Best for · 2-4 kids · dogs · the school run
Tribe OriginalThe flagship cargo bike for Aussie families.
The bike that started it all, still the easiest answer to 'we should probably stop driving the kids to school'.
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Low-cost fixed-price shipping
Discounted fixed rates by state. See the shipping page for yours.
Assembled and tested in Australia
Every bike is assembled and tested in our workshop before dispatch.
24-month warranty
Bike, electronics and non-consumables.
Why we love cargo biking
A car-replacement that turns the school run into the best part of the day.
Six things owners tell us, again and again, in the first month. None of them are about the bike.
Close enough to talk to the whole way
Chat with your kids, play games, point out the bin truck, or simply stop them from fighting. They're part of the ride instead of strapped in behind you, and the back seat of a car has never once managed that.
Detours are free now
The long way home costs nothing. Loop the park. Stop for a babycino. Re-route through the shady street. You stop choosing the fastest line and start choosing the nicest one.
One car instead of two
Most Aussie families don't actually need the second car. They need the second car's worth of jobs done: school, daycare, groceries, beach runs, with no circling for a park when you get there.
No wobbly traffic-light takeoffs
Three wheels means slow-speed stability. Your feet stay on the pedals when you stop, and you can take your time getting going, no wobbling. It's a bigger deal than it sounds, trust us.
Pack everything, EVERYTHING
Diggers, Barbies, buckets and spades: chuck it all in the cart and keep everyone happy, then grab some groceries on the way home from your adventures.
You become the cool parent at pickup
Sorry, them's the rules. Other kids ask for rides. Other parents ask for the link. Apologies in advance if your school WhatsApp gets noisy.
Watch the film
a day with the original~
School runs, beach days and the long way home.
Getting it home
Delivery, assembly, and what happens if something breaks.
Shipping & assembly
Delivered ready to ride, with nothing to assemble. Allow 2–3 weeks from ordering.
What will delivery cost me?
Warranty & servicing
Twenty-four months on the bike, electronics and non-consumables. Wear items (tyres, tubes, brake pads, chain) aren't covered. Email us photos of any problem and we'll advise the next steps.
- Bike, electronics & non-consumables24 months
- Wear items (tyres, pads, chain)Not covered
- Talk to a human02 5018 7423
Road legal
Built to Australian Standards.
This bike is legal to ride on the road in all states and territories in Australia.
It complies with EN 15194, the standard Australian e-bike regulations are written around, which is what makes it road legal everywhere in the country rather than in some states and not others.
States are steadily writing that standard into their road rules, some already in force and others with dates set. This bike meets it today, so it does not become someone else's problem as the rest catch up.
Not sure what that means for where you ride? Ask us and we will talk you through it.
What makes it special
Built for the long way home.
Every part on the Original was chosen for carrying your most precious cargo, and for lasting years of school runs, beach days and grocery hauls.
Key components
9The shortlist of parts we wouldn't compromise on. Familiar names your local bike shop can service, chosen for cargo loads, not weekend road bikes.
Gearing8-speed Shimano Acera gears
Plenty of range to get going, get up hills, and get up to a cruising speed of 20–25km/h on the flat.
Seat postQuick release seat post
Change riders in a jiffy with the quick-release clamp. The range of adjustment fits riders from 5'2" to 6'5".
BrakesTektro hydraulic disc brakes
Front and rear hydraulic discs give the bike super stopping power, wet or dry.
TyresKevlar puncture-resistant tyres
Getting flats sucks, so the Original rides on 2-inch kevlar balloon tyres that minimise your chances of getting caught out.
HandlebarsComfort handlebars
Swept-back handlebars with leather grips give a comfortable upright riding position, with height adjustability for a wide range of rider heights.
SteeringGas-spring steering damper
Reduces side-to-side wobble and makes the bike safer to ride at higher speeds.
CorneringAnti-tip frame technology
You take turns slower on a three-wheeler, because the bike does not tilt into the turn. Anti-tip frame technology helps counteract those forces and makes turning safer.
Rear rackVersatile rear rack
Rated to carry 27kg. Add a fifth child with a rear bike seat, or just a bunch more gear.
Park brakeIntegrated park brake
The front brake lever includes an integrated park brake, so you can park the bike and not have it roll away. Really handy, trust us.
Cargo box
6The Tribe Box is where your crew rides: 90cm long, 60cm wide, 60cm deep, rated to carry 100kg of kids, dogs and gear.
SeatingFour removable 3-point seatbelts
Adjustable to each child, with chest straps for the little ones. Remove the ones you don't need, no tools required.
Front benchFold up front bench
Fold the front bench up when it is not in use and the box becomes cargo space. Drop the kids at school, pick up a week's worth of groceries, fold it back down for the run home.
StorageLockable storage bench
Keep spare tubes out of sight under the rider-side bench, and lock up helmets and valuables when you stop. Don't need the lockable space? The box lifts out.
AccessCart step for big-kid access
Big kids love climbing in and out themselves. The anti-slip step makes it easy and saves your fenders.
Material9mm marine plywood
Painted with a polyurethane coating. With proper care you will get years of outdoor use out of it. Comes in Black, Jarrah, Oak or White.
ProtectionProtective rubber liner
Skateboards, scooters and bikes get hung over the box and chew up its top edge. A rubber strip along the rim keeps it protected.
Electronics
6All the bits with wires: removable, chargeable indoors, and switched from the handlebars.
Motor250W Bafang mid-drive motor
Over 80Nm of torque, near silent, with assist to 25km/h. Over twice the power of a standard hub drive.
DisplayControl panel with 5 assist modes
Programmed to get the most out of hill riding: crank it to level 5 for the steepest climbs. Speedo and odometer built in.
Battery36V 13Ah battery with LG cells
Up to 50km of riding per charge, 6–8 hours to full. Removable, so you can charge it inside overnight.
Tail lightBuilt in tail light
The battery carries a built-in tail light, so you and your tribe are easy to spot when the light is poor. Switched from the handlebars.
HeadlightsCargo box mounted headlights
Not one but two headlights, mounted on the cargo box to light up the road for evening adventures.
AssistTorque-sensor pedal assist
A torque sensor knows the pressure you're putting on the pedals and kicks the motor in exactly when you need a little push.
The fine print
Full specs
The bike designed for family fun
- Weight
- 67 kg
- Load capacity
- 100 kg
- Motor
- 250W Bafang M400 mid-drive, 80Nm
- Battery
- 36V 13Ah removable, LG cells
- Range
- Up to 50km per charge
- Charge time
- 6–8 hours
- Brakes
- Tektro hydraulic disc, front + rear, with park brake on the front lever
- Tyres
- 2" kevlar puncture-resistant balloon: 24" rear, 20" front
- Gears
- Shimano Acera 8-speed
- Seatbelts
- Four removable 3-point seatbelts
- Dimensions
- 2.1m long × 88cm wide · box 90 × 60 × 60cm
Kit for this bike
The bits owners add first.
See more →
Owner reviews
What owners are saying.
Verified reviews from people who own this bike, collected by WiserReview.
- Verified owner
Great car replacement for our young family
This is the perfect car replacement for our family, with two kids under 3 years old. We picked Tribe Bikes because it felt like the safest bicycle option on the market for little kids. And we needed something that could fit the kids' bicycles, scooters, daycare bags, beach toys etc. There's plenty of room for everything to fit, and even another child or two if we wanted! We use it nearly every day to get around town and to the beach. Our toddler can climb in by himself too which makes life easy! And the electric assist means you don't need to sweat every time you go somewhere. Overall we're super happy with our Tribe Bike. 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. I'd recommend it to any family!
Nell · July 2026
- Verified owner
Tribe bike
So happy we have our new trike. We have 3 Goldie’s and not only did they love the bike from the first ride they actually try and push each other out of the way to get another ride. Cheers guys.
Rees · July 2026
- Verified owner
Want to relive your childhood
Hello I am 64 and have had 10 major operations that have pretty much shut down my very active life. ENTER: NICK AND STEVE: I talked to them about the cargo trike a lot and they were excellent with quick replies about everything and great advice about what sort of motor I needed. THE ORDER: The bike arrived in Cairns far north queensland in 5 days it was packed excellant with heavy duty tie down straps and very well wrapped. Unpacking it I found it was fully assembled and ready to go. THE TRIKE: I had a very high expectation of the trike after extensive research but I was wrong this trike was at least 3 times better than I thought and every time my blue heeler and I ride it we are filled with joy and happyness. PERFORMANCE: The trike has such good wheel bearings we roll on a slight decline for up to 1km its unbelieveable and the gears and power control are so smooth when riding the paths there are many steep rises but the power control which ranges from 1 to 5 and is a micro second change takes away any pressure on my artificial knees wich is a absolute joy life is good again. PUBLIC PERCEPTION: DUKE my dog and I are now celebrities everyone wants to know about our Tribe trike as no
Scott · October 2025
- Verified owner
Truely life changing - 10/10
My wife and I purchased one of the cargo bikes for our growing family and we genuinely couldn’t be happier. Our 11month old LOVES the bike, as do her cousins. Service - the team was fantastic, quickly answering all of our questions and were a real pleasure to talk to. Bike itself - fantastic, really easy to set up, ride, and customise seating arrangements for different trips or riders. The five levels power assist is terrific and combined with the gears, we are yet to meet a hill we couldn’t tackle. On the flat we’ve been keeping it at level 3 out of 5 assist and that seems to work really well. Really easy to get used to riding the three wheeler and stability features the team have set up work a treat. Extras - we went all out in the extras bundle and would highly recommed it to get the most out of the bike. Especially the sun and rain cover, super easy to put on and off and adjust the angle of the sun shade. Really increases the flexibility of wheb we go out. Range - at this point the only limitation on range is our daughter’s patience. Haven’t really pushed it beyond 15kms yet but so far we haven’t come close to running the battery down in a generally flat area with a few hills.
Alex · July 2025
- Verified owner
Best Bike Ever!
Bought the Orginal front Cargo bike and living it. 60km in the first 2 weeks and kids are loving it. Couldn't be happier with the purchase. Daycare, school drop off. Weekend adventures. .. .. great family bike. Easy to ride, great up hills, plenty of space in the cargo box for the girls scooters and even the kids bike. Tribe bikes service has also been quick and amazing. Highly recommended.
C. · March 2025
- Verified owner
Loving the Tribe Bike
I’ve only been out on my Tribe Bike once with my dogs mainly due to the weather we’ve been having. It was great fun and the dogs seem to really enjoy it too. I’ll send more feedback, photos and video once I get both bike and dogs to the beach . So far it’s a massive 👍🏻
Kathryn · December 2024
- Verified owner
In lieu of an electric car
I live in Ballarat - cold, rainy and hilly. TBH, I thought this cargo bike would not be as good as it is. I have a rain cover for the kids, raincoat for me and we have stopped driving the car at all. I’m big and unfit and I manage the hills in Ballarat fine on this. I can do the weekly shopping and ride 5km into town to collect the kids from school every day. The kids weigh a combined 80kg and it’s no problem. 100% recommend.
Macha · September 2024
- Verified owner
Life changing - should have bought it sooner
As a non-driver, the cargo tribe bike has been totally lifechanging. I can get so much further afield with my five year old son faster and on our own terms rather than relying on (unreliable) buses. Tribe's service was excellent, the accessories are really functional and high quality, as is the bike itself.
Melissa · September 2024
- Verified owner
Great service and bike!
A very friendly and efficient service -thanks Nick and Steve! The bike has been a wonder for us!
Tessa · August 2024
- Verified owner
Excellent service and a great bike.
Got The tribe bike plus. Great for carting the dogs around. Really well built and fun to ride. Great and friendly service from the team at Tribe Bikes.
John · August 2024
Things people ask
General Product
Are the bikes waterproof?
From time to time you might get caught out and get stuck in a shower. Our bikes are made from marine grade plywood and can handle light showers. The box is also finished in water resistant polyurethane coating. whilst it has a waterproof coating, it is not designed to handle heavy, consistent rain.
Many of the Tribe Original components are made of steel, and whilst light showers aren’t an issue, we don’t recommend it be kept in the weather for long periods of time. If you need to store your bike outside, we recommend an outdoor cover, available in our store.
Will the Tribe Original tip over going around corners?
If you ride any 3 wheel bike fast enough around a corner they will tip over, as the bikes don’t tilt like a 2 wheel bike does. However, we’re yet to feel like we’ve gotten close to tipping our Tribe Bikes. Take corners easy and you’ll stay upright. Tribe Bikes are also fitted with a tilting mechanism to tilt the bike as you turn and help you better balance around corners.
Is it safe to ride a cargo bike with children?
In many European cities, cargo bikes are the standard mode of transport for large and small families. We’ve been cargo biking for almost 10 years now and have felt perfectly safe. Of course we recommend exercising common sense judgement, including everyone wearing helmets, avoiding extremely busy roads and taking it a little easier than you might otherwise do if riding alone.
Will everyone I ride past smile at me?
When we first got on our Tribe Bike, we felt like we’d turned into local celebrities. You’ll soon get used to the pointing, whispers behind your back and smiles that land in your direction on your Tribe Bike. There’s something about these bikes that makes everyone happy.
Why are Tribe Bikes more affordable than other brands?
Most cargo bikes are European owned and are a niche product in Australia. As a result, there is a parent European company, a manufacturer, a local distributor and a local bike shop, who all require some profit margin. Add in sales reps, multiple shipping points, a high rent bricks and mortar store and the infamous ‘Australia Tax’ and it doesn’t take too long for the price to add up. We’ve worked directly with overseas manufacturers to cut out the middlemen and carefully balance quality and price to provide Tribe Bikes to as many Australian families as possible.
I’ve crashed and damaged my bike, what should I do?
We can help you with spare parts for the specialised components, eg, if you’ve broken your cargo box. We do not sell replacement frames. If you have broken or bent your frame we recommend getting in contact with a metal fabricator who should be able to repair the frame for you.
Do you sell spare parts?
We carry spares for all of the components of a Tribe bike, however you should be able to purchase many of the spares from your local bike shop. For spares of specialised components (eg the cargo box or electronics), get in contact with us and we can help you out.
How do I repair/maintain my bike?
We’ve prepared some instructions on how to perform some basic maintenance yourself, however if you’d prefer the leave it to the experts, your local bike shop should be able to perform maintenance. If you can’t get to a bike shop, there are mobile bike mechanics in most cities who will come to you. We have a network of mobile bike mechanics we use, get in touch and we can point you in the right direction.
Will the Tribe Original fit through my front door?
The Tribe bike at its widest point is about 88cm wide. Front doors can range from about 80cm to well over a metre in width, so we recommend measuring your door to see if it will fit.
How fast does a Tribe Bike go?
Fast enough! To comply with Australian standards the electric assist stops once you get to 25kmh. We can comfortably ride on flat paths at around 20kmh with or without electric assist. We’ve got the bikes up to 30kmh, but we don’t recommend the bike be ridden faster than this.
Is a Tribe Original hard to pedal?
Our bikes are easier to pedal than they probably look. With 8 gears, you can get going easily and get up to cruising speed of around 20 kmh. The electric assist makes things even easier, automatically kicking in when required. There’s 80nM of torque, it provides heaps of power!
How does the Tribe Original handle?
The simplest answer is ‘differently to a 2 wheel bike’. With two wheels up front your Tribe bike is extremely stable particularly at low speeds, when a 2 wheel bike can be unstable. You must take sharp corners slower on a Tribe Bike than you would an ordinary bike as the bike does not tilt into corners like a 2 wheel bike does.
Is a Tribe Original hard to ride?
If you can ride a normal bike, you can absolutely ride a Tribe Original. We suggest taking your bike for a quick spin without any passengers, before loading up your Tribe and hitting the roads.
Kids & The Cargo Box
Can my dog ride in my cargo box?
Yes. We are constantly surprised at how many dogs we see riding in cargo bikes. They love it almost as much as kids do. If you have large dogs you can remove or fold up the front bench to give them plenty of space. We sell a dog ring in our store, giving you somewhere inside the cargo box to secure your dog leash and a front door to make it easier to get dogs in and out.
Can the benches be removed?
Yes, the benches can easily be removed. The rear bench can be unlatched and slid out in a few seconds. The front bench is hinged so can be easily folded up out of the way when not needed, or removed permanently by removing the bolts holding the hinge.
Can an adult ride in the cargo box?
If they are under 100kg in weight, sure! Try a date night on your cargo bike, it’s great fun! We recommend adults sit on the bench closest to the handlebars to make the bike easier to handle.
How much weight can the cargo box carry?
The cargo box is rated to carry up to 100kg. If carrying heavy loads we recommend placing the weight as close to the handlebars as possible, to make the bike easier to handle.
Can big kids ride in the cart?
Yes. Plenty of Tribe owners use their bikes to take their kids to school. As long as the total weight in the cart is less than 100kg your big kids (including your partner…) can ride up front too.
Can an infant ride on the bike?
In Australia all riders and passengers on a bike must be wearing an approved helmet. This in theory at least makes it illegal for infants to ride in cargo bikes. We do sell toddler seats, which are designed for children aged 7-18 months.
How many children can fit on a Tribe Original?
Our bikes can comfortably fit 4 children in the cargo box, and a 5th child on the rear rack with a rear child seat (not sold by Tribe Bikes).
Do seat belts meet Australian standards?
The seat belts in your Tribe Bike should not be considered a safety device like a seatbelt in a car would. According to Australian Standards, the only safety device for a bike is a well functioning helmet. The seat belts do a good job at keeping children from moving around the cart, but do not substitute for a helmet.
Are seat belts included?
Yes. The Tribe Original comes with 4 over shoulder seat belts. The seat belts are adjustable to each child. Chest clips are also provided for added security and to keep Houdinis safely buckled up.
Do kids need to wear helmets?
YES! In Australia, the only approved safety device for a bike is a helmet that meets Australian Standards. Protect your and your kids’ noggin, you’ve only got one.
Electric Motor & Battery
Do you offer spare batteries?
Yes we do. If you’re planning adventures of over 50km, or just want the peace of mind of never being caught short (or getting in trouble for forgetting to charge your battery), we offer spare batteries for purchase in our store. The spare battery easily fits under the lockable bench in the cart.
What brand is your electric motor?
The Triba Original has a Bafang m400 integrated mid drive motor. Bafang is one of the biggest electric bike motor manufacturers in the world and offer high quality and affordable motors.
Do you offer a mid/crank drive motor?
Yes all of our bikes have a mid drive motor. It is the only way to go for heavy cargo bikes whilst remaining compliance with Australian standards that limit power to 250w. Beware of cheap hub drive motors, they are probably not compliant in Australia!
Will the electric motor take me up XYZ hill?
We’ve found the electric assist to get us up most hills, but there’s always a limit to what a 250w motor can do. If you live in a particularly hilly area we recommend you get in contact with us and we can help advise on whether the electric assist will get you up the hill. Check out one of our adventures where we gave the bike a serious hill test.
How long does it take to charge the battery?
A full charge takes 6-8 hours. The battery is removable so we recommend taking it out and charging it overnight. To extend the life of the battery, we don’t recommend leaving it on charge permanently.
How long does the battery last?
The only answer to that is ‘how long is a piece of string’. The battery life is impacted by a number of factors, like how much weight you are carrying, how many hills you ride and how high you have the electric assist set. On flat rides with the electric assist set to a low level, expect to get up to 50-60km on a charge. On rides with some hills and moderate electric assist, expect to get up to 30-40km on a charge. We find our Tribe is ready to go home well before the battery runs out!
Do I need to use my gears with electric assist?
A common misconception with electric bikes is that you can put the bike in its highest gear and let electric assist do all the work. This is a sure fire way to reduce the life of your motor and would be akin to leaving your car in 5th gear no matter how fast you are travelling. You should continue to use your gears and have the electric assist provide the additional ‘push’ to get you moving quicker and help you up hills.
How much ‘assist’ do you get?
The control panel on the handlebars allows you to control the electric assist in 5 levels. Level 1 provides a subtle assist, with level 5/6 providing the most assist. We find level 2-3 gives a nice balance of assist whilst also helping us get some exercise.
Are electric bikes safe?
If like us you rode one of the early electric bikes, with dodgy cadence sensors or electric throttles, you might feel a bit uneasy about an electric bike. The good news is the technology over the last few years has come a long way, and the electric assist on a Tribe Bike feels perfectly safe. It is also limited to 25kmh to meet Australian standards.
How does the motor work?
A torque sensor on the pedals like magic knows how hard you are pedalling and provides a message to the motor in the rear wheel hub to give a ‘push’ when needed.
Bike Specifications
I am really tall/short, will I fit on the bike?
The saddle and handlebars can both be adjusted to different heights. In our experience, riders from 157cm (5’2″) to 195cm (6’5″) can comfortably ride the bike. We also offer some lower profile seats that allow shorter riders to better access the pedals. Reach out if you would like a lower profile saddle.
How much total weight can you load on the bike?
The maximum weight on the bike (including the rear rack, but excluding the cargo box) is 120kg. The cargo bike takes an additional 100kg of weight.
How much does the bike weigh?
The Tribe Original weighs 67kg,
What are the dimensions of the bike?
L: 220cm, W: 88cm, H: 115cm
Where are your bikes made?
The Tribe Original is made in China at a specialist cargo bike manufacturing facility. Our team performs QA checks on bikes before being shipped to Australia. They are then assembled in Australia and tested before leaving our workshop.
Delivery
What assembly is required to the bike?
The Tribe Original comes fully assembled, tested and ready to ride. You simply need to remove the bike from its packaging and you are ready to go. We loosen and move the control panel on the handlebars prior to shipping to avoid damage in transit. All you need is a phillips head screwdriver to tighten this.
