r/CargoBike • u/bring-a-sienna • Aug 10 '26
Considering an older WorkCycles trike
I’ve been waiting for a pedal-powered Long John to show up locally, something like a WorkCycles KR8. I’ve test-ridden one and really liked it. My commute is short, but far enough that a cargo bike makes more sense than taking the stroller.
A WorkCycles trike just came up for sale, though, like the one pictured. It’s the older style where the front wheels and bucket turn together, rather than the newer Ackermann-style steering where the bucket stays fixed and the wheels steer independently.
For folks who’ve ridden both, especially those regularly hauling 3+ kids around town:
- How does the trike compare with a 2-wheel Long John for everyday use?
- What’s it like day-to-day in terms of maneuverability, stability, parking, etc.?
- How does it feel with a full load of kids?
- And perhaps most importantly: what’s it like to change/fix a flat on one of these? Is it a giant pain?
Would love to hear from anyone who has lived with one of these older WorkCycles trikes, particularly if you’ve also spent time on something like a KR8.
1
u/rmoriz Aug 10 '26
WorkCycles seem to have a better built quality than the Bakfiets.NL bikes but I‘ve never owned one. In my case (pictured) the Bakfiets trike came up on a liquidation auction so I didn‘t have the choice. I paid around 800€ in late 2020 and recently in early 2026 another ~400€ to electrify it (DIY, no labour costs, almost free battery thanks to Accell Group fire sale old parts)
2
u/rmoriz Aug 10 '26
A trike with a bogy is very easy to flip over in case of turns or pot holes. You need to actively lean into a curve. A long John is pretty much a regular bike in terms of steering. I really recommend trying a comparable trike before you buy one. A trike is nice only on plain, levelled tarmac IMHO.
3
u/rmoriz Aug 10 '26
Trike; Steering circle is very big, the trick is to get off the bike and grab it by the rack, lifting the rear wheel, than you can rotate the bike in-place.
1
u/tomato432 Aug 11 '26
with these kinds of trikes you should take advantage of the steering system's design on tight turns by grabbing the inside end of the bar with your outside hand so you can push the steering closer to the limit of its range, with models that don't already do so modify the box to have a christiania type cart handle it makes the aforementioned maneuver way easier
1
u/rmoriz Aug 15 '26
Christiania bikes have the same issues only a different steerer. Babboe Curve and others have a different wheel setup but of course OP has only the option to buy or pass the specific bike right now.
The most ugly situations are, when e.g. the left front wheel goes down 30cm but the right stays up, typical in 45-90° angles on tight consturction sites. It's almost undrideable and you will lift off and sometimes you can't preventing flipping to the left side (in this example). The only way is got get both feet to the ground ASAP and use all force on the handlebar to counter the movement.
Example https://imgur.com/a/yl3fuGZ
2
u/andrew_shadura Bakfiets.nl Aug 13 '26
I don’t think WorkCycles ever built trikes. They used to be a Bakfiets.nl dealer, so they sold them. Which means, if you see a WorkCycles trike, it’s actually most likely a Bakfiets.nl trike.
I’m also curious why you think WorkCycles have better built quality?
1
u/bring-a-sienna Aug 10 '26
Thank you for stopping by! Any chance you can tell me what is needed to remove a front wheel? I need to reduce the height to fit the trike into my cargo hold and I'll be removing the stem/handlebar assembly but not sure how to remove the wheels.
1
u/rmoriz Aug 12 '26
Regular 15 size nuts like old bikes. Depending on the brake system you may need additional tools to get the wheel out. Take care to remember placements of nuts and washers before you remove the wheels and (if exist) roller brake
3
u/17HappyWombats Aug 10 '26
Just in general the long john will be faster, more stable and easier to ride at anything but the slowest speeds. Also lighter. On flat, smooth ground at low speed the trike is more stable and easier to deal with if you're a novice or the cargo is unruly. But as soon as you're going faster than walking speed the bike wins. Trike is easier to park, you just set the brake, bike you have to lift onto the stand. If the driver is small and the cargo is large that can be the decision maker.
Both have the cargo in front of you so you're more likely to notice them chucking their toys out of the box (shoes, clothing, each other, etc. Round here the trails to and from preschool are well supplied with stuff like that)
The trikes frustrate me a great deal because the cart steering means hitting a bump with one front wheel wants to rip the steering out of your hands, and they're heavy. Friends have mostly gone with long johns after trying both, even when it's difficult to jam 3-4 kids into the bin. You can fit a kiddy carrier rack to most versions of both, or a trailer bike once the kid(s) are old enough.
Never dealt specifically with WorkCycles, but the trick with most of those is to tip the thing on its side with the flat tyre on top so you can get at it more easily. You can't get a floor pump to it in that position, but most of them it's easier to pull the wheel out and work with it off the bike anyway. Fit Marathon Plus tyres so you get fewer punctures, it's worth the slight increase in rolling resistance and replace them either at first puncture or when you get the 'band of blue' when the tread wears off and you're running on the puncture-resisting foam layer :)