professionals and cons
Pros
- Massive hauling capability
- Superb design
- Effortless shifting
Cons
- Finicky getting right into a bike rack
The finest gear marries design and performance right into a seamless package deal, and the exemplars of any class do this in an iconic manner. It has to look good, make you look good, and do plenty of work to satisfy the challenges of every day life. This applies equally to private computer systems, tennis racquets, and toaster ovens.
At the danger of falling into romantic opining, nice gear can also be more and more exhausting to search out. How many issues have you bought lately that you count on to be giving you good service in a decade? Two many years?
That high-handed preface is resulting in an equally high-handed thesis: I discovered a cargo bike that solves a significant conveyance drawback for me and my household. It is from an OG model, technically refined, utterly rugged, and absurdly tailor-made to our explicit use case. It can also be designed and constructed with an old-school ethos: Make great things that will work effectively for a very long time.
Importantly, this evaluation will be from the angle of that use case, from my explicit physique kind and driving type, and you ought to pay shut consideration to these particulars, which I elucidate under and which can differ in vital methods from yours. This bike is ideal … for me. And whereas it’s a Swiss Army knife of a machine, it most undoubtedly just isn’t one-size-fits all.
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Read on to search out out why, and if you’re contemplating a cargo bike, this evaluation ought to assist you dial in on the related concerns, alternatives, and pitfalls.
Specifications
Rider Height Min/max | 5’0″/6’6″ |
---|---|
Bike Length | 212cm |
Bike Weight | 67,9lbs |
Frame | Mundo V6 Electric Cr-Mo Thru Axle w/Disc Tab |
Brake | Magura MT32 Hydraulic or RideRever Attack-XU Hydraulic |
Motor System | N/A |
Rear Derailleur | Shimano RD-M2000 Altus 9-Speed or S-Ride RD-M310 9-Speed |
Cassette | Shimano 11-36T 9-Speed or S-Ride 9-Speed Nickle 11-32T CS-M300 |
Rims | WTB SX23 (36H Front | 36H Rear) |
Tires | Schwalbe Big Ben Plus 26″ x 2.15″ |
Max G.V.W.R. | 550lbs |
Rider profile
My household lives open air. I imply that nearly actually … we name a giant outdated sailboat dwelling and dwell dockside in a marina in Southern California.
Living on a ship is nice, however dwelling on a ship with two youngsters requires some planning. Kids want to maneuver, and regardless that our WWII-era sailboat is a beast designed to hold troops, cargo, and tons of fish, the truth is we have to get off the boat early and infrequently to maintain our sanity. That means frequent outings to parks, the seaside, farmer’s markets, college, and each number of sports activities observe, errand, and appointment conceivable.
In Los Angeles, which means a lot of time in automobiles. Cars are handy however when driving in them turns into a life-style one thing feels off. That’s the place a bike with a helpful cargo capability is available in. Is it potential to dump a good portion of your car-bound life to sustainable, lifestyle-boosting bike commuting?
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Given the above constraints (two kiddos, gear, city surroundings) the bike must be rugged, have an enormous cargo capability, and be flexibly set as much as accommodate issues as different as groceries, wiggly kids, and random boat elements. It must have good visibility and ideally some type of cool issue (in spite of everything, Los Angeles).
Add to the combo my private rider profile. I’m 6’4″, so I need a big bike. I enjoy a road bike stance over a more vertically aligned beach cruiser or casual commuter. Having ridden motorcycles for years, I’m also more tolerant of a heavy bike when it comes to maneuverability in tight spaces.
The build
The Yuba Mundo Lux is billed as the SUV of bikes, and with good reason. It’s robust (yet has a stylish look), performs equally well on the street or on a fire road, and can carry gobs of gear and goofball kids.
Yuba is one of the original cargo bike companies and it has perfected the art of the full-sized cargo bike in the Mundo Lux, which it’s been producing in various versions for over a decade. The bike I tested was the sixth version, a longtail that can carry up to 550 pounds and three kids.
It’s immediately apparent that this bike is engineered to last. It has a chromoly frame (short for chromium-molybdenum) that makes it super strong and resistant to corrosion, which is especially important in the marine environment where we live.
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The bike is heavy at 57.9 pounds stock. The frame is undeniably beefy and so are the 26″ wheels, which make this a really tall trip. Countering the load are hydraulic disc breaks and thru-axles, in addition to a spring-dampened steering system for ease of management.
Cargo capability on this factor is basically wild — I genuinely did not know a bike may carry this a lot stuff. With 160 liters of rear cargo capability and a beneficiant elective entrance basket, the bike can haul per week’s value of groceries simply. By including extra equipment, such because the Go-Getter bag, you can improve the carrying capability by as a lot as 80 liters.
A bike that at any given time might or will not be carrying tons of of kilos of drugs wants one thing extra strong than a kickstand. Motorcyclists will acknowledge the swing-arm-style kickstand, which easily levers the bike backward, even with a heavy load, lifting one wheel off the bottom to offer a tripod help that feels steady sufficient to load and unload youngsters.
My bike additionally got here with a pedal-powered entrance and rear gentle, that are good touches, magnificently comfy grips and saddle, a bell, and fenders which can be snazzy and purposeful for warding off highway spray.
Add-ons
The philosophy behind cargo bikes is that they are a platform, a basis, the proper clean canvas on which to construct your final biking expertise.
As such, the add-ons are a giant deal. Yuba is prime of the heap in relation to add-on choices, and getting the recipe proper is the key sauce to creating your bike a completely excellent marriage of design, efficiency, and performance for you.
My add-ons mirror my major cargo: groceries and youngsters. Here’s what I’m rocking:
Monkey Bars: Lik guard rails for kiddos, the monkey bars create a framework across the cargo tail to offer hand holds and to maintain the children in place. They additionally present a helpful scaffolding for holding luggage of groceries on the tail, though warning is required (and so are some bungees) in any other case the floppy luggage are liable to slide by way of the hole under the bars.
Bamboo Boards: These are the first foot platforms for long-limbed passengers. My seven-year-old is sort of tall sufficient to achieve them.
Soft Spot: This is a pleasant seat that goes over the cargo tail. It’s comfortable for the tushy of any passengers.
Leg up: These are foot pegs for the tiny passenger that sits ahead most on the cargo tail (in my case a four-year-old).
Go Getter Bag: This is an easy-on, easy-off facet bag that takes benefit of the Mundo Lux’s top to extend storage considerably. The coolest half is how simply it clips and unclips from the bike, for taking it with you when leaving the bike unattended.
Bread Basket: A entrance basket that is rated for 50 kilos and two circumstances of beer. Nice!
The above system is ideal for metropolis journey. Yuba has different add-ons that make its varied bikes appropriate for every thing from tenting to hauling full-sized kegs (no, actually!). You can take a look at the full add-ons line right here.
Electric help vs. handbook transmission
The inventory Mundo Lux is pedal energy solely, however Yuba makes an e-bike model referred to as the EP8. With the brackets already put in, the Mundo Lux can simply be transformed to an e-bike or e-assist utilizing a wide range of aftermarket setups, and Yuba estimates that 70% of Mundo Lux’s find yourself with motors in some unspecified time in the future.
It’s straightforward to see why. The bike’s top and weight conspire to make it tough to get going from a lifeless cease, particularly when carrying tiny passengers. The middle of gravity is excessive, and whereas the bike is easy to maintain up with two ft planted firmly on the bottom, the transition from a full cease to a snug pedal may be nerve-wracking with two youngsters on again. If you do not get push with that first pedal, or if your foot slips off, you’re caught making an attempt to awkwardly straighten and catch your bike earlier than your treasured cargo crashes to the highway.
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In spite of the above, nevertheless, I’m holding off on electrical help. While I get the practicality, the Mundo Lux feels like a bike ought to really feel. It’s a chunk of kit that is meant for use exhausting and put away moist, that I do not thoughts wrenching on myself, and that I really feel competent sufficient to repair ought to one thing break (nothing has but, by the best way, despite months of exhausting use).
When you add a motor and a battery to the equation, issues get extra difficult. It’s a brand new system to keep up and fuss over, and it is one I’m not notably accustomed to. There’s additionally a way of self-reliance that is straightforward to eye-roll at however makes me benefit from the bike that rather more. I have never taken my bike on any lengthy multi-day journeys but, however I like the concept that I can do this with the system I’ve now, with out fear about charging tools or eradicating it for particular use circumstances. That might sound romantic, nevertheless it makes me really feel related to the bike, and that makes me need to use it much more.
Adjusting to the brand new trip
My typical commute has me navigating busy Los Angeles visitors to and from college drop off. Riding in visitors with two kiddos on the again takes some getting used to. I’m transitioning from pulling a bike trailer and it took me just a few rides to begin to really feel comfy with the brand new weight dynamics.
Consider this: The wheels of the Yuba Mundo Lux are a strong 26″. Add the tail height and cushion and you’ve got a pretty high center of gravity for your cargo. This has a couple different effects. First, it means you can’t throw the bike side to side, which I’m accustomed to doing during take off when standing up to pedal. The first time I tried that with the new configuration I felt on the verge of losing control of the bike.
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When coming to a stop, I also feel the need to drop a foot more quickly and solidly than before, knowing that if there’s any lean to the bike at rest I’ll need to keep that weight up. On my normal road bike I like the seat post adjusted high enough to give me near full extension of my legs during pedaling. This means I have to come well off the seat to put my foot on the road. At first I tried a similar seat height on the Mundo Lux. The pedaling felt great, but coming to a stop with kids on the back was a different story. I felt like I had too much distance to make up between my seated posture and my resting stance. With my kids on the line, I opted to lower the seat a good 3-5 inches, which took a little getting used to while riding but makes me much more comfortable in start/stop situations.
However, along with the challenging dynamics comes a lot of confidence. Towing a trailer in heavy traffic, even one with an absurdly tall brightly colored flag, feels pretty sketchy. But on the Mundo Lux I know my kids are right in line with me, which means I can make safety and maneuvering decisions much more naturally.
After about a week experimenting with and dialing in the bike, the fit, and my riding style, the whole thing feels totally natural. The kiddos love their perch behind dad. They also love the passenger bell on the Monkey Bars, which they delight in ringing whenever they want my attention.
Daily riding experiences
The incredible thing about the Mundo Lux, which has supplanted my truck for a lot of day-to-day Los Angeles driving, is its versatility. I’ve hauled groceries and lumber on the same day. I’ve ferried kiddos to school before going to meetings or peeling off on urban adventures.
In a lot of ways the bike has opened up a a new side of Los Angeles to me. I’ve been taking my kiddos to school on a bike for a long time, but towing a trailer has usually required a quick return home — those things are just too difficult to deal with on day-long outings.
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With the Yuba I can take the kids to school and then tackle errands or go for a hike. The utility is built into the rock solid frame and is expansible with kick butt peripherals and add-ons. The Go Getter Bag is frequently on my shoulder and doubles as my shopping bag and briefcase when I’m out and about. I’ve got bungees and tie downs all over the bike, and the ride is burly enough that I don’t mind filling up propane tanks or the dinghy gas can and strapping them to the tail.
Oh yeah, and it’s a head turner. Utility is the aim here, but it’s pretty cool to get the “good bike” nod from fellow commuters, including the hardcore fixie crowd. I do my best to give a cool nod back. My kids usually blow it for me.
Bottom line
There are a lot of cargo bike options out there. If you’re a tall rider and are looking for a bike that’ll last well past your kids’ childhood, I have seen no better option than the Yuba Mundo Lux. If you’re shorter or are looking for something more compact and lightweight, you might want to check out Yuba’s Kombi or Spicy Curry models. The brand has something for every rider type and style, and it makes the best gear in the game. If you don’t want to take my word for it, ask your local bike shop pro. That’s how I ended up with a Yuba.
Alternatives to consider
A pocketbook-friendly compact cargo bike from Yuba.
Costs as much as a motorcycle, but it’s a beast wherever your adventures take you.
A stylish front loader that makes for a practical alternative to a car in suburban and urban settings.
…. to be continued
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