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I'm still mulling over the purchase of a second-hand E-bike to use for local car journeys; the back and forth trips to screwfix/supermarket/barbers/McD's where you just don't have an hour to walk there, and taking one of my current bikes could result in theft/ripped jeans/lack of pannier space/getting changed into cycling shoes.
Currently eyeing up a Kalkhoff Ebike with Impulse 2.0 motor, the battery is behind the seat tube so plenty of heel clearance for shopping panniers, and its decked out with all the practical stuff (guards, lights, dynamo). I missed a secondhand Kona Ute in the same shop recently and could have paired that with Swytch kit, the only downside being needing to remove the Swytch battery when locking the bike up but maybe it could be locked in a pannier.
Just interested to see what everyone else is using as a utility bike...I don't want something too cargo-bike-like but they are still cool to look at so share away 🙂
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Watching with interest, after already discussing it with the OP, last week
Thing is, it can look as naff as you like outside the shops, but if it's worth a few hundred quid it'll probably get nicked anyway sadly 😐
Orbea Katu E. With a bafang front hub motor, though they only do more expensive mid mount ones now. Big basket on the front, rear rack with panniers and a Pashley trailer for big loads!
if it’s worth a few hundred quid it’ll probably get nicked anyway sadly
No it won't. You can avoid bike theft mostly.
1. Don't leave it in an out of the way spot.
2. Use a decent lock on a cheap bike. Sure it's still nickable, but it is less likely to be worth the effort and risk (see 1).
3. Don't leave it for a long time.
Do you really need an e bike? They are expensive and in demand so potentially more desirable to thieves. A non-ebike could easily be made trouser friendly of course like the one in the picture.
No pics but I swear by my electric hybrid. Often quicker than a car, less effort than a car (and not sweaty like a normal bike) and much more practical than walking. Pair with a trailer and that £100 tesco shop can be carried home. Just factor in 3 different locks and I've no issue leaving mine in the middle of Bristol.
Rain is the only obvious downside.
E bike is a key thing, I live up a huge hill so any trip out in normal clothes results in getting home drenched in sweat/needing a 5 minute sit down, it's doable on an unladen bike if you have warmed up and have some energy left!
We built this up-
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It's just a hardtail frame with a kit and rack on it. It's going out in a bit with two panniers on it to drop some library books off and the last few days' post (work from home) and then to Lidl for medium shop.
My brother and his wife in Auckland have had 'cheap' e-cargo bikes for a 18 months or so.
It's transformed the school run, shopping and commuting. The car only gets used at the weekend, and even then he's trying to build a kayak trailer to get the 1.5 miles to the beach...
They are saying it's genuinely transformational on costs and how they do life as a family.
Yes it helps they are in a mild climate, nice neighborhood and have garage space to keep them racked and charged with easy out access,but still...
I'm really close to finding us a family cargo bike (non-e) for everything around Dunblane.
@yourguitarhero Ridgeback have a similar hub driven model due in February.
Watching with interest, as we've had a similar conversation as we too are only a couple miles but the wrong end of a massive hill to the shops, and taking the car seems excessive when you only need a loaf and some milk. Plus, we may want it as a commuter to the station, but it'll have to be left there all day.
I'm also thinking about an electric conversion of our current sit-up-and-beg shopper.
We moved to a pan flat village this year and I've been thinking I really should get myself a dirt cheap simple bike just for running to post box/get some milk/fetch the fish and chips etc.
Had a big 12v battery on my Longitude a couple of years ago, if that counts??
(photo taken round the corner from Kayla1's bike)
Kona MinUte, 2015 ish model, from a PSA on here.
Brilliant, brilliant bit of kit and now wouldn't be without some kind of cargo bike. I'd like a full size Ute but they appear to have stopped doing those.
It's can fit a weekly shop in, and has proven to be a very capable town and city bike.
@kayla1 - I'd be interested to know what kit you used and what you think of it
@yourguitarhero I've been recommending them to anyone and everyone, brilliant little bikes.
@sillyoldman would love to see this, I'm expecting it to hit a lower price being Ridgeback which would be great.
Oh... Shockingly similar design
Vs
Unfortunately looks like the Ridgeback might be more expensive.
This is my typical bike use and had been since 1982. I’ve tried a few things.
- Kona Ute was not good. Wobbly, flexy, silly-high-loading.
- Batavus Personal was ace. Not so good for hills but I made it work. Best carrier/utility bike I owned by far*. I would want something like that if I went electric. Or Gazelle. Depending on your load size also look at Bakfiets ie Gazelle Caddy.
*Step-thru frame was my biggest revelation for utility bike-use. Game-changer in every way.
- Genesis Longitude is very good at carrying weight but is more offroady.
- (Current) 531ST retro tourer is a joy. Not as utility or as stable or as well-equipped as the Batavus, but it gets me in and out fast with no fuss. And no-one wants to tea-leave a grandad bike (I hope!). It’s hand-built (frame and wheels) so is light and fast, yet being a tourer it carries mad weights with panniers, also easy nip-outs with (pictured) a rackpack/foldable mini-panniers.
The (massive) panniers normally cope with my regular grocery trips bit are not suitable for some trips to the recycling yard or some DIY goods. So I just paired it with one of these:
Which also folds flat and goes in it’s own bag.
All I want to change now on the bike is to install a dynamo-lighting system and a folding centre-stand.
Most bikes can be bought cheaply and converted with a Swytch kit or similar if you reaaaallly do think that you need power-assist (I was tempted while injured long-term), but now back to good old leg-work)
Or just buy a Batavus Quip E-go? Job jobbed.
@thepodge - Ridgeback is £250 less being a hub motor rather than mid-motor.
@IHN It's a Bafang BBSHD 1000W motor with a 52V 14Ah battery. It's not legal but I run it with the speed restricted to the legal limit (25km/h) to try and stay at least within the spirit of the law. I bought it mainly to do the ride up to my mam's and back (70-odd miles, it could manage on a single charge on but I take the charger and top up while I'm there) and it's really good for jobbing around too.
I like it, it's not 'fun' in the sense that riding a bike is usually fun (skids and wheelies) cos it's too heavy but it's way more enjoyable than using a car for local heavy stuff.
I really should get myself a dirt cheap simple bike just for running to post box/get some milk/fetch the fish and chips etc.
+1.
I think most people (the few in the UK that exist!) who really use a bike as utility/local transport tend to buy simple dirt-cheap/used stuff. The old tourer cost me £80. The trailer £50.
Bought a used utility/Dutch bike for £100 and that was expensive but worth it and was bristling with onboard-security features.
Raleigh Pioneer is the usual simple cheap answer. Although I prefer a singlespeed with basket if it is really just chips or milk. Regular bigger grocery-shops you soon appreciate something more purpose-built (stepthru/kickstand/long). Last time I had a bike just for takeouts, cafes and milk/weekend breakfast shops was about ten years ago. I got a half-rusted Saracen (Something)trax and stuck a wire basket on the front. Bike was £10. Basket was £14. I’d still lock it up during tourist season though. Rarely in winter.
STW version would be a Genesis Brixton (?) A snip at £999. Call it a ‘pub’ bike 😉
I tried shopping/utility with a nicely-built Longitude for about a year, but it made me sweat bullets once it was locked up, and I’d rush around in the stores, just in case it was being tealeaved. Recently decided that I can’t live like that. Fond memories of shopping on the £10 Saracen/basket combo - no pannier-fuss, no bother. Now resting in pieces somewhere in Cornwall.
Trek Conduit - bought half price a few years ago from Rutland Cycles for £1200 and they did 2years interest free!
Shimano E6000 and full 10speed Deore group.
Has been used for commuting for which it's great with decent mudguards and built in lights.
No way would I leave it outside a shop no matter how many locks were on it.
https://www.trekbikes.com/gb/en_GB/bikes/hybrid-bikes/electric-hybrid-bikes/conduit/conduit/p/17044/
No way would I leave it outside a shop no matter how many locks were on it.
Which makes it the worst fetch-and-carry bike ever!
*edit (thinks) Depending on the wheelbase you could still do rural/garden-waste runs?
I’m a few weeks into owning a Radwagon and a love it. Running errands on it is a joy compared to the car!
It hasn’t done huge mileage as we’ve a baby that’s too young to go in a seat, so the car is still getting used more than I’d like, but I can’t wait to stick a kiddie seat on. The only time I’ve really made use of the load capacity so far was taking away the trunk of a pine tree that died in our garden.
Pros-
a *lot* cheaper than a tern gsd or other equivalents
3” tyres really do cope with bumps well
Quick adjust handlebars are easy to use
Giant grin on my face every time I’m riding it
Cons (quite nitpicky)-
-Racking too chunky to get my existing panniers on.
-Hub motor does bog down a bit going up steeper hills requiring some effort (for context, a 2 chevron job up the North Downs, so not too bad)
-‘Standard’ lights are be seen only
-It’s a beast to move around! I need to build a little mini shed so it’s easier to get in and out. Only actually a wee bit longer than my Solaris but feels bigger
-kickstand needs some rubber feet. Going to cut up an old tyre, which should also help quieten down chain rattle on rough roads
There are some choice upgrades I’d consider if I use it enough to justify- a better light for back lanes and some MT5s for loaded braking.
Slightly annoyingly, it uses a screw on freewheel so gear upgradability from the spares bin is a bit limited. I believe the hub can be had with a cassette freehub and rather wished they’d rolled that little bit extra into the budget- I suspect most people wouldn’t though.
^ Radwagon 4 does look the tittz tbh. Low-loading, sensible wheelsize , semi-stepthru.
When I get to actually ditch the car it’ll be my first consideration. Which lock does it/do you use?
Right now, just a (fairly ratty) d lock and cable. I should sort out something better but used it more for errands to friends/family than shops so far.
A surreptitious wheel lock might not be a bad idea too. Even if you broke the thing locking it to something, one person wouldn’t get very far carrying it- it’s just another level of delay. Not going to stop the ‘lift it into the back of a van’ technique but not much will.
What I’m enjoying is that it’s brought a lot of my errands back into ‘just pop out’ range by bike. Since moving house a few years back put a sodding great hill in the way, popping out by bike has been much more of a faff- taken longer, more planning. This makes it that bit quicker, easier and much less sweaty so it just fits in better and therefore gets done more often.
My specialized Sirrus X2 with a Bafang mid mount motor, full guards and rear panniers (V1.1). Used as my commuter and local shop bike. Had it since March 2020 (christ!)
Not quite replaced the car yet, but it gets used 5 or 6 days a week. 3 miles each way for work or shopping is not doing mega mileage but it all adds up. Motor helps a lot when loaded as we're at the top of a hill.
Disc brakes were the biggest improvement over V1, V brakes struggled to stop me+bike+weeks shopping!
@p7eaven exactly my thoughts. Cheapest thing I can find, potentially step through and small frame so that both myself and partner can ride it. No special clothes, shoes etc needed.
£30 on a bike and a £30 D—lock should be all I need really.
^ Mrs P had a Giant something or other that fits that description. Stepthru hybrid thing, alu. It cost me £20. She can longer ride, sadly. I should really hitch it up to the trailer then not worry about my nice tourer (and also get bonus stepthru) getting rusty or thieved.
Talking of trailer, just tried out tonight for first shop run.
Result. Amazing. It tracks unnoticeably. Will load up in the new year with junk and do tip runs/spring cleanout runs until feel fitter and happier 🤘🏼🤘🏼
would love to see this, I’m expecting it to hit a lower price being Ridgeback which would be great.
Ridgeback have this currently priced at £2899 Rear wheel motor, and certainly easier on the eyes than that other posted monstrosity
I quite fancy one of these Kona shields. Looks like a good basis for and electric conversion, and heavily discounted too.
https://www.merlincycles.com/kona-shield-touring-commuter-bike-191735.html
I have a Tern GSD which is brilliant. I know you said you wanted a cheaper bike but the general principal is the same.
I too live at the top of a steep hill and about 4 or 5 miles from the nearest shop (in winter) and 10 miles from town. I guess I am a committed utility cyclist but the eBike has definitely meant that I do more stuff on the bike and use the car less.
I haven’t done massive mileage; 4500 in 18 months, but that is loads of short journeys carrying everything from Christmas trees, packrafts or people to my veg box and a bale of hay.
I was kind of reluctant to get an ecargo-bike until I realised that not having one was making me drive more. As you say, a utility type bike would do many of the things a GSD does but for less cash.
Crap photo I know. When I looked I realised I had hardly any photos of it - which kind of confirms its utility status really.
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Gowerboy, is that the lomo rack pack? Waiting for that to come back in stock.
What are your recommendations for ‘straps’n’stuff’- I’ve avoided buying the kitchen sink in terms of accessories (running boards, straps etc) until I figure out exactly what it’s going to get used for most. Just some webbing straps and bungees at the moment
Kona shield
(From my own experience) Kona know how to sucker in MTBers into spending a grand on a pseudo-utility bike alu 29er with a rack that would be better after sawing off and then fitting one that loads lower.
Balancing loads high on the back of a 29er is about the worst way to carry stuff, IME. All other options considered. Any steel 26er with a decent rack and bags will do a better job, for instance. Any old stepthru hybrid with a decent rack even better for urban/town stuff.
OP, just remembered a similar (recent) thread may be useful:
https://singletrackworld.com/forum/topic/turning-normal-frame-to-a-cargo-bike-xtracycle/
dyna-ti
Ridgeback have this currently priced at £2899 Rear wheel motor, and certainly easier on the eyes than that other posted monstrosity
We have very different eyes, the large load area is far too high up ad the whole thing will have a required turning circle of a barge, I imagine its an absolute ball ache to get through anything like a doorway too meaning it lives outside most of its life.
Gowerboy, is that the lomo rack pack? Waiting for that to come back in stock.
What are your recommendations for ‘straps’n’stuff’- I’ve avoided buying the kitchen sink in terms of accessories (running boards, straps etc) until I figure out exactly what it’s going to get used for most. Just some webbing straps and bungees at the moment
Yes, it’s the Lomo pack that just lives on the front and is really useful. The straps it comes with work Well to hold it on.
I bought the big panniers and the rear running boards which allow you to ties stuff on rally easily. It is a Gen 1 GSD so doesn’t have the built in ones of the Gen 2. I use Voile and roof rack straps to hold stuff on it.
with a rack that would be better after sawing off and then fitting one that loads lower.
Yeah and I'll say it again. It wasn't the height of the rack that made it flexy and unstable it's that Kona saw a picture of a cargo bike then drew one and sold it cheap without engineering it to be one.
I have a bafang converted Surly Big Dummy. Had the bike for about 2.5 years but only had it converted in around April when I moved from London to the South Downs
Gets used for local errands and school run. Amazing what I can fit on it. I've had tables, pallets, weekly shopping, three kids, two adults, gas bottles etc. It's bloody heavy, I cant lift it on its own the xtracycle Panniers carry loads of useful bits I leave on the bike like locks, straps, bags for shopping. I'm happy to leave it parked outside a shop while I go in to get stuff
Also generates lots of discussion with people that see it
We do have two cars as a household but I use the cargo bike when it's easier to. the electric motor has made it a practical vehicle rather than a slow, heavy sweat inducing niche bike. It's massive though, 7ft long and takes up a lot of space in the garage due to the xtracycle bits on it. The double legged xtracycle stand is bloody ace
Yeah and I’ll say it again. It wasn’t the height of the rack that made it flexy and unstable
Agreed. Although already poor stability and noodley nonsense was further affected by the high load perched over a 29er wheel. Blew my mind when I replaced it with a bog standard 26er Dutch hire-bike/ute which could not only carry mental shopping weights without flinching but would easily take a friend on the rack. Bought used it was less than a tenth of the price of my (ex-demo) Kona and yet was kitted out standard with dynamo-lighting, locks, guards, stand, stepthru and hub gears. Think new they were still half the price of a Kona Ute. Kona taking the pi55. I never forget a loss like that as spent best part of a small inheritance on the Ute (+ custom kit) hoping it would be the be all and end all of my cargo/utility/local transport requirements. Tried for months to like it yet was never so glad to see the back of a bike*. It looked good, though. Always drew attention and admiration from MTBrs etc. I view it now as a sort of special-edition Nissan Juke of a bike, admired by people who might think that a Range Rover Evoke would be a good vehicle to own for visiting a farm 😎.
*Not altogether true. ie once bought a Pashley recumbent on a whim. Also rode it one time. Wished it dead thereafter. 🤮)
We have very different eyes, the large load area is far too high up ad the whole thing will have a required turning circle of a barge, I imagine its an absolute ball ache to get through anything like a doorway too meaning it lives outside most of its life.
TBH It wouldn't be my choice. I only suggested it as ridgeback cargo was mentioned.
When going ebike it would always have to have carriers and be an all rounder. I tested the smallest Riese and muller packster 40 , but the foot area was too tight and i had probs with toes impacting the front frame.
I'd much prefer the R&M or the bullitt
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/393825793235?hash=item5bb1d8b4d3:g:yA8AAOSwx0Bhvxej
These are superb. Dutch riding position, no weird components, chain lube every five years or when you get a rear puncture.
The Kalkhoff Impulse motors are notoriously fallible and spares not available. I bought one for cheapness recently to put the Dynohub and seven speed Nexus on my Classic but haven’t got round to it yet, going to flog the remainder on eBay.
Only downside to most of the new bikes shown here is derailleur gears. Around town a hub geared machine is more convenient with all the stop start traffic. Hub gears remove some of the gear selection anticipation necessary for smooth travel. Come to a stop in too high a gear click down and be ready for the green light. 8 speed Alfine FTW or Nexus for cheapness plus matching dynamo front hub.
I'm a big Alfine fanboy and have one on mine but I really wish they'd update it, the gear steps can be too big & too uneven for general smooth riding plus the shifter is HUGE and doesn't play well with some brakes and the thumb movement is too long
I've recently put an order in for one of these as a car replacement, made by a guy based near Edinburgh. Seems a fair price compared to some of the more mainstream options, and he'll do custom versions too (I've gone for a step through frame style). It'll be my first foray into cargo bikes so nothing I can compare it too directly, but I'll post a couple pics of it in the flesh once it arrives in a few weeks.