Dynocoaster 

From ODK Longtail cargo bike.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/ODK-Utility-...item1c23a8c2d6

rodar y rodar

Last year a buddy and I kludged together a Franken-cargo bike using a 20 inch rear wheel in order to keep the load platform nice and low. Made sense, but a brainfart in our scrap paper engineering left us having to mount the platform at almost 26 inches anyway. Looks like these guys had the same good idea, then screwed it up just like we did. Why don`t ALL cargo bikes have little wheels under whichever end the platform is on? Why do most little wheeled bikes have the rack so high above the wheel? And why don`t any commercial cargo bikes have granny gears?

Okay, rant over

fietsbob

The Why is the panniers are made just so tall.. for 26,28" wheels..

Brompton has a low rear rack, but then no normal Panniers fit .

ttakata73

I like it, its a great idea.It looks cool and has a pretty good price.It would make a good taxi bike too, just bolt a nice cushion on the back and add some footpegs for passengers.

pacificcyclist

Rack so high to enable good heel clearance without extending the wheelbase or having too much of a rear offset on the pannier rack itself I think.

To me, a 20" cargo bike does not really make sense as it is no longer compact. Besides, Xtracycle and a 26" bike makes a better combo. For cargo usage, I use a Burley Travoy trailer and I can tow anything, including another bike if I have to take into the shop for service.

badmother

Several 20" cargo bikes has been posted the last few years both here and in the Utility forums. I posted a 20" minivelo converted to a extracycle here just a few days ago. https://www.bikeforums.net/showthread...t=miniveloAlso 20" recumbents has been "extra- fitted".

ratdog

43 lbs before cargo for the non-motorized one.

rodar y rodar

Hmmm... Inspired my the Moulton luggage system, I`m currently working on a low mounted rear rack for my Friday, and was planning to use it as a platform only. But now you have me thinking about the possibility of adding some shallow panniers. A two liter bottle hung horizontally under each side would be a pretty slick way to carry water for the long dry stretches in my state.
Well, yeah, you would have to pay attention to heel strike, but with the rear wheel so far back anyway, do you think that having a few extra inches of space between the seat post and the cargo would really screw with the weight distribution? I don`t think so, but you might be right.

I agree with you about no longer being compact also, but bike length isn`t why 20 inch wheels interest me.

Russcoles11

I wouldn't trust a cargo bike based on a U frame. If you want to lug weight around you want an old shopper such as a Raleigh Twenty or Dawes Kingpin. Or If you're lucky enough to find one...


This is my 1966 Royal Enfield Revelation. It has been upgraded to SA XRD5(w) 5 speed with drum brake and elite VT front drum brake. The rear rack is a PDW aluminium rack cut down to fit. The long wheelbase makes it very stable and there is no way you could catch a pannier with your heel unless you're cycling in clown shoes. The front rack is one of the mini racks you can find on ebay with the rivets drilled out and bolted to a tubus mounting kit to attach to the forks.

I intend to do John O Groats to Lands end on this bike in a few weeks (about 900 miles).

edwong3

Take a look again. It's a "U" frame with an extra support welded on. Much of the weight of the cargo wouldn't apply a lot of force towards the front of the bike anyway.

Jiten

He's pulling the load and not carrying it on the bike, but the u-frame works for him:

https://www.bikeforums.net/showthread...le-and-trailer

Leo H.

Well there you go, the problem is the bike must be designed for the pannier...sarcasm off.
It didn't seem to be a problem for https://www.madsencycles.com.


I believe this issue is just one more reflection of the blinkered thinking that seems to envelope many cyclists, as H/D smothers motorcycling.
If it isn't directly affecting one, it's sort of interesting to consider as a meta-concept.

Leo H.

That's one point of view, but a 20" bike isn't necessarily that way for compactness. The idea of a lower load position makes for a more stable cargo carry. Or, if one wants to be daring, a larger and bulkier load capability is available to a rider with a lower rear frame.

Hearsay sir! Conventional, perhaps; a convenient add-on package to a frame lying around, I agree; spendy, indeed. Better combo? Are there really a large enough number of similar products to compare to and make that statement? I say not.

Towing cargo in a trailer is one way to go about the task, but then, you can't be quibbling about the length of a cargo bike frame, no matter what sized rear wheel. Plus, if you want to just pop down to the store, a trailer is a bit inconvenient to do an impromptu grocery get unless you happen to have your bike and trailer laying about already hooked up. A cargo bike with duffles or baskets is off and rolling when you get on it. As for towing another bike, the lower axle height of a 20" wheel would make a hitch placement for towing a bicycle low and safe, should you need to do that.

Another point about a longer wheelbased bike that many df riders can't understand is the ride quality of a longer bike. It's more forgiving of road conditions. Not as smooth as a full suspension bike absolutely, but it is less harsh.

Leo H.

As for no longer compact, I direct your attention to the Madsen competitor, Mike Burrows' 8-freight: https://8freight.com

Hot dog, I'm tickled to see this being produced again. I love seeing someone think outside the box.

badmother

A 20" detatchable longtail I am (still) working on is the same length as a ordinary 28" bike becouse the longer distance between the axels on the longtail is not making the bike longer since the wheels is smaller.

badmother

This one I think has been posted here before.

https://www.adelineadeline.com/bicycles/wren-1.html

edwong3

Well, since we're on the subject of 20 inch wheeled cargo bikes, here's one that is quite reasonably priced. It's not a "long tail" though.

rhenning

I would guess you could call my Huffy sold Moulton a cargo bike. Maybe at least a shopping bike. I does have 16 inch wheels though. Roger

badmother

Cool bike! Biomega is a serious Danish bike factory.

Dynocoaster 

Are you using a regular Xtracycle longtail on a 20" bike?

invisiblehand

Has anyone here shared "Drew's Cargobike"?

https://drewsminiblog.blogspot.com/20...argo-bike.html

badmother

No, but other have done it and I am planning to do it later. The way it is now I built it like we do the homemade longtails posted in the sticky in the Utilitiforums. I use the rear triangle from a childrens 20" full suspension bike to extend it. I think this setup is slightly shorter than a regular xtra ekstension. The bike I use has quite a long wheelbase, much like the R20. Since it is detatchable I am in the process of building it so that also the gearwire to the Nexus7 hub is detatchable. Lost one part I needed and had to oreder a new one..

Edit: The bike has been painted with red Hammerlite paint since this picture

badmother

Lovely Bicycle is writing about small wheel workhorses here:
https://lovelybike.blogspot.com/2012/...nd-bobbin.html
there are links to other bikes several places if you look carefully.

Dynocoaster 

I like the Wren.

owenfinn

The E.B.S "Work" - Japanese 20" longtail