Replacement

[Elkhound]

My cargo bike is currently a Fuji with an Xtracycle attachment. The mechanic at the LBS tells me that with all the wear-and-tear on it, I should be thinking about a replacement.

I'm torn among these three options:

Yuba Mundo
Kona Ute
Surly Big Dummy

The Surly has the advantages that (a) I can use the Xtracycle accessories I already have on it and (b) I can customize it. The disadvantage is that it is VERY expensive.

The Mundo and the Ute both are better in terms of price, but has anyone any experience with either one? The LBS does not stock either, but they would be willing to special order; I'm leary of getting a 'pig in a poke' as it were.

[cman]

What is worn out? The bike or Xtracycle. If the bike look for a good used one on CL. If it is the Xtracycle, call the company.

[vik]

Well have a look around for a BD in your size - they are going fast and the next batch won't be here till the end of the summer so that might take the BD out of the running.

I've sat on a Kona Ute and checked it out. The question you have to ask yourself is can you do everything with it that you'd like without all the Xtracycle accessories? If you can it is a great deal. If you can't then you have to get creative with some DIY mods or you'll be dissatisfied.

Is it just your bike that worn out or your free radical as well? If it is just the bike why not get an inexpensive MTB as a replacement and keep rolling?

[Elkhound]

Is it just your bike that worn out or your free radical as well? If it is just the bike why not get an inexpensive MTB as a replacement and keep rolling?

Both, actually.

[Abneycat]

I'm not personally terribly impressed with the UTE:

1. Basic cargo design is far inferior to the Xtracycle. You'll need to do custom adaptation to come close.
2. Price looks attractive, until you realize that the Xtracycle offers you a complete system, whereas the UTE requires that you go out and buy more panniers (and that to even come close to the 'X, they have to be *big* ones, which are typically pricey) - by the time you balance that part out, the Xtracycle/Marin Novato is just about comparable, but with the X/Marin having the cargo advantage..
3. Integrated aluminum design as opposed to repairable or replaceable design. Make a wrong move with loading your cargo on the UTE, and its bye-bye
4. 700c wheels. Its my personal preference, but i'd rather have the stronger 26" wheels and wider tires for cargo dealings.

P.S. I know that on the Rootsradicals group, the guy from AsanaCycles was selling his old freerad (frame only!) for $100. You could see if thats still around, it could hop you back into the game for cheap with your Xtracycle bags and V-racks you already have :)

[AllenG]

The Yuba Mundo looks to have cargo supports similar to the wide loaders of a xtracycle. Because I don't like the way a high load rides I would go with the Yuba over the Ute.

[Abneycat]

Hm, well I just looked there on the Asana Cycles website and I guess someone snapped it up.

[vik]

Yuba Mundo weighs almost 60lbs and offers 1, 5 & 6 speed models. Is that going to work in your area? Did you use the full gear range on your MTB/Xtracycle?

The Yuba site MSRP is between $840-$1250 depending which model you go for and I assume without shipping or any other costs wrapped up in that. Seems like you could get a new MTB and new Freeradical for that price.

[Abneycat]

Maybe you could call or email Xtracycle, explain the situation and see if they'll make a deal with you to get one of their Xtracycle/bicycle packages sans the Xtracycle accessories you already have for a discount?

[Elkhound]

Seems like you could get a new MTB and new Freeradical for that price.

On the advice of the mechanic at my LBS, confirmed by a friend who is a mechanical engineer, I want to go with an integrated unit rather than a donor bike + X.

From what has been said above, I'm beginning to think that either the Mundo or the Ute might be 'penny wise, pound foolish,' and that I should bite the bullet and get the Big Dummy.

[coldfeet]

On the advice of the mechanic at my LBS, confirmed by a friend who is a mechanical engineer, I want to go with an integrated unit rather than a donor bike + X.

From what has been said above, I'm beginning to think that either the Mundo or the Ute might be 'penny wise, pound foolish,' and that I should bite the bullet and get the Big Dummy.

+1

Weren't you looking to get a Stokemonkey? You won't get that on the Ute.
If buying a BD, get in soon, it may be already to late. There is the added
advantage, if you don't like it, resale shouldn't be a problem.

[Elkhound]

Weren't you looking to get a Stokemonkey? You won't get that on the Ute.
If buying a BD, get in soon, it may be already to late. There is the added
advantage, if you don't like it, resale shouldn't be a problem.

The Stokemonkey has been unavailable for so long that I am beginning put it in the same category as Alice's jam. That's what made me take a second look at the other two, which I had ruled out because they were not SM-compatable. (Although my engineer friend thinks he could adapt it to the Mundo.)

[coldfeet]

The Stokemonkey has been unavailable for so long that I am beginning put it in the same category as Alice's jam. That's what made me take a second look at the other two, which I had ruled out because they were not SM-compatable. (Although my engineer friend thinks he could adapt it to the Mundo.)
A little unkind, that. Todd has given enough details on the problems encountered that I don't doubt he is as
frustrated as any of his anxious customers. I have had enough experience with importing stuff that I don't
want to go through it again.
I am at a loss to see how you would mount a SM on a Mundo. It would have to
go high, behind the seat, or in the main "triangle" both options look awkward to my eyes.

[Abneycat]

Well, as much as I like the Stokemonkey system, there are other options out there which are also extremely good systems. Have you looked into Heinzmann or eZee for instance, Elkhound?

[Elkhound]

A little unkind, that. Todd has given enough details on the problems encountered that I don't doubt he is as frustrated as any of his anxious customers. <snip> I am at a loss to see how you would mount a SM on a Mundo. It would have to go high, behind the seat, or in the main "triangle" both options look awkward to my eyes.

Oh, I'm not blaming Todd in the least; I know that the problems are not his fault. As for how to mount the SM on the YM, I'm not sure either--my ME is still working on the problem, but he says that he thinks he can do it; he says he might be able to do it with the KU, but he thinks that the YM would be easier.

The BD is still at the top of my list, not the least in anticipation of the SM being available again soon, but also for other reasons. But the Alice's Jam factor on the Stokemonkey (for which I am not, I reiterate, blaming Todd at all), as well as the BD being so expensive (especially after adding the other components) relative to the other two, are making the others more attractive than they were.