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Not long after the arrival and sudden rise in popularity of cargo bikes, the longtail bike followed. An option that, for many parents, sounds more logical or looks safer. Riding a cargo bike is a whole experience; the design is completely different. A longtail bike is essentially an ordinary bike but with a longer rear, hence the name ‘longtail’.
Just like with cargo bike brands, the introduction of the longtail brought many new brands to the market, including some that exclusively produce longtail bikes. They brought innovations, improvements, and new designs, but now we also see that all major brands have a longtail model in their lineup. Therefore, we will make the necessary distinctions in this article.
The Best Longtail Bike Brands
Tern
It might sound clichรฉ and some people might disagree, but Tern brought the first ‘real’ or popular version of the 20-inch longtail to the market. They may not have been the first, but they certainly set the standard and became the most well-known model.
You also see them everywhere on the street. The design and components of Tern bikes stand for quality, ease of use, and comfort. A Tern quickly falls into the higher price segment.
Meanwhile, this Taiwanese brand has introduced several longtail bikes across various price ranges. They make nothing else; they are fully committed to longtails.
It is a brand that primarily focuses on longtail bikes. To further demonstrate this, Tern launched the OROX in 2024, a 29-inch longtail mainly intended for bikepacking or tackling the wilderness. This clearly shows that they want to have a model in every category of longtail bikes or even set the standard.
Riese and Mรผller
They were not the first on the market, but they were the first respected bike brand to dive into this new category of bikes. They quickly introduced their own longtail bike, the Multicharger. This was essentially just a simple adaptation of their well-known Charger model. They already had cargo bikes.
In 2023, this German brand launched the Multitinker. They too saw the popularity of 20-inch longtails as an essential market.
Riese and Mรผller is not a typical longtail bike brand; they cover almost every category of bicycles. But the Multicharger is certainly one of the best-selling longtails. This one is also in the premium segment. The fact that so many people choose it despite this speaks volumes.
Bike 43
Bike 43 is a Belgian brand that emerged with the birth of the longtail bike. In the early years, they sold a significant number of their long bikes. It remains to be seen if the Belgian brand can take the next step and come up with something new.
There are several versions of their design to cater to different needs and budgets. Characteristic of their bike is the low center of gravity, as well as the extra-long rear rack where you can fit two child seats or up to three children.
In Brussels, we once saw a mother transporting four children on her bikeโฆ in Brusselsโฆ not exactly the safest cycling city.
Yuba Bikes
Yuba Bikes is a brand from the United States that also enjoys considerable sales in Europe, particularly in Germany, Belgium, and France, where its headquarters are located. They had already seen success with non-electric longtails, even before they became so popular, and have grown with the popularity of this bike category.
Yuba mainly makes cargo bikes. In addition to longtails, they also design compact models, more midtails, which are not specifically intended for two child seats, but rather for one person and their cargo, as well as two-wheeled cargo bikes.
Yuba might not be the first brand that comes to mind, but it is one of the more well-known longtail bike brands, especially in the US. They now have at least six different models in their range, in addition to compact and cargo bikes.
O2Feel
Even before there were so many different longtail brands and models, you could already see an O2Feel on the road.
This French brand was, in our opinion, one of the first to come out with a model that had a small rear wheel and a large front wheel. This was different from the typical 20-inch models we saw popping up everywhere at that time. It offers a bit more comfort and confidence during test rides compared to the 20-inchers.
In the meantime, O2Feel has a broad range of electric bikes, including several versions of their popular longtail design.
Douze Cycling
Douze started as a cargo bike brand. Since 2023, they have also added an LT or longtail model to their lineup. This LT is available in both electric and non-electric versions. If you choose the electric option, you have several motor options to tailor the Douze longtail to your route and budget. The Douze cargo bike is also popular in Belgium.
In 2024, Douze decided it was time for innovation. Their strong sales figures were rewarded with the arrival of the Heta cargo bike. This was the (for now) final evolution in the Douze Cycling story.
Other Longtail Bike Brands
Here’s a brief overview of other brands that owe their origin to the longtail bike.
- Veloe: is an Italian brand that sells well with their popular Veloe Multi. In 2024, they will release their second longtail bike.
- Bicicapace: They are also mainly known for their non-electric longtails. Their designs are lightweight, which makes this possible. They don’t have many sales in Belgium, but you do occasionally see them on the streets.
Well-Known Bike Brands with a Longtail Model
This is a much longer list, as many brands have introduced longtail bikes in 2024.
- Cube: A major German brand that is catching up to ensure the transport of parents and children is not overlooked. They offer a well-priced range, characteristic of Cube. They currently have one longtail, one cargo bike, and one tricycle in their lineup to meet demand.
- Benno Bikes: A Swiss bike brand that also sees significant sales in the US. They are often seen in Belgium as well, with the Benno Boost being quite popular. With the Remi Demi XL, they now also offer a longtail fatbike.
- Kettler: Another large German bike brand aiming to compete with Riese and Mรผller. With their Quadriga line, Kettler has worked hard to establish itself in this segment.
- Trek: The American brand is now also entering the market with the Fetch+2.
- Specialized: … and immediately faces competition from Specialized with their Global Haul LT.
- Decathlon: They also have many in-house brands, including Btwin and their very affordable longtail.
- Oxford: Another Belgian brand, the Oxford Cargo N5, was a surprisingly cheap electric longtail. It sold well. It was and remains an excellent option for people on a limited budget.
- Bergamont: Another German bike brand diving into this segment, with a compact cargo bike, a longtail cargo bike, and a three-wheeled cargo bike.
- Norta: The Belgian bike manufacturer that now produces only electric models. With their new Norta longtail, they have created a Belgian alternative to the Tern bike. It also looks quite similar, but this is true for several brands.
- Monkey Bike: A Belgian brand exploring new niches with a midtail, longtail, and electric BMX.
- Granville: The Belgian brand Granville is also expected to bring a longtail to market soon, although we haven’t seen it anywhere yet.
Remaining Longtail Bike Brands
There are still more! And there will likely be a few we missed in our research. Here is a list of all (previously unmentioned) longtail bike brands. Known and unknown, both domestic and international.
Lombardi Montadello 20
Reid Bikes KADe
Rad Bicycles Radwagon
Fiido T2 longtail
Kiffy Capsule cargo
Moustache Lundi 20
Beaufort Brave
De Geus Longtail
Swyff LT cargo
Hercules Rob Family F360
Gepida LT Cargo
Ellio Marty (Longtail speed pedelec)
Aventon Abound
Villette Beraud
Merida Centurion
Ecobike LT SP
Addbike U cargo
