Similar to a new car, a new ebike is always a snapshot in time. We look for the model that best suits our needs at the moment. However, these can change quickly – with a move, a new job or children. The makers of the Bike 43 Short have taken precisely these scenarios into account. That’s why this compact e-cargo bike with its large rear rack can grow with you if you want it to. And that’s not the only feature that sets it apart from the competition.
1. Longtail Bike 43 Short: compact, robust, powerful
2. Detail 1: unusual motor mount
3. Detail 2: Magic Footbox
4. Detail 3: Bench seat with swivelling rail
5. Detail 4: from Bike 43 Short to Bike 43 Mid
6. The eternal clinch – chain vs belt
7. Where to buy Bike 43 Short and Bike 43 Mid in the Germany?
8. Who is Bike 43?
1. Bike 43 Short: compact, robust, powerful
With a length of just 173 centimetres, the Bike 43 Short is one of the shortest longtail ebikes we know. Short and longtail sounds a bit strange together, doesn’t it? Never mind. You can also call it a shorttail. In terms of overall length, the load capacity of the solid rear rack and the basic concept, it can be compared somewhat to the Tern Quick Haul. However, the latter only provides space for one passenger, for example.
Both bikes feature 20-inch wheels. The Bike 43 Short scores points for riding comfort with a suspension fork whose 80-millimetre travel is about what you’d expect here. The manufacturer has fitted a Shimano Nexus Inter-5E gear system. The five-speed hub gear is not necessarily a favourite with the masses due to its limited gear ratio range of 263 per cent. Bike 43 and other brands, on the other hand, appreciate its reliability, which allows it to withstand the stresses of an ebike motor for many thousands of kilometres without unnecessarily increasing the price of an ebike.
If you also take into account the rear light, which also functions as a brake light, and the maximum permitted weight of 170 kilograms for the ebike, you already have a few points that make it worth taking a closer look at this model. However, this applies to a number of competing ebikes. That’s why we want to take a closer look at the details that make this longtail stand out from the crowd.
2. Detail 1: unusual motor mount
The first of these details quickly stands out when looking at the Bike 43 Short. We are referring to the mounting of the motor on the outside of the down tube. This solution dates back to the early days of Bike 43 and the manufacturer’s first e-cargo bike, the Bike 43 Long. Back then, around ten years ago, it used a motor from Heinzmann. According to Bike 43, they did not fully trust the drive system. So they wanted to keep the option open to integrate a different motor or ebike system if necessary, without having to change the frame and motor mount. In fact, Bike 43 later switched from the Heinzmann motor to other models from Bafang, Shimano and Bosch. The manufacturer currently still works with both of the latter suppliers.
However, experience has shown that the latest motors from Shimano and Bosch now cause hardly any technical problems. Therefore, changing the motor on a single model is no longer the decisive argument for this unusual motor mount. Rather, it enables Bike 43 to respond to future developments and thus new drives without great effort.
The lack of protection from the frame does not affect the motors themselves at all. Their housings are completely encapsulated. As a result, moisture and dirt more or less roll off them. Only in the event of a fall could this position prove to be disadvantageous.
Thanks to the external motor mount, the manufacturer can be quite flexible in its choice of motor. It does not tie its fate too closely to that of a particular supplier. If one of them unexpectedly takes a turn for the worse, Bike 43 can switch to an alternative ebike system very quickly.
In the case of the Bike 43 Short, the choice fell on the Bosch Performance Line. With a torque of 75 Newton metres and a peak power of 600 watts, we believe it is well suited to such an urban everyday bike. For other models, Bike 43 offers several motors per ebike in its own configurator. This option is not available for the Short, as this allows delivery times to remain binding and short. When asked, the manufacturer explained to us that they wanted to manage their own resources realistically.
3. Detail 2: Magic Footbox
From the motor, your gaze will probably quickly shift to the dark panelling that fills the space between the seat tube and the rear wheel. These are the outer walls of the Magic Footbox. This is a plastic box in which children sitting directly behind the rider on the rear rack can place their feet.
The great advantage of this becomes apparent as soon as two children sit on the seat of the Bike 43 Short or two small children sit in child seats. To ensure that there is enough space for both, the first child has to move very close to the seat tube. If they let their legs dangle down on either side of the bike, they can quickly collide with the rider’s legs and feet when the pedals are at the rear of their circular path. The Magic Footbox prevents this. The child’s feet rest in the space that is blocked on other ebikes by frame tubes or the battery. The idea for the Magic Footbox came from Etienne Richelle, the founder of Bike 43, and is protected by patent. That’s why you’ll only find it with this manufacturer.
4. Detail 3: Bench seat with swivelling rail
Speaking of sitting. Many manufacturers of longtail cargo bikes offer seat benches for slightly older children. To ensure that children can sit safely and find sufficient support, the seat bench often includes a railing. However, this added safety feature also makes it more difficult for children to get on and off the bike. Sometimes, parents have no choice but to lift their children onto the seat bench themselves, which can be quite a struggle.
Models such as the Qio Long prove that solutions such as a railing that can be partially opened can significantly alleviate the problem. Bike 43 goes one step further. The Long model already featured a railing that can be swivelled like the safety bar on a roller coaster. Thanks to a joint, you can fold the railing up so far that it completely clears the way to the bench. When folded down, it locks itself automatically at the back of the seat.
5. Detail 4: from Bike 43 Short to Bike 43 Mid
As already mentioned, the Bike 43 Short literally has potential for growth. Basically, more compact ebikes really catch the spirit of the day now. Space is limited, especially in urban environments. Apartments there are often smaller, with less space to store things. So, riding a slightly shorter bike quickly proves to be an advantage. As a result, demand is increasing – one of the main reasons for the creation of the Bike 43 Short.
On the other hand, different situations in life may call for a slightly larger ebike. For example, when a second child is added to the family. Or when a new house or flat suddenly offers more space. In short, it can go back and forth. This is exactly where the Bike 43 Short keeps pace. It can grow by 15 centimetres in length and thus transform into the Bike 43 Mid.
One for two
How does that work with the frame? It’s simple. Short and Mid use an identical frame. All you need for the ‘transformation’ is a different rear rack, a different dropout and two or three additional parts. The central element for the conversion is the rear rack of the Mid. It is firmly anchored to the rear triangle of the frame with several drill holes. The dropout is located in its lower solid strut, which moves the rear wheel 13 centimetres further back. This increases the 173 centimetres of the Bike 43 Short to a total length of 186 centimetres for the Bike 43 Mid.
This option originally arose from economic considerations. Being able to use one frame for two models proves to be much more profitable for a smaller manufacturer like Bike 43. Such companies have to predict very accurately what will pay off best in the long run when making investments. This has since proven to be a wise decision. Prospective customers consider it as a particularly sustainable concept and appreciate the fact that they can switch from the Short to the Mid and, if necessary, back to the Short again.
Each version with different options
The conversion changes the performance of the models. For example, the Short’s rear rack allows loads of up to 70 kilograms to be carried. The rack installed on the Mid, on the other hand, is approved for a weight of 85 kilograms. Other parts simply grow with it. The seat can be extended. And the railing can also be enlarged without tools thanks to a thread.
Those who start with the Mid as their actual ebike and later plan to convert to the Short have a little more choice when putting together their dream model. For example, in addition to the Bosch Performance Line, the slightly more powerful Bosch Performance Line PX is also available.
There is no separate kit for the conversion yet, explains Bike 43. Before producing something like this, they want to gather enough feedback to better assess the actual demand. Since the Short and Mid are only coming onto the market this month, such a decision will probably not be made for another year or two. Until then, you can visit a workshop in Germany that cooperates with Bike 43. There are not too many of these at the moment. However, the local market is the second most important for the manufacturer after its home country of Belgium. That is why Bike 43 is increasingly looking for suitable partner workshops.
6. The eternal clinch – chain vs belt
At launch, Bike 43 will equip both the Short and Mid with a classic bicycle chain. A carbon belt will also be offered in the configurator at a later date. In conversation with the manufacturer, it is clear that they are fans of the chain. They have had good experiences with it over many years on the large Bike 43 Long. Customers have covered more than 10,000 kilometres with a chain. And even if the belt lasts longer in some circumstances, more than two chains would not wear out in the time that a belt lasts. However, replacements are significantly cheaper, so this balances out overall. Nevertheless, this calculation does not take into account the fact that the belt requires significantly less maintenance over its entire service life. Because interested customers specifically ask for a model with a belt for these reasons, Bike 43 intends to offer it alongside the chain in future.
7. Where can you buy Bike 43 Short and Bike 43 Mid in Germany?
If you are between 145 centimetres and 190 centimetres tall – both the Bike 43 Short and the Bike 43 Mid are suitable for these heights – and would like to buy one of the longtails, you can currently only do so in selected cities in Germany. The manufacturer works exclusively with brick-and-mortar specialist retailers. The local network comprises around 20 to 25 bicycle shops. This varies greatly from region to region. If you live near Freiburg im Breisgau, Heidelberg or Berlin, for example, you’re pretty lucky. In other regions, you’ll have to travel further afield.
Prices start at 4,990 euros for the Short and 5,290 euros for the Mid. At this point, at the latest, it becomes clear that Bike 43 sees itself as a small but select supplier of high-end ebikes. At these prices, not even a rear rack is included. This is available together with the Magic Footbox for an additional 200 euros. A front rack, which can carry a maximum weight of 20 kilograms, costs 125 euros. The aforementioned bench seat with the swivelling rail costs 480 euros, a child seat 85 euros and an admittedly very large rain canopy 360 euros.
If, for example, you opt for the Bike 43 Short with a seat bench, rear rack, Magic Footbox, rain canopy and front rack, the total comes to a hefty 6,155 euros.
8. Who is Bike 43?
In Belgium, the brand has gained considerable recognition and a significant market share since the first model went into production in 2016. So far, this has been exclusively thanks to the Bike 43 Long. At 197 centimetres, this classic longtail e-cargo bike is significantly longer than the new Bike 43 Short and Bike 43 Mid. In addition, its frame is made of chromoly steel and not aluminium like the two new models.
If you want to pronounce the manufacturer’s name correctly, you have to string together ‘bike’ and then each digit individually. This is pronounced ‘bike four three’ meaning a bike for three.
Bike 43 Short and Bike 43 Mid at a glance
- Models: Bike 43 Short, Bike 43 Mid
- Frame: aluminium
- Suspension fork: SR Suntour SF22 Mobie 34 CGO
- Motor: Bosch Performance Line, Bosch Performance Line PX
- Battery: Bosch PowerTube 540
- Display: Bosch Purion 200
- Drivetrain: Shimano Nexus Inter-5E
- Brakes: Shimano BR-MT200, Shimano BR-MT400
- Max. load capacity on rear rack: 70 kg / 85 kg
- Max. load capacity on front rack: 20 kg
- Weight: 30 kg
- Maximum permitted total weight: 170 kg / 200 kg
- Colours: Dark Blue, Lemon Yellow, Sage, Terracotta
- Prices: from 4,990 euro
Pictures: Bike43 SRL