Sun Atlas Cargo
This is Sun’s low-cost alternative to lighter-duty utility bikes such as the Surly Big Dummy. At $679 ($979 for the disc brake version) for the complete, 21-speed bike, it’s only slightly more expensive than the XtraCycle bolt-on attachment alone. Like the Dummy, it’s designed to be compatible with XtraCycle accessories and some Mundo accessories. The chromoly Atlas is a little over 50 lbs. (54, according to Sun), making it actually a tad heavier than the Yuba Mundo. It’s significantly heavier than the Big Dummy but, with its greater lateral rigidity, is preferable to the Dummy for carrying more than about 120 lbs., unless you enjoy the challenge of riding a fish.
Although the Atlas seems underpriced at first look (and even at first ride), components were clearly chosen for affordability. For example, the rear derailleur is the base-level Shimano Tourney. The kickstand isn’t as sturdy-seeming as the Mundo’s optional dual centerstand–then again, the Atlas kickstand is standard equipment and, if handled with a little care, probably will not rip its plate off the frame.
With 70-100 lbs. of cargo on the back, the Atlas will be a significantly more stable ride than the XtraCycle bolt-on. Like the Big Dummy, when you have more than about 100 lbs. of cargo, you’ll want to use a Yuba Mundo, still the undisputed head of its class by a wide margin. Note the Atlas doesn’t have any load-bearing tubing (sometimes called wide loaders) along the bottom of the cargo area, which is a big part of what makes the Mundo so stable and versatile. Theoretically you can add XtraCycle attachments to the Atlas, but those will quickly run the price up to (or well past) that of the Mundo.
We find Atlas a pleasure to ride and, like the Mundo and the Dummy, lighter-feeling when you’re riding it than when you’re lifting it off the ground and saying, “dang, this thing is heavy.” We like the Atlas’s low standover height and its more forward-leaning riding position relative to the other two, though riders who like to sit more upright can choose swept-back handlebars such as those on the Mundo.
Summary: If you want a basic longtail for basic utility biking and child-carrying, the Atlas is a decent value. If you want to make the most of a cargo bike, you’ll want the Mundo for its integrated down-low cargo tubing. Customers who come in to test ride the Mundo, Atlas, and Big Dummy end up buying the Mundo by ratios of at least 10:1:1.
Accessories, all available at Joe Bike: Peanut Shell child seats for the Yuba Mundo work very well on the Atlas, which can accommodate two of them. Yepp Maxi will work, though less easily. A stoker kit (handlebars for a passenger) can be added to the seatpost. The Yuba wheel skirts (skirt guards) fit well with slight modification. The new version of the Yuba Mundo Go-Getter bag is not compatible with the Atlas. Ortlieb motorcycle panniers and saddlebags are, however, and we usually stock them.
