Bike43 longtail family bike for 3 kids Bike43 longtail family bike for 3 kids
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Bike43

Bike43 makes longtail cargo bikes for families who’d rather carry their children than a second car. The bikes are designed in-house and assembled in Brussels, around a clear idea: keep the bike close to the length of a normal bicycle, keep the weight low, and build it to last. The result is a longtail that rides like the bike you already know, parks where a box bike can’t, and grows with your family instead of against it.

We’re an official Bike43 dealer, and we ride these bikes loaded around London in the weather you actually get here — so when you ask which model and which setup fits your family, the answer comes from use rather than a catalogue.

Three longtails, one idea.

The range comes in three lengths. Choose by how many children you carry now – and how many you expect to.
Bike43 longtail electric family bike for 2 kids

Bike43 Short
£4,390.00 GBP
Bike43 longtail family bike for 3 kids

Bike43 Short – 173 cm, for one or two children. The compact one: parks anywhere, stores upright, rides like a normal bike. Shares its frame with the Mid, so it can grow a size later.

Bike43 Mid – 186 cm, for two or three children. The same modular aluminium frame with more rear deck, plus the option of Bosch's stronger PX motor and a bigger battery.

Bike43 Long – up to three children, or four with a front seat. A steel-framed bike of its own, with a lifetime frame warranty and a 24-inch front wheel for kerbs and rough roads.
Bike43 longtail family bike for 3 kids

What makes a Bike43

A few things run through the whole range. The patented Footbox tucks the youngest child's feet under the saddle – which both shelters them and keeps the bike around 15 cm shorter, so a Bike43 stays close to normal-bike length however much you're carrying. The low centre of gravity, from 20-inch wheels and a low battery, is what makes a loaded longtail feel steady rather than top-heavy. Shimano Nexus internal-hub gearing shifts at a standstill and needs little maintenance, with a Gates carbon belt-drive option on the Short and Mid for even less. And because every bike is built around interface plates, the frame isn't tied to one motor for life – a quietly future-proof idea on a bike you mean to keep for years.

Buying your Bike43 at Flying Dutchman

We keep Bike43 bikes across our three London shops – Camden, Notting Hill and Hackney – and the most useful thing we can do is set one up loaded so you can feel how it rides before you decide. Our workshop services and repairs them, and every e-bike bought from us includes its first service at 500 km. The Short and Mid carry a 7-year aluminium frame warranty; the Long, a lifetime warranty on its steel frame. Bike43 bikes are eligible for the Cycle to Work scheme, and we can arrange cover through our insurance partner, Laka.
Bike43 longtail electric family bike for 2 kids Bike43 longtail electric family bike for 2 kids

Not sure which Bike43 is right?

That's exactly the conversation we enjoy. Tell us how many children you carry, where you'll keep the bike and what your week looks like, and we'll point you to the right model and setup – no pressure, just a straight answer. Book a test ride at Flying Dutchman, or read our family bike guide first.
VanMoof in Pearl Mint

Frequently asked questions about Bike43
Where are Bike43 bikes made?

Bike43 is a Belgian brand. The bikes are designed in-house, their frames are built in Europe, and each one is assembled in Brussels by Travie, a workshop that employs people with disabilities. Most components are sourced in Europe too. It's an unusually local way to build a cargo bike, and it shows in the consistency and finish.
What's the difference between the Bike43 Short, Mid and Long?

All three are longtails, built for different family sizes. The Short (173 cm) carries one or two children and is the most compact. The Mid (186 cm) carries two or three and shares the Short's modular aluminium frame, so a Short can be extended into a Mid. The Long is a separate, steel-framed bike that carries up to three children (four with a front seat) and has a lifetime frame warranty. If you're unsure, our family bike guide helps – and so does a test ride.
How many children can a Bike43 carry?

Between one and four, depending on the model: the Short takes one or two, the Mid two or three, and the Long up to three on the bench, or four with a front seat. The patented Footbox is what makes the higher numbers work, tucking the youngest child's feet under the saddle to free up deck space. We'll set any Bike43 up around your children's ages at Flying Dutchman.
What is the Bike43 Footbox?

The Footbox is Bike43's patented feature for carrying young children. It's a recess that lets the youngest passenger tuck their feet under the saddle, giving them a natural, forward-facing position and some shelter from the elements – and freeing enough room on the rear deck to fit an extra child. It also shortens the bike by around 15 cm, part of why a Bike43 stays so close to normal-bike length.
Can a Bike43 Short be converted to a Mid?

Yes. The Short and Mid are one modular aluminium frame in two lengths, so the rear section can be extended to turn a Short into a Mid (adding about 13 cm of deck) as your family grows. The Long is a different, steel-framed bike and isn't part of that conversion. If you're choosing between the Short and Mid, come and talk it through at Flying Dutchman.
What motor do Bike43 bikes use?

Bosch drive systems: the Performance Line (75 Nm) on the Short and as the base on the Mid, and the stronger Performance Line PX (90 Nm) on the Mid and Long. Bosch motors are well supported and straightforward to service, and Bike43's interface-plate frame means a bike isn't locked to one motor for its whole life. We can talk you through which suits your riding on a test ride.
Are Bike43 cargo bikes good for London?

They're well suited to it. The range stays close to normal-bike length – 173 cm Short, 186 cm Mid, about 197 cm Long – so they park in ordinary spaces and stand upright for storage in a flat or hallway. The low centre of gravity keeps them steady in traffic, and an optional rain canopy makes them genuinely year-round in the British weather. They're also light for cargo bikes, which helps on kerbs and at the school gates.
What warranty comes with a Bike43?

It depends on the frame. The Short and Mid have aluminium frames with a 7-year warranty; the Long has a chromoly steel frame with a lifetime warranty. Both cover the original owner for normal (non-professional) use and apply to bikes bought through an authorised dealer – which Flying Dutchman is. E-bikes bought from us also include the first service at 500 km, and we can arrange cover through our partner Laka.