Ca Go FS200 in the test: With a new self-confidence, the bicycle is increasingly conquering its place on the road, and new vehicles such as the Ca Go Life have played a large part in this movement. As a fascinating mobility alternative somewhere between bike and car, the family bike opens up completely new possibilities for getting through everyday life and leisure time with children.
How are we going tomorrow? Many will still use the bus, train or car, but more and more people use their bikes in everyday life to get from A to B quickly and flexibly. And that applies in particular to young families who, in addition to going to work, shopping and similar everyday routes, are also on the go to pick up and drop off at the day care center and school. Of course, people who like to use their bikes in everyday life anyway also like to use them to transport children - and there are various options.
The child seat on conventional bicycles and e-bikes is still popular, and trailers are also popular, especially since they are suitable for two children and can hold a lot of luggage. The next stage of evolution is of course the cargo bike as a combination of "drive unit" and passenger compartment; usually motorized, so that it can be moved effortlessly even with a heavy load. The most proven design is based on the "Long John" cargo bike with the loading platform or child seats in front of the driver. That alone is a certain advantage over the trailer, because parents can keep an eye on their kids and communicate well with them while driving. And finally, it's not a bad thing if the widest part of the bike is in the front instead of the back - that way it's not so easy to misjudge in tight spots.
There are many family bikes built in this way, and depending on the manufacturer, certain aspects are emphasized more and others take a back seat. It can be the engine, comfort and weather protection or, of course, the price. If the latter plays a subordinate role, the provider can of course go all out - and Ca Go does that with its family bike in several respects.
Ca Go FS200 – Maximum security
"Safety first" is the top priority for the manufacturer from Koblenz. Integral to the concept is the safety passenger cell, which differs significantly from the low plywood sidewalls found on many family bikes. With Ca Go, the passenger compartment is also made of thick, high-strength EPP particle foam, surrounded by a solid metal frame and raised far up in the seat area, so that the little passengers are optimally protected all around. Five-point seat belts keep children firmly in their seats; In cooperation with experienced test institutes, Ca Go has carried out crash tests to ensure that the belts cannot tear out in the event of an impact - a very dangerous scenario in road traffic. The adjustable headrests ensure comfort and adaptability.
Versatile hood
In terms of year-round use, the Ca Go Life is of course equipped with a hood, which in turn looks extremely solid and safe. The first association is "convertible", but the roof is more of a flap with a stable metal tube frame that can be equipped with other modular components. A sunshade is fastened to the inside; transparent side parts can be attached with a zipper, which means that the passenger compartment is completely closed. Incidentally, also towards the handlebars, whereby this part of the hood has a window that can be covered with a fabric panel, as well as a large ventilation opening with an insect net. The entire structure is designed so high that the driver's legs, lower body and hands can enjoy good wind and weather protection.
With all this, the passenger cell exudes a solidity that definitely has an automotive feel, and the latter is reflected in numerous details on the wheel and equipment. This applies, for example, to the heavy rubber mat in the footwell that covers the battery compartment cover. This consists of a solid metal box with a lockable flap, and "solid" also applies to the frame of the Ca Go. Square tubes connected with clearly visible welds form the double backbone of the cargo bike; at the rear, struts that support the seat tube allow for a pleasantly low step-through. As usual, the family bike is only available in one frame size, which is why the seat tube has to be set flat so that the seat length increases when the seat post is extended further. The pleasantly shaped handlebars are not height-adjustable, but the overall sitting position is as upright as it should be for a bicycle that is used every day. When configuring, you should of course think of the suspension seat post that Ca Go offers - given the stiff frame, it's not surprising that the rear of the vehicle is quite hard.
Safe footing and pleasant handling
When loading or boarding, the Ca Go stands immovably on its wide parking stand; folding in or jacking up works after a little practice with justifiable effort. The Bosch Cargo Line gently pushes you forward, and after a few meters you have reached your cruising speed and are then comfortably on the road. Thanks to the continuously variable transmission, which automatically maintains a previously individually determined cadence, you don't have to worry about anything while riding - steering, braking and pedaling, that's all. And enjoy the feeling that you are no longer on the bike and not yet in the car, because the Ca Go is a separate type of vehicle that lies somewhere in between. The long, wide and heavy family carriage does not drive on the right-hand side of the road, but in the middle of the lane; where you were sometimes pushed to the side on the bike, you now assert your place in traffic. It's a new self-confidence that you haven't built up with a child's seat on your bike or with a trailer towing it - a self-confidence that shows how the bicycle is increasingly conquering its place on the road. And family bikes like the Ca Go are part of this conquest.
WEB: cagobike.com
Home visit Ca Go: This is where the FS200 cargo bike is made
Kind of unbelievable that it was only in 2018 when we first discovered Ca Go at Eurobike. Now we are standing in a large parking lot at the gates of Koblenz and look at the Ca Go showroom. We have an appointment for a home visit – in addition to the showroom, we can also take a look behind the scenes […]
