12 models head to head – The Cannondale Wonderwagen Neo 1 in our cargo bike group test

Strollers were yesterday, the Wonderwagen is how you transport kids today – at least that’s according to Cannondale. The Cannondale Wonderwagen long john cargo bike comes fully equipped to transport kids as standard. We put it to the test to find out whether the € 7,700 cargo bike can also handle other transport tasks.

There’s no guessing what the Cannondale Wonderwagen Neo 1 is designed to do. The long john cargo bike comes factory fitted with a transport box that is fully tailored to the needs of two small passengers. The only optional extra for the cargo bin of the € 7,500 flagship Wonderwagen Neo 1 (the second most expensive cargo bike in the group test behind the Riese & Müller Packster2) is a rain cover for € 200, with everything else supposedly already taken care of.

You’ve got a Bosch Cargo Line motor and one 725 Wh battery to power the bike, and there’s a second battery slot available. At 70 kg, it is by far the heaviest cargo bike on test. On the other hand, it’s also got the highest gross weight limit at 250 kg. That leaves you with a test field leading 180 kg payload for the rider and their cargo, which you can distribute across the various bags, compartments, and of course the cargo bin. All that weight rests on two small 20″ wheels that are more than two metres apart. With a total length of 260 cm, the Wonderwagen is the second longest cargo bike in the group test, after the 265 cm Winora F.U.B. 2W. We found out whether all these impressive figures also lead to a great cargo hauling experience.

For an overview of the test fleet head to the group test: The best cargo-bike – The 12 hottest models in our comparison test.

Stroller + fun-mobile = Wonderwagen – What sets the Cannondale Wonderwagen apart?

Many of the cargo bikes in this group test are characterised by a variable transport concept; the opposite is true of the Wonderwagen. The bench seat for two children is firmly integrated into the transport box. Thanks to adjustable five-point belts and backrests your passengers are safe and comfortable, but there’s no variability beyond that.

In front of the bench seat is a loading area that measures 40 x 60 cm at its widest points. However, you won’t be able to fit a Eurobox of the same dimensions in front of the bench seat because the loading area tapers towards the front. As such, you’ll have to place bulky crates higher up and on the bench. You can place two drinks crates next to each other in front of the bench, but the floor isn’t completely flat and thus makes for a somewhat unstable footing for flat objects (important for anyone who wants to transport a chest of drawers standing upright in the transport box). Overall, the transport box has an impressive carrying capacity of 100 kg, but its rigid configuration and layout aren’t the most practical for hauling goods.

However, it’s all the more accommodating for small passengers. There is a footrest under each of the dropped side walls, so the little ones can climb in and out of the transport box on their own. This will save you strength and time, insofar as the little ones are willing to cooperate ;). Despite the low side walls when getting in, the back of the transport box extends far beyond the headrests to keep your passengers safe. The Wonderwagen cargo bike is also protected against tipping over. If, for example, you lose control of the cargo bike when you take it off the stand, it will come to a rest on the footrests of the transport box instead of tipping over completely on its side. This minimises the risk of the kids falling out.

At the front end of the transport box is a mesh pocket where children can store their action figures or cigarettes within reach. From the rider’s perspective, you also have access to half a dozen compartments. You will find three sets of bottle cage bosses on the head tube, which we didn’t use, because there’s a kind of cup holder like those in the centre consoles of American family vans in the down tube. Furthermore, there are two large compartments on the back of the transport box, where you can store two half a shopping bag worth of goods or small backpacks for the kids. There’s a rear rack behind the rider, too, which can carry up to 27 kg and is therefore capable of accommodating a third child seat. It’s compatible with the Racktime Snapit 2.0 adapter system and can also be fitted with a Thule Yepp Maxi child seat without an adapter. On the left side of the rear rack, you’ll find a trailer hitch mounting point. That means your four-legged family member can also come along for the ride in a dog trailer, or you can tow the VEOLO Cargo trailer from this group test for even more cargo carrying capacity.

The motor of the Wonderwagen cargo bike is provided by long-time Cannondale partners Bosch. In this case, they’re relying on the powerful 85 Nm Cargo Line drive unit, offering a maximum pedalling assistance of 400%. The motor, in turn, is powered by a 725 Wh battery, which sits externally behind the steerer tube. If you have the key at hand, the battery pack can be removed in no time. For families with high power requirements, the Cannondale Wonderwagen cargo bike comes equipped with two Bosch PowerPack mounts as standard. So you can easily double the range by adding a second 725 Wh battery, which you can find online for less than € 800. It doesn’t matter which of the two mounts you slot the battery into. Both PowerPacks can be charged simultaneously via the charging port beneath the batteries.

Instead of a display, Cannondale rely on the Bosch SmartphoneGrip mount on the handlebar. This turns your smartphone into a display, and makes the Cannondale Wonderwagen the only cargo bike on test with a fully-fledged, map-based navigation function. You can also charge your smartphone while docked in the SmartphoneGrip mount, whether wirelessly or via USB cable. If you prefer to keep things a little more purist, the Bosch LED remote on the handlebar will also provide the most important data, allowing you to leave your smartphone at home.

Over and above that, you’ll find a Garmin LED display on the handlebar, which warns of approaching traffic from behind with the help of an integrated radar in the Garmin Varia tail light. In contrast to the Specialized Porto, which boasts the same Garmin radar technology, the distance warning isn’t integrated into the motor system display. The Wonderwagen cargo bike relies either on the external Garmin display or the Garmin Varia smartphone app in fullscreen mode. The disadvantage of this is that if you clamp your smartphone to the Bosch SmartphoneGrip holder, it obscures the Garmin display. However, if you use the Varia app on the smartphone, you cannot simultaneously display the Bosch eBike Flow app. Before you set off, you should therefore make a few adjustments to the cockpit layout, either repositioning the SmartphoneGrip to sit in front of the handlebar, or placing the Garmin display further outwards.

The sizing concept is about as variable as the cargo concept of the transport box. You can adjust the saddle height relatively easily via the 150 mm dropper post and quick-release seat post clamp. However, adjusting the handlebar height and cockpit is very involved and complex, which is why quick rider changes can be ergonomically challenging.

Finally, the design of the Cannondale Wonderwagen cargo bike shouldn’t go unmentioned. Some of our testers are fans of the bright red accents in the form of the grips, saddle, and luggage rack, as well as the anthropomorphic front with dual headlights mimicking eyes. Others didn’t even want to ride it. One thing is certain: no other cargo bike in the group test is easier to recognise.

Tuning tip: second battery for long-distance chauffeurs and the optional rain cover for bad weather shuttling

How does the Cannondale Wonderwagen fare in practice?

The Wonderwagen cargo bike takes up a lot of space due to its sprawling dimensions. At least the transport box and rain cover are made of UV and weatherproof materials, which means you can also park the Wonderwagen in the garden.

The sturdy centre stand is one of the best in the group test. It has a long foot lever, which makes the Wonderwagen cargo bike easy to jack up even when fully loaded, and it offers a stable and secure footing. This significantly eases loading and unloading your kids or cargo. To climb aboard, you must lift your leg just 50 cm over the low down tube, and if the saddle is dropped, even those with short legs can easily hop on.

Pulling away can be a bit shaky on the first few attempts when the bike is fully loaded. However, the powerful Bosch Cargo Line motor quickly helps you pick up speed and stabilise the handling. Furthermore, the infinitely variable Enviolo Heavy Duty hub lets you select an easier starting gear even when stationary, so you’re not forced to pull away in the same gear in which you came to a stop.

The Cannondale Wonderwagen cargo bike is the diaper bomber amongst the cargo bikes on test, focused entirely on small passenger transport.

The riding position is relaxed and upright for tall riders and offers a good all-round view. That said, the front wheel is always hidden from view due to the large transport box. The optional rain cover further obscures visibility, making you blind to whatever is happening within one metre in front of the bike. So you’ll have to get used to the Wonderwagen’s dimensions to know when the small front wheel makes contact with curbs and potholes. Fortunately, the 80 mm travel SR Suntour MOBIE34 suspension fork offers increased handling stability, while mitigating bumps for everyone on board, especially the front passengers. However, the seat post and rear end are completely unsuspended, which leaves much to be desired in terms of rear-end comfort when riding off-road. If you want to take the kids off-road, you should opt for the more comfortable Riese & Müller Packster2 with front and rear suspension. The smooth Schwalbe Pick-Up tires don’t offer much grip on loose terrain either, in which case not even the powerful MAGURA MT C four-piston brakes can help.

In urban traffic, on the other hand, the Wonderwagen cargo bike performs formidably. Thanks to the cable steering, the Cannondale has a small turning circle, allowing you to weave your way through a busy farmers market – with a little practice. If you’re riding fast with a heavy load, you should avoid making sharp turns because the heavyweight of our cargo bike group test behaves accordingly, offering sluggish and imprecise steering at speed.

When you stop at a traffic light, you can easily put both feet on the ground by lowering the dropper post. Thanks to the standard ABUS frame lock on the rear wheel and the electronic Bosch eBike Lock motor lock function, you can park the Wonderwagen cargo bike in front of every shop or daycare centre with ease and peace of mind. However, it doesn’t have a lockable glove compartment, like the Riese & Müller Multitinker and Packster2 cargo bikes.

If you pick the kids up from the nursery on a dark winter’s day, the cute double headlights ensure good visibility – not to mention all the kids’ delighted squeals. If the road home includes a steep climb, the Wonderwagen cargo bike will likely reach its limits. The Enviolo hub only has a narrow gear range and the gear ratios on the Cannondale aren’t suited to climbing, which is why you might end up having to push the cargo uphill. In contrast to some other cargo bikes in the group test, like the Specialized Porto, the geared hub on the Cannondale is paired with a chain instead of a belt. As such, you’ll have to clean and lube the chain at regular intervals.

Nickname guaranteed: with such an anthropomorphic design, the Wonderwagen is guaranteed to be renamed by your little passengers after the first ride.

Who is the Cannondale Wonderwagen cargo bike for?

The Cannondale Wonderwagen cargo bike is the perfect bike for soccer moms and dads who want to transport their little champions from daycare to football training safely and comfortably, running a few errands in the city in between. Thanks to the dual battery option, the various stops can be at the opposite ends of town. It’s too specialised and just too much cargo bike for trekking adventures or brisk long-distance commutes.

Our conclusion on the Cannondale Wonderwagen cargo bike

The Cannondale Wonderwagen Neo 1 does exactly what it was designed to do. It comes well-equipped to handle the task of transporting children, and the many clever details make doing so just a little easier. The handling is manageable and you’ll quickly get accustomed to it. The specced components and motor system leave little to be desired, though it would be nice to have an easier gear for hilly terrain. You get a lot of cargo bike, and it’s priced accordingly, but it’s not suitable for trekking.

For more information cannondale.com

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The test field

For an overview of the test fleet head to the group test: The best cargo-bike – The 12 hottest models in our comparison test.

All bikes in test: Moustache Lundi 20 Cargo 3 (Click for review) | Specialized Porto (Zum Test) | Ultima Multipath Cargo Compact (Click for review) | i:SY Cargo P12 ZR (Click for review) | Riese & Müller Packster2 70 Touring (Click for review) | Riese & Müller Multitinker Vario (Click for review) | BTWIN Cargo R500E Longtail V2 (Click for review) | WINORA F.U.B. 2W (Click for review) | Cannondale Wonderwagen Neo1 | VEOLO Cargo Trailer (Click for review) | Benno RemiDemi XL (Click for review) | Momentum PakYak E+ (Click for review)

Words: Rudolf Fischer Photos: Antonia Feder, Robin Schmitt