We’ve all seen them go by — cargo bikes that look almost like ordinary bicycles, except for that extended rear rack so long you could seat an adult on it. That’s the longtail. And since Julie and I got serious about cargo cycling, I’ve tested the big three: the Yuba Mundo, the Xtracycle Edgerunner, and the Riese & Müller Load 75. An unfiltered verdict from a father who commutes between Montargis and Paris nearly every weekend.
So what exactly is a longtail?
Unlike the front-loading cargo bike (also called a bakfiets or cargobike), the longtail looks like an elongated standard bicycle. The front wheel is normal-sized; the rear wheel supports an extended frame — the famous “longtail” — that can carry children, bags, or both at once.
On paper, the argument is compelling: the size of a big bike, the capacity of a cargo. In practice, on the cobblestones of Paris, things are slightly more nuanced.
Real capacity: two kids plus the shopping — seriously?
We tested the Yuba Mundo with Léa (8) and Milo (5) for a full weekend. The Mundo’s rear platform is enormous — 60 cm long by 30 cm wide — and the manufacturer claims a payload of 180 kg. In practice, with both kids, a backpack, and two net bags from the Marché d’Aligre, we were well loaded but it worked.
Milo was on the Yepp Maxi child seat mounted to the rack, Léa on the platform using the Mundo’s extended footrests (the “Monkey Bars”). Julie insisted on the side safety rail — and she was right. The first time I took a sharp corner on Rue de la Roquette, Léa could feel the difference between “hanging on to nothing” and “hanging on to a bar”.
The Xtracycle Edgerunner takes a different approach: the platform sits slightly lower (thanks to a 20-inch rear wheel versus 26 inches on the Mundo), which makes it easier for children to climb on. But the platform is slightly shorter. Two children together — it’s a tight fit. Add the weekly shop and you need to be well organised.
Honest conclusion: two children, yes. Two children plus a large Saturday shop — possible, but you’ll need side panniers as well.
City manoeuvrability: the decisive advantage
This is where the longtail wins hands down over the front-loader. In Paris, the narrow streets, the chicanes designed to slow traffic, the bus lanes — none of that is kind to a bakfiets. I tried a friend’s front-loader on Rue de Bretagne once: I genuinely thought I was going to end up in someone’s café terrace.
With the Yuba Mundo or the Edgerunner, you stay within reasonable widths (around 70–80 cm overall). You slip through gaps that cars cannot even contemplate. The steering is direct, the handling predictable. After an hour’s practice, your cycling instincts come back.
The R&M Load 75 is perhaps the most pleasant of the three to ride — its geometry is very refined, the weight distribution excellent — but the price is alarming (more on that below).
Accessories: don’t cut corners
On a longtail with children, accessories are not optional. Here’s what we consider the bare minimum:
The child seat
The Yepp Maxi remains the benchmark for the youngest. It mounts directly onto the rack and provides excellent support. For Léa (8 years old, 26 kg), we went with Yuba’s extended footrests, which let her sit comfortably without a dedicated seat.
Footrests
Without proper footrests, children’s legs dangle around the spokes. That’s not fun for anyone. Yuba’s Monkey Bars ($89) or equivalent accessories from Xtracycle are non-negotiable.
The safety rail
Julie asked for it, and she was right. Xtracycle’s Hooptie (around €120) is a semicircular bar that children grip like a roller-coaster handlebar. Léa loves it. I do too, because I know they’re holding on to something.
Mudguards and rain cover
Paris in the rain is a frequent occurrence. Without front protection, Milo comes back from every outing with a soaked jacket. The optional apron on the Yuba Mundo solves 90% of the problem.
Parking: the real argument
This is why some people choose a longtail over a front-loader — and it’s a compelling argument in Paris.
A bakfiets parks like a car: you need a dedicated space, a cargo bike bay, or a very wide pavement. In some arrondissements, that’s a real struggle. I’ve seen front-loader owners turn back because there was literally nowhere to lock their bike.
A longtail parks like any large bicycle. On any standard bike stand, against any bollard, in any standard cycle space. Yes, you need slightly more length than usual (the Mundo is around 2.20 m long), but it remains manageable. At the Marché de la Bastille, we’ve never had a problem.
The electric longtail: game-changer or gimmick?
I rode the R&M Load 75 with Bosch Performance Line CX assistance (85 Nm of torque). And honestly, it changes everything.
With both children plus shopping, the whole lot weighs a comfortable 80–100 kg. Without assistance, setting off from a red light on a hill is hard work. With the Bosch motor, the start is smooth, the climb up Rue Lepic is no longer daunting, and you arrive at Montmartre without gasping for breath.
But the price: the Load 75 starts at around €5,500. The electric Edgerunner (with Bosch kit) comes in at around €4,500. The electric Yuba Mundo (with Bafang motor) is more accessible at around €3,500.
For a family that genuinely uses the cargo bike as a real alternative to the car — which is our situation at weekends in Paris — electric makes sense. For occasional outings, the standard Yuba Mundo is more than sufficient.
Our verdict after two years of testing
The longtail is enough for the vast majority of Paris families. It covers 80% of your needs with 60% of the bulk of a front-loader. If you have very young children (under 5), the front-loading cargo bike is still more practical for strapping in toddlers. But once the children can sit upright and hold on, the longtail becomes highly competitive.
Our three picks: - Tight budget → Yuba Mundo (around €1,800 in standard trim) - Best value electric → Xtracycle Edgerunner electric - If you refuse to compromise → R&M Load 75 (but prepare your wallet)
Last week, Milo asked if we could “go to Paris on the real bike” next weekend. I understood he meant the cargo bike. That’s got to be a sign we made the right choice.
Sources: Yuba Mundo specs, Xtracycle Edgerunner, R&M Load 75
— Thomas J.