kevinscargobike
1 W
- Joined
- Nov 1, 2017
- Messages
- 64
I got my feet wet with DIY assist by converting an older Yuba Boda Boda with a Bionx kit to using a Mac 10t, Phaserunner, CA and a Sempu torque sensing bottom bracket. I figured these parts would move on to a front loading cargo bike when I found one used, but it's fun having a mid-tail cargo cruiser that's easy to park and goes 28mph.
The Boda Boda I'm riding belonged to my wife, who is now riding a Riese and Muller Packster 80. I've been shopping for a used front loading cargo bike for two reasons:
a) to have a locking "frunk" on a front loader (multi-stop shopping trips, leave a laptop bag with the bikes while chasing our kid around a playground, etc)
b) so that I can break it. The Packster is daily transportation that we rely on.
My top two choices were either a Bullitt or a CETMA, with each having different strengths and weaknesses. I like the narrowness and relatively square cargo area of the Bullitt, along with the light weight, but I dislike that it doesn't allow for wider tires, and seems like it would be a challenge to fit a 138mm Mac cassette motor. The CETMA, being steel, will fit the bigger hub no problem, and it also has room for 2.4in tires (if not larger), it's down side is that it has a wider frame under the cargo area and some trusses that make box-building a little less straightforward.
I had the good fortune to find a great deal on a CETMA Largo on Craigslist in another city where I was on a family trip over memorial day weekend, and the timing just barely worked so that I was able to sneak away for an evening test ride, buy the bike, and then the next morning I took it to a freight shipper and sent it on it's way.
The bike is a grey color that I really like. It has a built in rack, which is something I find hugely useful, mostly for being able to lock the bike by backing up to things.... and it has a full 36v Stokemonkey classic setup, running with a belt drive to a Nuvinci N360, which I'm not 100% sure I want, but it was a good enough deal that it's almost like that was all getting thrown in for free.
The frame is bi-partable, which meant that it could be shipped on a single palette. Thinking it would arrive while I was out of town, I initially had it shipped to a friend's business, but last friday I saw in the UPS tracking info that it had already arrived at the local Fedex freight location. I left work early, parked my Boda Boda at my wife's work, took the Packster and headed over to get my new toy.
It was a surprisingly quick process to remove the packing materials, stack the Largo box on the Packster box upside down, and then strap the rear of the Largo frame to that. The Stokemonkey parts and some extras were packed in in a box that fit down in the Packster box.
I was intimidated to start rolling, but once I was going it actually rode fairly normally - top heavy, but easier than carrying an adult passenger.
After a little trip through an industrial area, it was mostly bike paths to get home
Finally, safe and sound in the driveway after a bit of a climb
The Boda Boda I'm riding belonged to my wife, who is now riding a Riese and Muller Packster 80. I've been shopping for a used front loading cargo bike for two reasons:
a) to have a locking "frunk" on a front loader (multi-stop shopping trips, leave a laptop bag with the bikes while chasing our kid around a playground, etc)
b) so that I can break it. The Packster is daily transportation that we rely on.
My top two choices were either a Bullitt or a CETMA, with each having different strengths and weaknesses. I like the narrowness and relatively square cargo area of the Bullitt, along with the light weight, but I dislike that it doesn't allow for wider tires, and seems like it would be a challenge to fit a 138mm Mac cassette motor. The CETMA, being steel, will fit the bigger hub no problem, and it also has room for 2.4in tires (if not larger), it's down side is that it has a wider frame under the cargo area and some trusses that make box-building a little less straightforward.
I had the good fortune to find a great deal on a CETMA Largo on Craigslist in another city where I was on a family trip over memorial day weekend, and the timing just barely worked so that I was able to sneak away for an evening test ride, buy the bike, and then the next morning I took it to a freight shipper and sent it on it's way.
The bike is a grey color that I really like. It has a built in rack, which is something I find hugely useful, mostly for being able to lock the bike by backing up to things.... and it has a full 36v Stokemonkey classic setup, running with a belt drive to a Nuvinci N360, which I'm not 100% sure I want, but it was a good enough deal that it's almost like that was all getting thrown in for free.
The frame is bi-partable, which meant that it could be shipped on a single palette. Thinking it would arrive while I was out of town, I initially had it shipped to a friend's business, but last friday I saw in the UPS tracking info that it had already arrived at the local Fedex freight location. I left work early, parked my Boda Boda at my wife's work, took the Packster and headed over to get my new toy.
It was a surprisingly quick process to remove the packing materials, stack the Largo box on the Packster box upside down, and then strap the rear of the Largo frame to that. The Stokemonkey parts and some extras were packed in in a box that fit down in the Packster box.
I was intimidated to start rolling, but once I was going it actually rode fairly normally - top heavy, but easier than carrying an adult passenger.
After a little trip through an industrial area, it was mostly bike paths to get home
Finally, safe and sound in the driveway after a bit of a climb