Utility Cycling - Interest in purchasing a Yuba Mundo?

Information and images can be seen here: http://www.yubaride.com

http://yubaride.com/Images/mundo_red_800.gif

Interestingly enough, I just got off the phone regarding selling Xtracycle kits online at my new web store http://www.bikefront.com , which sells practically minded bicycle parts, and the person I spoke to, Ben, also is part owner of the company that makes the Yuba Mundo cargo bike. They are looking for retailers to carry their product and it would be one in which I would be possibly interested in carrying in addition to Xtracycle.

Price tag is estimated at $599

I have seen lot of interest in the Surly offering and slightly less interest in the Kona but is there any interest in the Yuba?

The projected $599 is for which model?

The 6 speed derailleur model as far as I know but I will have to investigate pricing further

yuba looks interesting and at that price point very attractive....

however, like the UTE and similar long tail offerings, i think a good pannier or bag system like the xtracycle is a MUST!

a long frame is a long frame and many people are too lazy or too busy (like me) to fabricate a bag or carrier system as flexible as the xtracycle freeloaders...I think that's one of the real assets of the Xtra (the long frame does help), but the bag is very flexible and well thought out...

so again...make a proper bag/pannier and i'll consider the yuba or the ute...

but it might be a year from now. And yeah, panniers of some sort would make the bike a must-have. A seat (a la the snapboard) wouldn't be the worst thing in the world either.

Can't beat the price.

yuba looks interesting and at that price point very attractive....

however, like the UTE and similar long tail offerings, i think a good pannier or bag system like the xtracycle is a MUST!

a long frame is a long frame and many people are too lazy or too busy (like me) to fabricate a bag or carrier system as flexible as the xtracycle freeloaders...I think that's one of the real assets of the Xtra (the long frame does help), but the bag is very flexible and well thought out...

so again...make a proper bag/pannier and i'll consider the yuba or the ute...

Your input is really appreciated and I think resonates with the crowd. My understanding is that is the reason the Ute hasn't got the hype the Big Dummy has got.
I am going to get back with Ben and discuss the different accessory options and give him my opinion of what people want.

Man that looks good. If I weren't saving for a new drumset. I would definatly think of buying one of those

I'd consider it, for sure, any time I consider buying the xtracycle. At first glance I don't see any significant difference between the Mundo and the others. In particular, why do they all have MTB wheels? In the case of the xtracycle, that makes sense because a lot of us have MTBs that aren't being used. But if one is starting from scratch, why not use 20" wheels? They'd be stronger and would allow the load to be carried lower. I'll try to upload a photoshopped image....

In particular, why do they all have MTB wheels? In the case of the xtracycle, that makes sense because a lot of us have MTBs that aren't being used.

I think it's because the Yuba was originally designed to handle dirt roads reasonably well as part of its overall mission to be an all-in-one design for developing countries.

I think it's because the Yuba was originally designed to handle dirt roads reasonably well as part of its overall mission to be an all-in-one design for developing countries.

You may be right, of course, but it looks to me like an imagination breakdown. Someone at Yuba needs to think outside the box a little bit more. 20" wheels handle dirt roads just fine, so there is no compromise there; furthermore they're tougher than larger wheels, so that's a benefit generally; and they'd allow the load to be carried lower, which would be a significant benefit for cargo hauling.

however, like the UTE and similar long tail offerings, i think a good pannier or bag system like the xtracycle is a MUST!

a long frame is a long frame and many people are too lazy or too busy (like me) to fabricate a bag or carrier system as flexible as the xtracycle freeloaders...I think that's one of the real assets of the Xtra (the long frame does help), but the bag is very flexible and well thought out...


I agree. I'd love a utility bike like the Yuba but would need to see pictures with an optional modular carry system (something even the extracycle lacks), even beyond freeloader, whether they be hard cases like motorcycle panniers or a trunk system thank would slip on and off that hardy rack they've built in.

I'm definitely interested in seeing where this bike goes.

I don't think the lack of optional bags, panniers, baskets is that big a deal.

The main thing is the price. It's very attractive. More attractive than the Kona offering, the Big Dummy or the Extracycle.

It's an extremely strong, affordable utility bike. What's not to like?

I might consider carrying one of these in my putative UK utility bike shop. I wonder what kind of deal I could strike....

But if one is starting from scratch, why not use 20" wheels? They'd be stronger and would allow the load to be carried lower. I'll try to upload a photoshopped image....

Something a bit like a moulton with an extended wheelbase.
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/33/Moulton_Standard.jpg
Small wheels also free up space at the front of the bike. Brompton have several bags that clip onto the front of their bikes.
http://www.foldabikes.com/PriceListPict/standard_bikes/p6rxdl/P6RX_PinkTouringPannier.jpg

Perhaps the interest in utility bikes will bring the small wheeled bike back into fashion.

My bf and I were at an eco expo yesterday and I had a ride on one of those! I thought it was pretty good, I'm pretty seriously thinking about buying one. They seem pretty stable too, someones kid jumped on the back for my first go around and it was really good, I was a bit nervous at first cos of memories of doubling when I was a kid as well as being on a different bike (and they are bigger in person than they seem in the photo) but no worries. The next time round I took 2 kids. :)

I haven't been able to find out much about them anywhere other than the yuba site though. I would like to hear from someone who owns one and rides it everyday to see what they think of it. So if anyone knows of anyone....?

The one I was riding is the only one in New Zealand I think and a demonstration model. Apparently some of the parts on that bike are not the same as what are on the bikes that will be for sale.

Also that chainguard in the picture is plastic, it was broken on the demonstration model (only been in the country a couple of weeks)

I am not too worried about it not having panniers or anything available for it, I want to have a go at making my own anyway (I have more time than money at the moment)

What kind of kickstand will/does the Mundo have?

What kind of kickstand will/does the Mundo have?

From what I gathered from Ben, it will be a Hebie bipod stand similar to what is found here http://www.bikefront.com/products/stands/705_Bipod_(dual_leg)_kickstand

20" wheels handle dirt roads just fine, so there is no compromise there; furthermore they're tougher than larger wheels, so that's a benefit generally; and they'd allow the load to be carried lower, which would be a significant benefit for cargo hauling.

Maybe... but I can't get studded tires in the U.S. normally that aren't either 26" or 700c. Supposedly they make them in Europe somewhere, but I can't put my hands on them. That's kind've a big deal for me.

Something a bit like a moulton with an extended wheelbase.
http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/3/33/Moulton_Standard.jpg
Small wheels also free up space at the front of the bike. Brompton have several bags that clip onto the front of their bikes.
http://www.foldabikes.com/PriceListPict/standard_bikes/p6rxdl/P6RX_PinkTouringPannier.jpg

Perhaps the interest in utility bikes will bring the small wheeled bike back into fashion.
Yes, exactly! I have a Moulton Stowaway, actually, and I love the way it rides. My daughter wants me to give her a ride on either the front or back rack; but I won't let her, they're not beefy enough. Both are bent and the front one is cracked, in fact; still fine for light loads, but I wouldn't go above maybe 25 lbs on either one. I figure the moulton's full suspension wouldn't be needed if one used the larger wheels with the fatter BMX tires


Maybe... but I can't get studded tires in the U.S. normally that aren't either 26" or 700c. Supposedly they make them in Europe somewhere, but I can't put my hands on them. That's kind've a big deal for me.

I've never used them (I don't have the utility bike of my dreams yet, you know!) but a little research (google!) on BMX tires suggests that Innova makes a 20 x 1.75 studded tire.

But if one is starting from scratch, why not use 20" wheels? They'd be stronger and would allow the load to be carried lower.

One factor to consider is that, with the long wheelbase and 20" wheels, it would be pretty easy to whack the chainring on stuff. I have high-centered my 26" Xtracycle on curbs and so on before -- if the BB shell were three inches lower (assuming everything just scales down, and you don't morph to some new geometry), I'd be doing it a LOT.

You definitely wouldn't want to lower the BB; that would be bad! Smaller wheels would require a more radical frame re-design than just scaling everything down; you don't want to reduce wheel base, for example.
People tend to have a prejudice that small wheels will adversely affect many aspects of the ride; this is not true; in fact, some aspects of the ride are vastly improved with smaller wheels. The way they roll on most surfaces is indistinguishable from larger wheels. It is true, however, that they are less stable on loose gravel and unforgiving of big bumps such as a curb. I would never consider bouncing up a curb with my 16" wheels, though I do jump off them --carefully-- now and then. When designing a cargo bike, one would definitely need to take into account the fact that a longer wheelbase increases one's chances of bottoming out; but wheel size should be a factor independent from that.

It would weigh less than me putting an Xtracycle on my bike, My bike is 35 with its current rack, so maybe 32-33 pounds +9 pounds of Xtracycle= more than Yuba

In particular, why do they all have MTB wheels?

The Kona Ute actually has 700c wheels.

Yuba Mundo price: $749 + $45 shipping (derailleur model?); due January 2008.

More info:
http://www.rockthebike.com/utility/mundo

I've got much more interest in the Mundo than the UTE, when I look at the pictures of the steel framed Mundo with the massively thick dropouts and reinforcements, it gives the impression of being a *really* tough bike. I'd certainly be interested in getting one once information came in on how easy it was to build/adapt packs for the rack, and how good the bike itself was.

The UTE, on the other hand, does not look at all appealing. I don't like the addition of the 700c wheels, nor the tubular aluminum they used. Smaller wheels and steel would've made it a lot better looking than it is, even if they built a really great pack system like the Xtracycle freeloaders, I still wouldn't be interested.