Firstling

So here it is goliath's cargo bike
I just wanted to hear some other thoughts about this one

AdamDZ

Meh... Big Dummies rule.

jtgotsjets

Is there supposed to be a picture here or something? I'm not seeing it.

AdamDZ

https://www.trekbikes.com/us/en/bikes...ort/transport/

Looks like Kona Ute. Aluminum. Not Xtracycle compatible.

Wanderer

One has to wonder about why not including a rear disc brake???? And, color matched fenders (including the back one which is missing)

It's nice that more manufacturers are looking into this stuff, but shoud include that already mentioned, and generator hubs, full lighting, a parking brake, etc.....

Elkhound

This does show that the concept of the utility cycle is becoming mainstream. I'd be a lot happier if it were Xtracycle compatable, though. Not that I really need another bike at the moment.

vik 

I'd be a lot happier if so much of the cargo racks weren't behind the rear axle...

I'm still waiting for someone to shell out their $$$ for one and let us know how well/poorly it actually works.

chipcom 

meh

noglider 

Agreed! Market diversity and competition leads to improved products.

It doesn't matter that this isn't as good as the gold standard. It matters that more people will use this type of bike, which is good for many people, even drivers of motor vehicles.

What does this mean? I don't know much about cargo bikes (yet).

Sundance89

There have been a couple of threads on this Trek Utility bike. The big question and debate was in the design and whether the panniers were placed too far back and high up for proper weight distribution?

https://www.bikeforums.net/utility-cycling/654945-trek-s-2011-utility-bike.html

jtgotsjets

Xtracycle is the company that makes the Free Radical (longtail conversion kit) and as such, they also make a host of accessories designed for their longtails. The surly longtail, for instance, is Xtracycle compatible, so there's a large market of accessories ready to be put on it.

Those accessories won't work on the new Trek bike.



And for the record, I know about the Trek Transport—the OP just made it sound like maybe he had one already? Actually no, I have no idea what the OP was talking about. Who is Goliath?

AsanaCycles

there is no doubt that more and more people are inspired by what a Cargo Bike can do
specifically the popularity of The Big Dummy and the XtraCycle Converts have started a definitive Long Tail Cargo bike following

personally, I'm really enjoying seeing people get interested!

another cool Cargo Bike forum is on MTBR.COM
https://forums.mtbr.com/forumdisplay.php?f=168

particularly I'm digging cargo bikes with fat tyres...

skijor

Thanks for that big dum MTB link

Cornflakes

I think he may mean " the big kid on the block ". I could be reading it wrong though.

Cornflakes

Yes, many thanks. I have some fresh reading material tonight.

Firstling

"Goliath" is Trek.
Trek accounts for a large percentage of bicycle sales and have the marketing ability to leave companies like kona in the dust.
If they decide to put any weight behind the Transport it will bite a chunk out of Surly, Yuba, Xtracycle, and Kona. Well maybe not Yuba the Mundo is very specialized as a heavy duty longtail. But these other companies could feel lots of pressure on their sales.

vik 

I agree that Trek is big and Trek can sell a lot of bikes so if they really want to get into the cargo bike market that would be a good thing in terns of reaching more people - assuming their product/design is actually any good.

However, I doubt they'll do much to hurt Surly - case in point the Trek 520 had a long head start on the Surly Long Haul Trucker - both similar touring designs and the LHT is a run away hit.

Also keep in mind QBP owns Surly and is as big as Trek if not bigger and has accounts with virtually every LBS in North America so their reach is pretty huge.

Bottom line though = the Xtracycle and the BD owe the success they have to the fact they work really well...if they didn't they wouldn't be the go to standards in the cargo bike market. Slick marketing only gets you to the point of a test ride.

Totaled108

My trextracycle (trek 4300) looks and IS way better then the transporter.



This is from my first Portland bike move, its so fun.

AdamDZ

Also, I doubt that anyone who really was serious about buying a Big Dummy would suddenly change their mind and get this Trek instead. Big Dummy is a class in its own, plus the Xtracycle compatibility part.

noglider 

But if you only test ride the Trek because it's in stock and the other isn't, you may conclude that the Trek is the best bike for the job. Marketing clout is a better predictor of success than the quality of the product. Look at Beta/VHS or Microsoft/anything-else. Now, I didn't know that QBP owns Surly, but they don't have a recognized name. Perhaps they can compete head on with Trek, but it seems that their marketing techniques are not direct to consumers and therefore are not on an even playing field.

vik 

Sure Trek can and will fool a some people once into buying a bunk product, but that has limited scope for success and huge scope for a word of mouth backlash.

Surly doesn't sell a ton of Long Haul Truckers or Big Dummies because they conned people into buying them...rather they sold a few and had happy customers who told a few friends who bought some bikes and told a few more friends...etc...

A few years back Cannondale tried to get into the recumbent market with an expensive, heavy and mediocre performing bike. Compared to the existing recumbent bike companies they were a giant with a relatively huge marketing budget and an unrivaled dealer network, but at its heart their product wasn't that great. After 3-4 years of lack luster sales and luke warm reception in recumbent circles they dropped recumbents from their line up. Either Trek has to get serious with their cargo bike ambitions or I suspect the same will happen.

But you know what let's stop talking about it in this thread and if you see all sorts of positive Trek cargo bike posts popping up on BFs and blogs you'll know they are doing well....OTOH if you don't see much buzz and don't read about many of these bikes on the road then you'll probably be able to pick one up for a steal when Trek dumps the concept in a year or two.

noglider 

OK, but I still have something else to say. The success of the Long Haul Trucker and the Big Dummy is an aberration. It's not usually possible to come out with a new product and succeed without a big marketing effort. I'm glad Surly did it. In fact, it warms my heart. And it reminds me of how Trek started in the 70's, too. I don't remember any Trek ads whatsoever, but they sold superior bikes at great prices. They also sold frames separately, which made them even specialer.

vik 

Surly has done it with every single bike and frame they make...so I'd say it's far from an aberration....same goes for Xtracycle. The one thing they have in common is all these products are excellent.

If the Trek cargo bike turns out to be awesome they'll be a game changer...if it's as mediocre as many of us think...then it will be an interesting, but irrelevant foot note in the history of cargo biking.

vik 

Interestingly back when Cannondale tried to break into the bent market so did Trek...bents were a hot niche market at the time much like cargo bikes are at the moment....The Trek R200 was a decent design, but had several problems that were never resolved. Trek faced a lot of flack for the problems with this bike and a lot of cost dealing with warranty support. Eventually as the costs rose and bents were no longer the flavour of the day they dumped their recumbent efforts - just like Cannondale.

So the question is does Trek really want to be in the cargo bike business or did they have a staff meeting where some suit decided cargo bikes were hot right now and Trek better get one out ASAP?

Firstling

I cant really argue with that after all it looks like the transporter is only an entry level longtail. something for trek to test the waters with