Carlos Compact Full green at Fatbikeskopen.nl

Green is one of the three colors available for the Carlos Compact Full, alongside black and orange. On a longtail with an extended rear frame, the color makes quite a difference to how imposing the bike looks in front of your home. The equipment remains unchanged: a 750-watt-hour battery, a low step-through, front and rear racks fitted as standard, disc brakes, and front suspension. A stated range of up to 120 kilometers.

Difference from the Compact Basic

The Full comes with front and rear racks fitted as standard; with the Basic, you order them separately. On a longtail, that is not a minor detail, because without racks you cannot do the very thing you bought the electric bike for. The frame is otherwise identical. If you are sure you will only carry loads at the back and you already have a front rack, the Basic is more affordable. In most cases, the Full gets you on the road faster with less hassle.

Range of the Carlos Compact Full

The 750-watt-hour battery is rated for up to 120 kilometers, with a margin that the manufacturer itself includes. That is more honest than giving a hard number. Such figures always come from favorable testing, so with a load on the back you will get considerably less. For the daily ride to school or the store, it is still more than enough, even with a full grocery bag on the rear rack. You can charge it from a regular outlet, so no special setup is needed. A battery lasts longer if you do not routinely run it completely flat and charge it indoors during winter.

Low step-through and the racks

With a longtail, a low step-through is essential: with luggage or a child on the back, you do not want to swing your leg over a loaded rear end. Here, you step straight through the frame. The front rack sits above the front wheel and moves with the handlebars, which takes some getting used to with heavier loads. The rear rack is extended, so it can carry more than a standard luggage rack while keeping the weight low to the ground.

Brakes and suspension

It has disc brakes and front suspension. There is no rear suspension, which you notice on a long bike because the rear section hits a bump when you are already over it. The wide tires absorb some of the impact. For rides on asphalt and cycle paths within built-up areas, this works fine. If you ride daily on poor road surfaces, a longtail with full suspension will be more comfortable for your passengers. The brake pads and discs use standard sizes, so they can be replaced at any service center. Hydraulic brakes occasionally need bleeding; otherwise, they require little maintenance.

Who is this model for?

For anyone who regularly carries belongings, has no room for a cargo bike, and wants a color other than black. The maximum total weight is 140 kilos, including you and your load; with an adult weighing eighty kilos, you have sixty kilos left. That is more than enough for groceries and one child, but it becomes tight with two older children. In that case, look for a longtail with a higher stated load capacity. Anyone who rides it daily will notice these choices sooner than someone who only goes for an occasional ride. When deciding, consider where you will store the bike, as that often matters more than the specifications.

Ordering from Fatbikeskopen.nl

A longtail handles differently from a regular bike, especially when loaded, and colors are best judged in person. You can do both at one of the ten showrooms, where you can schedule a test ride right away. For maintenance, you can visit more than 450 locations in the Netherlands. If you order online, the bike will be delivered to your home fully assembled and ready to ride. The rotating components and the battery come with a one-year warranty.

See also: Carlos | longtails | cargo bikes | all fatbikes