Tern · Compact cargo
HSD P9
A small, light utility bike that carries one child and folds into a car boot.
- Payload
- 60 kg
- Torque
- 50 Nm
- Battery
- 400 Wh
from €4,999
Cargo bikes that fit in a lift
No ground-level storage? These cargo bikes are at most 1.9 m long, short enough for many lifts, hallways and bike rooms.
Models in this guide
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Tern · Compact cargo
Quick Haul P9
Tern's affordable compact hauler for shopping, commuting and one child.
- Payload
- 50 kg
- Torque
- 65 Nm
- Battery
- 400 Wh
from €3,799
Yuba · Longtail
Spicy Curry
A low-slung family longtail with a small rear wheel that keeps kids close to the ground.
- Payload
- 100 kg
- Torque
- 85 Nm
- Battery
- 500 Wh
from €5,999
Moustache · Compact cargo
Lundi 20.3
A compact French everyday bike with 20-inch wheels, one child seat and low step-through.
- Payload
- 65 kg
- Torque
- 75 Nm
- Battery
- 500 Wh
from €4,999
Tern · Compact cargo
Quick Haul D8
The entry-level Tern Quick Haul for shopping, commuting and one child.
- Payload
- 50 kg
- Torque
- 50 Nm
- Battery
- 500 Wh
from €2,999
Tern · Longtail
Quick Haul Long D9
Tern's affordable longtail for two children: 1.87 m long with a Cargo Line motor.
- Payload
- 90 kg
- Torque
- 85 Nm
- Battery
- 500 Wh
from €3,700
Riese & Müller · Longtail
Multitinker2 vario
A compact 20-inch longtail for two children with a stepless hub, belt drive and a Cargo Line motor.
- Payload
- 70 kg
- Torque
- 85 Nm
- Battery
- 625 Wh
from €6,499
Loden · Compact cargo
One
A compact cargo bike the length of a normal bike, with frame-mounted racks front and rear and a belt drive.
- Payload
- 35 kg
- Torque
- 60 Nm
- Battery
- 504 Wh
from €2,249
Yuba · Compact cargo
Kombi EP5
A compact longtail for two children with a Shimano EP5 motor, as long as a normal bike.
- Payload
- —
- Torque
- 60 Nm
- Battery
- 504 Wh
from €3,299
Yuba · Compact cargo
Kombi E5
Yuba's affordable compact longtail for two children, with a gentle Shimano E5000 motor.
- Payload
- —
- Torque
- 40 Nm
- Battery
- 418 Wh
from €2,599
Yuba · Compact cargo
FastRack
A compact cargo bike with a folding rear rack that switches between passengers and cargo.
- Payload
- —
- Torque
- 60 Nm
- Battery
- 500 Wh
from €2,999
Yuba · Compact cargo
mini Boda Boda
A very short cargo bike with a big motor: 1.74 m, 20-inch wheels and Bosch Cargo Line.
- Payload
- —
- Torque
- 85 Nm
- Battery
- 500 Wh
from €4,499
iO InBicy · Longtail
Flash Switch
A light Italian longtail with quick-release racks: 24 kg, 24-inch wheels and a Bafang mid-motor.
- Payload
- 90 kg
- Torque
- 90 Nm
- Battery
- 504 Wh
from €4,215
iO InBicy · Longtail
SuperNova
The lower-priced iO longtail: 24 kg, room for up to three children and a 225 kg total rating.
- Payload
- —
- Torque
- 80 Nm
- Battery
- 504 Wh
from €3,499
Yuba · Compact cargo
Kombi Donno Bikes Edition
A Yuba Kombi with a Bafang mid-motor, built as a joint edition of Yuba and DonnoBikes.
- Payload
- —
- Torque
- 80 Nm
- Battery
- 504 Wh
from €3,349
Measure the lift first
Measure the depth and width of the cabin and the width of the door. A common residential lift is about 1.1 m wide and 1.4 m deep, which gives a diagonal of roughly 1.8 m. A bike of 1.8 to 1.9 m then fits only diagonally with the front wheel turned, or standing upright on its rear end. In a deeper cabin of 2 m or more it simply rolls in.
What makes a cargo bike lift-friendly
Length is the first figure, but not the only one. Some compact longtails are built to stand vertically on the rear rack, which takes less floor space than a normal bicycle. Small 20-inch wheels, a folding handlebar stem and folding pedals help in narrow doors and corridors. Weight matters too, because you manoeuvre the bike by hand without the motor.
What you give up
A short cargo bike has less room: usually one child or two small ones on the rear rack, or a load at the front. Front loaders are 2.3 to 2.7 m long and almost never fit in a residential lift. If you need a box, look for ground-level storage, a shared bike room or a bike locker on the street instead.
Frequently asked questions
How long is a normal cargo bike?
Compact models are 1.7 to 1.9 m long, about the same as a city bike. Longtails measure 1.8 to 2.2 m and front loaders 2.3 to 2.7 m.
Can I stand a cargo bike on its rear wheel?
Only if the manufacturer designed it for that. Some compact longtails have a rack made for vertical parking; others may be damaged or fall over.
Can I take a compact cargo bike on a train?
A bike of normal bicycle length is usually accepted where bicycles are. Rules differ between operators, so check before you travel.