A bit about me, I used to cycle a decent amount but now I’m looking at doing more relaxed family bike trips, and since getting a Brompton electric I’m a convert. I think I’d be in the target market for the Tern cargo bikes (despite the super high price tag) because of how well the child seat and pannier storage work with their long tail cargo racks. The problem is I can’t fit a Tern HSD or even the Vektron in either my car or house. As far as I can see the best folding bike is Brompton, and the best family cargo bike with the best accessory ecosystem is Tern. I’m a product designer, and I thought I thought the best solution for me personally will be to make a cargo rack for the Brompton G-line that’s compatible with the Yepp child seat and Tern panniers. This would, for me, be the ultimate family child and grocery carrying cargo bike that I can fit in the boot of my car and under the stairs in my home.
Is anyone interested in this? What are your thoughts?
Also, why can’t I add images and text in the same post?
Deviantdefective on
Reinforcing the G line with the ability to add extra cargo is going to add significant weight, it’s already about at the limit most people are comfortable with anyway so it’s not realistically feasible to do.
guiltydoggy on
Hub motors aren’t great for cargo bikes because they can’t take advantage of the gearing. Hence why pretty much all real cargo bikes have mid drive motors.
Medomai_Grey on
Mmm, a cargo tri-fold cargo bike, could it be done? Regular Brompton users haul their bike around folded up. I think a cargo Brompton would be too heavy and large to reasonably carry it around.
So the benefit to doing this would be storing the bike when not in use?
amer415 on
I have an HSD, and I only tried lightweight folding bikes (but not Bromptons). Bikes like HSD are built like tanks to hold weights (including passengers) very safely. What I am coming to is that I am not sure you can make a cargo Brompton without compromising the lightness and portability. I would be very interested to hear from people who design bikes, to know what they think!
ChaosCalmed on
AIUI this use idea is for compact storage and travel by own transport not mixed modal in the commuting sense. What this means is total weight is not as much of an issue since you are not carrying it up and down station steps but taking it out of the garage into the boot of a large family car (SUV???) then driving somewhere to use the bike. Then on return the hardest thing you have to do is lift it out of the car boot.
Of course the added benefit of nipping to the nearest supermarket (if there is one you can reach by bike) to carry a shedload of groceries. Or a nip to your kids primary school and bring them home again.
So if the Tern cargo bike does not fit in your car for that use then perhaps a solution that does might be useful. I do think that weight is less critical than fit in the OP’s case. If the OP can lift it to relocate it then the e-motor will help with the weight in actual use.
BTW you can buy car boot ramps
CalvinFold on
So why not just skip to a Tern Vektron?
Tern doesn’t sell it as a cargo bike but…it basically is built like one. The fold (and cable management) could use alot of improvement but that’s about it.
[NOTE: I bought a Tern Vektron recently for my fiancée.]
CalvinFold on
So why not just skip to a Tern Vektron?
Tern doesn’t sell it as a cargo bike but…it basically is built like one. The fold (and cable management) could use alot of improvement but that’s about it.
[NOTE: I bought a Tern Vektron recently for my fiancée.]
8 Comments
Hi everyone.
A bit about me, I used to cycle a decent amount but now I’m looking at doing more relaxed family bike trips, and since getting a Brompton electric I’m a convert. I think I’d be in the target market for the Tern cargo bikes (despite the super high price tag) because of how well the child seat and pannier storage work with their long tail cargo racks. The problem is I can’t fit a Tern HSD or even the Vektron in either my car or house. As far as I can see the best folding bike is Brompton, and the best family cargo bike with the best accessory ecosystem is Tern. I’m a product designer, and I thought I thought the best solution for me personally will be to make a cargo rack for the Brompton G-line that’s compatible with the Yepp child seat and Tern panniers. This would, for me, be the ultimate family child and grocery carrying cargo bike that I can fit in the boot of my car and under the stairs in my home.
Is anyone interested in this? What are your thoughts?
Also, why can’t I add images and text in the same post?
Reinforcing the G line with the ability to add extra cargo is going to add significant weight, it’s already about at the limit most people are comfortable with anyway so it’s not realistically feasible to do.
Hub motors aren’t great for cargo bikes because they can’t take advantage of the gearing. Hence why pretty much all real cargo bikes have mid drive motors.
Mmm, a cargo tri-fold cargo bike, could it be done? Regular Brompton users haul their bike around folded up. I think a cargo Brompton would be too heavy and large to reasonably carry it around.
So the benefit to doing this would be storing the bike when not in use?
I have an HSD, and I only tried lightweight folding bikes (but not Bromptons). Bikes like HSD are built like tanks to hold weights (including passengers) very safely. What I am coming to is that I am not sure you can make a cargo Brompton without compromising the lightness and portability. I would be very interested to hear from people who design bikes, to know what they think!
AIUI this use idea is for compact storage and travel by own transport not mixed modal in the commuting sense. What this means is total weight is not as much of an issue since you are not carrying it up and down station steps but taking it out of the garage into the boot of a large family car (SUV???) then driving somewhere to use the bike. Then on return the hardest thing you have to do is lift it out of the car boot.
Of course the added benefit of nipping to the nearest supermarket (if there is one you can reach by bike) to carry a shedload of groceries. Or a nip to your kids primary school and bring them home again.
So if the Tern cargo bike does not fit in your car for that use then perhaps a solution that does might be useful. I do think that weight is less critical than fit in the OP’s case. If the OP can lift it to relocate it then the e-motor will help with the weight in actual use.
BTW you can buy car boot ramps
So why not just skip to a Tern Vektron?
Tern doesn’t sell it as a cargo bike but…it basically is built like one. The fold (and cable management) could use alot of improvement but that’s about it.
[NOTE: I bought a Tern Vektron recently for my fiancée.]
So why not just skip to a Tern Vektron?
Tern doesn’t sell it as a cargo bike but…it basically is built like one. The fold (and cable management) could use alot of improvement but that’s about it.
[NOTE: I bought a Tern Vektron recently for my fiancée.]