Johansson Oscar S in the test: Thanks to the tilting technology, the two-lane cargo bike offers a high level of safety and driving dynamics. The drive and completion are also convincing; Only the transport box can't quite keep up with the high standard.
Cargo bikes are practical and forward-looking, but their driving characteristics can take some getting used to. “Long John” models in particular with a loading platform in front of the handlebars can only be controlled properly with a little practice; When handling a heavy load, a certain amount of force is required.
Two-track cargo bikes are therefore an interesting alternative - and no longer an unusual sight. Your advantage is unbeatably stable driving behavior, both at walking pace and at high speeds and regardless of the load. You don't have to jack it up when parking it, nor do you have to hold it with a lot of force when pushing it. And if you choose a model like the Johansson Oscar, you don't have to pay for these advantages with noticeable compromises in driving dynamics. The big advantage of the cargo bike with its Nordic flair is the elaborate chassis design with tilting technology, which allows for considerable lean angles. This is the only way higher cornering speeds are possible on a two-lane bike - rigid variants require a very careful driving style or daring maneuvers with which the driver leans against the outward centrifugal force by shifting his weight.
Johansson Oscar S: tilting technology and short wheelbase
If you look at the suspension of the front wheels, you immediately notice the technical effort that has to be made to achieve the Johansson's driving behavior. The sprung double wishbone axle is supported by a beam, which in turn stabilizes the transport box at the front - this extends over the complicated mechanics. However, the support between the front wheels limits the Oscar's ground clearance; Taking obstacles such as high manhole covers between the wheels can be punished by touching them. The fact that the structure can extend beyond the front wheel axle also allows for a rather short one, measuring just under 140 cm. Together with the small wheels, this in turn benefits the handiness and the turning circle. With “Long Johns” the wheelbase can sometimes be over two meters.
All factors together result in a cargo bike that is extremely fun to ride. Regardless of speed, you can drive straight ahead; When changing direction you can easily give hand signals, whereas on single-track cargo bikes you are reluctant to take your hand off the handlebars. Added to this is the strong thrust of the Brose motor, with the choice between the Drive T with 70 Nm and the Drive S with 90 Nm of torque. The latter makes starting off easy and shows no weaknesses even uphill. However, Johansson includes a rather small battery at 522 watt hours.
The three-spoke cast magnesium wheels are striking. The test bike comes with a continuously variable Enviolo transmission; The Johansson Oscar with ten-speed derailleur gears is cheaper. In addition to the small display of the Brose drive, there is a rotary switch on the left handlebar grip that blocks the tilt function when parking. What is striking is the powerful effect of the disc brakes - of course, with two braked wheels you can decelerate even better. It's a shame that the bike is equipped with a conventional chain drive - especially given the fact that cargo bikes mostly live outdoors, a timing belt would make more sense. With an angle-adjustable handlebar stem and two-way height-adjustable seat post, it is easy to adapt the bike to users of different heights.
At 720 mm, the Johansson Oscar S is about as wide as conventional “Long John” cargo bikes. However, one has the feeling that Johansson could do more with the space between the front wheels. The simple plywood box, which stands in a certain contrast to the high-tech frame construction, is just wide enough for a child to sit in it and tapers towards the bottom. Of course, because of the steering angle, you can't fully utilize the space between the front wheels. A two-seater should be possible, and the manufacturer has already proven that the two-track cargo bike has a lot of potential for luggage transport with a 105 x 74 cm loading platform. With a vehicle weight of 62,6 kilos as tested, the payload (driver + load) is at least 160 kilos.
Especially in view of these numbers, one wishes for a more valuable and spacious transport compartment. Compared to typical single-track cargo bikes, the Johansson scores with safe, dynamic handling; Safety and passenger comfort à la Ca Go – to give just one example – it certainly doesn’t deliver. If the manufacturer were to step up its game here, the Oscar S could make a big jump up the editorial popularity scale.
