Originally Posted by
surfimp
According to Clever Cycles, yes:
http://clevercycles.com/store/?c=web2.68
The bakfiets has a 180lb. load rating for the box up front, and a 70lb. load rating for the rack in back. Combined that's more than an Xtracycle is rated for. Not sure what the Big Dummy rating is, though presumably the same / similar? Not sure if the X's rating is more related to the subframe itself or to the durability of the v-racks / wideloaders / etc.
So theoretically if it works for a bakfiets it ought to work for an Xtracycle / Big Dummy... but then again theory and practice do tend to diverge, often at rather critical junctures
I guess it would depend on whether one planned to routinely carry close to max gross weight or not.
Steve
I thought about this too. I like the idea of an internal hub for a utility bike. However, I really have a hard time plunking $1000+ on just the hub.
According to
http://hubstripping.wordpress.com/ neither the Shimano Alfine 8 nor the SRAM I-Motion 9 are rated for tandems or cargo. However, I have seen many references -- including the Nexus 8 on the bakfiets -- to these hubs successfully applied to utility cycling applications. For the price, setting up either hub with a double in the front -- according to the hubstripping website, one could pair up the i-Motion 9 with a typical compact crank in the front -- would achieve an excellent gear range for a lot less money.