Carlos Compact Full orange at Fatbikeskopen.nl

Orange is the most eye-catching of the three colors in which the Carlos Compact Full is available. On a longtail with an extended rear frame, this makes you immediately visible in traffic and at school, which is a practical advantage when carrying children. The equipment is the same in all colors: a 750-watt-hour battery, a low step-through, front and rear racks as standard, disc brakes, and front suspension.

Difference from the Compact Basic

The Full comes with the front and rear racks fitted as standard, whereas you order them separately with the Basic. For a longtail, that is not a minor detail: 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 on the rear and you already have a front rack, the Basic is more affordable. In most cases, the Full will be the better choice.

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 mentions. That is more honest than publishing a fixed figure. Such figures always come from favorable test conditions, so with a load on the rear you will get considerably less. For the daily trip to school or the store, that is still more than enough, even with a full grocery bag on the rear rack. A battery lasts longer if you do not routinely run it completely flat and charge it indoors in winter. The stated range is always a test figure, so expect somewhat less in practice.

Low step-through and the racks

A low step-through is essential on a longtail: with luggage or a child on the rear, you do not want to swing your leg over a loaded rear section. Here, you step straight through the frame. The front rack sits above the front wheel and therefore 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 carrier while keeping the weight low to the ground.

Brakes and suspension

Disc brakes and front suspension make up the equipment. There is no rear suspension, which you notice on a long bike because the rear section hits a bump just as you have already ridden over it. The wide tires absorb some of this impact. For rides within built-up areas on asphalt and cycle paths, this works fine. For daily riding on poor roads, a longtail with dual suspension is more comfortable. Hydraulic brakes need bleeding occasionally; otherwise, they require little maintenance. The lights are permanently mounted on the bike and run on the main battery.

Who is this version for?

For anyone who regularly carries goods or a child, has no room for a cargo bike, and deliberately chooses a striking color. The maximum total weight is 140 kilograms, including you and your load; with an 80-kilogram adult, you have 60 kilograms left. That is plenty for groceries and one child, but tight for two larger children. In that case, look for a longtail with a higher stated load capacity. Consider where you will store the bike, as this often matters more than the specifications. For commuting within built-up areas, this equipment is more than sufficient.

Ordering from Fatbikeskopen.nl

Bright colors rarely look exactly the same on a screen as they do in real life, and a longtail handles differently once it is loaded. You can assess 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. When ordered online, the bike arrives at your home fully assembled and ready to ride. The moving parts and battery come with a one-year warranty. You can also use our collection and delivery service for maintenance.

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