Comments on: Electric cargo bike, made in China

By: Don

Don — Mon, 28 Nov 2011 18:57:26 +0000

Thanks for the review! I wish San Diego were closer to Seattle, but it’s certainly helpful to get a first-hand impression of the bike.

By: OC Surfin Cycle Chic

OC Surfin Cycle Chic — Mon, 28 Nov 2011 08:49:54 +0000

I have personally test ridden one of these bikes, and it rides very different than say an electric Yuba Mundo, or Xtracycle. The company is right by me, in San Diego. It was not only fun to ride, but the low center of gravity gave it a real stable feeling, and what is not to like about a battery which lasts a long time. I really could not find anything not to like about it. I especially liked the bright green paint the one I rode had, it really stood out. Its always good to be seen on the road. Its just a zippy little cargo bike, far different than any else I have seen or ridden. Definately take one for a spin if your ever in San Diego, near the headquarters, your might love it!

By: derek

derek — Mon, 10 Oct 2011 01:23:15 +0000

Yo Don! Great to meet you – got a few words and a pic up on my site. Thanks again, there will be more communication for sure as we try to make a decision on this thing ha!

By: Derek

Derek — Tue, 04 Oct 2011 11:35:59 +0000

Very interesting writeup, thanks! Looking forward to meeting you and trying out your electric xtracycle!

By: Mark Stosberg

Mark Stosberg — Fri, 16 Sep 2011 12:27:21 +0000

I can’t find the article now, but I read recently that the US just *can’t* compete with some products from China, but because of price so much, because entire industries have left the US now. I seem to recall that Lithium batteries was one of the categories mentioned.

Here’s a quote from a related article: “…97% of all rare earth elements (REEs), including neodymium and scandium, are produced in China.” reference: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/science-environment-14903904

It’s also just not that Chinese labor is cheaper in this case, they are way ahead of the curve on electric bike adoption.

I wonder how this bike, or a clone of it, will sell in the China vs the US.

By: Don

Don — Thu, 15 Sep 2011 13:58:44 +0000

Good point, Mark (as usual!)

It doesn’t surprise me that most of our bike frames come from outside North America. Probably most of the components on any given bike come from elsewhere as well.

But as far as I know, the ODK bike is the only electric cargo bike that is manufactured soup to nuts in China. Or at least, Juiced Riders is the only company that is being so open about that.

For now, I take solace in the fact that the bike is still designed and marketed by an American company. But if you want to make the country of origin a criterion in your purchasing decision, I agree that the choices aren’t clear. That ship has sailed, and we’ll have to let price, features, and quality be the determining factors. No candidate for president would ever say it, but the global economy is the harbinger of fading twilight for nationalism, and maybe that’s as it should be.

What do you think?

By: Mark Stosberg

Mark Stosberg — Thu, 15 Sep 2011 12:01:11 +0000

Thanks for the post. Remind me again what my electric cargo bike options are that are made in America or Canada. Big Dummy frames are made in Taiwan, the Yuba Mundo frame in China, and the Workcycles/bakfiets frame in the Netherlands.