The 5 Most Compact Cargo Bikes

The electric cargo bike, which started with Urban Arrow, had two wheels, a long design, and a simple cargo box. That was a revolution which, now a few years later, has taken a logical step forward.

Many brands have followed this design, basing their own cargo bikes on it. However, nowadays we increasingly encounter unique designs. The compact cargo bike is a logical evolution.

City dwellers also want a cargo bike, but one that is suitable for or fits with urban life. Space is limited here, both for cycling and for storage. In this article, we will look for the best small cargo bikes.

We focus on compact cargo bikes, about 2 meters or shorter, not much larger than a regular bike. We mainly look at what they excel in, such as the premium segment, the best folding cargo bike, or the lightest option with a foldable cargo box.

Additionally, we also focus on non-electric cargo bikes for urban use and examine which is the safest and most comfortable for transporting children.

Muli Cycles

Muli Musket: A Non-Electric Cargo Bike

We start with Muli Cycles, the pioneers who introduced this concept and conquered the market a few years ago with their foldable box. The compact cargo bike is no longer than a regular bike, yet you can fit two young children in it.

Comfort is relatively limited, but despite this, the Muli rides very smoothly. It is highly maneuverable and, if you choose the electric assist option, also very powerful. The downside is that the smaller tires have less grip and thus slip and skid more easily than bikes with larger tires.

Compact and Electric: The ST

As mentioned earlier, you can buy the compact, foldable Muli cargo bike in various versions. The difference lies only in the assistance.

You can choose a relatively strong motor in the Muli ST, or opt for an extra powerful Shimano EP8 in the Muli ST Pro. This drives up the price, but you get a very high-quality and powerful motor in return.

Read more about the Muli ST in the full review.

Yoonit Cargo Bikes

Yoonit Classic: A Non-Electric Compact City Cargo Bike

For a non-electric option, there’s a very distinctive alternative, as the design deviates sufficiently from the traditional cargo bike to be considered unique. It’s almost not a cargo bike; rather, it’s more of a flatbed cargo bike that can be used as a cargo bike.

Since the cargo area is mounted on top of the front wheel, it offers a completely different riding experience, and the bike is also shorter—indeed, it’s the smallest cargo bike you can currently buy at just 177.5 cm.

It’s also a beautiful and striking design, different from the typical cargo bike. Like the Muli, it features a very small front wheel and a slightly larger rear wheel.

Yoonit Electric: Equipped with a Shimano Motor

It can also be electric. The Yoonit is available with an electric Shimano EP8 motor. The mid-mounted motor provides significant power, allowing you to carry any load up hills. Thanks to its innovative approach to the cargo space, you can transport various items with this cargo bike: children, dogs, but also boxes, bags, and crates.

Due to its compact design, ease of use, and smooth ride—even with heavy loads—the electric version is suitable for replacing a car in the city, at least for short trips.

Riese & Müller with the Carrie

Muli and Yoonit are both relatively new brands. The compact cargo bike is their flagship model, their showpiece, their proof of concept. Now that this concept has been proven and people are interested in compact cargo bikes, the search for the best compact cargo bike begins, and major brands are working on their own versions.

The first and most well-known successor comes from none other than the big German competitor Riese & Müller, with the introduction of the Carrie. This Riese & Müller Carrie is a compact cargo bike that isn’t too long, but more importantly, the cargo area continues to innovate.

While Muli sticks with their simplified foldable box, Riese & Müller puts more effort into designing a durable, strong cargo area that maximizes volume. Additionally, you get the quality in both the frame and the components of the bike that we have come to expect from Riese & Müller.

Carlos Mobility

It is no longer a surprise that Germany leads the way in these types of designs. Carlos Mobility has also made an attempt with a foldable compact cargo bike, though it has not yet been released.

Not only does the cargo area fold up, but the entire frame can also fold down, much like a folding bike. This is very convenient for people with limited storage space or for those who want to take their cargo bike on vacation.

This is no mere experiment; with this design, Carlos Mobility has won the IF Design Award and the D&I Award at the Taipei Cycle Show. We are just waiting for it to hit the stores, though we couldn’t find a release date.

Our Opinion on These Small Compact Cargo Bikes

It is clear that we are big fans of the Muli; it has been on our radar for a long time, and now we are seeing confirmation from other brands that this segment is set to grow.

What is also clear is that the demand currently mainly comes from Germany, where the electric bike market is very strong. The question remains how this market will develop in other countries.

So far, we have not seen any Belgian, Dutch, or French bike brands venturing into the compact cargo bike segment.