Utility Cycling - Pulled the trigger on Big Dummy, now I find Mundo!

So I just put a large order at Jenson to build up a big dummy from scratch and then I discover this bike:

http://yubaride.com/index.html

Reading some of their blogs, I seems like it even surpasses the big dummy in load capacity. I'm already 2G's in on the dummy build and still need the Nuvinci and Headset. I wonder if I made a hasty mistake buying all these parts. Guys, please help ease my anxiety.

You are going to love your Lamont.
There are more add ons and other accessories for the BD, and being able to remove the wideloaders makes the bike easier to deal with when not carrying large loads.

That help?

There's a bike shop near me that has a Mundo in stock. I think he's been hoping to sell them to SONY studios (formerly MGM Studios), which is right down the street. I don't know if he's sold any yet, but it's a nice looking bike. The one he has in stock is only a single speed though. I would definitely want some gearing if I was going to buy one.

I have Mundo with gears. I love it. I have the feeling that since I do not need the full load capacity big dummy would have been a handier bike. but it is also much more expensive. I am trying to get a relative build me custom version of the freeloaders that come for xtracycles. if that works out, I would be happy.

In my mind, the mundo seems more like a tool. Components or frame material are really nothing to brag about. The bid dummy has more options to be creative, such as building with top shelf components, more wheel/tire/drivetrain options. A Chris King headset with Large Marge wheels though suits the dummy fine, may seem somewhat out of place on a Mundo, the bike designed for developing countries.
But still... My BD build is going to end up costing $2000 more than a Mundo. That seems like quite a high premium for creativity. It was fine with the BD was the only thing out there but I think the Surly has some serious competition now.

Guys, please help ease my anxiety.

Once you throw a leg over the bike you ordered all cares and worry will be forgotton.:thumb:

Not knocking the Mundo...

But nobody riding a custom-spec'ed Big Dummy regrets buying it. It's a very special bike.

the Surly weight about 18 kilos ... the Mundo 27 kilos !!

If you're buying NuVinci hubs and suchlike, then you're already into making the bike be Awesome. That's fine; you'll be using it all the time, so it's worth the extra cash to make it supafly. The BD is a more solid bike and will last longer. It also weighs a lot less. If you use the bike daily, you'll be spending, what, $3 extra a day for the next few years? That's not a lot for the bike to be something you really love.

Are you more conerened about the cost differential or the hauling differential?

I have never been long term disappointed with buying good quality components or tools , and have been quickly disappointed with cheap stuff even if it was for "light" use

If cost is a concern, what is your savings if you do not use the nuvinci hub instead going with derailler shifting? (for the record I havn't quite "gotten" the desire for internal gears in that I don't have issues with classic gears, but I am probably not as hard core as many hear and never bike in snow)

I have an IGH for around-town hauling; it really is nice to be able to shift easily while at a stop. Not necessary, by any stretch, but nice.

So I just put a large order at Jenson to build up a big dummy from scratch and then I discover this bike:

http://yubaride.com/index.html

Reading some of their blogs, I seems like it even surpasses the big dummy in load capacity. I'm already 2G's in on the dummy build and still need the Nuvinci and Headset. I wonder if I made a hasty mistake buying all these parts. Guys, please help ease my anxiety.

Make sure that the NuVinci chain tensioner will work with the long chain run on the Big Dummy. Due to the design of the NuVinci shifteer box that sits on the hub there is little clearance to fit a different tensioner. The shifter box overlaps the derailleur hanger hole some. The NuVinci is a single wheel tensioner and is not spring loaded. It is pictured in the NuVinci parts catalog downloadable from their web site.

I just finished with a Trek 950 conversion to the NuVinci hub. Interesting riding experience but naked the bike is about 35 pounds now.

The mundo is cool, but I'd be careful. It's a decent deal, but some of the parts don't seem so perfect for a heavy-duty utility bike. The rear wheel, for example, uses a freewheel, and I understand the bottom bracket is a cup-and-cone. Also, no disc brake support.

No deal-breakers, but definitely stuff that might be an issue later on for maintenance/upgrading.

The frames are hi ten made in Germany but the welds look pretty janky. I toyed with the idea of sending back the BD and building the Mundo from the frame but it seems too late now.
I'm concerned about both cost and hauling differential. By the looks of things, the Mundo wins in both areas. BD can run disk brakes and is compatible with overpriced xtracycle accessories. It's a smidge lighter as well but I was never concerned with weight. Oh well, BD it is.

Having hauled 200 lbs once or twice (passenger):

You aren't going to want to haul more than the BD can carry. It's just hard to make it work.

As everyone else said, Mundo is a rock solid bike for carrying weights, it is cheaper but it is a heavy and a rough bike too. It has cheaper, more fragile components. I wanted something <$800, something quick (easily shipped to Spain for low cost , I paid ~30 euros for shipping of Mundo), something I did not have to think about for setting up. So I picked up Mundo. I had to fiddle with silly things like the chain guard but otherwise it was functional out of the box (you have two options, you can buy an unassembled for cheaper but in Spain, I got it assembled for same price). I am mechanically impaired so I was lucky to have that option.

I have not seen BD in action but I feel like Mundo would be little easier to handle with really heavy loads but like someone else said, how much can you carry and pedal with well?

If you can afford it, you should go with BD. You get what you pay for.

This all being said, I think Mundo is agood idea to introduce cargo-bikes to a general population. Its price is reasonable. It is a simple bike. It needs more accessories etc. Xtra-cycle is another great idea but requires assembly and/or expensive, higher end pre-assembled set-ups like BD. I somehow can't get myself to like the idea of the bakfiels but may be I am wrong.

Guys, please help ease my anxiety.

I've been riding my XtraCycle for a few years now and I still love it. It's great to be able to carry big loads and still have good handling. When yours arrives, you'll be riding around with a big ol' smile. :)

The BD and the Mundo are completely different bikes so it's not like you just discovered another shop selling BDs at 50% off.

I use my BD for a wide variety of riding from cargo hauling to bike touring to MTBing. I grab it for causal Sunday rides with my friends because it's fun to ride and often we need to haul something or someone unexpectedly.

As everyone else said, Mundo is a rock solid bike for carrying weights, it is cheaper but it is a heavy and a rough bike too. It has cheaper, more fragile components. I wanted something <$800, something quick (easily shipped to Spain for low cost , I paid ~30 euros for shipping of Mundo), something I did not have to think about for setting up. So I picked up Mundo. I had to fiddle with silly things like the chain guard but otherwise it was functional out of the box (you have two options, you can buy an unassembled for cheaper but in Spain, I got it assembled for same price). I am mechanically impaired so I was lucky to have that option.

I have not seen BD in action but I feel like Mundo would be little easier to handle with really heavy loads but like someone else said, how much can you carry and pedal with well?

If you can afford it, you should go with BD. You get what you pay for.

This all being said, I think Mundo is agood idea to introduce cargo-bikes to a general population. Its price is reasonable. It is a simple bike. It needs more accessories etc. Xtra-cycle is another great idea but requires assembly and/or expensive, higher end pre-assembled set-ups like BD. I somehow can't get myself to like the idea of the bakfiels but may be I am wrong.

ulugyik has touched on the basic differences between the Mundo and the Big Dummy. The Mundo is far cheaper. At under $1,000 U.S., it ends up being about a third of the cost of a Big Dummy build. And it hauls way more weight. Up to 440 lbs. in cargo alone! It's certainly not a touring bicycle, but for hauling all sorts of loads around town, it just can't be beat for the money. The load rack is way more rigid than any XtraCycle solution, so if your game is carrying big loads and you don't want to break the bank, then the Yuba Mundo is the way to go. It's amazing how rigid the frame feels, even with a huge load.

The fit and finish is decent, with emphasis on sturdy. Components are strong, reliable, and not terribly expensive. The Mundo is available in the U.S. at www.rockthebike.com

+1 for the Dummy. Stay on the path, friend...you'll be glad you did.

For some the Dummy is better, for others, it is the Yuba. I would look at the cost/capability set for each and compare it to your needs.

+1 for the Dummy. Stay on the path, friend...you'll be glad you did.

I'm all in with the Dummy already. Actually, seeing your BD was one of my inspirations. The build should be finished in a couple weeks. I'll start a new thread and post some pictures when I get them. This build is going to insane, if it doesn't come out too tacky. But then, that's tough to do with BD's. I almost see it like custom motorcycles. What looks good on a chopper will look tacky on an sport bike.

While we're still on analogies, I was somewhat justified with the huge price gap when I read something along the lines that a BD is longtail mountain bike. A mundo is a longtail cruiser. This was noted by someone who demoed both. I'd pay more for the extra capability of mountain bikes on trails and with touring. Even still, a couple grand is still a big ouch.

I'm all in with the Dummy already. Actually, seeing your BD was one of my inspirations. The build should be finished in a couple weeks. I'll start a new thread and post some pictures when I get them. This build is going to insane, if it doesn't come out too tacky. But then, that's tough to do with BD's. I almost see it like custom motorcycles. What looks good on a chopper will look tacky on an sport bike.

While we're still on analogies, I was somewhat justified with the huge price gap when I read something along the lines that a BD is longtail mountain bike. A mundo is a longtail cruiser. This was noted by someone who demoed both. I'd pay more for the extra capability of mountain bikes on trails and with touring. Even still, a couple grand is still a big ouch.

Agreed, the Yuba Mundo is not really a touring machine, nor is it really a mountain bike per se, however it can do both with reasonable competence. Bottome line is the Yuba Mundo is best at carrying all types of loads around town, no matter how bulky or heavy. The BD or an Xtracycle conversion might be better for touring or mt. biking, but will buckle and sway with the loads that the Mundo is capable of carrying!

Hi fit24hrs,

I think you had a question about Mundo sizing, but it disappeared from my inbox. The seat tube measures 16 1/4" c to top, and the effective top tube length is 24" c to c on the horizontal and about 22 3/4" actual.

The head tube is standard 1 1/8", and currently we offer only a threaded version. However, it would be easy to swap out the fork for a threadless unit. We have one bike in our shop on which we've installed a suspension fork and ridden extensively off road.

The seat tube angle is relaxed and we find the bike can fit riders from about 5' 2" to 6' 3". The nature of the long bike with the relaxed seat angle makes it easier to fit a wide variety of riders.

Cheers!

"fit riders from about 5' 2" to 6' 3" "

I can vouch for that. My wife is 5' 3" and she can ride Mundo comfortably. I am 5' 8" and a friend who is 6' something also rode it comfortably. That was one determining factor for me to get a Mundo, I wanted a cargo-bike that we can use as a family. I do not want to be the one doing all the groceries :)

I wish I had known about the Big Dummy before I got my Xtracycle (Kona Fire Mountain donor bike).
I love my X,I think that I would probably love a BD every bit as much.
I had considered getting a Yuba but the deciding factor for me was the Xtracycle set up seemed a lot more versatile.
I liked the fact that I could/can just toss something into the freeloaders and it pretty much stays there until I take it out.
It looked to me like the Yuba would be good for large heavy loads. I might have to do heavy loads once in a while (which I can with the X) but, most of my loads would be numerous smallish things on a daily basis.AKA a commuter,errand runner,grocery getter.
If I need more hauling capacity than I have with my X I will fire up the Gas Guzzler.
Peace and Blessings
John