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Best electric longtail cargo bikes to carry kids
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Your family has decided to take the big leap to purchase a longtail cargo bike for lots of fun school runs and other adventures. But where to start?
Longtail e-bikes have been around for a while now, but have only taken off in the UK in the last couple of years with new brands and types of electric longtail cargo bikes becoming available now, including some more affordable options.
We’ve been keeping an eye on the latest developments for you and have created a list of the best electric longtail cargo bikes, for varying budgets.
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Why a longtail bike?
A longtail bike is a two-wheeled cargo bike with a longer rear, including a longer rear rack. This longer (and stronger) rear rack usually allows two - and sometimes even three - children to be seated, either in bike seats or directly on cushions on the rack.
If space for storing a cargo bike is an issue for you, longtail bikes may be the best option for you.
Most longtail bikes are fairly similar in terms of length to a normal bike. An average adult bike is 175cm long and longtail bikes vary in length from 180cm to over 200cm. Depending on what accessories you add to them, a longtail bike will be similar in width to an average adult bike.
Some longtail cargo bikes can be stored upright and some longtail bikes come with the option to turn or fold away the handlebars so that the bike is less wide.
Non-electric longtail bikes exist, and these may be an option for you if you are a strong rider or you live in a flat area. However, with e-bikes becoming more and more common, we have only included longtail e-bikes in this article.
We’re here to help and we’ve started reviewing some longtail bikes for you, with more following soon!
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Other types of cargo bikes for carrying kids
Box bikes and trikes are among other types of cargo bikes that are popular among families.
If you're not sure if a longtail bike is the best choice for you and your family, read our article What type of cargo bike is best for my family?
What to look out for when purchasing an electric longtail bike
A big purchase like an electric cargo bike needs to be right for your family, so think about your family’s specific needs.
What will you be using the cargo e-bike for and how will this change in the future? Where you ride is also very important, is it urban and mostly flat, or hilly and sometimes off-road?
The age of your children is also very important, as well as the size of your family. Do you think your family will be welcoming another baby at some point?
Look for versatility in a cargo bike so you can get the most use out of it. Once you have a cargo bike you will be surprised how much stuff you can carry on a bike, from Christmas trees to weekly shops.
Read our Top things to look out for when buying an electric cargo bike.
How much does an electric longtail bike cost?
As with most other things in life, you pay for what you get. A cheaper bike usually comes with cheaper components, and in the case of an electric cargo bike, it might come with a less powerful motor and brakes.
The cheapest electric longtail bike starts from around £2,300 and the top of the range starts at around £5,000.
Accessories will come on top of the costs listed here, so keep this in mind because you will probably need a few accessories such as seating for your children.
You may be able to get help with paying for a longtail cargo bike through your employer’s cycle to work scheme.
Some bike shops and online retailers offer 0% interest rate financing too.
Read our article How much does an electric family cargo bike cost?
Best longtail cargo e-bikes
Depending on your needs and your budget, we’ve made three budget groupings.
Prices listed are for the bike only, and for most bikes accessories will come at an additional cost.
Prices are for the most basic model of the longtail bike, and for some bikes various upgrades are available in terms of motor, battery, gears, brakes and sometimes warranty as well.
Read our article on E-bike motor and battery options.
Low budget electric longtail cargo bikes
The number of cheaper longtail bikes has been increasing in the past couple of years, which makes owning a longtail e-cargo bike much more affordable.
With the lower price come some reductions in specs such as own-brand or unnamed components, including the battery and motor. The motor will be a rear-hub motor instead of a mid-drive motor, which means you may have to work a bit harder on hill starts.
Mycle Cargo Electric Bike
The Mycle Cargo longtail bike is a newcomer on the market and is a very interesting offer at this relatively low price point. Mycle is based in the UK so you'd benefit from getting help over the phone.
The Mycle Cargo had an upgrade in 2023 and it now comes with hydraulic disc brakes, improved digital display and an optional weather shield.
We had a range of people put the Mycle Cargo to the test; read our review of the Mycle Cargo.
Price: from £2,299
Mycle accessories
You can purchase a range of optional accessories with the Mycle Cargo bike including safety bars, weather shield, seat pads, and front and rear baskets.
Mycle Cargo Electric specs
Weight of bike: 33 kg
Length of bike: 187 cm
Wheel size: 20”
Tyres: CST puncture resistant 20x3” with reflective strips
Motor: 250W 48V brushless rear hub-drive motor (brand not specified)
Max torque: 65 Nm
Gears: Shimano 7 speed
Brakes: Tektro hydraulic disc brakes
Height of rider: not specified
Max rider weight: not specified
Max weight of cargo + rider: 210 kg
Max load front: not specified
Max load rear: 125 kg
Warranty: 1 year
Medium budget electric longtail cargo bikes
In the medium budget range you will usually see some higher specs including hydraulic disc brakes, and mid-drive motors by well-known brands, but a smaller gear range than the longtail bikes in the higher budget range.
The electric longtail bikes in this group offer less powerful mid-drive motors than the bikes in the higher budget range. Some of them also have a larger rear wheel or a heavier frame than more expensive longtail bikes.
A smaller rear wheel is better because it means the centre of gravity is lower, so a more stable ride for you and your cargo.
Decathlon Elops R500
Decathlon's cargo bike was launched in mainland Europe in 2021 and became available in the UK in 2022, unfortunately at a higher price point than expected due to Brexit. It is certainly an interesting cargo bike if your budget won't reach to the top of the range.
Discounted price: from £2,999.99
Decathlon accessories
Decathlon's own brand accessories are cheaper than accessories by more expensive brands. The double full-length panniers are a real bargain, for example.
Decathlon Elops R500 specs
Weight of bike: 38 kg
Length of bike: 220 cm
Wheel size: 26" front wheel, 20" rear wheel
Tyres: CST C1996 cargo bike tyres
Motor: 250W 48V rear hub-drive motor (brand not specified)
Max torque: 58 Nm
Brakes: Tektro hydraulic disc brakes
Gears: Microshift 8-speed
Height of rider: 155 cm - 195 cm
Max rider weight: not specified
Max weight of cargo + rider: 208 kg
Max load front: 10 kg
Max load rear: not specified
Warranty: 2 years
Tern HSD P9 midtail
Tern is mostly known for their longtail bikes called Tern GSD, but the shorter Tern HSD is worth looking at if you're carrying one child with you, or one child on the rear rack and a trailer.
Price: from £3,700
Tern accessories
The range of accessories for this midtail e-cargo bike are impressive with a mini caboose for smaller children, the very popular captain's chair for older children and adults and a storm box mini to keep your child dry and warm.
Tern HSD P9 2023 specs
Weight of bike: 26 kg
Length of bike: 168 cm
Wheel size: 20" wheels
Tyres: Schwalbe Big Apple
Motor: Bosch Active Line Plus (Gen 3)
Max torque: 50 Nm
Brakes: Shimano hydraulic disc brakes
Gears: Shimano 9-speed
Height of rider: 150 cm - 195 cm
Max rider weight: 120 kg
Max weight of cargo + rider: 170 kg
Max load front: 60 kg
Max load rear: 80 kg
Warranty: 5 years warranty on frame, handlepost, and fork. 1 year warranty on all Tern or BioLogic branded parts and components, except as noted on website.
Cube Longtail Hybrid 725
Cube is a well known brand for a wide range of bikes, including kids bikes and mountain bikes and this is their first electric longtail bike.
Price: from £3,499
Cube accessories
Accessories by Cube include a top rail (safety bars for older children), a seat pad, a stepping board and front rack. Large pannier bags are also available which can hold 90 litres in total.
Cube Longtail Sport Hybrid 725 specs
Weight of bike: 34 kg
Length of bike: 193 cm
Wheel size: 26”
Tyres: 2.6in Schwalbe Pick-Up tyres
Motor: Bosch Performance Line CX mid drive motor
Max torque: 85 Nm
Gears: Shimano 10-speed
Brakes: Magura hydraulic disc brakes
Height of rider: 160 cm - 190 cm
Max rider weight: 111 kg
Max weight of cargo + rider: 200 kg
Max load front: 20 kg
Max load rear: 60 kg
Warranty: 2 years
Yuba Kombi E5
American brand Yuba makes a range of longtail cargo bikes and this one is the cheapest in their range.
Price: from £3,400
Yuba accessories
Accessories by Yuba include safety bars, seat cushions in two sizes, a clever wheel lock and a rain canopy. 30-litre single pannier bags are available, which you can take off the bike. Small pegs are available which can be used as footrests for smaller children or when the bags are fully loaded.
Yuba Kombi E5 specs
Weight of bike: 29.5 kg
Length of bike: 191 cm
Wheel size: 24”
Tyres: Maxxis Hookworm 24”x 2.5”
Motor: Shimano Steps E5000 250W mid-drive motor
Max torque: 40 Nm
Gears: Shimano 9-speed
Brakes: Shimano Alivio hydraulic disc brakes
Height of rider: 152 cm - 198 cm
Max rider weight: not specified
Max weight of cargo + rider: 200 kg
Max load front: 22 kg
Max load rear: not specified
Warranty: 2 years
Vello Sub
The Vello Sub is a recent addition to the French brand Vello which specialises in folding bikes. They are launching their cargo bike in the UK through a crowdfunder on Indiegogo. The current price is therefore lower than what you'd expect to pay for this high-spec bike, but you'll need to wait a while before you'll receive your cargo bike.
Price: from £4,055
Vello accessories
The Indiegogo page mentions it is compatible with a wide range of accessories, including MIK and MIK-HD accessories such as bike seats. At the time of writing (November 2022), we couldn't find out what accessories like footrests and bags will cost.
Vello Sub specs
Weight of bike: 28 kg
Length of bike: 180 cm
Wheel size: 20”
Tyres: Schwalbe Pick Up 20x2.35
Motor: Bosch Performance Line CX mid-drive motor
Max torque: 85 Nm
Gears: Heavy Duty Enviolo SP
Brakes: Magura 4-piston hydraulic disc brakes
Height of rider: 150 cm - 200 cm
Max rider weight: not specified
Max weight of cargo + rider: 210 kg
Max load front: 10 kg
Max load rear: 100 kg
Warranty: 5 year warranty on the frame and fork
Veloe Multi Shimano
Another interesting option in the mid budget range by Italian brand Veloe. This longtail bike is considerably lighter than most other longtail cargo bikes, which might be useful if you carry the bike up steps or take it on the train.
Price: from £3,549
Veloe accessories
Various accessories are available including multiple seating options, and like with most other longtail bikes you can add a safety bar to the rear pannier rack. You can add another accessory which will let you fully enclose the rear rack to create a box to carry stuff when you're not carrying children.
Veloe Multi Shimano specs
Weight of bike: 26 kg
Length of bike: 181 cm
Wheel size: 24”
Tyres: Schwalbe Big Ben Plus
Motor: Shimano E6100 mid-drive motor
Max torque: 60 Nm
Gears: Nexus 8
Brakes: Shimano MT-200 hydraulic disc brakes
Height of rider: 150 cm - 195 cm
Max weight of cargo + rider: 200 kg
Max rider weight: 120 kg
Max load front: 23 kg
Max load rear: 100 kg
Warranty: 5 year warranty on the frame and the fork except for wear parts. 2 year warranty on all other parts.
Bicicapace E-Justlong
Bicicapace's Italian bikes stand out from the crowd through their clever designs for carrying cargo. The E-Justlong suits the shorter rider and a wide range of well-designed and practical accessories is available.
Price: from £3,990
Bicicapace accessories
The E-Justlong comes with a very large waterproof front bag and like most other longtail bikes you can add a safety bar, which you can fully enclose like on the Veloe. A rain canopy with or without side shields is available.
Bicicapace E-Justlong specs
Weight of bike: 31 kg
Length of bike: 199 cm
Wheel size: 20”
Tyres: Schwalbe Big Ben Plus x 2.15
Motor: Shimano E6100 mid-drive motor
Max torque:60 Nm
Brakes: Shimano MT200 hydraulic disc brakes
Gears: Nexus 8
Height of rider: not specified
Max rider weight: 150 cm - 190 cm
Max weight of cargo + rider: 190 kg
Max load front: 25 kg
Max load rear: not specified
Warranty: not specified
High budget electric longtail cargo bikes
The electric longtail bikes in the higher budget group offer lots of bells and whistles, including powerful mid-drive motors, the best hydraulic disc brakes and a complete range of accessories.
Some of them come with suspension forks or the option to store the bike upright.
Bike43 Performance
The "bike for three" is the only longtail cargo bike that we've found that can seat three children on the rear pannier rack. This beautiful cargo bike is the only bike produced by the small Belgian brand. The bigger front wheel means you'll be less affected by bumps and potholes.
Price: from £4,599
Bike43 accessories
Bike43 offers a range of accessories, including different types of bags and panniers by other brands. It is one of the few longtail cargo bikes that offer a car seat adapter.
Bike43 Performance specs
Weight of bike: 30 kg
Length of bike: 197 cm
Wheel size: 24” front wheel, 20” rear wheel
Tyres: Schwalbe Big Apple
Motor: Shimano E6100 mid-drive motor
Max torque: 60 Nm
Gears: Shimano Nexus 5 speed
Brakes: Tektro hydraulic disc brakes
Height of rider: 145 cm - 190 cm
Max rider weight: 100 kg
Max weight of cargo + rider: 170 kg
Max load front: 20 kg
Max load rear: 100 kg
Warranty: Lifetime warranty on Bike43 frames.
Yuba Spicy Curry
Another longtail e-bike by American brand Yuba; a relatively low-weight option with high specs. Like the Bike43 this cargo bike has a bigger front wheel, so a smoother ride with less wobble.
Price: from £4,749
Yuba accessories
In addition to the accessories listed for the Yuba Kombi E5, full-length double pannier bags are available for the Spicy Curry. There is also a ski rack and surf rack available, which is showing the brand's Californian roots.
yuba Spicy Curry specs
Weight of bike: 27.3 kg
Length of bike: 210 cm
Wheel size: 26” front wheel, 20” rear wheel
Tyres: Schwalbe Super Moto X
Motor: Bosch Cargo Line CX mid-drive motor
Max torque: 85 Nm
Gears: Shimano 10-speed
Brakes: Magura hydraulic disc brakes
Height of rider: 152 cm - 195 cm
Max rider weight: 90 kg
Max weight of cargo + rider: 200 kg
Max load front: 90 kg (incl rider)
Max load rear: 136 kg
Warranty: 2 years
Tern GSD S10
The Tern GSD has quickly become the most popular brand of longtail bike in the UK. The GSD is sometimes called 'Getting Stuff Done' and features a suspension fork, which can come in handy when paths or roads you're riding on are not so smooth.
Price: from £5,100
Tern accessories
A wide range of Tern-branded accessories is available, including several seating options, 100 litres panniers and a weather-resistant canopy that protects your children from rain, snow and wind. Tern accessories are slightly more expensive than most other brands.
Tern GSD S10 specs
Weight of bike: 33.58 kg
Length of bike: 180 cm
Wheel size: 20”
Tyres: Schwalbe Big Ben Plus
Motor: Bosch Cargo Line mid-drive motor
Max torque: 85 Nm
Gears: Shimano 10-speed
Brakes: Magura 4 piston hydraulic disc brakes
Height of rider: 150 cm - 195 cm
Max rider weight: 120 kg
Max weight of cargo + rider: 200 kg
Max load front: 20 kg
Max load back: 100 kg
Warranty: 5 years warranty on frame, handlepost, and fork. 1 year warranty on all Tern or BioLogic branded parts and components, except as noted on website.
Riese & Müller Multitinker Touring
R&M is a German brand specialising in e-bikes, including cargo bikes both for business and family use. The Multitinker is one of their longtails and it's very similar in terms of specs to the Tern GSD S10, including a suspension fork.
Price: from £5,379
R&M accessories
A range of R&M accessories is available including a safety bar and extra large panniers with a total volume of 84 litres.
Riese & Müller Multitinker Touring specs
Weight of bike: 35 kg
Length of bike: 189 cm
Wheel size: 20”
Tyres: Schwalbe Super Moto-X
Motor: Bosch Cargo Line CX mid-drive motor
Max torque: 85 Nm
Gears: Shimano Deore 10-speed
Brakes: Magura 4 piston hydraulic disc brakes
Height of rider: not specified
Max rider weight: 120 kg
Max weight of cargo + rider: 200 kg
Max load front: 15 kg
Max load rear: 65 kg
Warranty: Riese & Müller grants a 5 year warranty for breakage of the frame or rear swing arm. 2 years warranty on the battery: we guarantee that the battery will still have a capacity of 60% after two years or 500 full charge cycles.
Other options to consider
We haven't listed all longtail cargo bikes, so here are a few more options to consider:
- Yuba Mundo EP8 - from £4,399
- Moustache Lundi 20 - from £4,599
- Benno Boost CX - from £4,999
- Vello Sub - from £4,055
Wild card
As a wild card option, we'd like to show you the Babboe Slim Mountain - from £4,149. This is a hybrid between a longtail and a box bike with your children sitting in a row in the front of the bike.
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Other posts you might be interested in:
- What type of cargo bike is best for my family?
- Top things to look out for when buying an electric cargo bike
- Mycle Cargo Electric Bike review
- Decathlon's longtail e-cargo bike now available in UK
- Mycle launch new accessories for cargo bikes
- Can you solar power an electric cargo bike?
- How to start cycling with a small child in a bike seat, cargo bike or trailer
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Comments
Where can I buy child safety straps for rear loader- Tern
Hi Mary, could you please tell us what straps you are referring to? If you install a child seat they usually come with safety straps. The seatpads on the Tern GSD don’t come with safety straps. Hope this helps, Saskia