TRIBE EVAMOS LONGTAIL CARGO EBIKE
Description
We love our Tribe Original 3 wheel cargo bikes, we really love them and so do thousands of Australian families, but we know they’re not for everyone.
If storage is at a premium it can be hard to find somewhere to store your bike and they’re not exactly designed to throw on a car bike rack to take on holidays.
We saw a Longtail style cargo bike as the solution to this problem, and set out to develop a bike that had a similar footprint to a regular bike, could be more simply transported by car whilst retaining all the flexibility of our classic trike style bike.
What's a longtail cargo bike?
The “Longbike”, produced in Adelaide in the 1970s.
Longtail cargo bikes have their style in their name, with a ‘long tail’, your cargo can be carried behind you. The Evamos Longtail has room for two kids behind you (maybe even 3 if you really squish them in), and a front rack to carry anything else.
Whilst they don’t have the huge amount of storage space as a box style bike like the Tribe Original, they benefit from being much more compact and riding more like a normal bike. Their versatility is what sets them apart.
Fun Fact, whilst the Americans may claim inventing the longtail bike, it is believed that the first ever Longtail bike was actually invented and produced in Australia, in Adelaide. Called the “longbike”, it was produced in the late 1970s as a solution to get the founder’s children to school. Sounds like a familiar problem!
The Evamos Longtail was born
We scanned the market and saw an opportunity for a well designed, functional, high quality and affordable option.
We set out with a list of what our Longtail needed to do, this included:
- Be able to safely carry 2 kids.
- Be ultra flexible. Kid carrier one minute, Grocery hauler the next.
- Have a powerful mid drive motor.
- Have a low centre of gravity.
- Be compact enough to fit on a car e-bike rack.
- Be affordable.
- Look cool!
The Evamos started as a wooden prototype in Steve’s backyard, followed by a bunch of technical drawings that nobody other than a bike engineer can understand, a few rounds of prototypes and where we are today, a bike that will be shipping very soon in time for Spring and Summer adventures!
What cool features can you expect?
- The same high power Bafang M400 motor as on our hugely popular Tribe Original Electric Plus bike, paired with a long range 14 Amp Hour battery.
- Integration of the innovative MIK (Mounting is Key) mounting system on both front and rear racks, allowing quick and easy transformation from kid carrier to cargo carrier, and prroviding hundreds of configuration options with the ever growing range of MIK compatible accessories.
- 24″ front and 20″ rear wheels, keeping the wheel base short and centre of gravity low whilst retaining a comfortable and manouverable ride.
- A range of accessories like deck boards, child safety bars and child foot rests as well as all the MIK compatible accessories!
- Four colour options: Aqua, Coral, Black & White.
MIK (Mounting is Key) - A genuine Game Changer
When we came across the then only recently launched MIK system, we knew we were onto a winner.
MIK is an open source mounting system developed by Dutch company Basil. Known to produce bags and accessories for bikes, Basil saw a problem that there was no standard for mounting things onto racks on bikes. This resulted in proprietary systems or complex mounting methods.
Basil set our to develop MIK, which is a super quick way to connect and attach bags, crates, child seats, you name it. Speed means flexibility, as with almost no effort you can swap out the accessories for your bike, depending on your need at the time.
As the system is open source, we’re starting to see more and more companies adopt it, meaning an ever growing accessory range, including the recently launched Polisport Child seat with MIK attachments, available in our store for launch.
The Tribe Evamos has room for 3 MIK mounts. Two on the rear which are rated to accept child seats, and one on the front rack. We’re super excited about the flexibility this will bring to the bike!
More Info
The Evamos comes in 4 colour options with identical specifiications: Aqua, Coral, Black and White. We genuinely can’t pick a favourite. They all look amazing in their own right, from the vibrance of the Aqua and Coral to the smart sophistication of the Black and White, we’re certain there’s a colour out there to suit everyone!
Well stabilised, even with a heavy load
The Evamos has been equipped with a small 20″ rear wheel and a larger 24″ front wheel. The small rear wheel helps to keep the centre of gravity low, whilst the larger front wheel helps to create more control.
We’ve found that heavy loads do not make the bike feel unsafe to ride, and the powerful 80nM torque motor, means that what would normally be a wobbly takeoff from a standing start is almost non existent, as you can immediately get to a non wobbly speed.
The bike can support 200kg total weight, with a 80kg limit on the rear rack. This should be plenty of weight capacity!
Compact Footprint
The Evamos comes in at just 195cm in length. This is roughly the same length as a men’s 29’er Mountain Bike. We’ve been able to achieve such a compact footprint with the smaller 24/20″ wheels, however unlike similar bikes with 20″ front and rear wheels, having the 24″ wheel up front really helps handle the bike better.
The compact geometry does not mean a compromise on comfort though. With an adjustable stem and plenty of adjustment available in the seatpost and saddle, riders of most heights can find a comfortable riding position.
The bike’s width is just 64 cm at its widest point (the handlebars), this makes getting the bike in and out of narrow doorways reasonably straightforward.
The short footprint also makes transportation via car feasible with the Evamos. It will comfortably fit on a hitch bike rack, so long as it is rated to carry at least 30kg.
Power to burn
We equipped the Evamos with the same Bafang M400 80nM torque motor
We did this because we really love the motor. It is quiet, has effective torque sensing, has plenty of power and is reliable. It feels good on the Tribe Original, but on a bike that is half the weight, without as much wind and rolling resistance it really flies!
This makes taking off from a standing start almost effortless, and gaining a cruising speed of ~20km/h easy. We love it, we really do!
The 14aH battery has heaps of range. Expect to get up to 50km from a charge. The battery is also equipped with a USB port, for easy charging of devices when out and about. A feature we’ve already come to rely upon in our couple of weeks of test riding!
Safe Riding
One of the principles we stand by is to develop products that are safe to ride. After all, you’re carrying your most precious cargo on your bike.
The Evamos is no exception to this rule.
It comes with Tektro Hydraulic Disk brakes as standard. In our testing the brakes work exceptionally well.
We’ve got front and rear lights integrated to light up the road at night. These run off the main battery, so no need to charge additional devices.
The Kenda Kwik balloon tyres offer a 2.1″ wide front and 2.25″ rear tyre with loads of tread and puncture resistant kevlar linings. They feel like they really grip to the road and can take whatever bumps, ruts or cracks are thrown at them.
The rear wheel includes a wheel skirt, meaning children’s feet are kept well away from the spokes when riding.
A ‘deflopilator’ (yes that’s really what it’s called!) spring attached to the fork and frame helps to keep the bike from getting wobbly, particularly when carrying a heavy load.
Carrying Cargo
Of course, you’re probably not in the market for a cargo bike unless you want to carry cargo. Probably kids, maybe dogs, or possibly just… actual cargo.
The Evamos does all impressively well.
The included front rack includes an integrated MIK mount. We’ve found the Basil Large Crate with a generous 50 litre capacity a great addition to the front rack. Easily able to carry a couple of school bags and a bike lock, it’s a perfect size.
Of course, most of the action happens at the back of the bike on the “Long Tail”. Flexibility is the name of the game here. Use the MIK HD adaptors to install the Polisport Maxi Plus Child Seat, add a Polisport Guppy to some deck boards for bigger kids, or simply use the Crew Cab Bars to create a nice long bench with some added security for the kids.
For dog owners, the Buddy Basket allows you to carry your pooch on the front or back of your bike. This is certain to be a head turner!
Specs
8 speed Shimano Gears
The 8 speed Shimano Altus gears give you plenty of range to get going, get up hills, and get up to cruising speed of 20-25km on the flat.
Quick release seat post
Change riders in a jiffy with the quick release seat post clamp. The range of adjustment allows riders from 5’2 to 6’5 to comfortably ride.
Hydraulic Disk Brakes
Front and rear Tektro Hydraulic Disk brakes ensure you stop in a jiffy, even in the wet, and require little maintenance
Change riders in a jiffy with the quick release seat post clamp. The range of adjustment allows riders from 5’2 to 6’5 to comfortably ride.
Puncture resist kevlar tyres
Getting flat tyres sucks! So we’ve put puncture proof Kenda balloon (2.1 & 2.25 inch) tyres on the bike to minimise your chances of getting caught out and for super comfort.
Height Adjustable stem
For ultimate comfort, adjust the stem height up and down for a comfortable riding position.
Innovative geometry
The 20″ rear wheel keeps the centre of gravity low when carrying heavy loads (up to 80kg), while the 24″ front wheel helps your bike handle well and smooth out bumps. A low step through frame makes getting on and off easy.
250w integrated Bafang Mid Drive Motor
the 250w Mid Drive Motor comes with over 80Nm of torque. It takes you to 25kmh, is near silent and makes riding your Tribe Bike fun!
Control Panel with 5 modes
The 5 mode control panel has been programmed to get the most out of hill riding. Crank it up to level 5 for the steepest hills!
14aH battery with USB Port
The 14aH battery gives plenty of range for up to 50km of riding. When you get where you want to go, use the integrated USB port to charge your phone or hook up some speakers!
Built in Tail Light
The rear rack includes a built in tail light, ensuring you and your tribe are easy to spot when the light is poor. The light turns on from the handlebars.
Fork mounted front light
A high powered front light mounted on the fork lights up the road in front for night time advantures. The light turns on from the handlebars.
Torque sensor pedal assist
Like magic a torque sensor knows the pressure you are putting on pedals and kicks the motor in exactly when you need a little push.
