Portland is the new cargobike capital of the world, and Joe Bike is the world’s largest and most experienced Yuba dealer. (We’ve actually developed our own Mundo accessories.) The Mundo ($1099) is the longtail bike of choice for people who know family and utility cycling. That’s because it carries more weight with greater serenity and stability than the next best choice, the Big Dummy (about $1800-2000), and much, much more than an XtraCycle Free Radical attachment, which is a bolted on to a conventional bike and inherently less stable/more sketch. If you plan on hauling more than about 100 lbs., the Mundo is the best choice, and the more you load on it, the more it distinguishes itself. At $1099, it’s also a steal. (How much do we like the Mundo? The ratio of Mundos personally owned by our staff to our staff is 1.5/1. In fact, nobody at Joe Bike owns a cargo bike that is not a Mundo.)
The Mundo has undoubtedly the best accessories as well, such as the 88-cubic-liter Go-Getter bag (which is compatible with most longtails), the Soft Spot pads for passengers, the Peanut Shell child seats made specifically for the Mundo, and the extremely stable optional kickstand.
Mundo vs. Sun Atlas Cargo:
Joe Bike is one of the very few shops out there that sells the Mundo, the Sun Atlas Cargo, and the Big Dummy. Here’s our impression of how the Mundo and the Sun Atlas Cargo shape up in a direct comparison:
–who can ride it? The Mundo’s geometry makes it suitable for people from 5’2″ to about 6’4″. Sun Atlas Cargo: minimum height is 5’6″.
–how much does it weigh? Mundo, 48 lbs.; Sun, 52
–how much can it haul? Mundo, 440 lbs. plus rider; Sun, 400 lbs. rider and cargo combined
–front cargo capability: if you’re carrying a couple of kids, you’re going to want a basket or rack up front. Only the Mundo has a frame-mounted basket option. This means the weight taps into the strength of the frame, not to the fork and handlebars…for a much more stable ride.
–what else? The Mundo has truly weight-bearing side loaders; Sun uses XtraCycle Free-Radical side loaders. That’s a $110 option that gets you little in the way of actual function.
–kickstand? While Sun comes with a kickstand, said kickstand is not nearly as stable as the Mundo’s $77 optional Center Stand.
–accessories: Mundo comes with fenders; Sun does not
–component level: Mundo’s SRAM X-4 trumps Sun’s Shimano Tourney; the latter is entry-level gear.
–other accessories: Yuba’s accessories, especially the Go-Getter bag, are simply superior to anything available for the Sun.
–rideability: Sun rides just fine, as does the Big Dummy, but the more cargo you put on any of these bikes, the more the Mundo distinguishes itself as the most stable, capable choice of the three.
–Customer experience: At our shop, where all three bikes are available, Mundo outsells both the Sun and the Big Dummy by ratios of 10:1 to 20:1.
–Our conclusion: Sun’s a fair value, but there is still no comparison vs. the Mundo.
The latest iteration of the Mundo, V4, features a lighter, redesigned frame, an excellent mounting location for an e-assist battery (El Mundo is available from Joe Bike), and improved component levels. The seat level is adjustable quickly and without tools so that people of different heights can hop on and ride.
A lightweight, frame-mounted aluminum Porteur rack, called the Bread Platform, is now in stock.
Also new: foot pegs ($29) for a child sitting at the front of the passenger deck.
Also new; internally geared hub capability. You can now run a Nuvinci n360 CVT hub or a Shimano Alfine 8- or 11-speed hub on your Mundo. You’ll need a pair of axle adapters ($19) in either case, and of course you’ll need the rear wheel built up around the hub. 36 spokes, not 48.
Also new, and only from Joe Bike: a custom-made tow hitch ($125) for any Mundo V4. Works great with the Surly Bill and Ted trailers.
Below: A Mundo serving tea at a Tweed Ride in Portland. Photo by Will Vanlue (The Prudent Cyclist). Used with permission.
The Mundo also tows one or two bikes with ease.
Please call us at 503 232 1107 for more information, or email info@joe-bike.com. We usually have all colors and accessories in stock. For details on accessories and pricing, see below.
E-assist: El Mundowith an Ezee hub motor is available for $2597.
Prices:
V4 21-speed Mundo (black, gloss blue, or gloss orange) with fenders, adjustable stem, quick-adjust seat height: $1099
Upgrade to disc brakes (parts and labor): roughly $200-250 for both wheels, depending on the brakes chosen
E-assist kit, complete, excluding labor: $1350
Most popular accessories (free installation with purchase of bike):
Stand-alone dual kickstand: $77
Deflopilator (front wheel stabilizer for parking): $22
Utility deck: $30
Peanut shell seat (the bike can hold two): $159
Hold-on bars (stoker kit: handlebars for passengers): $59.50
Leg-Up foot pegs, for kids using the stoker bars (sitting at the front of the rear rack): $29
Yepp Mini front-mount child seat: $140
Soft Spot pad for passengers: $30
Go-Getter bag: $129 (new version now in stock. See video below!)
Ortlieb motorcycle saddlebags (for use instead of Go-Getter when Peanut seats are installed): $229 pair
Running boards (pair): $65
Rumble strap (hold-on strap for middle or rear passengers): $15
Wheel guards (pair): $19.99
Cam straps (pair): $19.50
Bread Platform frame-mounted front basket: $129 (for description and photos, see below)
Mundo MultiTool, made in Portland by Antload for Joe Bike, $24
Magnetic MultiTool on-frame stowage, $17
Joe Bike generally has all Mundo accessories and all colors in stock.
Framesets: We now offer Mundo framesets in any color you like. Please read this post for more info. Black frameset: $525.
More on the Bread Platform: Yuba’s new Bread Platform mounts directly to the frame. Most baskets mount to the fork and/or handlebars, so the load turns with the steering. That’s inherently unstable during riding and inherently unsteady during loading/unloading and parking. Yuba, which has hands down the best longtail cargobike we’ve ridden (Joe Bike is the world’s largest Yuba dealer) wisely designed mounts into the frame itself. This means the load stays in line with the frame, not with the front wheel, giving you a steadier, more stable, safer ride that’s easier on your arms and on your nerves, especially at low speeds and/or when turning. This design is perhaps just as useful when the bike is not in motion, because loading and unloading the basket, not to mention parking the bike, is much easier and more stable with a frame-mounted basket. Compare this to, say, the platform that comes with the Trek Transport, which bolts to the fork, and you’ll see what we mean. The Bread Platform is aluminum, weighs 5 lbs., carries 50 lbs., and mounts in a few minutes. The Bread Platform is compatible with both the stock brakes and disc.
And now: the 3rd-generation Yuba Mundo Go-Getter Bag:
Now in stock, the third-generation Go-Getter Bag ($129) from Yuba Bicycles. At about 90 cubic liters, it’s twice the size of even large panniers and is the biggest, best bag available for longtail cargo bikes*.
Features include:
a quicker and easier mounting/dismounting system
a padded shoulder strap for easy portability off the bike
a lighter interior color so you can see your stuff (more important than you may realize)
stealthful anti-bulge technology
interior pockets for lock, wallet, and keys
a weep hole, in the highly unlikely event you or your kids spill any liquids (probably will never happen)
