Timothias

So I was over at Cyclofiend site when I came across the cargo bike named Coffee Bike.These bikes are sold to the Africans by loan to haul their coffee beans.There is write-ups and pics at links to give you an idea of this bike.Anyway the coffee cargo bike can be had for 750.00 dollars plus shipping cost.Are you guys familiar with the coffee bike? Anyone by chance own one? And should you look at the pics,can you give me your best opinion on this bike please.Thanks.


https://www.cyclofiend.com/working/20...aulos1109.html


More information on the coffee bike from the Rwanda Project site:

https://projectrwanda.org/welcome


Photo Gallery(Click on "The Coffee Bike")

https://projectrwanda.org/photo-gallery

tatfiend 

Looks interesting and a very good price compared to the Xtracycle or Big Dummy, particularly considering the tax writeoff. On the other hand it is much more of a DIY project to come up with carrying accessories such as those available for the mentioned bikes. It looks to be the same basic idea as the Yuba Mundo. IIRC they contribute bikes to African countries too.

In my area I would want wider range gearing I suspect as well as disc brakes if carrying much. Also the center stand looks to be too narrow to work well for a cargo bike. I have a Hebie Bipod center stand on my shopping bike and have to be careful to hold the bike upright when loading my shopping panniers or it will fall over and that stand does not look any wider than the Hebie.

I also note that the complete bike with the rear wood deck is listed as weighing over 50 pounds. I know it needs to be built to a price and as strong as possible but I prefer something a bit lighter. I presume the frame is heavy wall Hi Tensile steel but that is not actually specified.

Fat Tire

Looks pretty comparable to a Yuba Mundo. Very nice. I wish my Torker Cargo T had more gears (5-6-7-8-14?). I run out in the first few yards.

Mine is lighter though (45 pounds, but then who's counting). The good thing about the gearing is that my apartment complex has a hill at the mail boxes. Before I got this, I could not ride my 72 Raleigh up that hill at all (couldn't get the pedal to move forward in low, from a dead stop). (Complex was obviously designed by a sadist, its down hill right into an automatic gate, that forces you to stop, every time.) Now it's easy, but I run out of gears while still climbing. Second, is a mere pause, on the way to 3rd. Gotta sit down and figure if there is a good compromise, I HATE counting teeth.

urider

One of the big difference with the Xtra, BD or Yuba Mundo is that it does not really have side loading bars. Which means the Utility is way inferior to those three options. Components are not really suited to be on a bike for hauling stuff.

surfimp

Yeah it's clearly not working out well in Rwanda at all. They've had to go back to the wooden bikes because the parts spec on the coffee bike just wasn't up to par.

tatfiend 

Per specs such as the very oversize rear axle and use of a 48 spoke rear wheel the Yuba Mundo is probably the heaviest duty longtail available. The rear rack is also claimed to be good for 200Kg.

IMO for use in the USA in any areas with downhills even the 21 speed version though has what may be a limiting high gear. The 14-42 high works out to a 78" gear. Of course you may not want to get going too fast on a downhill with a heavy load.

I have never ridden one but the latest V3 does look interesting.