Why No Cargo Motorcycles?
Here's a thought that's been ruminating in my head for the past few days...
We're all pretty familiar with the various cargo bike types out there: Bakfiets/Long Johns, Long Tails/Xtracycles, Porteurs, Butcher Bikes, and even various types of Trikes (Rickshaws, Tadpoles).
Why aren't there motorcycle or scooter equivalents? Our two-wheeled brethren are utilized by many folks as practical urban runabouts, but one of the biggest limitations of motorcycles and scooters seems to be that they can't easily carry the day's grocery shopping or a piece of luggage. I've seen many a scooter-rider precariously balancing a couple shopping bags between their legs on the footboards, or "delivery scooters" with a huge box mounted at the back where a second passenger would otherwise sit -- that seems like it'd create a too-high/rearward center of gravity and ruin the vehicle's handling.
I'm envisioning something like a Bakfiets/Long John front-end mated to a scooter's rear end, which might result in a very practical urban runabout with useful cargo capacity.
Why doesn't something like this exist already?
6 Comments:
I've also been wondering why we don't have offroad scooters.
I know there are dualsport motorcycles, but they have way more power and capabilities.
It seems like there should be something possible with a 50-150cc engine that can get you up into the trails but doesn't cost or weigh too much.
Alex, there are off-road capable mini-bikes that fit those requirements, but many of them aren't street legal, and they might be a bit small for some folks.
How about a Stokemonkey on a Bakfiets?
Travis, thanks for the comment. I know about the Stokemonkey, and I think it's a great system. But mainly, I'm wondering why -- given the popularity of motorcycles and (especially) scooters as urban vehicles, coupled with their lack of useful/integrated cargo capacity -- we haven't seen any sorts of motorized cargo cycles yet?
Honda should build this, and call it the "Pick Up". Perfect!
Clearly, I'm not the only one thinking about this...
And more...
http://www.modernvespa.com/forum/topic28864
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