Lots of details and photos of the 2010 version here, along with the eZee electric assist I added. Next goal is to get the kids on the back of the bike. Thinking about the Bobike Junior for the six year old. Or creating something homegrown. Check our blog for the continuing adventures: http://www.optoutenmasse.com.

We’ve been riding the bike almost everyday.

Here’s my take:
- Heavy
-Sturdy
-Slow
- Fun to cruise, especially if you’re not in a rush
- Kids love it
- Turns heads all over the place
- Versitile
- Weight and bulk virtually nulify versitility
- Some serious flaws (could be easily addressed if Yuba wanted to)

Serious flaw #1: The bike is marketed as a Cargo Bike. It might be a great cargo bike if it had a kickstand that worked. The Benie kickstand does not work. Mine fell off while I was riding it. The Standalone kickstand sort of works but you could never let the kids climb up on it without holding on tight. For anyone who has experienced the stability of an Xtracycle kickstand, you would be shocked at the shoddy quality of the current kickstand solutions. It’s hard to believe Yuba would even sell a bike of this size, weight and bulk without a viable kickstand option. In my opinion, this is a very serious flaw. I can’t load my kids without major contortions trying to stabilize the bike. How is a person supposed to load cargo on this thing, let alone people?

Serious flaw #2: the grip shifts suck. As I mentioned, the bike is heavy. You must use the handle bars to get leverage and steady it when mounting and dismounting, I am constantly accidentally shifting the bike. This may be a factor of the shape and size of the stock handle bars. Nevertheless, I am absolutely going to swap out the grip shifts when I have the time.

Serious flaw #3: a buddy of mine purchased the same bike at the same time and discovered the rear wheel hub to be defective. I haven’t personally had this experience but it seems crazy to have a cargo bike rated to carry 450lbs with a defective rear hub. I wonder if this is a known issue or not…

GoGetter Bag: HUGE. Too big, not useful off the bike, heavy, overall design not well thought out. Better to retrofit Xtracycle bag/sling set up- much more useful, much lower profile.

Gripe: bike was delivered to me needing a full break readjustment, and with skipping gears.

Nevertheless, we’re still loving the bike. We love how easy it is to get from point a to point b as a family. It’s especially enjoyable when you’re not in a rush. Super cush ride with the giant tires and spring loaded saddle. For the price, it’s still probably the best deal out there and since it’s steel, it’s pretty easy to drill right into it and not worry if you want to retrofit.

I will say, though, that I’ve found myself questioning Yuba’s integrity. Putting a bike like this on the market with some of the flaws it has without full disclosure borders on dishonesty to me. I hate to say that, but that’s the way it feels.

I really want to love this bike. I really want to support Yuba and the people selling it. I’d love to see a better version of this bike being used in developing countries, but there’s still a bunch more work to be done. Our first few weeks riding around town we were singing its praises, now, though we still encourage people to check it out, it’s not without reservation.

I’m pretty disapointed to have to say all the above, but, in my experience, the bike currently falls far short of its potential.

We’ll keep riding it though.

I’m sorry to hear of you’re troubles with the Yuba Mundo. I was really excited to hear that they had a bike seat to offer on their redesigned model, but it sounds like you had some difficulty with that too. I just sold my V1 and haven’t replaced it with a V2 yet. I’ll address some of these issues best I can.

Shipping / build – In order to ship the bike by standard carrier, it does come unassembled. I had a heck of time putting mine together (first bike build) but at least I got to buy some cool new tools! The build instructions came in pretty handy – once I downloaded them. Here are the current assembly instructions for the Yuba Mundo. http://yubaride.com/cargobikes-manuals.html
Most bike shops can assemble the workings for you for $50-$80. The rear frame may be beyond a standard build but that just requires a hex wrench (and finesse and some oomph!)

Seat – INTERESTING. It’s a Kettler seat you say? and you have pictures? I’d LOVE to see these. There’s not a whole lot of info on the Yuba site about the seat. I do know the bikes are built in Germany, so they might purchase the seats there and have them shipped with the bikes. One of their product descriptions (the E-bike I believe) says “most people just want to know it will work but …” I’m one of those “but” people and devour specs and comparisons on projects I’m getting into. If you could send me model numbers, alternate names, pics, anything you’ve got – I’ll post it up and give you the credit for it. Or link to where you’ve already got it posted. As far as existing seats, You’ll have to try out the one you have to see if it fits. The lack of mounting points (braize?) like a standard bike means standard accessories don’t fit. I had that trouble too. Yuba offers the Bobike line and I have the founder’s assurance that they fit. My Bobike Maxi+ and Junior seats didn’t fit the V1 very well (or at all safely) and now that I have my Madsen I’m going to offer them up for sale. Let me know if you’re interested in those.
Other solutions – if your existing seat doesn’t fit, there’s the option of letting older kids ride horseback style. Get the plastic deck from Yuba and take your bike to a local shop that sells tandem bikes. You can get a tandem stoker and handle bars that attach to your seat post and let the passenger have something to hang on to. Obviously, this only works for big kids and adults.

My best recommendation, however will come too late for you. It was almost too late for me. I had just decided to order a V2 and some seats when one last Google:Cargo Bike search led me to my Madsen. I was just sitting down to put up some more reviews of the Madsen when I saw your comment, so check back for those reviews later but the short of it is: the Madsen KG271 Bucket bike comes assembled and tuned with seats and belts for up to 4 kids. Actually roll out of the box, adjust the seat and go. Look for the Madsen post for more details.

Good luck getting everything to work for you.
pb

The Yuba folks were sold out of the Kettler bike seat (what they call the Bout’Chou), but then they said they had one left. I paid $169 and they shipped it to me. It was used. It was missing parts. It did not fit on the bike. I tried to work with Yuba, but they just kept telling me that I didn’t need the missing parts (which were screws and spacers along with the spring guard so my daughter’s fingers wouldn’t get chewed up). Like most parents, my child is pretty important to me and the idea of tossing on a seat without all the manufacturer’s required parts is not something I’m about to do.

I contacted Kettler directly and after sending photos of the bike seat, they alerted me that Yuba is not an authorized dealer, and this was a bike seat that had not been released in the US yet. So the seat, which remember was used, came from somewhere else and wasn’t even sold by an authorized dealer.

To Yuba’s credit, they refunded my card and I sent the seat back, but I’m still seatless. Understanding that you have had to build something custom to fit on the Mundo has me convinced that’s the only way to have a child ride on this bike. We, like you, bought the bike for local commuting and since we got it in July it’s been sitting in the back yard unused because there is almost never an occassion when I can ride without my daughter.

So, do you have any specs on what you built or any recommendations? I have a Co-Pilot Limo that I’ve been using on another bike. I’d rather start with that than buy another seat if possible. Looking forward to your help – Melissa

There is a “mundo v2″ out now which is 12 lbs (5-6 kg) lighter but with the same load capacity, the american webshop sells a 18 speed version for 100 dollar more, or an upgrade kit for the 6 speed version for 85 dollars, the also had kid seats as accessories, and both a board to put on the top of the cargo area and a board and straps system for the sides.

I assume fitting it with some boards can be easily done by oneself, and since it’s a steel frame one can even weld extra pins on it if needed.

I hope this helped you with some of your issues. (Btw, if you already own a kids seat I guess you may be able to fit some thing which make it possible to mount that to.)

Oh, and btw, for huge hills you could always add an electrical motor, noone force you to use it all the time but when heavily loaded or up hills .. ;D