Yuba Mundo Cargo Bike
January 07, 2010
The trend toward environmentally-friendly and healthy modes of transportation has been slowly ramping up. And what better a way into this trend than on a bike that can haul it all? The Yuba Mundo, a 21-speed cargo bike, is an odd and bulky beast with two wheels. It is 6 feet 9 inches long. Its stock weight is a staggering 55 pounds!
But all the bulk gets you a bike that can seriously haul. Indeed, its marketed capacity for hauling is 440 pounds. A large cargo support area on back was designed to “carry tools, music instruments, sport equipment, two kids on the back,” and more, according to the company.
It costs $1,099. But the big bike just might replace your reliance on a car — or small truck — for transportation and errands around a town.
I received my Mundo via FedEx. I was pleased to find that there was minimal work to assembling the bike. All in all, I simply had to put the seat on, attach the handlebars, pedals, front fender and the rear cargo support. Total time commitment: 45 minutes.
Yuba Bicycles LLC (http://yubaride.com) touts its Mundo as the strongest long wheel-base cargo bike on the market. I have no doubt. But out of the box, my main concern was with the viability of this bike as a daily mode of transport.
After a few pedal strokes, my concern started to melt away. It rode like a Cadillac, including easy maneuverability and — believe it or not — an almost weightless feeling of gliding on something of big mass.
continued on next page. . .
Have you reviewed the Xtracycle? A flickr friend has documented his experience here
Mark- never tried the Xtracycle but I am curious about it.
MadScott- yeah I think the extended frame allows a ton of loading options/configurations. My worries on other load carrying bikes is that any joint is a point of potential structural weakness. The fully welded Yuba Mundo took that into consideration.
I have had my Yuba Mundo over a year now. It’s a blue 1st generation model with 6 gears. I have liked it a lot, and I ride it daily even without cargo (it is heavy only at uphills) The heaviest load I have carried were two book shelves at the same time, but one double size bed was allmost impossible to ride, I had to walk.
I’m going to install a electric hub motor to it next month. Rick P. remember that rear wheel axle is 14 mm, not the usual 10 mm, so fitting a hub motor requires a special adapter or a modification to axle drop outs.
Consider a motor mounted in front of the bottom bracket. “Elation” and “Cyclone” make these. I’m in the middle of building up a Yuba and fitting an Elation electric kit My Yuba Mundo Build
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I can’t wait for the full review.