Top-deck with net and stoker set-up

We recommend using a single 1/2 inch thick piece of beautiful kiln-dried fir. Kiln-dried wood is lighter than air-dried wood (due to minimal moisture content) and therefore better resists shrinking, warping and flexing. Kiln-dried wood also ensures that the timber isn’t dipped in pesticides and fungicides, like its air-dried counterparts. When selecting your wood, make sure to look for a plank that has very straight grain from one end of the board to the other. This will ensure uniform expansion and contraction throughout the life of the deck. The dimensions of the deck that we use is 7.25 inches wide by 29 inches long. We love the width of the top-deck as it enables us to keep the deck in place while utilizing the top-carrier’s tubing for bungees, straps, tie-downs, etc. After cutting the deck to size, we recommend hand or machine-sanding the edges, then finishing all surfaces with marine-grade rosewood oil (or similar, low-VOC, high-UV protecting and waterproof coating).

Unfinished fir top-deck

To attach the deck to the Mundo’s top-carrier, we use 1/2 inch, double-hole plastic conduit clamps, held to the deck using flat-head, 10-24 x 1.5 inch machine bolts, recessed nicely into the top of the board. SImply mark the holes where you want to mount the clamps and drill through the board. The machine bolts then slide down through the board and into the mounting holes in the plastic conduit clamps, which then wrap around the top-carrier’s tubing. The plastic conduit clamps are designed to handle relatively harsh temperature variances, so they should weather well.

After you finish the deck, simply add rubber padding above the top-carrier tubes where the top-deck rests.

Fortunately, owners of blue 6-speed Yuba Mundo utility bikes have ready access to delicious blue touch-up paint. For every customer that purchases a Mundo from Stumptown Mundo, we offer a complimentary jar of perfectly color-matched, hard-coat touch-up paint. This should help you service small nicks and scrapes with ease.

As the paint is enamel, you should first thoroughly clean and sand the surface very lightly before application. The paint coats and spreads very nicely. If you need more or didn’t purchase a Mundo from us, you can pick up this paint at most any sign/auto-detailing supply house. The paint is 1-Shot Lettering Enamel, which comes in the exact same color (Reflex Blue -paint code 155L) that Yuba spec’d for the Mundo. You can find your local 1-Shot Lettering Enamel dealer at the manufacturer’s Web site.

The Yuba Mundo ($875-$1,000) is a scalable and extensible, super-duty, German-built cargo bike for less than $1K –it’s a lot of bike for the money. The potential for utility is tremendous as the Mundo offers an impressive array of capabilities not served by other utility bicycles. The Mundo’s cargo platforms are larger and stronger than any comparable offering, enabling it to carry more than any vehicle in this category. In fact, the Mundo will gracefully haul more than you’re likely going to want to carry! While this is impressive, what really makes the Mundo a clear choice for many is its quality and price. The Mundo is a complete, heavy duty utility bike that not only fits most any rider, but also fits most any budget. The Mundo can serve the needs of individuals, families and business owners by offering a wide array of cargo carrying options on its beautifully crafted steel frame. Due to its simple, quality component set and comfortable, traditional bicycle geometry, the Mundo is extremely low maintenance and simple to master. Additionally, the Mundo is built around industry standards, making it highly scalable to fit whatever modifications you seek. Lastly, Yuba’s a company seeking to change the world for the better, one bike at a time. Their commitment to building solutions to help solve the world’s transportation problems is genuine and unmatched in the industry.

Bakfietsen (est. $3,000) are great for carrying awkward loads and children as the basket is low, easily accommodates shifting loads. They are also excellent for newbies because they come relatively ready-to-roll, fully outfitted with great equipment. Some people may want a cycle that better matches the profile of a regular bike, so the Bakfiet isn’t the best match, but it’s still easy to use. It’s not quite as scalable as a Mundo, as long-tailed bikes can configure to carry a variety of odd-sized loads. The Mundo simply carries more weight, but the Bakfiet can still pack all sorts of common loads with ease. Lastly, Bakfiet’s are (rightfully) far more expensive and a bit heavier than the rest. This being said, the weight is very manageable with their Shimano Nexus hub and the price delivers a complete solution. We love the Bakfiet and believe it is an excellent addition to any garage.

Xtracycle conversions ($450+) are excellent because they have accessories galore and the cost is easily digested. What’s more, you can retain a lot of what you love about a comfortable old steed by using your favorite existing bicycle for the conversion. The Xtracycle extension is made from TIG-welded chromoly steel tubing with aluminum cargo carriers, which combine to ensure a lightweight ride, albeit with more flex than a fully integrated frame. The overall capacity isn’t as high as the Mundo or Bakfiet, but Xtracycles can still handle awkward loads with ease. Lastly, Xtracycle defined the longtail market in the US, so people have been modifying and accessorizing Xtracycles for years. This has produced a massive user/support group. Expect fully-built Extracycle conversions (using a new bike) to cost $900+.

Surly’s Big Dummy (est. $1800-$2000 fully built) has further validated the Xtracycle geometry by delivering a solid cargo frameset built on Xtracycle specs to ensure simple cross-pollination of accessories. While the Xtracycle delivers flex, the Big Dummy is an integrated frame, providing excellent stiffness and strength. For cargo carrying, the Big Dummy relies on Xtracycle’s snap-on aluminum top and side loaders. Fabricated with quality in Asia, the Big Dummy adds a steeper price tag to the Xtracycle equation, but Surly designs excellent frames, so you can expect a life-long investment.

Kona’s Ute (est. $800-$900) is a fantastic entry into the market, at a great price. The big benefit of the Ute is its’ light-utility commuter focus. The bike features a fully integrated, extended tail (not quite as long as the Xtracycle or Mundo) built on an aluminum frame. While not as strong as the Mundo or Bakfiet, the Ute’s frame is stiff and lightweight. While offering less capacity than other options, the Ute offers more cargo options than a regular bicycle with a rack. Kona put a lot of thought into engineering a bike that could handle an extra set of bags without being too heavy duty –and without the added weight of a heavy duty bike. It’s a unique niche that will serve many people very well. Complemented by many commuter-friendly features (including fenders, disc brakes and a lot of gears), the Ute is the best solution for folks who just need to be able to pack more than a regular bike on their commute, but don’t necessarily need a car-replacement like the heavy duty Mundo or Bakfiet. Kona makes great bikes and the Ute is no exception.

Trailers (est. $200 - $500) perform an amazing array of functions and come in more varieties than we choose to even mention. We love trailers and believe they definitely have a place in the utility cycling market. Trailers are competitively priced and often extremely well-made. We’ve used a two-seat Chariot Cougar for more than a year, packing children and groceries alike. The Chariot can handle up to 100 pounds and tracks beautifully. What’s more, it converts to a stroller with ease. We probably put as many miles on our Chariot configured as a stroller as we have as a trailer. This being said, like with automobiles, it’s always a bit more challenging to setup and tow a trailer than it is to just throw things into/onto your vehicle. Trailers take time to attach/configure and have to be locked-up separately from the bicycle. Additionally, they just don’t carry as much as a cargo bike; nor do they handle as wide a variety of loads. If you’re on a budget and need to carry children safely and securely, the Chariot is fantastic. Just make sure you understand and appreciate its limits.

Unlike a traditional bicycle with a standard cycling-grade pannier rack, the Mundo was designed primarily as a utility hauler with high load capacity, accommodating the widest possible array of load types. 16mm tubing did not provide the necessary strength to meet the specifications that Yuba set for the bike (440 pound capacity). Subsequently, they needed to utilize a more robust tube. Yuba could have used 16mm tubing, but panniers were not the primary target for the company’s load type specification. Above all else, the Mundo had to function primarily as a heavy-duty hauler. As a side benefit, the 20mm tubing contributes to the Mundo’s overall supple ride.

This being said, Ortlieb is soon to release a 20mm option that will enable their QL System brackets to work with larger diameter tubing. Of course, if you don’t want to use the QL System, you can always utilize Ortlieb’s superb motorcycle saddle bags, which attach via Velcro and tension straps. Additionally, Yuba is getting ready to release a universal bag conversion kit, which will enable a variety of bags to attach easily to the Mundo frame with little modification. Lastly, one of our customers simply strapped a single 14mm carbon rod to the left top bar of the Mundo top carrier; this bar then became the attachment point for their panniers (Ortlieb offers a oversized lower hook for the QL1 System that helps accommodate this setup). The Mundo loves DIY ingenuity!

As you can see, there are several options available now and more on there way. At the end of the day, the Mundo carriers provide huge carrying potential for a wide array of containers (bags, tubs, coolers, jugs, etc.). If you can dream it up, chances are it will likely work as a cargo container on the Mundo.

Please feel free to schedule a test ride, or an up-close-and-personal inspection of the Mundo to see if your bags will attach to the carrier.

Coleman makes a wicked trunk!

Most high quality messenger bags are inherently waterproof, constructed of a vinyl-lined nylon fabric. Subsequently, waterproofing your gear on your Mundo could be as simple as using the bags you already own. Other options include cargo nets (I use these often), semi-permanent or soft-mount carrying cases, as well as storage tubs (e.g., Rubbermaid).

Our favorite cargo box for grocery store runs in the rainy Pacific Northwest is the Coleman 48 quart chest cooler. The Coleman cooler is lightweight, simple to attach, rugged, inexpensive (apx. $25), waterproof, and a dashing shade of blue.

This being said, many people may choose to carry older children on a seat/cargo platform mounted securely to the Mundo’s top cargo rails. If this is your transportation mode of choice, we recommend attaching a set of stoker handlebars to the Mundo’s seat post for added stability for your passenger. For this configuration, we recommend using an adjustable stoker stem from our friends at Co-Motion, in Eugene, Oregon. This way you know you’ll have the correct size to fit your seat post. A typical threadless stem for a standard steering tube will either be too big or too small for the Mundo’s seat tube. The Co-Motion stem fits perfectly and doesn’t require any shimming.

Mundo with Co-Motion stem and Profile bars

Please note that if you use the Co-Motion stem, you’ll need to pay special attention to your handlebar selection. I know, those fancy Nitto touring bars would look pretty nice! This being said, most touring and cruiser bars are 24.5mm in diameter. The Co-Motion stem has a 31.8mm handlebar clamp. If you went with a typical touring/cruiser bar, you’d most likely have to shim the heck out of it. Not only would this be very challenging, it’s also not the safest solution. Because of this, we recommend purchasing a set of lightweight base road bars from the folks at Profile Design. They make a bar called the Airwing OS (apx. $30-$50), which fits the Co-Motion stem’s handlebar clamp perfectly. This is the exact setup we use here at Stumptown Mundo. We love that these bars give you a ton of flexibility in meeting your passenger’s preferred position –you can even flip the bars over to add another dimension to the configuration. Once you’ve got the position set, simply throw on your favorite set of grips and you’re ready to roll!

On a related note, Stumptown Mundo is working hard to introduce our own child carrying solutions. This includes a secure bracket for attaching an extra Bobike seat to the Mundo cargo platform, in tandem with a seat tube-mounted Bobike seat. That’s right… two child seats securely attached to your Mundo for maximum family friendliness. Additionally, we’re tooling away on building a non-Bobike fixed tandem seat that may bring down the cost of family haulin’ even further. If you’d like to add your own passenger/cargo top-deck, you can do that too!

This being said, Yuba has provided the flexibility for Mundo owners to customize their ride with gearing changes to best meet their personal preferences. You could add a wider-range freewheel (Shimano Megarange or IRD Defiant versions) if you feel the need for additional range, or possibly remove the chain guard and add a front clamp-on derailleur and double/triple crank (may require additional customizations). Some owners have expressed interest in adding a Rotor crank to eliminate flat spots in the torque curve -great for heavy loads- as well as adding an internally geared rear hub. You might also consider adding a Schlumpf bottom-bracket gearbox to double your gear range without adding a new freewheel or shifter. As you can see, Yuba provided a reliable, smooth-shifting, low-maintenance, light-weight transmission out-of-the-box. This being said, the Mundo is highly extensible to suit your personal tastes in both performance and functionality.

Taking all this into consideration, there are definitely lighter bikes than the Mundo, but unfortunately most can’t handle awkward/heavy loads. Also, if you’re carrying a child, most child seats max out at 40-45 pounds, except the Bobike Junior. Of course, a custom seat would also be an option. You could build-up an Xtracycle that utilized an aluminum-frame bike; this would reduce the weight quite a lot. That being said, Xtracycles flex a good deal if you’re pumping out of the saddle –that’s a big downside to the Xtracycle. A Kona Ute may be a better fit as it could handle the Bobike seat and provide enough room for a set of bags.

That being said, the big issue surrounding the answer to this question is what else do you think you’ll haul with your bike? The Kona Ute is at its best when hauling panniers, especially as part of a daily commute, anywhere from 2 to 20 miles. But if you plan to use your bike to haul large, awkward and/or heavy loads, there are fewer options. The Mundo trumps them all for load capacity and out-of-the-box handling of awkward loads, but it comes at a price: weight. There’s no doubt that the Mundo is a heavy ride, trumped only by the Bakfiet for overall weight, but it takes a heavy grade frame to handle a wide variety of loads.

You can always add more gears to a Mundo, add a new freewheel with lower gears, or setup more advanced crank options. This is a relatively easy/affordable way to add increased ’spinning’ capability, enabling you to handle steeper grades.

Fortunately, if you’ve got a common tool set (wrenches from 13mm through 19mm, allen wrenches, screw drivers, etc.), quality grease, a chain tool, attention to detail and a steady hand, you can build the Mundo yourself –usually in less than three hours. The only bike-specific tools required for building the Mundo are a chain tool (as referenced in the instructions), and a bottom bracket tool compatible with Shimano cartridge-style bottom brackets. This tool is required to loosen the bottom bracket so you can move the chainguard bracket into its proper, upright position.

You can learn more about bottom brackets and how to use a bottom bracket tool, here and here. If you purchase a Mundo kit from us, let us know if you need this tool and we can source one for you and include it in your shipment, or simply have it shipped to you. Or, you can simply purchase one yourself.

You can download and review the Mundo’s build instructions, here.