Not quite. It is not compatible with Xtracycle accessories, or at least didn't use to be.

ergo, my "basically" comment

The Rans is a very slick design "crank forward" style. Bags are of excellent quality and big. I believe the bag/rack set-up is cheaper than the Xtracycle components.
The Madsen 271 is good bike mostly geared towards the needs of parents who want to carry 1-3 kids on their bike. The Madsen because it is longer than the other options is harder to store or to park. Or for someone needed to take public transportation (bus, metro) it's not really possible unlike BD, Yuba, Kona or even Rans's bike.

i can only imagine what its like to stand up and pedal up a hill on a crank forward design cargo bike.

You don't have to. The CF aspect makes you utilize a different set of muscles so you can power up a hill without needing to stand up. Its difficult to stand up given the seat is laid back in relation to where the pedals are. By its very nature, the CF bike is both efficient and comfortable.

like a recumbent?
or to stand and look over traffic
or to stand and go off of a curb, up a curb
or anything else that could require standing?
or maybe even to go off road?
or to stand and be able to shift your weight?

Mate, what size frame do you ride?

I built this bike a little while back but I never use it since I prefer my trailers, and it's too small for me (the crank/seat/bars part) it's probably about a 54cm main frame.... It was really just 'something to do' at the time. It rides perfectly fine.

The front brake and derailer are hooked up, but it needs rear brake and rear derailer cables that I never got around to buying (you need cables for a tandem bike readily available from bike shops). The front wheel is 26", the rear is 24".

If it's a good size for you and you want it, it's yours, all you have to do is come up and get it. I have a bunch of materials here so if you want I'll weld up a rear rack and a surfboard rack as well, just let me know if you want it.

Dude, that is just too cool for school.

...if you want it you best speak up quick because the wife wants it out of here as it's just sitting around unused, and if you don't grab it I'll cannibalize it for my next project.

I can see who wears the pants in your family.

Whipped!

Heh, don't knock it -- she's on board with the household spending a lot of time and money on tools and personal projects. Seems like he's doing just fine.

Happy wife = happy life.

...here endeth the lesson

This bachelor will take your word for it.

Thanks for the offer mate.
Looks like you've done a good job......but i'd just be worried about the frame breaking at high speeds....what do you reckon?

I can't claim to have tested it at speed, and it uses el-cheapo k-mart bike components that were never meant for the added loads so your concern does have merit.... although it's not a bike that would normally be ridden at high speeds, especially with a decent load onboard. Personally, I'm confident it won't break, but I won't offer that guarantee to anyone else.

If money isn't a concern and you want a quality bike I'd go for a BD and good components.

Ahhhh, I thought so.....

What rhymes with 'strife'?

Yeah, i think i'll get a trailer 'for now' and look at rigging up a real nice longtail down the track.
Thanks all