Roundup: Reviews of various family transport bikes
I’ve come across a number of thorough and well-written reviews (and some not so good) of various child-transport and family bikes & trikes:
Bakfiets.nl Cargobike
Let’s Go Ride a Bike
BIKE2WORK2LIVE2BIKE
Velo Vision
Bicycle Fixation
Bike Utah Valley
EcoMetro
Bakfietsgigant, Bakfietsweb, Couleurs, DoubleDutchBikes (USA), Redy Kangaroo, Hollandia, PImmies, Trendonline, Tricycleweb (all seem to sell the same bikes)
“Karin” (Dutch language)
Christiania (Trike)
“Marga & Huub” (Dutch language)
Faya4you
Guest post from Haarlem in this blog
Fietsfabriek 995
Caliban’s experience with the FF 995 and notes on other bikes too
Gazelle Cabby
Bakfiets.co.uk
Winther Kangaroo
Musings from a Stonehead
TV consumer program Kassa tests 13 bakfietsen from Dutch and Danish producers Included are: Bakfiets.nl, Christiania, Fietsfabriek, Nihola, Winther, ‘t Mannetje, Bakfietsgigant, Halfords, Johnny Loco, Babboe and WorkCycles
My english language translation of the bakfiets test
The original bakfiets test report in Dutch language
My post with comments about the program and results.
Bakfiets.nl vs. Fietsfabriek 995 vs. Gazelle Cabby
Bakfiets.co.uk (again)
Bakfiets.nl Cargobike vs. Smart Car
Part one: Measurements
Part two: Features
Bakfiets.nl Cargobike & Cargotrike, Bakfietsweb, Christiania, Gazelle Cabby, New Viper, Triobike!… In French language.
Vélo Brouette
Now that I’ve been “collecting” these links for some time the reviews have become more balanced, covering a broader range of bikes than I first found.
Here’s one more review in Dutch though its already three years old and wasn’t very objective to begin with: Fietsersbond bakfiets test. Its in Dutch and no direct link is available.
Here on the “Groot Gezin” (big family) chat site there is a long thread with discussion about many of the child transport bikes and trikes. The focus is generally on the cheap bakfiets options and like any discussion the opinions are to be taken with a grain of salt. Dutch Language.
Does anybody have any suggestions, particularly about other well-known bikes such as Nihola and Christiania? Please keep the discussion to family transport bikes and not transport bikes in general.
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July 11th, 2008 at 19:29
Hi Henry
I’ve posted a bit about my De Fietsfabriek 995 here:
http://measured-response.com/bakfiets/?p=7
I’ll get around to writing some more, but suffice to say that notwithstanding the relative limitations of the foldable hood compared to the Clarijs (it’s not as rigid, and lacks the rear flap), we’ve been very happy with it. Certainly haven’t had the problems that Caliban had, but then ours is the 2008 model with the fixed bench and the new stand.
Our next bakfiets is going to be a Workcycles classic cargobike.
July 11th, 2008 at 22:22
Thanks Henry, it is always good to read reviews of the bikes out there, but no contest, for me, the Bakfiets Cargobike Long is THE BEST! I’ve never been a cyclist, or that into bikes, but when I started researching the best way of getting my kids from A to B, incorporating fun for me too, then I discovered that this fabulous 2 wheeler could not be bettered.
It is so well thought out, incredibly designed, so easy to care for, and looks fab, my boys love to climb all over it when it’s parked and I find it a true pleasure to ride. I am a very happy cyclist mum!
July 16th, 2008 at 21:48
Folks, I was trying to demonstrate that I can actually post an unbiased piece
The compliments are flattering though, and we certainly love the Bakfiets.nl Cargobike too. Its just great to have a bike that meets so many family’s needs and to see how intensively (and happily) they get used.
But still, doesn’t anybody know of any solid reviews (positive or negative) of other bikes?
And DrMekon, you’re already thinking of your NEXT bike? Didn’t you just buy your Fietsfabriek a few months ago?
July 17th, 2008 at 08:32
Researching which family bike to go for was really interesting as I honestly believe there are some great options to choose from (obviously we chose the Bakfiets.nl Cargobike, but out of the bikes out there, I would say the front runners are:
Bakfiets.nl Cargobike
Christiania
Nihola
Kangaroo
Living in the UK where family biking in this way is not as prominent (yet) these are the bikes that came up in my internet searches most. The Bakfiets Richmond Project created quite a buzz (where a Nursery School received funding to have a pool of them for the Mums to share)
Regarding reviews originating from here, I think there will be more and more over time where they become more of a regular item for households with children in the UK.
Velovision magazine did a review of the Bakfiets.nl Cargobike, but I think it’s 2 years old. Was very positive.
July 17th, 2008 at 14:43
Hi Henry
Yeah, it’s only been about 3 months (and about 600 miles), but we’re planning the next child, I’ve got to share transport to school responsibilities. Does that justify being a two bakfiets family? Okay, I admit it, I am really sick of riding my Kona, and I steal the Fietsfabriek as much as I can.
Over here, the Bakfiets.nl standard is nearly 50% more than we paid for the De Fietsfabriek. Whilst I can see where extra money has gone compared to the 995 and the Cabby, the UK price differential makes it a bit of a luxury purchase. However, the 995 has really enriched our lives, and as such, we’re finding it less difficult to justify the extra this time around. We’re planning on treating ourselves to a Classic with a folding tent, underseat box, and maybe swapping… you get the idea. We’ll be in touch with Chris sometime nearer Xmas.
July 27th, 2008 at 19:19
The direct link to the Fietsersbond vraagbaak on bakfietsen is http://www.fietsersbond.nl/urlsearchresults.asp?itemnumber=9148
I wish they updated the test with more bakfietsen, including the cheap copies, so people know what the differences are!
July 28th, 2008 at 07:11
Hi Heleen,
Thanks for the direct link. I’m not sure I want to see more bakfiets tests from the Fietsersbond unless they improve their testing methods. Their last test was certainly honest but I just don’t believe it effectively represented typical, real-world conditions. Most notably a) the testing was primarily carried out by a man while these bikes are mostly ridden by women, and b) much too little time was spent carrying kids of various ages.
What they did focus on was handling characteristics, and in this regard they got it right: the Nihola is the nicest handling three-wheeler and the Bakfiets.nl Cargobike the best of the two-wheelers. But why split the bikes into these categories since two or three wheels is a technical question that has nothing to do with the use of the bike. In fact a Cargobike has a bigger box than a Nihola.
I too would like to see some objective reports on the cheap copy bakfietsen from a respected source. Those bikes are now ubiquitous and many people are getting suckered into buying them without realizing how horrible they are. They’re promoted as a great deal: a less deluxe version of a €1500 bike for €500. But in fact you get a €75 bike for €500, something of such poor design and quality that it will never ride safely and then quickly deteriorate and break. That’s at minimum a waste of your money and time, and at worst a danger for your family.
Groeten,
Henry
July 29th, 2008 at 07:38
Hi Henry,
Your comments on the Fietsersbond test make lots of sense. Maybe I should get a few mothers together and ask the Amsterdam branch of the Utrecht main office of the Fietsersbond if they can update the test with these specialists as test-drivers. I guess we can find a friendly Amsterdam bicycle specialist store to lend out the more expensive bicycles and tricycles for a couple of city tours and then they would have to organise the cheaper brands via the manufacturers/importers.
July 29th, 2008 at 07:58
Hi Heleen,
That’s a good idea though my experience in product design and ergonomic testing suggests that finding suitable testers is difficult. They need to be objective, open minded and able to describe their impressions. They should test the bikes for long enough to become sensitive to the subtle differences that emerge, and also to decide what is and isn’t important in the real world.
Some specific criteria should be defined such as: control riding through a realistic course with both open sections and steep bridges and corners, suitability for carrying kids of various ages, getting the kids in and out of the carrier, stability while standing, quality of materials and finishes, basic strength test, handiness of accessories etc etc. By no means is this a complete list.
All that said I’d be willing to lend the services of WorkCycles where appropriate.
-Henry
The bikes should be sourced in such a way as not to introduce bias especially considering that the quality of assembly has an enormous influence on the resulting bike. Two of the same bike can feel (and test) very different if one is much better assembled and tubed than the other. Probably it’d b best to get the bikes from as neutral as possible sources and then have one workshop prepare them all “equally”. At least then each bike will, for example, brake as well as it can.
October 25th, 2008 at 18:07
Hi Henry,
Vara’s Kassa zendt zo een test uit van bakfietsen (NL1), zie http://kassa.vara.nl/portal?_scr=kassa_artikel&number=4271668
waar je waarschijnlijk vanaf morgen de uitzending kunt terugzien.
October 26th, 2008 at 19:12
Heleen,
Thanks for the tip about the Kassa bakfiets test. I watched it and was very happy that our bike was the top choice. I translated their Dutch language report and wrote a post about it as well. Links to both have been added to the post above.
October 27th, 2008 at 21:37
Hi Henry,
My wife and I are happy Christiania trike owners/users. But now would be a bad time to try and provide a solid review, as
– we’ve childlessly used the trike for cargo for four years
– we only just became parents (it took longer than we thought it would…)
– we’ve just had the trike upgraded with 8spd hub and drumbrake
so, i’ll submit a thorough review after some more time with child cargo.
cheers and thanks for the informative site
patrick
July 22nd, 2009 at 09:56
Hi. I live in Australia and have had a Christiania for a while now. I recently started blogging about why we got it and what I have done to it along the way – lifewithatrike.blogspot.com
We have found it pretty good – especially after adjusting the gears to cope with our local hills, the steepness of which is not seen in Denmark or Holland!
Very informative site by the way. Loved the link to the review where the lady tipped a Christiania (I have not done that as yet!)
Cheers
Aaron…
September 6th, 2009 at 21:47
Hi,
Here is a test published in a danish magazine 2007:
http://www.kangaroobike.com/media/kangaroo_testvinder.pdf
Regards,
Måns
September 6th, 2009 at 21:52
Thanks Måns. The Kangaroo is a nice bike. It’s high price and unsuitability for the abusive life of a Dutch bike have limited it’s popularity here but it rides very nicely and the child seating area is safe and adaptable. It should be a serious consideration for areas where theft and vandalism are not such big problems.
September 6th, 2009 at 22:47
Hi Henry,
I would love to have a Cargobike long. However, I can not find any retailer for this bike in Sweden or Denmark. I will go to Copenhagen in a week or two to try the new two-wheeler model of Christianiabike.
http://www.velorution.biz/?p=2306
Hopefully it will be an acceptable substitute for the Cargobike.
/Måns
Lund, Sweden (close to Denmark)
September 6th, 2009 at 22:59
Hi Måns,
I haven’t yet seen the Christiania two-wheeler so I can’t offer any meaningful feedback there. I’ll just note that the Cargobike and it’s accessories have been highly developed over the last ten or so years and has made thousands of our customers very happy. WorkCycles doesn’t produce the Cargobike but we do sell it in our two shops and handle the distribution in some other countries. So yes, I’m biased but I still love this bike and even my wife rides one with our son.
There is supposed to be a Danish distributor for Bakfiets.nl (check on their site) so it would certainly be worth your while to compare it to the new Christiania. Of course WorkCycles can send a Cargobike to Sweden but it’s really very expensive to send a single bike.
Good luck!
September 7th, 2009 at 21:27
Hi Henry,
I am in a similar position to one earlier blogger in that I need a good bakfiet (preferably two wheeler) and was nearly suckered into buying a real “bargain”…
Well it seemed odd that when all other bikes are around 1500 these ones were so cheap, so thanks to you and others for the posts.
I realise that you work for workcycles, one of those bikes would definitely be my top choice if it were not for my tight budget…but then again good quality shouldn’t be cheap. Anyway I was wondering, since you seem to have fixed many bikes and brands, what you think of the babboe big ( http://www.babboe.nl/bestellen/acties/rabo-actie-babboe.html ). It seems that Rabobank is subsidising a large portion of the price for what seems to be a well made three wheeler…
Sorry for this long rant but I would really appreciate your expert opinion.
Many thanks,
Sylvain.
September 7th, 2009 at 21:59
Hi Sylvain,
Happy to have saved you some trouble and money.
Here’s the scoop on the Babboe Big: The design is certainly better than the horrible cheapo bikes and the quality is somewhat better too. But the Babboe not nearly of the same quality as any of the €1000 plus bikes such as from Bakfiets.nl, Gazelle, Fietsfabriek, Winther, Nihola, ‘t Mannetje, WorkCycles etc. Fact is that, even for larger firms such as Gazelle, these bikes are expensive to make and sell. Nobody can alter the laws of economics.
The basic problem with the Babboe is that their story is dishonest. Neither Rabobank nor any other firm is “subsidizing” the sales of Babboe as implied on the Babboe website. Why would they do that? Babboe has NEVER sold a bike for the supposed €1200 retail price nor is it worth anything close to that much. From their introduction the Babboe has always been available with some “special deal” or another for €600-700… plus assembly costs. This is actually probably a little on the high side given the bottom of the line parts the Babboe is made with.
In short there’s no such thing as a “free lunch”. I suppose some people are happy with their Babboes though when customers bring them into WorkCycles for repairs they’re generally not so enthusiastic. Apparently they’ve very slow and hard to pedal, and the inexpensive wheels and hub gears seem to have short lifespans.
Personally I’d much rather ride an ugly, second hand Christiania, Bakfiets.nl etc than a brand new Babboe.