The ULTIMATE Urban Cargo Bike?

[@saisamsuri]

Only the fourth video about the Monopole from my subscriptions this week

[@MrBelongings]

Same this bike is everywhere. I always forgot that for brands KZbin is basically just advertising.

[@8paolo96]

I guess that with that pricepoint, even if it is a valid bike, they will need a looooot of advertisement to don't go bankrupt

[@dave_c2805]

Belt drive steering linkage is so cool!

[@Xerp4Life]

I haven't got £6k for a thief magnet bicycle, I'll stick to my drop bar 90's mtb.

[@jazzfan7491]

Gotta understand what thieves want. Not high value specifically; they want something they can sell quickly for cash. This is why the Brompton is a pretty safe bike to have in the US, for now anyway. Very little market for the bike or the parts in the US at the moment, so, hard to make money off of quickly. The bikes that get stolen are the ones where the parts can be sold quickly because the bike itself is popular.

[@rundogrun-p9e]

@@jazzfan7491 I can only assume you are not from Europe.

[@JonHartwell1967]

it was really interesting until... the price.

[@TheOriginalDogLP]

Much cheaper than a car. Cargobikes target audience are people who do not want to buy a car but still be able to transport cargo.

[@ed8212]

@@TheOriginalDogLPok, but panniers take almost the same cargo as this. And there's cheaper bakfiets with more carrying capacity as well. Silly product

[@TheOriginalDogLP]

@ed8212 how do you transport a crate of drinks or other similar packages in panniers? And not everybody has the storage for a bakfiet, especially in small city apartments. Or they want to have the agility of a classic bike, especially in high-density-cities. I agree its a niche product, but that explains the price even better. You cant produce a cheap niche product when you want to make money.

[@ed8212]

@ What you say is true, but a small trailer would still do in such a case.

[@BahWeepGranahWeepNiniBong]

​@@ed8212 You just sound dirty because you can't afford it 😂

[@jamesgeorge8915]

Great for touring with a dog on the front. Love the pinion gears too. The price is a deal breaker though.

[@dullbrass]

Fun fact: Switzerland is not in the EU ;)

[@slicedbread9003]

I love it. I do want to point out that Bilenky has has this style cargo bike available for some time. It is a custom bike though. I also think that Monopole got all the little things and some big things right. Belt steering and drive are ideal. A 24" wheel in the rear shortens up the overall length, probably without impacting the ride too much or even improving it is some ways. The price is a big drawback.

[@nipon56470]

Hi Ross, now that you have presented a few of these mini cargo options, we are missing a proper comparison of Monopole/ Omnium Mini/ mulicycle/ petit porteur ! What are the advantages, disadvantages, range (city, touring, gravel), laoding capacity (including kids), budget, servicability. I am really into the Mulicycle, but would really be interested about a good overview. Cheers

[@stevecox4534]

Great video Russ. My wife and I are fans going way back. We'd love to see a vid about your experience and advice wrt moving overseas. A lot of people are seriously exploring that option given the current situation in the US. My wife and I are looking at Portugal, but we would love to hear your experiences.

[@zensukai]

Great review Russ -- but I do have to say, these niche builds are getting stupid when it comes to pricing -- it is like bikes for the rich only. Sad really.

[@carnicer78]

They are Swiss. It's a different mindset. Only the best of the best. Bonkers.

[@Roxlimn]

Increasingly, bikes like this are car and motorcycle replacements and they're priced to match.

[@zensukai]

@@Roxlimn Which again is insane, as it does not cost the same to produce. I can buy a motorcycle cheaper then I can buy a fancy bike. So in some cases there is massive greed and price gouging in the bicycle industry.

[@Roxlimn]

@@11robotics It stands to reason that the problem is that holiday destinations need better connections. Also, bikes are dirt cheap right now. People don't have to buy premium bikes. They get choices. Some very cheap bikes have remarkable features these days.

[@Roxlimn]

@@zensukai Premium bikes command premium prices. You can buy cheaper bikes. They'll still work.

[@charlesblithfield6182]

That bike looks A-LOT like my Velo Orange Neutrino, it’s even the exact same colour but I think the Neutrino is a better mini cargo solution than the Monopole and it’s way cheaper, but DIY. I’ve decked out the Neutrino with 2.1 inch tires, considering 64-406 instead, and am building a front wheel with an ebike hub. A 378mAh battery sits in the front triangle in front of the seat tube so the centre of gravity is low. I also put on front and rear racks and Kiley lights (which are awesome - so well made). My take on it is I have as much or even more places to pack stuff because I can also mount things to the sides of the fork and front rack and also hang panniers or foldable wire racks off the back rack, plus put baskets or boxes on top of both front and rear racks, but the floor space taken up by the Neutrino will be far less than the Monopole due to its much smaller wheelbase and narrower front to back profile. This Neutrino will also be powered 250W and about an 80-90km range. Since I built it up myself, and controlled costs, my bike costs a little more than half the price of the monopole but more compact and is powered too.

[@zwicker5585]

Neutrino isnt a cargo bike though? Which is the whole point of the monopole

[@johnbaca8692]

You could use the older style front derailleur that had a flat bracket with a hole that fit between the bottom bracket and the BB shell to mount a braze-on front der. Or, you could make a bracket to attach to the pinion drive housing that you drilled and tapped 2-3 holes into.

[@heinzholger8321]

Love your review, love the bike. But I'll have to wait until they offer a Taiwan made version of this frame.

[@ColbyRidesBikes]

I got a Surly Skid Loader (compact longtail cargo bike) about a month ago and absolutely love it. Small cargos are the way to go!

[@peglor]

First bike I've seen with compatibility for Pinion and derailleur gears, which is handy for anyone who wants to start as cheap as possible and upgrade to Pinion later. I've lost a lot of interest in Pinion since they decided the solution to the overly heavy manual gear shifts on the original gearbox was not to improve the design to reduce shift force, but to add an electrical system nobody wants instead, and the fact that you had any issues with this at all in the short time you used it further confirms I wouldn't put my money towards the electronic one. Like almost every new bike, it's much too expensive to be parked around most cities, but that's probably the only thing that limits it's practicality. My big problem with cargo bikes is that the biking infrastructure I use is barely suitable for conventional bikes, not to mind bikes too long and heavy even unladen to hop over kerbs, lift through narrow gaps (To keep motorbikes and horses out - they didn't get the memo that those narrowings injure more cyclists due to crashing into them in low light than they'll ever avoid by making access harder for horses and motorbikes and are exactly the places where anyone who wants to steal people's bikes wait in ambush) or fit fully under the roof of a lot of bike shelters. The photo at 10:45 showing them being wheelied shows the rider's weight is in the usual place relative to the wheels, which further confirms why it was easy to get on and ride without any need to get used to it. This is absolutely a bike I'd be happy to buy for maybe €1000 second hand, but I suspect most of the people who buy them won't be getting rid of them any time soon, so they'll be very rare and hold their value.

[@OutThere42]

Russ, thank you for reviewing. It’s fractions of the cost of a car for those who need it and might use it daily in place of a car. That may not be a lot of people but should be enough to sell every one of these made. Hope Spain continues to work out, wishing you well.

[@JohnMFlores]

That Gates belt for the steering is very cool!

[@slowwerthensnot]

Love the aesthetics of this bike

[@Danilyn_Livao]

Your insights on comfort, performance, and value for money are extremely helpful, especially for anyone considering investing in one!☺ Thanks for sharing your thoughts 💙

[@comounaverdura]

Why isn't the front rack level to the ground?

[@Drew-nv1op]

Next, a Petite Porteur for comparison!

[@TheASMRCyclist]

For the money the electric Brompton G line looks quite tempting as an alternative. A similar size bike and while it may have less carrying capacity (although this depends on which bags you have on the Brompton), it folds and is about £2.5k cheaper that the monopole

[@CalebKussmaul]

Price is just wild. There are cars made in the EU that are more competitively priced.

[@SianaGearz]

Cars aren't handmade, there's barely a handful people at that factory churning out hundreds of cars a day, and the fiddly parts that require a lot of labour come from contract manufacturers overseas. The problem is you can't exactly sell a bike like that in million quantities, so you can't automate the manufacturing like that.

[@RedBeardedRabbit]

A car’s typical total cost of ownership is at MINIMUM the cost of this bike, per year, every year. Even boutique, super expensive bikes like this one are a bargain compared to cars if you look at TCO.

[@sylv_ain]

huge frame with big potential for a giant frame bag

[@Aromapablo]

Does it bar spin 🔧

[@pawel8365]

This bike is about 5000 euro, there is no way in hell I'd use this as a day to day, another example of the Swiss huffing glue when it comes to logical / practical product design. Addendum: another fine example of bonkers Swiss pricing/design; Freitag bags. Ok functionality, made from a waste product, priced like Louis Vuitton. 😆😆

[@benp439]

Yeah, especially when an Omnium Mini Max can be had for 1/5 the price.

[@TheIggyTech]

Yeah it's a brutally expensive bike. Like there's probably a market of bike nerds who want a unique and functional non-e mini cargo bike, but for the average commuter or city cyclist looking in that category....it's a tough sell. I wouldn't even feel comfortable locking something this expensive up in front of a grocery store tbh

[@pawel8365]

@@TheIggyTech At that price point, with that kind of disposable income, I'd expect a prospective owner gets home delivered groceries. Come to think of it, it's a gross misunderstanding of the customer base. You buy a cargo bike, because you need to carry large items daily, because maybe you are a 1) tradesperson, 2) craftsman, 3) farmer, etc... and you can't afford a van. This bicycle is a solution to a non-existent problem.

[@nipon56470]

@@pawel8365 that fully depends where you leave. In Switzerland, Zurich in particular, the use of a car/van is totaly unefficient for commuting. And it is safe to keep such bike locked outside as long as they are locked to something. I don't like the design, but the explosion of cargo bikes of every sort here in the last 5 years is amazing. People are spending more one Road and TT bikes, just to ride the week end. They perfectly understand their customer base, but clearly, the US is not part of it.

[@brendonoid6133]

@@benp439 And the Omnium is functionally better in every respect...

[@ludowir]

An interesting idea. Maybe some other companies decide to do something similar with cheaper parts to make it more affordable.

[@fyrexz1093]

You can build a Bullitt cargo bike for wayyy less, and the Bullitt is made with far more material. You can get the frame for $2400 and get ultra cheap but reliable parts for a build just under a $3k. Why is the frame so damn expensive?! Bullitts can use belt drive aswell but still come out cheaper. Great review and work on the video, that company seriously needs to rethink their pricing if they want traction.

[@jafe6059]

Regarding the price, the both bikes I'd use as comparison are the Le Petit Porteur and the Bike Friday - Haul a Day Elite. They're both kind of compact mid-tail cargobikes and probably can load a similar capacity. Maybe a little more in terms of amount, though not so well placed in the front. The Le Petit Porteur has framesets around 700€, the Haul a Day Elite is at around 1500$. I assume the Le Petit Porteur is made in Taiwan (not sure). The Haul a Day is US made and still ~1000€/$ cheaper than the Monopole. Someone who appreciates the ride quality and has the money will probably be very happy with the Monopole. People who are on a budget and just need a compact utility bike should consider the alternatives.

[@jeffandersen6233]

Over the years you've opened my mind to different kinds of bikes from gravel to Alt, and those Bromptoms which I've become fascinated with and now bicycle pick up trucks or more SUV? After 50+ years of 28c bikes I just treated myself to a bike with 2.2 29er wheels. Thanks.

[@RolandTanglao]

but can you pick up pizza without the pizza hitting the top of the box due to the front rack tilt?

[@hernehill6282]

Is there a story that explains the name?

[@subliminalfreedom]

Interesting they only have one bottle cage. Cheers!

[@mitmon_8538]

Man, I wish there was an analog drop bar solution for Pinion. In reality, the shifting is done at the gearbox, so all that would be needed is a brifter similar to the new Growtac friction, but with a push/pull cable setup. In my mind, it seems like an easy thing to design, but I'm guessing it isn't. Plus, it would be a niche of a niche, so super low ROI just due to the low amount of people probably mildly interested in the option.

[@jfouellette5174]

Nice but it needs more eyelets (ok they added some, only) for racks , mud guards etc. Really a nice bike. I need to get a higher income job!

[@Marco_Dubbleyou]

Can fully relate to the comment about pinion smart shift failure, if one will that this is a bug and not a feature

[@comounaverdura]

An alternative to this bike is putting a wide front rack on a regular bike?

[@jazzfan7491]

Design reminds me of the Brompton. Putting the stuff you are carrying out front makes all kinds of sense once you have tried it, though it looks weird.

[@regXxX]

Hi! We often notice the bike stand and bikes in the background of your videos. It would be interesting to see how you manage working on your bikes now that you’ve moved to an apartment😊

[@hernehill6282]

Now you got a place to put your boombox and cardboard when you breakdance.

[@Josukegaming]

Love the build, price is beyond obscene. I can buy a custom built Super Something for way less than that, or a very similar mini cargo bike the Omnium Mini-Max for significantly less as well.

[@johnduggan4993]

Saw this on the Probably Riding channel; he was able to fit a Brompton in the Eurobox. So it does have a lot of capacity.

[@probablyriding]

❤

[@pierrehenri2297]

Looks great! That price will not make it popular!!🤘🏻

[@rident]

It would be cool to see this with a Box Prime 9 drivetrain, or maybe Ingrid if you fancy.

[@pepealexandre]

Awesome bike!

[@jtcornpone]

For capacity, handling, design simplicity, portability, ease of storage and flexibility of use, consider a quality trailer instead of a cargo bike.....and spend a few hundred bucks rather than a few thousand.

[@c1m1w]

Lots of comments on the price. In many European countries, you my opt for a bike in a equivalent way to a “company car”, with very favorable tax treatment. You will see a lot of 5k€+ bikes around town, and it’s successful in supporting local areas and towards the eu goal of zero traffic deaths.

[@JM-jd7yp]

Very informative video.. thank you.... but I think the price point is crazy. Let's be real here... it's a small cargo bike with a small box on the front. I accept it's well designed with only euro spec and it's a nice bike but it's still a small cargo bike with a box on the front. That point never goes away.

[@putrid_swamp_juice]

Cool bike, but it’s not for me. For me a cargo bike needs to have the capacity to carry a grown, female Homo sapiens home from “girl’s night out”. 😅

[@ljp1391]

steeper roads and bigger loads should be a t-shirt....

[@seanc5718]

I wish they would've leveled the rack.

[@RebeccaLang-v2s]

Why do people hate standard bike racks so much? They do everything to avoid them even even buying "cargobikes" aka a bike with rack in the front. My bike has the same capacity with a rear rack. If people want double capacity and have double cargo space in the front and back ok but the first version did not have mounting options for a rear rack. I dont get it

[@crunchysteve]

Less a microcargobike, as a macroadventurebike. Would be AU$4500 in base frameset before freight. I don't own a bike that cost even a quarter of that fully built, except my bakfiets.

[@sagehiker]

When you factor in a car free or car limited life, the steep cargo bike pricing, starts to make sense. Some of the higher end whiz-bangs like electonic shifting don't. Belt drive steering, with cogs, is a breakthru. Great real world review.

[@bruceclark5627]

Hi😊

[@bengt_axle]

So is that a high fork trail bike, lol.

[@SimonYoyoyo]

I don't see why one would get this over an Omnium.

[@PathLessPedaledTV]

Size

[@exothermal.sprocket]

I like that you focus on products and bikes that don't require RAGE and ANGER to pedal and 17 pieces of electronics to measure all bio-metric data.

[@cabasamusic5232]

Am I the only one who's bothered by the fact that the front rack is tilted towards the bike, not flat? Not a big problem to carry stuff but I think it doesn't look very good..

[@prematureoptimism7125]

🚲 - -> 👍🏽

[@parquevideo]

To me, this bike is the first one that ticks all the boxes. Except for the price. A comparable, but lot less sexy, Yoonit cargo bike, for example, is about 2000€ish less. Seems like I am not the only one who thinks the price is a bit off, so I guess they should better adapt to this feedback.

[@sammcclanahan3291]

Interesting I guess? I’m not gonna spend that much on any bicycle. If you were looking at it as a car replacement in a relatively compact urban setting? Maybe. Not for me at all.

[@ashleytaylor9651]

That price is crazy !!😮

[@theantichrome9842]

Eeesh. They couldn't even make the rack level.

[@timfreeman2603]

Cool bike but silly price

[@Hidoes]

Incredible video as always! We have a new electric bike that we’d love for you to check out. We’ve sent you an email today, hope you’ll have a chance to read it and reply!

[@DrewPeabawls]

Russ when are you going to review Yuba bicycle? I’d imagine they have a big presence in Europe.

[@jeffpittman8725]

Trends are where this industry died. The prices are absolutely stupid. Continually disappointed.

[@robappleby583]

It might be ok if it cost 800 euro but this is beyond ridiculous. Put a front basket and a rear rack on a normal touring bike or an 80s mtb and you’ve got much the same functionality. Maybe if you’re moving fifty kg loads every day this might make sense, but not for most people’s needs.

[@siffoine]

What are you talking about? Chinese bikes with lowest level Shimano parts are 800. Not that there is anything wrong with them, but this is made in EU and has high shelf parts. Not even 20 years ago this would have been 800

[@robappleby583]

@ it’s a steel utility frame for 2000. No fancy tubing afaik. Build it up and you’re looking at 3000 minimum for something that is hardly more functional than an old mtb with a basket and a rack. Calling it a game changer is nonsense.

[@robappleby583]

My bad: the frame is 2700, it needs a pinion gearbox for another thousand and the front rack is 220. So 4000 before you put the wheels on. Ridiculous.

[@siffoine]

@ It’s a niche product, designed and made in EU. I can’t see any lower price making any sense business wise. Also, steal is the only material I see making any sense.

[@robappleby583]

@@siffoine I’m all in favour of steel. Of course it’s niche - at that price.

[@Enigmavelo]

English bottom bracket every time for me, mounting standards for products like pinion/e-bike motors have a level of built in obsolescence and if they go broke you’re stuffed.

[@gungfuriceboy]

Not a chance in 'HELL'...Totally 'Over -priced'!!! $7,800...U.S.!!!! YIKES!....i'd Rather Consider A Omnium 'MINI'!!!...( can you possibly Do a Review...in the near future!....PLEASE!!! )...Cheers from Canada!!

[@BahWeepGranahWeepNiniBong]

Soooo much butthurt here about the price... if you don't like it or can't afford it, that doesn't make this bike "silly", it's just not for you... 🙄