The Joe Bike is our own multipurpose utility bike that you can reconfigure quickly depending on what you want the bike to carry. It combines the largest payload area of any ”longjohn” bike with the shortest wheelbase, so you get both an incredibly easy, nimble riding experience and extraordinary versatility.  Depending on what you want to carry, from kids to cargo to kayaks, you can switch from the box to any of several attachments in seconds, using nothing more than a single allen key or quick-release skewers. Country of origin: China (approximately 40% of the total); rack system and frame modifications designed and handmade in the US (approximately 60% of the total).

Photos of the green Joe Bike are by Bikeportland.org.

The basic frameset is made in China and is also the platform for our conventional Boxbike. For the Joe Bike, we reinforce the frame and modify it to accept the rack and carrier systems designed and handbuilt in Portland by Stites Design and Ti Cycles. The bike can be equipped with a variety of internal or external drivetrains. Our current favorite is the optional front and rear Shimano Alfine hubs with disc brakes.

The three-configuration Joe Bike is $2699, including the double-decker racks shown in the photos, rear deck, and the box, along with features such as a Shimano low-resistance dynamo with a superbright front lamp, rear light that also incorporates an automatic brake light, full fenders, full four-point kickstand (not shown in the photos), rear-wheel lock, mirror, and bell. You can also choose your own frame and rack colors at no extra cost.

And congratulations to OHSU research scientist Alex Stevens, who won the first Joe Bike at the Bicycle Transportation Alliance’s annual Alice Awards and Auction. Alex rode the bike home that night from the Convention Center all the way to Hillsdale, and described the ride as “a blast”.