Aunt Roady

I have been combing eBay and Craigslist for the past two months in an attempt to find a used BD. I've seen only two in that time. I was surprised at their rarity. Do people love them so much they cannot part with them? Or are they snatched up instantly by friends? I love Big Dummies, and I guess everyone else does too.

crackerdog

Generally people who get a Big Dummy or any long bike, probably has plenty of experience on other bikes and knows what she/he wants. I would only get rid of my Xtra if I was upgrading to a Big Dummy.

nubcake

x2. Most people that buy them know they will keep them a while. It is also not the type of bike that comes out with new "innovations" every year to encourage upgrade-itis so they do not get turned around as quickly.

chipcom 

If I had to sell all my bikes but one, that would probably mean that I was hurting for money, in which case my Big Dummy would be the most logical bike to keep because I can do so many things with it...going car free being one of them. Basic economics...in hard times you get rid of the toys, not the tools.

Torrilin

Big Dummies are pretty common (as long bikes go), but I doubt you'd ordinarily see one used. Figure it runs $2k-3k built up, and the owner can reasonably keep it until their youngest kid is able to ride solo, so... call it 10-15 years. Over the next 5-10 years, they will (very slowly) start hitting the used market. But for now they're just too new to have a lot of people "upgrading".

vik 

Big Dummies are speciality bikes so there aren't a huge number out there. They are pretty useful and lots of owners seem happy so not a big turn over rate. I have definitely seen some for sale used though. You just have to keep looking.

WickedThump

Ever hear of Bakfiets?
https://bakfiets.nl/eng/

WickedThump

Saw this on Craigslist.

https://denver.craigslist.org/bik/2891732623.html

Underground

I agree, my long tail would be the last bike to go.

Aunt Roady

Thanks for the options. I'm Dutch according to my grandparents, so I'm genetically inclined to think Bakfiets are cool. But I've ridden the Big Dummy and it's the best cargo bike I've tried. Those Sun Atlas bikes are on eBay too. Great price. I have no way of evaluating the quality. It really sounds as though I just need to bite the bullet and invest in a Dummy.

vik 

You won't regret it...

lucienrau

I know that Boston has more but my area there are four big dummies and maybe five xtracycles. I know two of the other dummy owners and we're all pretty experienced riders with young kids. I don't think any of us are going to sell till our kids are at least in middle school, even then they're extremely useful bikes. I wasn't sure how much I'd use it till we got it but we're not getting a second car because of the big dummy.

nubcake

There was someone selling their dummy in the cargo cyclist group on facebook a while back, I THINK it was a large but could be wrong. I would go over there and ask if it is still for sale. https://www.facebook.com/groups/251380181578404/

Underground

I don't have kids and I use mine as my main ride. If I am going anywhere that isn't a training ride or an off-road trail, the Transport is the bike I take.

lucienrau

Oh, I'm definitely not going to sell mine then either. On long rides and bike camping I already am the sag wagon carrying most to all of the gear, plus grocery shops, plus hardware runs.... I keep getting more uses for it rather than less.

AsanaCycles

seriously, my BD would be the last to go.

nubcake

I am in this boat as well, my Xtra would be the last bike I sold if it came to it. I can still ride most trails in the area to get my MTB fix, I have no problem doing road rides on it (although I never ride with groups on the road) and it is a perfect commuter/family bike.

fietsbob

even new, the shipping and COD nature of dealer's cost, QBP policy,
makes having one sitting on the shop floor less likely..

Trek transport is in LBS here.. 15 bikes = dealer gets free shipping
+ credit line given dealer from Trek Corp. thru the summer..

noglider 

Aunt Roady! We sang that song when I was a kid!

Use Google Alerts. It will comb ebay and craigslist for you, while you sleep.

xtrajack

That is exactly how it would go in my corner of the 'verse.

salek

I have had a Karmann for 32 years. I save gasoline and protect it from idiots in traffic by using the MTB set up as a commuter. Long distance, I have taken the 1984 Grand Touring rig. I bought a BD last August to augment, not replace the Grand Touring rig for camping, and the VW Kombi for hauling. Yes, I want to protect the Kombi, too. And, though it gets great gas milage for a 1-ton truck, it still needs gas. The BD does not.
If the economy got that bad, it would be a tough call between the Touring Rig (my flagship) and the BD. I would definitely be getting rid of the modern cars first.
Big recycling thing last weekend. Bring your tech trash for proper recycling. I delivered five decommissioned computers. They gawked as I waited my turn in line for unloading.

DAME

In the DC region there was a BD listed on Craigslist for about three days....that was the frist (and likely the last) one I've seen. It appears that when people find cargo bikes for sale here that they snatch them up quickly.

Aunt Roady

I ended up with a Trek Transport this past weekend. I like Big Dummies and I like Surly, but I found the Transport on sale and couldn't resist. I've ridden it every day since I rode it home, and I love the bike. Very excited to join the ranks of the cargo bikers. It has been surprising to me how many people ask me what the bike is. I live in a small, Midwestern town and cargo bikes are very rare. People seem very receptive to the idea, though.