It’s the question everyone asks us before they buy and almost nobody asks afterwards. Let’s take a look at the pros and cons.
Four to eight thousand dollars is a lot of money for a bicycle, and you could buy a used car for that (we can’t vouch for the quality of a $5,000 car!). The bike needs somewhere secure to live, and on rainy days you’ll probably look at it and take the car anyway. If you only ride with the kids once a month, you won’t get your money back.
When people ring us, we tell them to count the trips rather than the kilometres. If there are three or more car trips a week that a bike could do (school, daycare, the shops, sport), the sums start to work. If there are fewer than that, try a trailer or borrow one before you commit to anything.
People are often surprised by which trips end up on the bike. Mina in Sydney does the school and daycare run every day with two kids, about 60kg between them, up what she describes as quite a steep hill. She wasn’t confident about carrying both at once, but three months in she’s riding 25km every Sunday for fun, which wasn’t the plan when she bought it.
3 months in. And I can confidently say that I love my cargo bike. I use it daily for school and daycare drop off and pick up. 2 kids at about 60kg. We live in a suburb with quite a steep hill. I wasn’t confident having the 2 kids at the same time. But what a powerful bike!
Mina, Sydney
We see this all the time. People buy a cargo bike for one particular trip, and before long it’s doing half the week. Nell in Sydney bought hers as a car replacement for two kids under three, and it now carries the kids’ bikes, scooters, daycare bags and beach toys as well.
It’s cut down our car trips massively, and means we can go further each day with the kids and stay out longer because you can pack everything you need into it.
Nell, Sydney
The money
A cargo bike costs you the purchase price, a service or so a year, and a few cents per charge for electricity. There’s no registration or fuel, and no insurance unless you add it to your contents policy. Compared to a second car those costs are tiny (we’ve written a separate post on that comparison), but there’s no magic number that makes the decision for you. It really comes down to how many trips you’d use it for.
Resale value
That used car you could buy for the same money will be worth very little in five years. A cargo bike that’s been looked after holds its value much better, and second-hand ones sell well. There’s no engine to wear out, and the parts that do wear can be replaced without costing a fortune.
So you’re not spending $5,000 and watching it disappear. You’ll get a fair chunk of it back when you sell, and most people sell because the kids have outgrown it rather than because the bike’s worn out. It does its job for the years you need it, and then another family starting out buys it from you.
The main thing is to look after it. Store it out of the weather, keep it clean and get it serviced about once a year, and it’ll hold its value for whoever has it next.
When we tell people not to buy one
If your school run is 15km each way on a road with no shoulder, we’d say no. Same if you’ve got nowhere secure to keep it, and that includes a shed you’d have to wheel it through the house to get to, because you’ll stop using it. And if the budget only stretches to a bike you don’t fully trust with your kids on it, wait and save.
Common questions
How much does an electric cargo bike cost in Australia?
Between about $3,500 and $14,500, with most family longtails between $4,000 and $8,000. We keep a full price guide with the current market.
How long do they last?
The frame and drivetrain are built for years of daily use. The battery is the part with a limited life, but it’s replaceable and you shouldn’t need a new one for a few years. Our bikes come with a 24 month warranty.
What is a used cargo bike worth after a few years?
More than most people expect, as long as it’s been stored properly and serviced. There’s no engine to wear out, and demand for second-hand family cargo bikes is steady. Facebook Marketplace is a good place to check second hand prices.
Do I need a licence or registration?
No. A pedal-assist bike that meets the Australian standard is legally a bicycle, so you don’t need a licence, registration or CTP.
