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Anyone rate the Yuba Kombi? I've been taking the kids to nursery on my bike and latterly towing their bike or using a trailer. My son starts school soon, so it will two drop offs in the morning now.
Taking them before was always more for a bit of fun and if the weather was bad I'd use the car. Plus getting the trailer out of the shed and sometimes having to swap axles is a bit of a faff. Now, due to the location of the school and nursery using a car makes far less sense as on the bike you can cut through alleyways.
It would be great if I had a bike ready to jump on that can take both kids with no faff. Electric might be useful as the kids are always growing plus my wife might use it too then.
The big issue would be storage. The sheds are full. I wouldn't be against (another) small Asgard shed to store it... if the bike fitted in and I could work out where to put it. Someone at the nursery has an Urban Arrow, nice but far too big.
Had our GSD for a month now and even though we were on holiday for 10 days we've still done over 200km that otherwise would have been in the car. Suffice to say we're happy with the decision.
Quite a price difference between a Yuba and a Tern!
Watching this with interest - I’ve got a 16km commute into Glasgow along the F&C canal path, which is comfortably doable by bike if I don’t have much to take with me, but we’re down to just the van, and it always feels overkill to drive in just because I have some tools or supplies I can’t get in a rucksack. Electric cargo bike would be perfect, and if we could persuade the dogs to like/tolerate sitting in the cargo hold, we could use it for other stuff in place of the van as well.
Our office is just next to Kinetics, so I might try and look in there next week.
How are you lot insuring your Terns etc? Do you have a separate policy or do you add them to a house insurance policy...? I have never had a bike worth insuring before
ditchjockey - Ben is selling off some ex demo stuff - barginacious
All our bikes are covered under home insurance which is with M&S. I had to increase the maximum bike value to £6k so it covered the Tern.
I also pay for 3rd party accident/liability insurance with Laka, £1.50 a month, bargain. Covers everything else that might happen hopefully.
Following on from the belt drive / enviolo chat above...
I've got the GSD S00. I agree that the twist grip is poor. It's stiff to turn and gets annoyingly slippery in the rain. I do find that easing off the pedals makes it much easier to shift though.
I also agree that the continuous-ness of the enviolo is kinda pointless and seems to make it more draggy. I like the positive feel of indexed gears. I borrowed a mate's S10 (with derailleur gears) and I much preferred it once moving along.
Nevertheless the low maintenance of the belt/hub and ability to shift while stationary are great, and I'd still go for the S00 if buying again.
The best of both option is the Rohloff model which is crazy money.
I'd absolutely never even thought about a cargo bike before..... FFS I hardly even ride a bike now!
But having a read of this has got me thinking. We're spending more time at our holiday place now which, although only ¼ mile from the village (and bit further to the beach), is at the top of a not inconsiderable hill and we're getting older 😫
A lot of time we walk which is fine but less cool when we have to pop down to the shops and then, unfortunately, the car sometimes is used.
I/we could use one of these just for easy whizzing to and from the village. And maybe also to go to the supermarkets in the nearest town which is 11km away.
Hell, maybe I could even use it to take the dog to our favourite walking beach 2.5km away rather than using the car! 🤔
What's even more attractive is that I could stick the wife on the back and use it to get to and from the sailing club for early doors!!
It's getting some serious consideration (from me anyway).
Quick Q.... Are Tern kinda the best you can get?
Quick Q…. Are Tern kinda the best you can get?
New to this but, they seem to be a decent brand with good UK distribution. Also I get the impression that Brexit didn’t help the brand choice available in the UK currently.
Here are the long tail cargo bikes I've been looking at. The Yuba Kombi looks like a good choice but I can only find one retailer selling it in the UK
Tern GSD S10
Yuba Kombi E5
Trek Fetch+ 2
Decathlon Cargo Bike
Riese and Muller Multitinker
Rad Power RadWagon 4*
*Rad Power are pulling out of the European market at the end of the year
Was toying with one, separate thread done last week, but our work scheme limited to £2k and halfords scheme won't supply radwagon 🙄
For those looking radwagon currently have £200 off bike. Also, someone pointed out to me they are pulling out of Europe at end of this year - anotherthing to consoder for support.
Anyone know of grants/ loans to get one? Am trying to redice use of my T4 but funds are limited. Stevious pointed one out to me but is Scotland based scheme and I'm North East of England.
@northshoreniall read your post from last week, I have similar situation to you it seems. I think the minimum I could do for the situation is work out a way to have the bike and trailer ready to go with minimum faff. The kids will grow out of the trailer and Mac Ride eventually though.
The school is walkable for us, it's the onward journey to nursery that would be far quicker by bike.
Late to the party here...
FEL (Forth Environment Link) have ebikes you can borrow, FOC I think, for up to 6 weeks. I'm pretty sure they have Tern's on the fleet. They run from the active travel hub at the station I think
Anyone considering a Radwagon, check the wheel size carefully, some use a moped wheel so getting replacement tyres etc is not easy.
I've been looking into these more and have narrowed it down to
Yuba Kombi (analogue) or E5 (electric)
Trek Fetch+ 2
The Yuba Kombi has a great range of accessories and Yuba have been making cargo bikes for a while (they only do cargo bikes). They don't seem to have much presence in the UK though. The E5 electric version uses a Shimano STEPS motor with 40nm of torque, quite low for a cargo bike. A non-electric version is available and is quite cheap comparatively. I do wonder if electric assist would be best though if this is to be an everyday kid hauler.
The Trek Fetch+ 2 is a new comer and seems like a basic version of the Tern GSD S10. Trek's promo video even says the Fetch+ 2 is designed for "taking care of business". Tern's GSD means "Get Stuff Done". I think Trek are definitely looking to get some of the GSD market share. The Fetch+ 2 has the same 85nm Bosch motor and gearing (10 speed Deore). The accessories are more basic but still look like they'd do the job. In fact the rear seating seems a bit more spacious than the Tern. As the saddle goes up on the Tern, it moves over the rear seating area (moving Dad's bum more into the kids face!). The Fetch doesn't seem to do this so much
Liking the look of the yuba @dmorts - and non electric well under work scheme cap.
Though can't help but think want electric for kid hauling/ shopping etc. But puts most above £2k cap 🤔
@northshoreniall add a Bafang to the non-electric Yuba?
https://www.londongreencycles.co.uk/shop/bikes/yuba-kombi-with-bafang-motor/
Get a quote for the Yuba and the motor (as an accessory). Then pay the extra for the labour to put the 2 together (or do it yourself).
Am I right that the Trek Fetch 2+ is 187.3cm [wheelbase of 136.5cm + 50.8cm/20"], and Term GSD is 186cm? Does that mean they should fit in a "normal" bike space/rack on a commuter train?
On the base models, the motors are both Bosch mid drive, both 85Nm, but Tern is "Performance Line" and Trek is "Cargo Line". Does that matter?
The battery supplied is 400 Wh on the Tern and 500 Wh on the Trek.
The Tern is £5100 + 10% non-battery accessories free, the Trek is £3600 + 1% accessories free.
Trek has a bad reputation on here for its warranty support. It has lifetime warranty on the frame and 2 years on everything else...but what about the motor...?
I'm tempted by the Trek, I have to say...
https://www.surgebikes.co.uk/shop/folding-cargo-e-bikes/tern-gsd-s00/
https://www.balfesbikes.co.uk/bikes/electric-bikes/trek-fetch-2-electric-cargo-bike-2023-in-galactic-grey__36503
https://www.trekbikes.com/gb/en_GB/warranty_policy/
The Tern is £5100 + 10% non-battery accessories free, the Trek is £3600 + 1% accessories free.
Can you explain this a bit more? Which accessories are free?
Ah, worked it out. Cashback offers from each store. 1% (£36) worth with the Trek, 10% (£610) with the Tern
@northshoreniall I did what @dmorts suggests: bought a non-electric Yuba Kombi from London green cycles and fitted a Tongsheng motor (from pswpower).
Thanks @sl2000 - how hefty is the bike to ride? Is it tolerable without motor? Wondering if get bike for now then add motor later. Trying to get it on work scheme, capped at 2k unfortunately, so just trying to figure it out.
My other option is keep what I have and get some bits on scheme to adapt - using a 2016 genesis longitude with a shotgun seat and trailer for 2 kids. Have put more appropriate tyres on which helps so toying with getting a suspension fork, dropper and spare wheelset set up for offroad, then can swap for playing and utility.
Did the weekly shop between a couple of shops for 4 of us with trailer and was wrecked which has set me looking at ebikes but most out of budget. Need just decide what want and stop pissing about 😁
how hefty is the bike to ride? Is it tolerable without motor?
I only rode it back from the shop with no motor and it was fine. But I want to be able to cycle at a decent speed with a passenger whatever the wind is doing, so it wouldn't work without the motor for me.
Motor and battery were only £390 from pswpower, shipped from Germany.
Thanks @sl2000 nice looking bike that, am swaying toward one, then keep my hardtail for playing.
Does the battery really go on the rack? Seems like a place that you would want to use for cargo/people?
Does the battery really go on the rack?
You're right - that is a disadvantage of this over the Kombi e5 - it's really tight in the main triangle. But can only get one person on the rack anyway so I'm not missing out on people carrying, and had forgotten that this was an issue.
Would battery in your setup be mountable where your bottle cage is? I'm looking for something to be able to carry 2 kids on so need whole rack 🤔
I’m looking for something to be able to carry 2 kids on so need whole rack 🤔
Worth looking at the Kombi to check if the rack is big enough for two even without battery. It's not very long.
Thanks, that's interesting @sl2000 have found dimensions online of effective rack length 600mm, total of 780. I'd hope I could squeeze a 3 and 4 Yr old onto that, struggling find dimensions of competitors radpower or tern - anyone seen them or able to measure for comparison if have one?
Sorry to keep harassing you, will stop
Worth looking at the Kombi to check if the rack is big enough for two even without battery. It’s not very long.
Looks ok to me
Is there anywhere decent to buy second hand longtail cargo (non e) bike from? eBay and facebook marketplace never seem to have any
I'm sold @dmorts 😁 thanks.
Need do few emails Monday and think going try order shortly, get the motor separately
I know Kinetics sell them and Manchester Bikes do ex-display/hire.
They also do this beauty:
https://www.manchesterbikes.co.uk/carla-cargo/
Could easily strap 2 kids to that trailer
Is there anywhere decent to buy second hand longtail cargo (non e) bike from?
This is not a sarcastic answer: Holland. You could quite easily go, have a weekend in Rotterdam or Amsterdam, and bring back a bike on the ferry. There are loads of bike shops and the Gumtree equivalent is Marktplaats.
Is there anywhere decent to buy second hand longtail cargo (non e) bike from? eBay and facebook marketplace never seem to have any
Matt, formerly of this parish, has a barely used electric kona Ute on facebook right now. And the family cycling uk facebook page is usually good for cargo options, though they don’t stick around long. Quite a few people on there shifting from non-e to e, so if you asked you might find someone who would make the leap knowing there was a buyer.
Any luck finding someone who will sell you a Yuba? I've found 4 potential UK suppliers
Leftfield Bikes
Eco Move
London Green Cycles
Kids and Family Cycles
Contacted all 4 via email. Leftfield Bikes responded initially, then have not replied further. Had nothing back at all from Eco Move and London Green Cycles. Only found Kids and Family Cycles yesterday and they said they will do a quote for me.
Hi @dmorts - not really had chance to yet, though bit pissed with our scheme as after looking it's capped 2k and only 1 year repayment option. Going have chat with HR see if it's got any change.
Thanks for list of suppliers, will give family cycles a shout - they do the accessories too?
Thanks, Niall
they do the accessories too?
I'd guess if they can get the bikes they can get the accessories
Overall I'm still undecided about the Trek or the Yuba. I did find that Schwalbe do a 20 x 2.15" version of the Marathon Winter Plus tyre. It's studded and I have used the before on a commuter. They do a 24 x 1.75 too but it's bit skinnier than the stock Yuba tyre (2.5).... neither are cheap though!
bit pissed with our scheme as after looking it’s capped 2k and only 1 year repayment option
I got my scheme raised from £2k to £5k and all it cost me was a kit Kat for the head of HR. I think when the scheme was setup no one thought a bike could cost that much.