed multiple times on cargo bikes during the warranty period for comfort.

Agreed on all the above.
My 2x Vario on SC2/MC Mixte have not failed but are under-geared for an eBike in my view.

That said, the complaints around Rohloff are not necessarily much better!

 

[Jay Kay]

Interesting - LBS R&M Dealer just listed a Packster with significant discount:

Riese and Muller Packster 70 Vario - Dual Battery – Christchurch Electric Bicycles

Interestingly, appears to be a refurbished model:

View attachment 185834

Good price Sam! Well compared to new anyway. I have toyed with the same idea but came to the conclusion that I would not get enough use out of the extra space, given the size of the bike. As the grandchildren grow a little more, the cargo option might tip the balance however. I’d definitely go Rohloff in Dunedin for carrying any load. I suspect you are mostly going to be riding on the flat so the gearing advantage is less critical.