I bought the Preschool Bunch Bike for my kids to haul their kids in during the summer at our lake home. It allowed adult and kids to travel around the lake together with ease. It was such a hit with everyone that I couldn't let the fun stop at the end of the summer. (we live in Iowa) I rented a small U-Haul and brought the Bunch Bike to Des Moines so we could all continue to ride the great bike trails in our area. The grandkids LOVE going places in the bike and we've explored many places in the Des Moines area this fall. We will continue to use it as weather permits and it will be ready to go on any day it is fit to be outside. In May, I will haul it 150 miles north for more summer adventures at Lake Okoboji. I can't say enough good things about my experience with ordering the bike to having it delivered a few days later!!! This is a game changer for our family. And, as the older grandkids age out of the bike, new ones are being born who will soon experience the joy of Bunch Bike Riding! Fantastic Bike!!!
Sounds like an amazing family adventure - what a great gift for your whole family! Glad to hear the fun will continue year round. Those winter bike rides have their own special magic. Thank you for taking the time to share this detailed review - we're glad to get to be a part of your special time together.
- Aaron - Bunch Bikes CEO
We are having the most fun you can have riding a Bunch Bike with my best friend Shelby (my service dog.) She goes everywhere with me now because of the Bunch Bike. We're either in the truck or riding around on the Bunch Bike. We've been downtown on Main Street, at the mall (Security allows me to ride the bike inside the mall) and at our local park enjoying time together. I've been asked a lot of questions about the bike. Did I make it? Where can I get one of those? Its been a showstopper for sure when we're inside the mall. And of course, Shelby enjoys all the attention when we stop and answer questions. Looking to ad a few accessories in the coming days and we're having a absolute blast.
This sounds amazing, I'm so glad you and Shelby are having fun together! Makes me very happy to hear that you're able to get around and have new adventures with your service dog. Thank you for taking the time to share your feedback - bet you turn some heads at the mall!
- Aaron - Bunch Bikes CEO
Typically I have a hard time writing a lengthy review, but rarely do you come across a product like Bunch Bike. I could say it’s a quality built bike made from high quality parts. Shipped and packaged with care, and arrived on time. But that doesn’t do a justice to the impact Bunch Bike has made on our family’s life.
The process started over a year ago, reaching out to support. Getting quotes and understanding the product. They were kind and patient with us. It truly made this a very intimate experience and left us feeling as though our thoughts and ideas were as important to them as it was to us. They were always there for a call or texts. It really made us feel like we were always a valued customer, even in the pre-sales phase.
From the moment we received our bunch bike, we knew we found something special. We immediately found ourselves bunching instead of driving, it gave us reasons to get out and ride. Now we bunch to grab some fresh veggies and then to dance class. We bunch for a picnic in the park on the weekends. We explore areas of our city we never knew existed. It’s brought us a renewed love for nature, and showed the kids there’s a whole other world to explore.
Aside from the bike itself, Bunch also has a really great ability to get its’ customers involved. They’ve made biking fun again. With programs like the car free challenge, we’re constantly finding new and exciting ways to bunch. Because of these programs, we’re proud to say we’re approaching 1200 miles in just a few short months. Aside from a quick tune up, it has lived up to our expectations. You hop on, and it just works.
Thank you Bunch Bike, you’ve transformed the monotony of transporting our kids into exciting adventures where we navigate around wild turkeys instead of potholes. <3
WOW Chris - we think that's a new world record!! 1200 miles in the first two months is incredible. Way to go! We're so glad you're finding new joy in your city and the time you spend together - this is exactly what I hoped for when I first had a dream to bring the 'bakfiets' to the US. Thank for you helping to spread that joy to other families!
- Aaron - Bunch Bikes CEO
The pups are loving this bike! We are still all getting trained on this (myself included), and the dogs are taking to it quickly! Stay tuned for more great pics! @onthetrailnorthshore.
Hi Rachael, so glad to hear the pups are loving your Bunch Bike! Looks like a great way to get the word out about On The Trail too. Thank you for taking the time to share. Wish my dogs could come hang out with you!
- Aaron - Bunch Bikes CEO
We have had our bunch bike for 3 months and we can't imagine trail work without it. We use the bike at least once a week to haul tools to our volunteer events. However, one thing we didn't anticipate is how much our adult volunteers love hopping in the bike and riding down the trail to do different tasks. This bike isn't just for transporting kids! Adults love it too.
If you are on the fence for buying a Bunch Bike take advantage of test riding one. Ask questions! Talk to other users. Figure out if it is a good fit. Another awesome thing about Bunch is after you purchase a bike you aren't left hanging if you have any issues or questions. The customer service with Bunch is truly amazing. Buying a bike you are part of the Bunch Bike community. If Bunch Bike can't answer your question, another user is there to help.
Our small in-home preschool is in love with the Preschool Bunch Bike! We now are able to take our 7 kid crew all around town! Everyone is comfy, able to chat, and has so much fun. Plus as their teacher I get to get some fun exercise in for myself daily! We have a very small yard for a very active crew so the ability to hit the parks, trails, and nature spaces has been life changing! If you're able to swing it at all we recommend making this purchase!
Wow - what a great way to add joy and movement to the kids' routine - and yours! My family spent a couple weeks in The Netherlands this summer and saw preschools out on bikes everywhere we went. It's great to see that our Bunch fam is bringing those adventures to kids here on our side of the pond too. Thank you for taking the time to share!
- Aaron - Bunch Bikes CEO
3 grandchildren riding all around Cambridge!
I test rode a Bunch Bike four years before I purchased one and my only regret is not buying one sooner. The bike itself is great. What impresses me most about Bunch is their customer service.
I do the big grocery shop, tree hauls from garden store and recycling runs with ease – faster than I did with a truck.
The bike takes some practice to ride to become proficient at handling cambered roads and turns. I also found that my 33kg dog requires more than one anchor point to keep her secure the cargo box. I live in a dense, urban area and I am satisfied with the ability to lock up the bike even on crowded bike racks. I would recommend, the rear wheel lock and alarm system to any potential buyer concerned about security.
I love the extra battery I bought. I can get to my regional park with gardening gear (70kg) across 24km on two batteries.
Hi Kimberly, we're so glad you and your pup are enjoying your Bunch life! You're not the first to tell us you wish you'd taken the plunge sooner - you know what they say, the second best time is today. Thank you for taking time to share your advice about security for your dog, and for your bike. We love that our owner community is always here to support each other and share tips!
- Aaron - Bunch Bikes CEO
Finally invested in a cargo bike this summer after talking about it for 5+ years. After riding 2 wheel options in Europe, I was nervous about getting a trike, but I’m so happy I went with a Bunch. I bought it to transport our dogs, but have found myself using it for everything. After about a month, I’ve replaced all my around town car trips with this bike. The Bunch team was great to work with and added many cute additions after I mentioned our dogs in the order notes. It arrived fully built and charger and hit the road 5 mins after unboxing. So far, on our local roads, it’s been handling fine at ~15mph. My gf rides in the box and has mentioned it’s a bit bumpy, but part of that could be our roads. The dogs like to chase bikes more than ride in them, but we’re training them to enjoy sitting in it and it’s improving. It is such a mood boost to run errands on, listening to reggae and getting plenty of smiles/comments from neighbors, other pedestrians, and even people in cars. If you’re teetering on whether to invest in one or not, I recommend doing it.
Hey Alex, I'm so glad you're loving your bike life! Definitely the most fun way to tool around town with your pups and your best girl. Like you say, it's a mood boost - which is more than I can say for running errands by car!
- Aaron @ Bunch Bikes CEO
My girls and I adore our bunch bike. I was hesitant at first given the cost but I was determined to find a way to transport my 3 young children as a single mom (NOT relying on our minivan). The 12-month interest free financing cinched the deal for me. I live in the suburbs of Chicago so we've got limited months to use this and we're making the most of it! Since receiving our bike in April, we've racked up close to 300 miles! We use the bike to commute to/from school each day and to explore new trails/destinations on the weekends. The product is high quality as is the customer service. They really want their customers to be happy. My kids are 1, 3, 4.5 years old. I was worried I'd only have a few years for it to be relevant but a local owner reassured me her 10 year old still willingly rides in it. If you enjoy spending time outdoors and "exploring," I highly recommend!
'This is great, we're so glad to get to be your family's minivan! I think what you're saying is true for most folks - it's a big investment for 'just' a bike but very practical if you are using it to get around daily - and enjoying those weekend adventures too. Way to go on hitting 300 miles, and thank you so much for taking the time to share your experience. Here's to many more years of bike adventures as your kids grow!'
- Aaron @ Bunch Bikes CEO
My disabled daughter and I have been having a great time exploring our neighborhood and local bike trail on our new Bunch bike. The entire process of ordering, delivery, and customer service has been seamless. I especially appreciate that adaptive equipment is included in the price. The investment has been worth it!!
This is wonderful, I'm so glad to see you and your daughter are out having a great time together! Providing adaptive equipment is part of our commitment to making family bike rides more accessible. Thank you for taking the time to share your experience. Wishing you an awesome summer of adventures together!
- Aaron @ Bunch Bikes CEO
We love our bunch bike! After researching and testing etrikes I quickly started looking at cargo bikes. We ended up ordering my bunch bike within 24 hours and have been using it every day since it arrived!
As a mother with paralysis I love the ability to cycle with my atrophied legs and be able to sit up high and get my children outdoors. From school carpool lane to the splash pad it’s perfect for my small family and even picking up friends. 110% sastisfaction!
This is great to hear, we're so glad to get to serve as your family's wheels! This is what we're all about - making biking more accessible for folks with a wide range of mobility needs. Thank you for taking time to share your experience with other families too!
- Aaron @ Bunch Bikes CEO
Fun, Fantastic, Phenomenal
That's great to hear, thank you for taking the time to share - wishing you many happy rides with your pup!
- Aaron - Bunch Bikes CEO
I've been riding my 4 and 5 year old around town like CRAZY. They are absolutely obsessed with our new bunch bike and so am I. We've been using it daily. It's our new favorite thing to do.
Not only that but the team at Bunch Bikes has been incredible to work with. They helped me pick out the best accessories for my family and the specific activity we like to do. Super responsive to any questions I have about the bike.
Wow Chloe, great to hear you are having so much fun with your kids - and using the bike daily. There's no better way to get out and enjoy the sunshine! Glad our team could help you get underway - that's why we're here!
- Aaron - Bunch Bikes CEO
A Bunch bike is simply an investment into joy on wheels! Riding it puts me into such a good mood, which rubs off onto my four young kiddos, making ordinary excursions into such amazing outings. I love knowing that every mile we ride is one less mile of wear and tear on my car and that perhaps one day we will be riding enough to help decrease the our carbon footprint. In the meanwhile, we have the support from one of the best companies I've ever had the privilege of interacting with - and don't even get me started with the Bunch family community!!! Come join us!!!
It's a special honor to serve our repeat customers. Thank you so much for trusting us to take care of your family - and thank you for all you do to help spread the joy of family biking!
Aaron - Bunch Bikes CEO
Benefits:
-I can watch my child, and can easily attend to their needs
-I can go door to door, or door to play park without having to walk long distance through a car park with my little one
-My little one can't use the strange shape of the car door to prevent getting in, and more ergonomic lift in/out
-My kid loves to get in the bike, can't say the same for the car
-Don't need to worry about exhaust fumes from the vehicle entering the passenger cabin
-I don't get to work tired, needing to wake up
-Plenty of space for all the little's stuff
-Cheap insurance, cheap fuel, no registration
-Parking is much easier
-Much better on ice than the car - lower mass/speed make stopping easier and safer
-Vastly more cost effective in any metric that a private car
Drawbacks
-Lots of people want to ask questions about it
-The disk brakes occasionally screech when used because I use the bike in all weathers
Wow - you've really summed it up here. We oughta frame this one! It's true, car vs. bike is a no brainer when kids are involved. Thank you for taking the time to share exactly why!
PS Those squeakable brakes are one important reason for the Bunch Bike 4 round of upgrades. If they start to bug you, let us know and we'll hook you up with the retrofit kit!
- Aaron @ Bunch Bikes CEO
I run an in-home nature-based preschool in Minnesota and having the preschool Bunch Bike is amazing! We can travel farther and faster than ever before. The children ask to ride in it every day. We got it in December and lucky for us it has been a mild winter so far and we didn't have to wait until Spring to use it. I highly recommend it to anyone.
Wow Tamara, that's great to hear! I'm so glad your preschoolers are loving their outdoor adventures - even in winter. Makes me wish we had a program like yours when my kids were in preschool! Thanks for taking the time to share - and spreading the word for other educators.
- Aaron - Bunch Bikes CEO
Before buying I was really caught up with all of the numbers associated with an e-bike like torque and wattage. In particular there were a few big hills by my house that I was really worried about. But after having had it for a few weeks I see now that I probably wasn't focusing on the right things. The fact is that it is just plain fun to ride. We aren't frankly a big cycling family and we've certainly never had an e-bike. The whole package is just a joy to use. The kids and dog love riding it, but I think my wife and I enjoy driving it even more.
Random notes:
- For what it's worth, the bike did great on all of those hills I was worried about. I never came close to getting "stuck" like I was afraid might happen. You just keep gearing down until it's easy. This is admittedly not fun if you're on a road where traffic can't pass you.
- The trike-configuration took some getting used to, but I now don't notice it at all. The different leaning is just second nature.
- I was really caught up with theoretical top speeds before buying which in hindsight was silly. _It's a bike_. If you want to go faster, just pedal more.
- With that said, on flat ground with no load and barely pedaling, I would say that is very easy to go as fast as I felt comfortable on about level 3 assist. That was around 18-20 mph.
- The giant box the bike comes in is rad. We turned it into a small playhouse in the backyard.
Hi Scott,
This was an amazingly detailed write up, thanks for sharing!
On reason that we aren't tech heavy on our website is that we know the biggest benefit is the joy of riding with your kids up in front where you can talk and laugh with them and share fun family experiences together.
If you want super high-end racing bike specs and top speeds, etc. the Bunch Bike might not be the bike for you. But if you want one to ride daily with the kids around your city, I can't think of a better way to do it.
Welcome to the Bunch Fam!
- Aaron @ Bunch Bikes CEO
Our team members that have been assigned the bunch bikes have enjoyed using them, the bike make getting around our campus much easier.
Hey Cody, thank you so much for sharing your feedback. We love to see the corporate world 'walk the walk' on sustainability and mobility! It's great to see all the different ways and places that a cargo bike can replace a car - or a golf cart, or a Gator - for getting things done.
- Aaron @ Bunch Bikes CEO
We purchased this bike after a brain injury limited my wife’s ability to ride on her own. Bunch talked me thru options, providing excellent pre- and post-sale service. I appreciate the focus on inclusion for people with special needs.
We have been enjoying it for about six weeks and are very happy. She and I can easily ride with our 60 pound pooch. And, it’s a hit with the grandkids.
Glad we found the “bucket bike” and their team.
Wow Jeff, that is great to hear - I'm so glad you are back to enjoying the bike life together. That's what our inclusion program is all about! Hope you have many happy rides together over the holiday season.
- Aaron - Bunch Bikes CEO
Lelac went out of her way to make our shipping of my bunch bike perfect and smooth and quick. The shippers took horrible care of the bike and she made everything perfect for us and replied to all emails promptly and really cared that I got my trike. I have stage 4 cancer so stress is the opposite of what I need in my life and she made everything stressless. She was very help. I love my bunch. Only wish I would have gotten the mesh to put my drink in it and snacks. Since I have to drink water constantly I wish I would have ordered the mesh holder. I recommend for myself the mesh than the cup holder so my son and I can keep or goodies in it. I’ll have to order when I feel better. Thank you Lelac and Bunch!!
Hey David, thank you for sharing this - it's an honor to be able to support your family and help you get out and about with your son. I know you probably have your hands full handling the medical - I'm glad our team could help make your bike life stress free!
- Aaron - Bunch Bikes CEO
I love my bunch bike! I use it to take my 3 boys around! They love to ride in it and it is so much easier than loading them up in the car. If you are on the fence you should definitely do it!
Hey Katherine, this is great to hear. It's true, not having to wrestle the kids into car seats is one of the best bike life advantages! Thank you so much for taking time to share your experience with other folks who are still early in the process. It's a big decision and a big investment so hearing from other families who are living the Bunch life helps a ton!
- Aaron - Bunch Bikes CEO
If your life is walkable, but every walk is doubled in length of time because of kids, this bike is game changer. The bike is perfect if you multiple children under the age 8-10. It's great for going to a friend's house on the far side of town and for school drop offs. Time wise for myself, its about the same time for me to bike alone comfortably on a non electric bike when the bunch bike cargo is loaded up with 3+ kids and going a safe/comfortable speed with precious cargo. I definitely prefer it over using a traditional trailer with kids. It's a super fun and easy way to get around with the bunch bike. I wish we had gotten it sooner.
Hey Laura, thank you so much for taking time to share - sounds like you and your kids are getting a lot of daily use and fun together! We know the bike is a big investment, we hope the value it brings makes it worthwhile for your family, now and in the long term. Definitely an upgrade over the trailer!
- Aaron @ Bunch Bikes CEO
When our daughter outgrew her one-wheel tag-a-long bike, we were stuck without a good option for biking, and that was a sad time. Problem-solving for her needs took a long time and we ended up picking Bunch Bikes over all the local options in our area (Portland, Oregon). Bunch had the configuration we were looking for and were super helpful in getting what we need. We are back to cycling as a family again and loving it. Thank you, Bunch, for your inclusion program!
Hey Ryan, that is great to hear. 'We are back to cycling as a family again' is the best review we could ever get - that's the vision and purpose of our inclusion program! We're here to make bike rides more accessible for kids with a wide range of needs. Thank you so much for taking the time to let us know. Glad you have many happy rides together ahead of you!
- Aaron - Bunch Bikes CEO
Almost 400 miles in a month of use. We love our Bunch. We use our Bunch daily for school drop/pick up, play dates, park visits, grocery shopping, cargo moving, date night with the hubby. You name it, we bunch it. We were already a very dedicated bike family, but the Bunch is just so easy to use and pile in that it has made us even more bike-y!
Hi Brooke, WOW! 400 miles in the first month might be a record. Quite an accomplishment! It's a special honor to be able to add something valuable to the lives of families who are already biking - but need an option that's bigger, more flexible or just plain easier. I'm so glad you're loving your 'even more bike-y' bunch life!
- Aaron @ Bunch Bikes CEO