Utility Cycling - Kona Ute Load Capacity?

Anybody know the manufacturer-recommended carrying capacity of the Kona Ute (i.e., how many pounds?).

Kona Ute? You can haul up to 300 pounds on this beast of a burden. If you ever think you need to haul that much stuff! LOL

is that 300 pounds including the rider, or excluding the rider (i'm a clyde at 280 right now)?

I'm not sure. I think it includes the rider. I'm at 150 so I have plenty of leeway. The heavier the rider, the more restricted the amount of goods you can haul before breaking something. That's why cargo bikes have tandem strength rear wheels. You really do not want to get a broken spoke or worse riding a fully loaded bike home.

What's so great about 300 pounds ?... My Giant's all have a 300 pound rating too.. Kind of an industry standard isn't it ?... That is 300 including the rider...

I asked Kona last week, and they indicated that the load limit is when you can't pedal anymore, i.e., they haven't topped it out:) They wrote RIGHT back to my email, which I appreciated:)

In general it's including the rider. You probably wont' carry more than 150 lbs on the carrier.
What you want to be looking at:
-strength of wheel/ hub/ # of spokes/ size of the wheel. The bike will be more stable when loaded if you wheel is a 26" or smaller.
The size of the tubes and the dropouts are also criteria to consider if you are planning to hauling passenger, heavy load.

Hmm... I have pretty often carried more than 150 lbs on my Xtracycle, and I'm around 220. In general, I would expect any longtail frame to be able to handle >400 lb. loads, especially if their marketing materials say anything about carrying passengers. You should be worrying about your wheels long before you have any doubts about your frame, ideally!

Ong is right if a bike/ frame is marketed for more passengers it should handle at least 400lbs.
However I have seen damaged/bent frames from carrying heavy loads.

This is why I stick with my BOB. If it gets bent or busted, it's no big deal. Mine has already been banged up but keeps rolling. Worst case scenario it's damaged beyond repair and I have to get a new one. If the BIKE FRAME gets bent or busted, I'm out a grand.

This is why I stick with my BOB. If it gets bent or busted, it's no big deal. Mine has already been banged up but keeps rolling. Worst case scenario it's damaged beyond repair and I have to get a new one. If the BIKE FRAME gets bent or busted, I'm out a grand.

The entire Ute, frame, disc brake, etc., etc., is $899, so one couldn't be out a grand if the frame got bent.

I have loaded at least 150 lbs of logs in the bag and strapped to the deck. I had not problems riding home 5 miles. I weight 240 lbs. In my opinion load is not the issue. Loading the the bike is another story since I have had problems keeping the bike upright using the center stand. I would say that the Ute is no Dummy, but for 899 is it pretty Smart.

http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3596/3455935170_b855f719bd.jpg?v=0
how much weight do you think this is, including the rider(s)?