Si Richardson has been riding an e-cargo bike for the past three years, and he’ll be the first to admit—it wasn’t cheap. In fact, it’s the most expensive bike he’s ever bought! 💸 But with frequent use and the savings from skipping out on a second car, was it worth it?
⏱️ Timestamps: ⏱️
00:00 Cargo bikes are expensive!
00:36 Si’s Tern cargo bike
01:22 This bike has never been serviced or cleaned! 🫢
02:23 What common things go wrong on cargo bikes?
03:18 What about batteries & motors?
04:10 Costs
05:01 How does this compare to a second car?
06:33 Has this replaced a second car?
07:33 How much was the service? 💰
09:00 Has my cargo bike paid for itself then?
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30 Comments
Are you thinking of getting yourself a cargo bike? 🚲 🤔 If you already have one, what's your experience with it been like?
I live car free with my wife and two kids since 10 years, never bought a car, I have 2 cargo bikes and I live in a city in France. I genuinely don't know how people can afford multiple cars….
Great content, we got rid of our second car and use bikes as much as possible for all short journeys and fun. we live in hilly, rural Northamptonshire so electric bikes and trailers for heavy shopping and Christmas trees, my daily choice and travel buddy is a 6 speed Brompton, shopping, errands, on the bus and train!
HELMET CAM AND REPORT BAD DRIVERS!
We're a 2 cargo bike (Christiania & GSD) & MTB/BMX family, bikes definitely enrich our lives in every way. The 3 wheel Christiania is our favourite & 100% part of the family, the GSD is great too.
Absolutely worthy, we have GSD S00 but we were at the beginning terrorized by the cars due to speed limited to 15,5 mph. Since we fitted speedbox, and able to cruise along at 20mph. It is absolutely the best bike I have (and yes, I do follow n=n+1 🙂 ).
Is a 3 year old cargo bike, that cost £5000 new, really worth £3500?
If you account for VAT at 20% when buying new, then the cargo bike has only lost 10%.
I’d rather buy new, if buying a 3 year old example is only 30% cheaper, with no or little warranty remaining.
I have omnium minimax with pendix motor and two batteries. Taking bit of a care and can confirm that it cost way less per year, although I have in same time frame rode twice as much and haul a ** ton of oversized stuff.
Im sure Si you probably used your favorite lubricant on the chain a bit if WD-40 probably why the bike has done so well 😉
297GBP including the change of backseats?
There is no price on your dignity.
You should have included the price of the car club as well as having to rent a car in the costs of the cargo bike.
With two kids like you, we got rid of a car to buy a Decathlon cargo about two years ago. At that time in France, we had financial help to change your old cars with newer cars or bikes. At the end, the bike costs us 400€. We added a "tent" from Rad Power Bikes so the kids stay all dry. More than 2500 km after, and few maintenance (brakes once) I can say it was a really good choice. One more thing to had: I feel way happier when I arrive at work when I come by bike. Game changer.
10:12 to do that to a 2 wheeled vehicle with kids. That tough guy in a metal box must be compensating for something small. 🤭
Easy to get along without a car with an e-bike. You're happier and healthier. Can always make a short car hire when needed. True what was said – you will bike more in worse weather because it is so easy. Finally – think belt-drive is the best option. That is almost zero maintenance if you have a high quality belt..
Our only issues on an Ebike (Velo de Ville, Bosch motor) after 18 months:
– those bike locks prefitted to many ebikes (device on the seat tube that locks a bar through the rear wheel) need to be checked when you unlock it, make sure it’s properly unlocked “out”. Ours looked like it was unlocked out but, in hindsight, hadn’t “clicked” – so later jumped back between the spokes as my wife was riding it. Ripped out the spokes, buckled the wheel…
– if carrying a “women bike” (frame design, no crossbar) on a car’s bike rack, and using one of those Thule (or similar) converter bars (clip onto the frame to make a “womens bike” frame temporarily have a crossbar, so will fit onto a car’s bike rack), take care if the bottom of the handlebar (ie the bottom of the computer) is resting on the converter bar . Some “bouncing around” on the journey can loosen the bracket of the computer, so it unplugs itself from the motor cable…so you’re going nowhere.
Otherwise, rock solid.
Doesn’t cost us anything to recharge (we’re in Australia, solar panels, free electric😀), bike is on the house insurance – didn’t notice any rise in premium. . Initial “warranty” service was about A$160 (80 quid, US$100) – probably do everything myself from now on. Might need new tyres one day..
Perhaps keeping on top of maintenance it may have cost you more by replacing chains more often? But hey £100 per year costs is peanuts and you have thoroughly enjoyed your bike 👍👍👍👍👍👍👍👍
Must an old bike with a pannier will do me. Much cheaper 👍
GCN, any development on my idea for a 1960s style cycle tour? Cycle cape, proper panniers, mudguards, Dawes Galaxy, leather strap toe clips?
Got one Last year 🎯🎯🎯
I've had cargo bikes now for 2.5 years, started with a Decathlon R500E (Bargain bike if you can get it on a cycle to work scheme) as a trial and then I eventually sold it and got a Tern GSD as I needed a more compact bike. Cover a total of nearly 5000km since then.
The Decathlon bike is great, the accessories on it are not as well built as the tern but I feel the Decathlon bike mechanically is built with longevity in mind, the Tern chain tensioner is a terrible design and feels like planned obsolescence to keep service centres busy but thankfully they've updated it many years later.
We got a cargo bike in place of a second car, in one instance when our car tyre blew out I cycled to my wife and son so I could wait for a tow truck and she cycled home with our unhappy son, so it very much saved the day. I love it, enjoy using it to take the kids places but also use it on longer ~30km round trips to sports when I don't want to be stuck in evening rush hour traffic and it's too windy to cycle my road bike as I'll turn up with less energy, it saves me money but also time, lots of time, and I have fun whilst using it. A win-win!
I just ordered one at my lbs. It should arrive in a couple of weeks. Now with two kids, our old car is getting a bit small. I'm glad to hear that the cargo bike won't be a massive money-pit as a second or new car.
How on earth is it more expensive to buy a cargo bike than an actual used car or new motorbike, absolutely ridiculous. I know they don’t have economies of scale to benefit them as much but I refuse to believe that they don’t just charge what they like because they can.
My cargo solution is a trailer. I am also a member of the Car Club so when I need a car or van I can use one. I am car free not car-less.
It's the way forward mate! I'm not getting a new car when the lease is up at the end of this year. Your info makes me feel less anxious about taking the leap!
Cargo bikes are so horrendously overpriced compared to motorbikes or e scooters
Thank you for the environment. I think it it is absolutely vital. we go smaller, lighter vehicles and hopefully in the future well made ❤😊 I remember my old 1980s Rally 531 tubing I still got the frame doing lands End to Jonah grots via Wales via lake District over a thousand miles. the only problem I has one puncher outside Glasgow in the pouring rain … I think on I did about 30,000 mi over the period I had that bike. amazing! what little maintenance it required? the new bikes I'm finding are constantly breaking ! The quality of metal is definitely inferior ?
❤😊 The more lightweight electric transport we have running renewable energy makes sense. it is the damage and cost of burning. toxic fossil fuel is the cancer. it causes combined with anthropogenic extinction It's brilliant. as for me, yes, my main transport now is an electric trike ❤ although my second transport will be an electric car 🚨 running on as much renewable energy as possible The future now we need to ban toxic fossil cars, especially large four-wheel drives and ridiculously large engine vehicles you see driving around London criminal x
Is a 20-30 mile round trip commute reasonable on one of these?
I have exactly the same bike. Took it in for the first "free" service at 500kms from the store I purchased it from and got told I needed to replace both sets of brake pads. AUD$130 (parts+fitting) for 500kms. Thats more expensive than fuel for the same distance in my Mazda CX-5. I am going to pay careful attention and be doing my own pad replacements to keep the cost down but for me the pads are big hidden cost to riding a cargo bike.