VOGUE cargo bikes¹⁹

Buying a VOGUE cargo bike: which model suits your family?

Most people buy a VOGUE cargo bike for the kids. To school, to daycare, to the grandparents on Saturday. In the shop the questions are nearly always about three things: two or three wheels, what kind of motor it has, and how much you can actually put in it. That is what this text covers. The specifications per version are on the product page, as is which colour can be ordered right now. All models have a 250 watt motor and assist up to 25 km/h. So they are regular electric bikes: no number plate, no helmet requirement in the Netherlands.

Two or three wheels?

The Carry 2 is the only VOGUE two-wheeler in this overview. It rides like a normal bike with a long nose. You steer by leaning, and it is narrow: 65 centimetres according to the VOGUE manual, against 82 centimetres for the three-wheeled Carry 3. That makes it easier to get through a gate or a narrow alley. It is longer though, 260 against 230 centimetres. Getting used to it usually takes a few rides.

The other models are three-wheelers. They simply stay upright at a traffic light, and the children climb in without you having to balance the bike. The trade-off is that you do not lean into a corner. VOGUE writes in its own manual that you should brake before the corner and not in it, because a three-wheeler can otherwise tip over. Measure your shed or gate before you choose.

Mid-drive or rear hub motor on a VOGUE cargo bike

This is where the riding feel differs most. The Carry 2 and the Superior Deluxe have an Ananda M81 mid-drive motor, the Carry 3 comes with an Ananda M81 or a Bafang M400 mid-drive motor, and the Avenger has an Ananda M100 with 110 Nm according to VOGUE. The Journey Plus has a mid-drive motor too. A mid-drive motor sits at the bottom bracket and works through the gears. You notice that when pulling away with a full box and on a bridge.

The Journey S and the Caddy have a Bafang rear hub motor. It pushes from the rear wheel and is simpler in design. On flat city routes that is enough for many families. Look at the gears as well. The Carry 2, Superior Deluxe and Avenger have eight hub gears and the Carry 3 with Bafang motor has seven. The Journey S, Journey Plus and Caddy have seven gears with a derailleur. With hub gears you can also shift while standing still at a traffic light. With a derailleur you have to keep pedalling to shift.

How much can a VOGUE cargo bike carry?

According to the VOGUE manual, the Carry 2, the Carry 3, the Superior Deluxe and the Avenger have two benches with four seat belts, for up to four young children. Each child must weigh between 9 and 36 kilos and be no taller than 140 centimetres. For a baby you therefore need a separate seat. If it is mostly about groceries or a dog, the shape of the box matters more than the number of benches.

Total weight counts as well. For the three-wheelers VOGUE allows 300 kilos, and that includes the bike itself, plus you and the children. If the bike weighs 70 kilos, 230 kilos are left. The two-wheeled Carry 2 may carry 250 kilos. Overloading voids the warranty according to VOGUE. Maintenance counts for the warranty too: the first service after three months or 500 kilometres, then every six months or every 500 kilometres. You can take a test ride in one of our shops or at home. Ask beforehand which VOGUE cargo bike is there.

See also: electric cargo bikes | VOGUE bikes | longtails | child seats | Royal Cargo Bike cargo bikes