Introducing the Donky cargo bike

like i said, the Lorri looks like it'd be stiffer. That doesn't mean the Donky would necessarily break though. certainly the older Lorri looks more like the Donky's older brother

Dave, you are comparing the current Lorri model with Donky especially the rear rack. Look at this one - the older Lorri model which uses same racks on both front and rear:
http://www.kemper-velo.de/bicycles/cargo-bikes/lorri/
which you can ask 100 people and probably more than 3/4 of them would suspect Donky is a copy.

and about the frame design and structural strength - Lorri has two front triangles - forget the rear triangle - meet with a line while Donky has two triangles meeting at a point which require a significant amount of strengthening using thick - thus heavy - tubing to counter the bending force....

Lots of cargo bikes here in the Dam. The most popular model has the load carrying area set low and ahead of the rider and behind the front wheel within an extended frame. It may have a long wheelbase but is stable because the weight is kept low and within the wheelbase. It may not turn fast but is popular, and it works. The Donky's handling will be limited by having the point loads outside the wheelbase. Its design is flawed and I bet it handles like a very wayward Donky when loaded. The geometry is poorly thought out, no matter how novel the concept and it seems as if the designer has insufficient understanding of polar moments of inertia. I'd be interested to hear what the designer has to say - nice idea but poorly executed.

Tarted up Raleigh 20

Plus the carriers extend further forwards and rearwards for the Donky than for the Lorri. This will make the Lorri more stable even when heavily loaded. I'd be curious how they actually perform, but it does look as if the Lorri's frame is considerably stiffer and combined with the better load placement, I'd expect it to handle a lot better.

Bikes in Africa typically get loaded way beyond what would be expected in Europe. We moved house using two bicycles in West Africa (and that included shifting a large kitchen table) and I've a photo somewhere of a bloke riding an old Raleigh while carrying a tree on his head. Those front and back carrriers would be used to transport people, and would make the Donky pretty unstable to ride.

the lorri looks like it'd be stiffer though

Both bikes below for comparison. it's pretty similar, using a central beam. not a nailed-on copy, though.

re: the stress point in the centre of the frame: it's not where two triangles meet, really, as the central beam is a single member. so long as it's designed to be strong enough there's no particular reason it'll 'eventually break' as steel doesn't fatigue under stress.

OldRidgeback - usually you find the cyclist (surely they should be called cyclers?) between the wheels. Not to mention that a longer wheelbase will be more difficult to ride.

That lock thing can be junked as it's a waste of time. I'd also want better chain adjusters than those cheapos if I was shelling out £500 for it.

But I'm not sure about the weight distribution as the rear carrier means that heavy loads could be carried rearwards of the back freewheel. If you ask me, a cargo bike needs to have a longer wheelbase than a normal bike, so that loads can be carried in between the wheels. Otherwise its balance will be compromised by anything but a small load. Of course I didn't go to art college and instead got a degree in mechanical engineering and used to design aircraft components (but I can't tell you which ones), so what do I know about design eh?

The 20" BMX wheels are a good compromise since you can get tubes and tyres easily. And the rims are also tough.

Heavy, uncomfortable, unsafe, ugly. Have I missed anything? If Mr Wilson seriously wants to make a bike with "durable components that can be replaced anywhere in the world" dare I suggest 26 inch wheels (the most popular size worldwide)? Combine this with a pannier rack system to keep the weight lower to the ground (and consequently safer), and unintimidating flat bars. In short, a bottom of the range "mountain" bike with decent racks will do everthing this bike can, and better.
Of course, such a bicycle has already been invented, and making one will give Mr Wilson little opportunity to dazzle us with his brilliance.

Like the fact you can get a couple of cases of wine on the front. Majestic

more about the design of the donky, http://us2.campaign-archive1.com/?u=86dded8c8a68c1b6389d5911b&id=624f84571d it's part designed by Mark Meadows, who is behind Milk Bikes.
Good design for life principles behind the idea

Looks like a Moulton with all the interesting stuff removed...

Raleigh tried something similar in the 60s and it was utter crap to ride.

The geometry looks a bit folding bike (short reach, high bars) to me. I'd love to have a test ride of one though.

Wonder how it goes up hills? Single gear, I take it?

I like it, although If you left it anywhere busy there's a strong chance someone will lock there bike to it.

Looks nice, simple and practical. Any idea where it's made?

I don't see this catching on anytime soon in the US sadly.
http://new-to-cycling.com